GreenBuddy Divot Repair Tool Is One of the Best!
I think that I’ve finally found it! After all these years of using, losing, bending, and breaking 101 different types of divot repair tools, I think I’ve found “the” one. Even better is that it is designed and marketed right here in the Northwest. Introducing GreenBuddyTM, a switch-action tool that is one of my favorite (hence effective) golf related accessories, gifts and promotional items that I’ve discovered in 2010. What’s the big deal? GreenBuddyTM is a compact, sturdy, and fun switch-action tool that is designed to be the safest, most convenient and easy to use divot repair tool available. No smoke and mirrors here fellow hackers! Key features include hardened 420J stainless steel “prongs” that fold away into a light weight but compact polycarbonate handle tool casing. Because the prongs fold away, the tool prevents damage to your pant pockets. Those ugly holes that allow not only your loose change to fall through, but also your lost ball markers will be a thing of the past.
When it is time to repair your divot on the green, the Greenbuddy conveniently snaps open with the push of a button. We all know that repairing divots is easier with a longer tool, so when folded open, The GreenBuddyTM tool is twice as long as an average divot repair tool, making light work of any evidence that you’ve made your mark on the green! And what about those darn ball markets that disappear down the holes in your pocket? Located on the tool is a good-sized ball marker that is held in place without the use of a magnet. The marker is easily removed with one hand, although I’ve found that your thumb is a better option here. Another key feature that I appreciate given that I play in the oft-wet Northwest is you can sink the prongs into the turf and use the cradle on the back to support your putter handle up and out of wet grass while you’re chipping to the green. I am pretty selective about showing fellow golfers a golf accessory, but Golf Buddy is a “goodie” and a solid addition to your golfing getup. The Greenbuddy tool is available at most Dick’s Sporting Goods stores, Golf Galaxy, Puetz Golf, Golf Smiths, Edwin Watts stores, as well as most well-supplied golf shops across the country. For more information, please visit www.greenbuddygolf.com.
Suggested MSRP $14.95.
What’s New?
Golf Today Northwest Edition was again proud to support the recently held Northwest Burn Foundation (NWBF) 6th annual fundraising golf tournament on Monday May 10, 2010 at the challenging Druids Glen course in Covington, WA. Fire Department groups from around Puget Sound, including Seattle, Burien, Maple Valley and Port of Seattle, joined other NWBF supporters such as American Lake Veterans in a shotgun style tournament that kicked off with a fire engine siren start provided by the Black Diamond Fire Department. The day ended with a delicious BBQ dinner and awards for tournament winner, closest to the pin and men’s and women’s longest drive. Emerald Downs, Golf Today Magazine: Northwest Edition and the firm of Keesal, Young and Logan were some of the many sponsors of the event which raised thousands for the Foundations’ programs, which include a camp for young burn survivors age 7-17 and emergency housing at Harborview Medical Center for families of burn patients. The NWBF does a remarkable job and gratefully acknowledges the volunteers, players, Druids Glen and all the tournament donors and sponsors for another very successful tournament and they look forward to 2011. For more information, please visit www.nwburn.org.
Mulligan Is A Game Changer!
I’ll admit it! I’ve had my fair share of incidents where I’ve swung my club with much gusto, only to watch it sail through the air often landing well past the ball. How so? Call it an unwanted side effect of applying sunscreen with my hands only to have an invisible greasy residue remaining and zippo grip on my hands. End result? “Fore”! When I came across Mulligan Grip Enhancing Sunscreen Wipe manufactured by TanMan Sun Control Products, I’ll admit that I balked at the oxymoronic concept of a “grip enhancing sunscreen wipe.” Time to do my own version of Discovery Channel’s “Mythbusters” and test it out. Packaged as an 8ml single use wipe, Mulligan is applied to your skin with your hands as needed prior to sun exposure. The pleasant surprise, however, is the remaining residue on your hands actually improves the “tackiness” of your grip. I first tried it at the office using my putter grip and then out in the real world on the golf course. Well, it didn’t help my game much, but the product does perform as it states. This product is perfect for use anywhere you need sunscreen with the added benefit of an improved grip. As it states on the package, apply before you venture out into the sun and wait 30 seconds for the sunscreen to dry and you are good to go! The 8 ml package is conveniently sized so that it fits in your pocket or store a few in the side pocket of your golf bag this summer. You never know when you’ll need the protection, particularly when you consider you’ll be heaving the clubs for an average of 4.5 hours!
