Brotherhood, Birdies, and Island Breeze: A Visiting Bruh Tees It Up at Waikele
- Keith Major
- Mar 16
- 5 min read
There are certain traditions in Omega Psi Phi that don’t require bylaws, minutes, or formal announcements. One of them is simple: when a Bruh touches down on the island, fellowship happens.
And in Hawai‘i, that fellowship often happens on the golf course.
On March 6, 2026 at 12:55 PM, the Aloha Ques welcomed a visiting Bruh to the island for a round at one of O‘ahu’s favorite courses — Waikele Country Club. The day brought together Rod Lewis, 3-90-KD (Last of the Lampados), visiting from Tampa by way of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, along with island Bruhs Rick Ray, 26-90-GE, and Keith Major, 1-92-BM.
Rod was in Hawai‘i enjoying some well-earned vacation time with his wife Carolyn, soaking in the beauty of the islands. But like many Bruhs who travel, the trip wouldn’t have been complete without linking up with the local brothers for a little golf and fellowship.
And Waikele delivered the perfect setting.
Aloha Hospitality, Omega Style
When Bruhs come to Hawai‘i, they quickly learn something: the islands are beautiful, but the brotherhood makes the visit unforgettable.
Rod had already been enjoying the scenery with Carolyn — the ocean views, the mountains, the laid-back island rhythm that visitors quickly fall in love with. But the golf outing gave him something equally special: a chance to connect with Bruhs on the other side of the Pacific who share the same bond forged decades earlier.
As Rod put it during the round:
“Love it, Que. The courses are beautiful. The sights are beautiful.”
And he wasn’t exaggerating.
O‘ahu’s golf courses are known around the world for their scenery, and Waikele Country Club stands out as one of the island’s hidden gems.
Why Waikele Is a Bruh Favorite
Located in Central O‘ahu, Waikele Country Club offers a unique golfing experience. Designed by Ted Robinson, the course combines lush tropical scenery with strategic play that keeps golfers honest from tee to green.
The course sits between the Waianae mountain range and the urban corridor of Pearl City and Waipahu, creating dramatic views that shift throughout the round. Fairways are lined with palms, elevation changes offer beautiful sightlines, and the breeze rolling down from the mountains keeps players guessing about club selection.
But beyond the layout, Waikele has something else going for it.
For the Aloha Ques, Waikele has become a natural rally point for fellowship.
Part of the reason is geography. Rick Ray lives just around the corner, which makes the course an easy meeting spot when Bruhs want to gather, catch up, and enjoy a round together. Over time, it has become one of those informal hubs where visiting Bruhs can quickly plug into the local brotherhood.
In other words, if you’re an Omega man visiting O‘ahu and looking for a game, Waikele is often where the shenanigans begin.
The Round: Rod Came to Play
While the fellowship was strong, the golf itself didn’t disappoint either.
Rod stepped onto the course looking comfortable from the start. For someone visiting from the mainland and seeing the course for the first time, he played with confidence and consistency.
By the end of the round, Rod had posted an impressive 82.
For those who know golf, that’s a solid score anywhere — and especially strong when playing an unfamiliar course.
The swing was smooth, the tempo steady, and the ball striking consistent enough to keep the round competitive.
But the real surprise of the day wasn’t Rod’s performance.
It was Rick’s.
An Unusual Day for Rick
Anyone who has played with Rick Ray (GE '90) knows that he is usually one of the steadiest golfers around. The kind of player who quietly keeps the ball in play, makes smart decisions, and posts respectable numbers without much drama.
But on this particular day?
Rick seemed to have something on his mind.
Shots that normally find the fairway drifted off course. Putts that typically drop slid just past the cup. The rhythm just wasn’t there.
Even seasoned golfers have those days — the kind where nothing quite lines up the way it usually does.
And the Bruhs, of course, noticed.
Golf between friends — and especially between Omega men — comes with a healthy dose of good-natured trash talk.
Which brings us to the running joke of the afternoon.
A New Good Luck Charm
As the round progressed and the scoreboard started telling its story, Keith Major (BM-92) began to notice a pattern.
With Rod in the group, things seemed to be going Keith’s way.
At one point, Keith leaned over and told Rod with a grin:
“Bruh, you might be my new good luck charm.”
Then he doubled down.
Keith joked that the next time he plays Rick, he might have to fly Rod back to Hawai‘i just to sit in the cart.
Why?
Because apparently when Rod is around, victory is assured.
The comment drew laughs, but it captured something deeper about the day: the relaxed camaraderie that makes golf rounds like this memorable.
The Last of the Lampados
Rod Lewis also carries a distinction within Omega that adds an extra layer of pride to the story.
As a 90's Bruh, Rod is known as the “Last of the Lampados.”
Within Omega culture, that phrase carries meaning. It speaks to a line of initiation, a class of brothers who share a common experience and bond that lasts a lifetime.
Meanwhile, 1992 is "That Year". If you know, you know.
Those connections stretch across cities, states, and even oceans.
And on March 6th in Hawai‘i, that bond extended all the way from Alabama to O‘ahu.
Fellowship Beyond the Scorecard
At the end of the day, golf scores fade into memory.
What lasts are the conversations in the cart, the laughs between holes, and the feeling that wherever you travel, Omega men are never strangers.
For Rod, the trip to Hawai‘i included beautiful scenery, time with his wife Carolyn, and a chance to experience the islands in a unique way.
For the Aloha Ques, it was another reminder that the brotherhood spans the globe.
From Alabama to Tampa to Hawai‘i, the bond holds strong.
And sometimes, that bond shows up in the form of a tee time at 12:55 PM and a round at Waikele.
An Open Invitation to Traveling Bruhs
The islands sit nearly 2,500 miles from the mainland, but Omega fellowship travels well.
So if you’re a Bruh planning a trip to Hawai‘i, bring your clubs.
Chances are good that somewhere on O‘ahu — and very possibly at Waikele Country Club — a group of Aloha Ques will be ready to welcome you for a round.
Just be warned.
If Keith Major asks you to ride in the cart for good luck…
you might end up getting invited back for the rematch.
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