Are You Ready For The 6th Annual Boeing Classic Champions Tour Event?
August 5, 2010 by sydney
Filed under Featured Articles
by Cameron Healey
What began as the newly minted “Boeing Greater Seattle Classic” in 2005 and the brand new stop on the PGA Tour Champions Tour, The Boeing Classic (as it is now known) now attracts an incredible field of 78 Champions Tour golf pros, including rookies Fred Couples, Corey Pavin, Mark Calcavecchia, Paul Azinger, Tom Lehman, and Tom Pernice Jr, among others (”rookies” doesn’t quite sound right, does it?), and has perhaps more importantly contributed nearly $3 million over the last 5 years for The Heart Institute at Virginia Mason and other local charities. While the tournament beneficiary in 2010 is The Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason, a worldwide leader in autoimmune disease research, and The Boeing Company now firmly entrenched as the title sponsor, Seattle’s very own premier PGA Champions Tour event continues to get better every year.
The field is always competitive and despite the often relaxed and congenial atmosphere at the challenging 7,264 yard, par-72 Jack Nicklaus-signature TPC Snoqualmie course, these guys come to Seattle to win. Though a young event, you would be remiss to ignore the seven-way tie in 2007 or the fact that Tom Kite has won twice here. The memory of the mini duel between Mark O’Meara and defending Champ Loren Roberts last year affirms that The Boeing Classic is fun but not without skilled players. And with hometown favorite Fred Couples sitting atop the leader board of the Charles Schwab Cup and the likes of Tom Lehman, Nick Price, and Bernhard Langer hot on his heels, these legends are slated to provide Northwest patrons with an opportunity to witness swashbuckling golf in a setting that is punctuated by the impressive Mount SI and the beauty of the panoramic Snoqualmie Valley. Yes, the view from the club house down the 18th fairway is tough to compare! In fact, TPC Snoqualmie was awarded “best view from the clubhouse”on the Champions Tour.
These guys love to come to Seattle and genuinely enjoy the opportunity to get up close and personal with Northwest fans. “The Champions Tour professionals really enjoy playing in the Pacific Northwest in front of our crowds, with great weather and beautiful scenery. This is a stop on the Tour that they have told me they really look forward to each year, and we love having them here,” says Tournament Director, Michelle DeLancy.
While Northwest golf aficionados are naturally excited and appreciative to have the likes of the U.S. Senior Open and U.S. Amateur come to town this year, the Northwest has not exactly been crowned the USGA event capital; however, that is changing with Chambers Bay slated to host the 2015 U.S. Open! Also, consider that since The Boeing Classic event began in 2005, nearly 300,000 fans have stamped their collective seal of approval and adorned the Boeing Classic one of their perennial favorites. You probably should too! This event is here to stay!
Areas You Don’t Want To Miss On The Course
Canyon Club
This club was so popular in 2009, that they have doubled the size of the hospitality suite that is located on the 14th green. The energy of the crowd and the view point looking out towards the tee box to watch PGA TOUR Champions Tour pros decide whether or not to hit across the canyon is second to none. And, if you want a break from all the ‘Canyon’ action, and want to see who’s teeing off from the 18th tee box, all you have to do is literally turn your head and from the sun deck on the back of the Canyon Club watch your favorite pros twice! Canyon Club passes are available for $50/day and includes Canyon Club access, beer, wine, soda or water and a hot dog or wrap. Great value! Do keep in mind, however, that the cost of this pass is in addition to the cost of a daily, weekly or tournament ticket.
In addition, new for 2010, patrons can enjoy a viewing area on the 9th green, which is open to the public. This truly is a great spot to watch the players tackle the par 3,207 yard ninth hole while enjoying a beverage from the bar on the sundeck on top of the bleachers.
