Ken Corp. begins improvements at CCP

TUMON, Guam—P.H.R. Ken Micronesia, Inc. (Ken Corp.), owners of Country Club of the Pacific Guam in Yona, recently announced it has begun its plans to refresh one of Guam’s most treasured golf courses as it prepares to celebrate its 45th anniversary this year. The company also announced that CCP, as it is fondly known by residents and visitors, will be managed by its senior leadership team from Ken Corp. property, Pacific Islands Club Guam.

P.H.R. Ken Micronesia, Inc. president Mitsuo Sato said, “Ken Corp, has officially begun the implementation of its plan to reinvigorate CCP and incorporate it as an integral extension of the hospitality that our hotel guests enjoy. We feel that the addition of PIC’s seasoned management team to support golf course operations will have a positive impact on the CCP experience almost immediately.”

“CCP has been a longtime favorite for our residents on Guam. Local golfers have grown up on our course, and we host tournaments year-round for local organizations. We would like to continue to invest and build on these important relationships. This reinvestment will also give the island more leverage in attracting golfers from all over Asia to play on Guam,” Sato added.

The hospitality team from PIC has started work on some new service upgrades and programs. Ben Ferguson, PIC general manager, known in the industry for managing Guam’s largest hotel and the driving force behind Guam Sports Events, Inc., has taken on the role as CCP general manager to enhance the CCP experience.

“We plan to fuse our hotel operations and asset management experience to be able to offer golfers a heightened golf experience and ignite a renewed love of CCP,” Ferguson stated. “Foremost among our objectives is to begin work immediately on enhancing the playability of the course and implementing our plan to restore the most important elements of the golf course, starting with the greens and then moving to the bunker and tee box upgrades.”

CCP, which boasts some of the island’s most breathtaking views of southern Guam and the Pacific Ocean, opened in May of 1973 as the island’s second golf course. Ken Corp. took over the property in 2007 shortly after it purchased PIC.

“CCP is a beautiful gem of a course with a notable history, and we are thrilled that it will be receiving a facelift this year,” added Ferguson. “Our 18-hole championship golf course is known to have the best drainage on island, which means golfers can continue their round even after a downpour. You can see the Pacific Ocean from many of our holes, but we are most known for hole number 12, which has golfers shooting from the men’s tee over a pond onto the green. Interestingly, hole No. 14 is the longest Par 5 on island, measuring 624 yards from the champion’s tee.”

Famous Japanese architect Kisho Kurokawa designed CCP’s clubhouse to maximize the panoramic view of the property. In the 1970s, CCP was well known as the “Taiheiyo Club” to golfers in Japan. CCP holds a certification from the PGA and a certified USGA Course rating by the Guam National Golf Federation. (PR)