Join us as we travel on the PGA Tour with Parker McLachlin, a former Punahou athlete. McLachlin and Castle alum Dean Wilson are the only Hawai'i golfers on the PGA Tour. McLachlin, Waikoloa's touring pro, will write his impressions on events that he has just completed and tournaments that are coming up on his calendar.

Aloha from Pebble Beach.

I'm here in California for another week of golf on the West Coast, my fifth event of the 2009 season.

Last week I played in the Buick Invitational, which ended up being a roller-coaster week for me. I started out on the South Course at Torrey Pines, which is known to be much more challenging than the North Course.

After shooting 2-over 74 on the first day, I was able to get my game back on course and shoot 71 and 72, which took me into the final day of the tournament tied for 36th.

On Sunday, though, I faced a lot of challenges and ended up shooting 79, finishing tied for 68th. I'm really looking forward to getting back on track this week and playing four solid rounds.

This week's tournament, the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, is one of the coolest events on tour and one of my favorites. Being that it is a pro-am, each tour pro gets to be paired with a really interesting amateur. These amateurs aren't just anybody. They're celebrities and business executives like singer Justin Timberlake, Chris Berman of ESPN, actor George Lopez and surfer Kelly Slater.

I can't wait to tee off today with my amateur partner, Doug Mackenzie. Doug is a founder and partner of Radar Partners, a principal investment firm. It should be fun to talk with him about finances and how the business works. Who knows, maybe he can give me tips on how to handle my earnings.

Today, I also get to tee off with a familiar name around the PGA Tour, Phil Mickelson and his amateur partner, Charles Schwab, Chairman and chief executive officer of the Charles Schwab Company.

So far, Waikoloa Beach Resort and I have donated $5,400 to the Hawai'i State Junior Golf Association through our "Birdies for Juniors" program for the 48 birdies and three eagles I've made this season. For each birdie I make during the first six West Coast events, Waikoloa and I will each donate $50.

There are two events left on the "West Coast swing," so hopefully we can really rack up the birdies!

Mahalo,

Parker

Parker McLachlin can be reached at parkermclachlin.com