Delta Global Pavilion
Delta Global Pavilion* Passes
The Delta Global Pavilion is the swanky luxury skybox on the 18th green, complete with leather couches, flat screen TVs and a sundeck complete with a gorgeous view of the Snoqualmie Valley. Now if the allure of the ever present selection of great food and beverages doesn’t convince you this is the place to be, then perhaps the knowledge that a Champions Tour professional will stop by for a visit on the Friday (8/27) and Saturday (8/28) might just seal the deal! Yes, just make sure that it’s a glass of orange juice in your hand when someone like defending champ Loren Roberts or Freddie Couples comes barreling over to say hello! One day pass’s can be purchased for only $150.
What Makes The Boeing Classic Special Check List!
You’ve most likely experienced the Recent U.S. Senior Open at Sahalee and now wonder what makes the Boeing Classic special to Washington State. Of course, not to take anything away from the excitement generated by the Senior Open, but the following is a quick hit list of what makes the Boeing Classic so special to Northwest patrons each and every year!
- The Boeing Classic is an annual event. Yes, this is the 6th year, and more than $3 million has been raised for local charities.
- Friday is FREE gate admission thanks to Golf Galaxy
- A Boeing Jet flies over the course to officially kick off the tournament on Friday, August 27th at 11:20am. As a licensed pilot, this is a personal favorite for me! Is there any other PGA Event that kicks off this way?
- Local community members and business executives sit on the tournament committee, and local partners and supporters return to the tournament each year. They have a vested interest in both the charity cause and success of the Champions Tour Event.
- 1000 volunteers each year and over 250 are returning for their 6th Boeing Classic. Volunteers pay to volunteer, so more money is redirected back to the tournament beneficiary.
- Champions Tour players are truly fan friendly. You can play in a Pro-Am with them during the week, and watch them in tournament competition later that weekend. They talk with fans as they walk the course, and autographs are available post round.
- Parking is close to the course, with easy access to the Interstate 90 free way.
Boeing Classic Week of Events
Monday, August 23rd
8:30am, Seahawks Rumble at the Ridge
Join Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor inductees, NFL Hall of Famers, plus local and national celebrities for the 2010 Rumble at the Ridge golf tournament. Imagine being paired with a celebrity golfer where each player in your foursome receives a special tee prize bag and complimentary food at four holes during the round. Breakfast is provided and you’ll enjoy a fabulous BBQ and Awards Ceremony afterwards.
Tuesday, August 24th
12:00pm - Youth Clinic
Wednesday, August 25th
Korean Air Pro-Am Day One
The Korean Air Pro-Am provides an opportunity for corporate partners to play with a legend of golf during practice rounds at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge and in the process contribute to the charitable proceeds raised for the Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason. 56 foursomes will play in the two-day event, with every amateur team paired with a Champions Tour player. The pros and their caddies are true ambassadors of the game and engage with their groups for a dynamic and one-of-a-kind experience.
7:30am Morning Shotgun
1:45pm Afternoon Shotgun
Thursday, August 26th
Korean Air Pro-Am Day Two
7:30am Morning Shotgun
1:45pm Afternoon Shotgun
Friday, August 27th
FREE Gate Admission to all fans courtesy of Golf Galaxy
11:20am Boeing jet flyover *subject to change
11:30am Boeing Classic Round 1
Saturday, August 28th
9:00am Walk to Unlock the Immune System (5k walk on the course for charity)
11:30am Boeing Classic Round 2
Sunday, August 29th
11:30am Championship Sunday
6pm Boeing Classic 2010 Champion trophy presentation on 18th green
How Can I Get In On The Action?
Tickets are available at www.boeingclassic.com and are truly inexpensive. You’ll still have a bunch of moss remaining in your wallet after forking over only $20 for daily tickets, weekly $60, and three day tournament over the weekend $40, which is just about the price of replacing a dozen Taylormade Pentas and, of course, you can come out to Snoqualmie on Friday FREE courtesy of Golf Galaxy.
Interested in Volunteering? You don’t have to be a golfer to volunteer. Volunteer opportunities are still available; in fact, volunteers receive a great package including shirts, tickets, and great prizes.
Want to Participate By Playing in the Pro-Am? Foursomes and Individual playing spots are still available but going fast! You can play with legends like Tom Kite, Fred Funk, Mark O’Meara and more! You can also bid on a chance in being paired with Fred Couples!