Summer’s in Full Swing, Are You?
Now that we’ve had some good weather and much more time to golf, are you noticing the spots on your body that are beginning to hurt? Some of the pain could be in your lower back, shoulders and neck. You could be experiencing pains in your hips, knees or elbows. This month we are going to address some alternatives to keep those pains from turning into injuries that last longer than the golfing season.
Neck: Let’s start here and work our way down. The neck is often ignored even though it is where a lot of tension can linger. That tension can work it’s way down the body causing pain in the shoulders, back and hips. So keeping the neck muscles loose and relaxed is key. When working on the computer, be sure the screen is eye level and you are spared having to look down or up too far. Lap tops need to be elevated by a pillow or table and having your elbows supported is a bonus. Give your neck some relief by lying on the floor with your knees bent, feet flat, and a small towel rolled up and placed under your neck. This will allow your neck muscles to relax, while putting your head and back in better alignment for your golf swing.
Shoulders: The shoulder is such a complex joint that it can get out of balance in many different ways. The most common is slouching or rounded shoulders. Keeping your shoulders back during the day or while sitting, can feel like work. Think of the area between your ribcage and your collarbone as a single unit and lift your ribcage from the bottom front rib, forward and up. This will automatically pull your shoulders down and back and you will train yourself to hold you in this better position. For those with good posture, this will be easy to maintain. For those of you who do not have good posture, you can practice throughout your day to strengthen the proper muscles and it becomes a good habit! This is very important for maintaining good shoulder plane angle during your swing. It can also help with reverse spine angle.
Low Back: This area can make or break a golfer. As I’ve talked about it before, the lumbar spine region is not meant to rotate-it’s meant to be stable. The areas around it are made for movement: Thoracic spine and hips. So I won’t give you a good stretch for this area because it doesn’t need to be stretched, but I will give one for the upper back. Lie on your back (supine) with your hips on the floor and take a round foam roller or large bath towel, rolled up tightly. Now place the roller or towel perpendicular (make a t-shape with your body) keeping your glutes on the floor, place your arms to the side or behind your head to support your neck, and let your shoulders and neck relax for 15-20 seconds. Then move the roller or towel up or down one vertebrae and hold for 15-20 seconds. This will help open up the chest and you will gain more movement in your thoracic spine. Keeping your lumbar region stable.
Next month we’ll address the hips, knees and elbows, and what you can do to keep these in top shape. Keep challenging your muscles in the gym, so you can reap the benefits on the golf course!
Diana Del Garbino is a certified golf fitness instructor through the Titleist Performance Institute and coaches beginner through advanced golfers at Muscles in Motion-Professional training studio in Lake Oswego Oregon. For more information about the program visit www.mymusclesinmotion.com.
Have You Planned Your Eastern Washington Golf Trip Yet?
A lively editorial in the August 16th 1935 edition of the Spokane Daily Chronicle drew attention to the Lilac City’s burgeoning sporting scene. Yes, the Inland Empire had recently lost its organized baseball league and a United States Lawn Tennis Association tournament had also left town, but in their place citizens could enjoy horse racing at the Playfair Race Track which enjoyed over 100 years of action before finally going out of business in 2000, top-class boxing with numerous bouts the Chronicle described as ‘thrilling and generally above reproach’, badminton, polo, and ‘high caliber’ football at Gonzaga.
Then there was golf. The site of multiple State championships in the early 1930s, Spokane was fast becoming something of a golf town and enjoyed what the newspaper called a ‘Big Share of Golf’. The lovely Manito CC (founded in 1917) and Spokane CC (founded in 1898 but which moved to present location in 1910) offered private country club amenities, and public golfers were well catered for too. Wandemere Golf Course on Highway 395 had been open for six years by the time the Chronicle article appeared, and the publically-owned Downriver was already 19 years old.
The city had identified a need for another public course, however, and it was the upcoming opening of that second municipal layout that had prompted the Chronicle’s enthusiastic assessment of Spokane’s athletic activities. ‘Brilliant Golf Match is Stellar Event on Program’, ran a headline above a story about Portland amateurs Don Moe and Eddie Hogan taking on Spokane professionals Roy Moe (Bill’s brother) and Bill Mader in an exhibition better-ball to be preceded by Mayor Arthur Burch hitting the course’s first official drive.
