HONOLULU — Michael Castillo has been working 12-hour days over the past three weeks. Castillo, Kapalua Resort’s Plantation Course’s head golf professional, was busy hosting an elite field of professionals at last week’s Sentry Tournament of Champions.
He’s one of the 144 pros competing at this week’s Sony Open in Hawaii. On Tuesday, he played nine holes with Adam Scott, a former Masters champion. He also had many of the pros that he admired just days earlier when he asked him about the range, “What’s the deal?”
Castillo won September’s Aloha PGA Section. He made three birdies on his last seven holes, including the 18th, to qualify for his first PGA Tour tournament. Castillo was born on the island, his father Ronnie was an assistant pro at Waialae Country Club during the 1970s. Michael and his three brothers also grew up at the course. (Brother Joey was also an assistant.
Castillo stated that some of the high school friends he worked with are still working at the club.
Castillo, who has battled colon cancer for many years, made it extra special. He is 60 years old and has been competing in the tournament since it began.
He said, “I thought that the opportunity had passed me many years ago.” “It’s more special to be able to qualify even if you’re not supposed, but that’s part of the game, right?”
Michael Castillo prepares for his PGA Tour debut at 60 at the Sony Open, Hawaii. (Adam Schupak/Golfweek)
Castillo’s family is Hawaiian golf royalty and the game is their life. Castillo’s father Ronnie Sr. (86), started caddying at Waialae when he was 12 years old and went on to become the head professional at Hawaii Kai Golf Club, Oahu. He rose to vice president of the PGA of America through hard work and a passion about the game. He qualified for the 1976 PGA Championship and 10 Hawaiian Opens. Joey is the Hawaii Ping equipment representative. Joey is also a Tennessee club pro who played in the tournament four more times. Lori, Michael’s older sister, is the most decorated player in the family. She won the U.S. In 1979-1980, Lori won the U.S. Women’s Public Links twice and the Girls Junior Championship. She was also the first female golfer to simultaneously hold two USGA titles (the others being Bobby Jones, Chick Evans and Jack Nicklaus).
To show the family’s status within the game of golf in Hawaii, Rick and his brother held the positions of head professional or director at four courses on the Hawaiian Islands.
Michael is a PGA professional for over 33 years. He has spent the past three years at the Planation Course in Maui. He had a colonoscopy that revealed a tumor about the size of a rice grain. In November, he received what he hopes is his final radiation treatment. He should find out next month if he is in remission.
He said, “Cancer has changed the way that I approach things.”
Castillo, meanwhile, was playing practice rounds and toiling at range for four weeks. Expectations are low. He is most excited about the reunion of his family after 10 years.
He said, “I would love to play to all my potential and see how it turns out but the important thing is that I’m here enjoying this experience.”
