The preparations are everywhere.
Temporary no parking signs were dropped off along Kahala streets surrounding the Waialae Country Club, home of the Sony Open golf tournament.
The sign in front of our house announces that parking will not be allowed during the days of the tournament, beginning on Monday, January 11, and continuing through Jan 17.
Down the street, fronting the Waialae Beach Park, you run into this “Do Not” sign, listing all the prohibited items that will not be allowed onto the course.
No cameras. Does that mean no cell phones? The sign doesn’t make that clear, but it certainly sounds that way.
No food or beverages. Leave your water in the car. Most tote bags won’t be allowed. And get ready to have bags searched, possibly using metal detectors.
It’s hard to tell whether this is aimed at stopping the deranged gunman, or boosting sales at the concessions.
On the course, there are walls of instant tents, viewing stands, and camera towers (no cameras yet, though). Here’s an example.
As we walked past this morning, there was a beautiful NEO drone, equipped with camera, being launched from the 17th tee (I think this is usually the 8th hole, but the front and back nines are switched during the tournament). The drone operators were just to the right of the photo. I don’t know whether this was just practice, or storing up video to use during the tournament. The drone was also flying on Friday as well.
All in all, it’s a pretty massive operation. Kahala will obviously be a busy place until this is over.
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All those regulations are pretty normal these days. Photography limits are enforced because golfers can loose their concentration easily if distracted, and the general public doesn’t seem to care as long as they get their photo/video shot. And don’t forget this is not a public event and they can impose any regulations they want.
Cell phones are allowed but obviously must be switched to silent or be confiscated.
So if you and Meda invited guests to visit you on your private property during this time, they would have to park off the PUBLIC street, preferably for the H-Open in the Hunakai Park (PUBLIC property) where they would have to pay a fee, and walk or pay for a shuttle that may or may not drop them near their destination.
I guess that the taxes generated by visitors to the tournament as well as pressure from the HTA are considered more important than the convenience of residents.
Ian- you’re not in Kaaawa anymore !
The Sony Open is a PGA tour event. Ergo, one only needs to consult the PGA’s website to find detailed info about what precisely is and is not allowed.
http://www.pgatour.com/company/tournaments-prohibited-items.html
“Mobile phones, tablets, and PDA’s – MUST be on Silent mode and adhere to TOUR’s Mobile Device Policy”
Google is your friend.