Everyone who has played Indian Canyon in the 75 years since the Mayor hit that opening tee shot will tell you the hype that surrounded its arrival was warranted in every way imaginable. Building the course cost $200,000, a part of which went to its designer– former US Amateur champion H Chandler Egan who, two years before he began clearing trees, trimming brush and removing stumps at Indian Canyon, carried out an extensive overhaul of Pebble Beach.
Indian Canyon always was characterized by the tall conifers that encircle many of its holes, but if you compare ‘before’ and ‘after’ images of the course, it is clear 21st century golfers must keep their drive on the straight and narrow to an even greater extent than its original devotees. Today’s fairways are never excessively narrow, but wayward drivers are at more of a disadvantage than normal.
Two weeks ago, Indian Canyon appeared at No. 22 in Golfweek’s rankings of the country’s top municipal courses, putting it higher on the list than three PGA Tour venues; TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, AZ; SilverRock in La Quinta, CA; and Brown Deer Park in Milwaukee, WI. It measures only 6,255 yards at full stretch, but has hosted three USGA events in its time - the 1941 and 1984 US Amateur Publinks, and the 1989 US Women’s Amateur Publinks. It is now the home of the Rosauers Open, the largest PGA sectional event in America and won last year by Alex Prugh’s brother Corey, an assistant at Manito CC, who opened with successive rounds of 63 and closed with a 66 for a record 54-hole total of 192, -21.
To those that haven’t yet sampled Indian Canyon, a recommendation that any trip to the eastern side of the State include a visit to a $27 municipal, might seem indigestible. A nice facility for local golfers, they might say, but hardly the sort of thing you’d spend four-and-half hours crossing the State for.
But nine holes in and you’ll realize this is every bit a must-play as either Palouse Ridge or Wine Valley, both of which should be well known to Seattle golfers by now.
Like so many eastern Washington courses, Palouse Ridge ($59 midweek) benefitted from the remarkably mild winter. The exposed John Harbottle design at Washington State University closed from November 21st to February 19th and came out of hibernation in ’spectacular fashion’ according to General Manager Tyler Jones. “The course is looking absolutely great,” says Jones who adds the facility will this year be offering better value green fees. “We included the cart fee in all our rates this year, without raising them.” That means 18 holes with a cart at Palouse Ridge, which will be hosting qualifying for the US Amateur Public Links Championship on June 15th, the inaugural Cougar Celebrity Classic on July 30th, and a qualifier for the US Amateur Championship on August 3rd, costs just $59 midweek - not bad for a world-class course.
Wine Valley ($60 midweek), looking to build on a successful first full year of operation, will this summer become the authentic, genuine, bona fide championship course (not just one whose owners award their course the ‘Championship’ tag because they think it deserves one, or it hosts the club’s very own club championship) it was destined to become when it stages first the inaugural WSGA Men’s and Women’s Mid-Amateur Championships on August 6th and 7th, and then 16 days later, the prestigious Northwest Open which started life in 1913 when English transplant Jim Barnes won with a 72-hole (the event is now contested over 54 holes) total of 304 at Butte Country Club in Butte, MT.
“I imagine the men will be playing a long black tee course for both events while the women will play from a long white course,” says Director of Golf John Thorsnes. “Those tees normally play 6,760 yards and 5,845 and, given the time of year, the course will be playing very firm and fast. Outside play will certainly be affected during those weeks, but I am committed to hosting regional events for the foreseeable future as it is a great way to showcase the course.”
The surprisingly high winter temperatures, lack of snow fall, and unseasonably warm February and March have allowed the course to approach optimum condition considerably earlier in the year than expected. “The weather, or rather lack of it, has us in great condition,” says Thorsnes. “That has been the overriding comment received especially from those that played the course last year and then again this year. We completed our aerification in the middle of March so the greens are already outstanding.”
Another Eastern Washington gem you should make time to visit this summer is the little known Chewelah Golf and Country Club ($27.88 midweek), a couple of miles northwest of Chewelah, a city of roughly 2,000 people 45 minutes north of Spokane (and the scene of a 2005 UX Open qualifying tournament at which I and eight others took a one-hour ski-lift ride from the base at 49° North Mountain Resort to the top of 5,773ft Chewelah Peak and played ten holes that ran up and down various black runs).
No doubt because of its rather remote location, Chewelah GCC’s fame has not spread very far west, but in Stevens and Spokane Counties, Chewelah is very highly regarded. “I personally think Chewelah is in the top five or six golf facilities in the greater Spokane area,” says head professional Jason Pitt. “We are the only 27-hole course in the area, and are typically in better shape than most other courses on this side of the state.” Pitt also alludes to the obliging winter conditions and estimates the course’s greens are currently running at 11 on the stimpmeter. “That’s pretty quick for mid-May around here,” he says. “We are going to be improving a few tee boxes, and have some other some minor touch up projects as well.”
For readers with their own small plane, the Sand Canyon Airport with its 3,448ft long asphalt runway, sits just 200 yards from the clubhouse, and if you can’t manage those last 200 yards by yourself, the club will even come and pick you up.
Chewelah GCC was designed by Keith Hellstrom, and opened in 1976. The Chicagoan also created the very enjoyable Deer Park ($25 midweek), halfway back to Spokane on Hwy 395, and Banks Lake ($27 midweek), located just a couple of miles from Grand Coulee Dam. The 6,127-yard layout surrounded by high canyon walls and step-stopping desert scenery is a fairly flat and straightforward test, but if it’s a nice simple walk at an inexpensive ($27 midweek) facility - one that won’t beat you up and have you looking for wayward drives all afternoon - that you’re looking for then Banks Lake fits the bill perfectly.
This year’s Eastern Washington itinerary is shaping up nicely; you’ll want Indian Canyon, Palouse Ridge and Wine Valley in there, of course, and let this be the season you discover Chewelah GCC, Deer Park or any of Spokane County’s terrific courses; Liberty Lake, Hangman Valley and MeadowWood (all $26 midweek). All you need now is a course or two to break up the journey. The Links at Moses Point ($45 midweek) in Moses Lake is always a good option and Desert Canyon ($59-$69 before 1pm midweek) in Orondo is definitely worth the little trek north from Wenatchee if you’re using Highway 2 (and who wouldn’t?).
Great rates at memorable courses is always a winning combination which is why the Eastern Washington golf trip is always one of the year’s highlights for the Seattle golfer.
Want A Perfect Golf Getaway? Time To Golfinspokane(.com)!
Imagine so many great courses that you’d actually consider playing more than one a day! Some of the nation’s finest municipal courses plus an incredible 260 days of sunshine make the Spokane Region a golfer’s paradise.
Many cities claim to have great golf. Some may even be telling the truth. But when you have to pay an arm and a leg just to step up to the tee… how will you swing your club? Keep your arm, your leg and more of your green. Spokane, where you can tee off on nearly three dozen courses at fantastic prices.
All golf destinations are not created equal. Spokane is proof of this fact. Where else can you play nationally acclaimed public links and pristine resorts whose green fees average a mere $28? Here you’ll be delighted by cliff-top tee boxes leading to rolling Scottish-style terrain! Here… the sheer joy of the game is matched only by the epic views of courses set in indigenous pine forests and alongside rivers and lakes.
Did we mention this is all just a short drive (sometimes minutes) from downtown Spokane? Throw in the region’s incredibly abundant sunshine and it’s impossible to find a better place to bomb your driver, float your wedge and sink your putt.
The first stop on any Spokane golf getaway should be the region’s most historic course, Indian Canyon. Designed in 1930 by H. Chandler Egan, Indian Canyon Golf Course opened in 1935 and has earned a prominent place on the national golf scene as a site for major amateur tournaments. Consistently listed among the top 25 public courses in the United States by Golf Digest, the course provides breathtaking views of north Spokane and Mt. Spokane. Each year Indian Canyon hosts the Rosauers Open, the largest PGA section event in the country. The 1st and 10th tee boxes are elevated and fall away with the canyon terrain, making for two challenging golf shots. Well bunkered with undulating greens, playing the course requires a deft touch to achieve its par 72 over 6,255 yards. Green Fees: Mon-Thurs $27, Fri-Sun and Holidays $29. 4304 W West Dr, 509.747.5353.
Brave enough to play 36 holes in a day? The Creek at Qualchan is just five minutes south of downtown. Known for being tough but relatively level, Spokane’s newest course lies along meandering Latah Creek and features several elevated tees, greens and picturesque ponds that create a sanctuary for birds and indigenous wildlife. The Creek at Qualchan is a member of the Audubon Society. Four sets of tees on this par 72 offers a challenging golf experience for all levels of golfer. Green Fees: Mon-Thurs $25, Fri-Sun and Holidays $29. 301 E Meadowlane Rd, 509.448.9317.
Because the sun is abundant so much of the time in Spokane, you might consider rolling out of bed a little early to catch a quick breakfast at Frank’s Diner downtown before heading out to play more of the Spokane region’s great courses. Frank’s is legendary in these parts and their world famous hash browns with grilled onion gravy is only a small part of the story! The restaurant is housed in a 1906 rail car with original leaded glass windows, ornate woodwork and more. But the staff is really the star at Frank’s where great service is served up with a healthy dose of humor along with the best biscuits west of the Mississippi!
After you eat that huge breakfast at Frank’s, you’ll probably need a little drive time to digest, so it’s great that you’ve set up your morning tee time at MeadowWood Golf Course in Liberty Lake. Just 20 minutes out of downtown Spokane, MeadowWood is one of the most popular golf courses in the Inland Northwest featuring undulating fairways, challenging water hazards, fairway bunkers and spectacular greens. No two holes are alike and you’ll get the opportunity to use every club in your bag on this challenging 6,874 yard par 72 course. When recounting your golfing experiences in Spokane, MeadowWood is definitely a course you will tell your friends about. Green fees: $27.20 Mon-Thurs, $29.29 Fri-Sun and Holidays. 24501 E Valleyway, Liberty Lake, WA, 509.255.9539.
You’ll probably still be trying to work off your breakfast by the time you finish your morning round at MeadowWood. If that’s the case, adjacent to MeadowWood is the newly redesigned Liberty lake Golf Course. The $6 million renovation designed by Phelps Atkinson added more bunkers and water features to improve play. Four new lakes surrounded by river rock, larger and more undulating greens and a wonderfully remodeled clubhouse will definitely add to your experience. The 6,607 yard, par 70 course is great for golfers at all skill levels and offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and Liberty Lake. Green fees: $27.20 Mon-Thurs, $29.29 Fri-Sun. 24403 E Sprague Ave, Liberty Lake, WA, 509.255.6233
Keep in mind, there’s plenty of other stuff to do besides golf when you come to Spokane, so make sure you bring your family with you for your Spokane golf getaway. They can whitewater raft through pristine wilderness just minutes from downtown or feed some of the 42 big cats at Cat Tales Zoological Training Center, where a newborn tiger cub is making her debut this summer! While you’re busy trying to hit a few more balls at some of the 33 golf courses around the Spokane Region, they can pick fruit at more than 30 family farms on Green Bluff where they grow everything from organic apples to alpacas just 20 minutes northeast of downtown. Sixteen wineries featuring some of Washington’s most awarded varietals, sensational shopping at unique boutiques as well as the most popular chains, exceptional restaurants including the “Best Restaurant in Washington” award winner and outrageous outdoor activities from cycling and hiking to bird watching… means your family might actually be so busy dong fun things, they’ll forget you’re still out golfing!
Any way you slice it… we know you’ll love golfing in the Spokane Region. For great golf vacations and hotels that offer green fees and other amenities that cater to golfers, log onto www.golfinspokane.com. Pack your clubs and plan your getaway today!
Carnation Golf Course: Upholding A Forgotten Standard
When Bob and Dick Tachell, twin brothers, were left to their own devices, they would frequent Lake City’s hotspot Meadowbrook Golf Course. It was the 1920’s in what was then a sleepy little town on the water. The golf course, all nine holes, was a popular place for local businessmen. The course, restaurant and card room kept proprietor John Hoetmer busy, but not too busy to keep an eye on Bob and Dick.
The brothers not only learned to play golf at Meadowbrook but what the golf experience is really all about. The mid-1900’s patrons of Meadowbrook Golf Course took part in golf activities as well as social events, belaboring the time required for round and investing themselves in golf’s legendary camaraderie. The love of the game and quiet quest to be a great sportsman, earning a well-deserved pat on the back was certainly there. But there was also that social aspect that made the experience unique. Familiar faces and friendly competitions, picnics and parties.
This would become Bob Tachell’s livelihood.
Fast forward to 1949. The Prohibition that aided Meadowbrook’s popularity in the ’20s and ’30s was over and Lake City was growing quickly thanks to the end of World War II. John Hoetmer had moved on to become Head Golf Professional at another facility. Bob Tachell, now married with three children, was ready to take Mr. Hoetmer’s spot.
So, Bob and his wife, Eve, in partnership with the Adair family and later the Burns family, took over Meadowbrook Golf Course. Just as Lake City’s population was growing quickly, the number of people flocking to the golf course was unprecedented. You could attribute it to the fine job Bob and Eve were doing or the lack of alternative activities in the area. Or you could recognize that the television and Arnold Palmer came to be at the same time. Bob and his wife, now with four children, kept busy with all that is required to maintain a golf course while keeping the golf experience intact.
While Meadowbrook Golf Course was thriving, the area was growing exponentially. Lake City, now annexed by Seattle, was due for a few changes to accommodate a growing population. The Tachell and Burns families fought long and hard, but eventually lost their golf course in 1961 for the sake of a new high school. So, the land that once housed a glacier followed by Native Americans, a German farming community, then Meadowbrook Golf Course would now become home to Nathan Hale High School.
A few years later, Bob was called back to the golf industry. Given the opportunity to build and operate a 9-hole course in Woodinville, Mr. Tachell was back at it. While the quaint course, Brookside, was in its infancy, Bob had the opportunity meet Fred Ewing and Frank Yoshitake. The future of Brookside was in question with the land proving to be merely a platform for another real estate venture-a “Street of Dreams” luxury home development, but the three gentlemen, fast friends and golf enthusiasts, found that their common ground would lend itself to an easy business partnership.
While Arnold Palmer had his sights set on the 1966 Master’s Tournament, taking 4th and winning $5700, Frank, Bob, and Fred had their sights set on turning a former sheep pasture into an unexpectedly phenomenal and beautiful course. A year and a half later, May of 1967, the project was complete and Carnation Golf Course was ready for the public. The three families who took a divide-and-conquer approach to building and operating the course were thrilled when the grand opening was met with fanfare and excitement. To everyone’s benefit, Bob Tachell, who was key in the construction and design of the course, was best suited to run the shop. An easy man to get along with, Bob set the tone.
Eventually, Frank Yoshitake sold his shares back to Bob and Fred, and both the Tachell and Ewing families were hard at work at Carnation when Bob’s son Dan joined the fun. But Dan did not come alone. Bonnie, Dan’s wife, and two children became fixtures at Carnation just as Dan had at Meadowbrook. Dan’s early years at Meadowbrook, however, were marked by learning the game and learning his dad’s faultless style. Now armed with his Class A PGA status and an 11-year-old daughter willing and able to cut green after green, Dan was ready to take over Carnation.
So the transition began. With all of the shifts in ownership you would think that the course suffered or that customer care became a joke. So often is the case but not with the Tachell family, who by 1980 were sole owners. While Dan was busy fulfilling his duties as Head Pro, Bob taught his grandson Chad the finer points of fitting and re-gripping clubs-a valuable skill for a teen to have. Chad also learned, not by strict instruction but by demonstration, that a cheerful attitude makes all the difference. The course prospered in the 80’s and 90’s with head pros from far and wide bringing their clubs to Carnation Golf Course and calling it home. Having the course filled by golfers and employees alike who treasure the game and deep friendships was the perfect ending for Bob Tachell.
Today the course is just as it should be-gorgeous and cared for. Carnation Golf Course has amenities that you would expect. The food at K.AT’s Restaurant, a pro-shop, and an endless driving range will make your afternoon fun. You can take lessons and hold events here, too. But the real charm of golfing at Carnation is the peace you will find on the course and the friendly vibe in the clubhouse. Chad Tachell, once a rookie club-fitter, is now the sole owner of the golf course, abiding by his grandfather’s wisdom that you should always keep your feet in the cart and cherish relationships.
A simple philosophy to treat people well is what keeps the staff at Carnation Golf Course busy. Those who want to come out and play a round are absolutely welcome to do just that. When you make your way to the course, though, you should be prepared to become instant friends with Dan (do golfers ever really “retire”?), as well as Jeff Tachell, Head-Pro. Ray Carlton, Dan’s father-in-law, will make you feel right at home. And then there is Bob Tachell’s great-grandson, Keagan, age 3, who will give you free swing tips after he is done playing a round with Joseph Sasaki, age 92. Yes, the spirit of golf, circa 1920’s, is what you can expect at Carnation Golf Course . For more information about Carnation Golf Course, please visit www.carnationgolf.com.
The PRO-File
Peggy Atwood
Occupation: Head Pro–Centennial Golf Course
Location: Medford, Oregon
Pro Status: LPGA Class A
Peggy Atwood has been in the business for 18 years. As one of only 1200 LPGA members when she started out in the golf business, and the first female head pro in Oregon that wasn’t an owner, she has seen the industry grow and change considerably over the years. When she started at Oak Knoll Golf Course in Ashland, in 1992, she was literally teaching between the fairways. “In between watching the golfer’s swing, I’d watch out for incoming golf balls,” she says. After Oak Knoll, Cedar Links, in Medford, hired her not only as a teaching pro, but also to expand the woman player base. After five years with Cedar Links, she went to Quail Point Golf Course, where she was in charge of all aspects of running the club house, teaching, and tournaments. Today, she is in charge of the golf shops at Centennial Golf Course and Quail Point, outside services, and still finds time to provide lessons.
Her philosophy is to provide the golfer a good time. “Golfers are our business,” she says. “It’s our job to help them have a good time.” Being in charge of outside services gives her a chance to make sure that happens. She views the marshals not as policemen to catch someone doing wrong, but more as teachers of the golfing public on how to be efficient in their pace of play and golf course usage. “Instead of telling a group they are behind, we say, ‘You’ve fallen out of position, how can I help you?’”
As a teacher, she looks at the golfer’s abilities. “I look at the person’s body type, flexibility, and their flaws,” says Peggy with a smile. “Nobody has a perfect swing. Look at Jim Furyk,” she points out. “I try to help the golfer use what they have, to hit the best shot they can, with the goal in mind of getting the ball to the hole.” Peggy is good with young kids as well as adults. She can get a beginner hitting the ball in minutes, and she can tune up a regular in no time at all.
In the golf business, people come and go frequently. Peggy Atwood is a main stay in the business of golf.
New President at the Pacific Northwest Golf Association
The Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA) has elected Dr. Jack Lamey as its new president at their 111th Annual Meeting, which was held April 30-May 1 at Bellingham (Wash.) Golf and Country Club. Traditionally, the PNGA President serves two consecutive one-year terms.
Dr. Lamey has been on the PNGA Board of Directors for six years, serving as Vice President for three years. He was instrumental in establishing the PNGA Cup in 2006. This Ryder Cup-style championship features some of the most notable men and women amateur golfers in the region with 12-member teams representing the regional golf associations that makeup the Pacific Northwest Golf Association, which includes Golf British Columbia, Idaho Golf Association, Oregon Golf Association and Washington State Golf Association.
Lamey also carries an impressive competitive record, which includes being a two-time PNGA Senior Men’s Amateur champion and being selected to compete on many Senior Hudson Cup Teams. Dr. Lamey, of Seattle Golf Club, is retired after being a Doctor of Obstetrics and Gynecology for 30 years.
Dr. Lamey is replacing Cliff Shahbaz, of Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, Ore., as President. Shahbaz served a three year term as PNGA President and was instrumental in the final purchase of The Home Course in DuPont, Wash. in 2007. Shahbaz will continue to serve on the PNGA Board of Directors as the Immediate Past President.
Also elected at the meeting were Ben Stodghill, of Bellevue (Wash.) Municipal, who will serve as the new Vice President of Zone 3, replacing Dr. Lamey; and Ed Burke, of Hayden Lake Country Club in Idaho, who will be the new Vice President of Zone 5. Other Vice Presidents include Larry Giustina, of Eugene (Ore.) CC, for Zone 1; Kent Brown, of Dominion Meadows in Colville, Wash., for Zone 2; and Peter Fibiger of Olympic View GC in Victoria, B.C., for Zone 4.
Dale Jackson, of Royal Colwood in Victoria, B.C. was elected as the new Secretary, replacing Robin Cole of Yakima (Wash.) CC.; and Robin Anderson, of Ellensburg (Wash.) GC, is the Treasurer. Cole and M.G. Davis (former Immediate Past President) will now serve as additional members of the PNGA Board of Directors.
Golf Today Northwest Edition has a New Golfing Newbie!
We have watched with interest over the past year as Dan the Golfing “Newbie” progressed from golfing neophyte to golfing fiend (well, close to it), and followed his journey of self-improvement with the assistance of our friends at GolfTEC Seattle. While Dan is now proficient and familiar with terms such as shoulder turn, tilt, lag, and weight shift, I am now excited to introduce our readers to the next Golfing “Newbie.” Yes, we now shift our attention to someone who is no stranger to golf clubs or tee times; however, the clubs she is most familiar with belong to me-her husband-as are the tee times she hears about. Sydney, though she grew up in Eastern Washington (Spokane to be exact) where fabulous courses such as Indian Canyon, Downriver and Qualchan were just a short drive away, she never learned the game. Certainly Sydney will do well with GolfTEC on her side plus she is not afraid of a tough workout nor will her competitive spirit allow her to meander through this opportunity. After watching Dan Stark, the Original Newbie, learn “the ropes”, Sydney is looking forward to many of the same experiences. Watch with us as Sydney, a Montana native and working mother of two, sets off on her journey to become a skilled and confident golfer. Sydney’s column, “The Newbie”, will begin in next month’s issue of Golf Today.
St. Andrews To Honour Golfing Greats
Three of the world’s greatest golfers are to be honored by Scotland’s oldest university on the eve of the 139th Open Championship at St Andrews.
In a public ceremony, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Padraig Harrington will be awarded Honorary Degrees by the University of St Andrews at the town’s Younger Hall on Tuesday, July 13, 2010.
The trio has won 18 major championships, including 9 British Open titles, over the course of the last half-century. The University will award each of them the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa in recognition of their achievements and outstanding contributions to the game of golf.
University Principal Dr Louise Richardson said, “Individually and collectively, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Padraig Harrington exemplify excellence, drive and achievement at the highest levels of professional sport.
“This will be an opportunity for St Andrews and Scotland to honor their determination and achievement in the game of golf and the pursuit of excellence. We are absolutely delighted that they have agreed to accept these Honorary Degrees at the home of golf on the eve of the 150th anniversary of the Open Championship.”
Two-times Open champion Padraig Harrington said, “I am very proud to be awarded an Honorary Degree from the University of St Andrews and I am really looking forward to receiving it at the public ceremony in July during the Open Championship week. It is fantastic to be recognized for this honor but what makes it even more special is that I will be receiving it alongside golfing legends Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson, whose achievements and contributions to the game I have admired and aspired to throughout my career.”
Previous recipients of Honorary Degrees from St Andrews include golf legends Jack Nicklaus, Seve Ballesteros, Gary Player, Colin Montgomerie, Nick Faldo, Peter Thomson and Peter Allis. All have been invited to this year’s ceremony to witness their fellow professionals receive their degrees.
Founded in the 15th century, St Andrews is Scotland’s first university and the third oldest in the English speaking world.
The awards ceremony - a traditional feature of Open Week in St Andrews - will take place at 3 p.m. on July 13th in the University’s graduation venue at Younger Hall in North Street, St Andrews. Members of the public are warmly invited to attend the ceremony. Tickets are free and interest may be registered by email to golfgrad@st-andrews.ac.uk
American Lake Golf Course Honors Joseph “Mike” Kearney
In remembrance of Joseph “Mike” Kearney.
On the 26th of April 2009, Joseph Mike Kearney died of heart failure. He was laid to rest on the 7th of May at the Tahoma National Cemetery. Mike was an Air traffic Controller for the U.S Air Force for 20 years and he was also a Vietnam Veteran.
Mike Kearney, the on site manager of the American Lake Veteran Golf Course, completed many tasks to improve the facility. The first project that he completed was to put in a sprinkler system. We had the help of many Golf Course Volunteers to get the task completed so that the greens and the fairway would be able to get watered every day. The next task he completed, with the help of Mr. Pepper Roberts, was obtaining drivable golf carts for the handicapped golfers. All of the fold carts were all done by donations.
His next task that he completed was to put up a covered picnic area for all of the course tournaments. This was accomplished by the Volunteers and donations from other golfers. The other tasks that he completed was to put up a covered driving range and acquire some cooking equipment so that he could have someone to cook the food for the Golf Course Tournaments. In 2008, Mr. Kearney was awarded the 2008 American Hospital Award for Volunteer Excellence. The American Lake Veterans Golf Course is run by volunteers with approximately 150 personnel.
Mike Kearney will be missed by all the Volunteers and also all the golfers that played the course.
It’s just like I told his wife and other family members that when a Bald Eagle flew over the courses it would be Mike returning to watch over the golf course, his family, his friends, and all the golfers.
Mike Kearney was the best Golf Course Manager that I have personally ever met. He was a friend to all the volunteers and golfers. I will miss Mr. Joseph “Mike” Kearny very much. He was a good husband and a great father, but most of all Mr. Kearney was a great man and a great friend.
Rest in Peace Mike Kearney,
Written by,
Elmer (Steve) Stevens
For more information on American Lakes Veterans Golf Course or to make a donation, please visit www.veteransgolf.org. A golf tournament honoring Mr. Kearney will be held at American Lake Veterans Golf Course on August 14, 2010.