Interested In Donating to the Event Charity: The Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason? “Birdies for Charity” lets you guess how many birdies will occur during the tournament. Make a guess and win great prizes like a Pro-Am playing spot, Seahawks VIP experience or a Microsoft Xbox.
Feel Like Taking In The Fresh Air and Views of The Snoqualmie Valley? Perhaps you would like to exercise. “Walk to Unlock the Immune System” a 5k walk on Saturday, August 28th 9am walk beginning on the 10th tee and finishing on the 18th green just in time to see the first tee time of the day. Enjoy the course without golfers playing, take in the scenery including views of the beautiful Snoqualmie Falls, and get some exercise while helping to raise funds for Autoimmune Disease Research. The walk is $25 and includes free admission to the tournament on Saturday.
The 54 holes of tournament competition begin Aug 27-29. For more information, please visit www.boeingclassic.com.
Vancouver Island Is “The” Best Golf & Spa Destination!
August 5, 2010 by sydney
Filed under Featured Articles
What do you think about when you hear Vancouver Island? For me, Victoria, British Columbia immediately comes to mind with the spectacular Butchart Gardens and old English downtown sites like The Empress Hotel and Parliament Buildings. Don’t forget about the Inner Harbour and Fishermen’s Wharf with amazing fish and chips! While these are all fun to experience, Victoria and Vancouver Island also have many wonderful golf courses and spa options to enjoy. While I was attending the Telus World Skins event in June, I had the opportunity to explore some of what Vancouver Island has to offer outside of the typical tourist activities.
Vancouver Island’s Golf Trail includes 12 championship golf courses and covers 250 km (155 miles) of Vancouver Island. It begins in Victoria with five courses (Olympic View, Highland Pacific, Arbutus Ridge and the Bear Mountain Resort Mountain and Valley courses), travels north through Cowichan Valley wine country (Cowichan Golf & Country Club and Duncan Meadows Golf & CC) towards the ocean beaches of Parksville and Qualicum Beach (Morningstar Golf Course, Pheasant Glen Golf Resort and Fairwinds Golf Club) and comes to an end in Campbell River (Crown Isle Resort & Golf Community and Storey Creek Golf and Rec Society).
The site of the 2010 Telus World Skins event, Bear Mountain Resort Mountain Course opened in 2003. Two years later it was rated the #1 golf course in all of Canada. Co-designed by Jack Nicklaus and his son Steve, it is a par 72, 7212 yard, 18-hole course; 5014 yards from the front tees. Its elevation climbs to 1100 ft. changing throughout which lends to amazing views of the Victoria Harbour, coastline and Olympic Mountain range. The course includes a par 3, 141 yard 19th hole with an incredible panoramic view - perfect for the friendly wager among your foursome. In 2009, the Valley Course opened featuring wider fairways and larger greens at 6807 yards and par 71 and 4674 yards for the ladies. Bear Mountain Resort has resort accommodations of 156 guest rooms available at The Westin Bear Mountain.
After enjoying a round at either the Mountain or Valley course (or both), I recommend taking a break and treating yourself to a spa treatment at the onsite Sante Spa. In addition to traditional spa choices, the Sante Spa offers three “Golf Treatments” at Bear Mountain. A great option for couples, The Mulligan is a river rock foot soak with feet and lower leg massage accompanied by the refreshment of a cold beverage on the patio overlooking the grounds with stunning views of the mountains. Add a pedicure for an extra treat. Fore the Face is a specially designed facial which works to replenish moisture and reverse skin damage from hours on the links. It is complemented by a scalp massage. The Eagle Massage focuses on the lower back, shoulders and arms to relieve aching joints and muscles after a round or two on the course.
For dinner, visit any of the four dining options at Bear Mountain Resort: Panache for fine dining, Copper Rock Grill & Lounge, Kuma Sushi or Jack’s Place sport pub. You may also choose to head back to Victoria’s Inner Harbour for fresh seafood or brew pub fare.
While still in Victoria proper, take pleasure in another spa treatment at Spa at the Grand which is located inside the Hotel Grand Pacific in Victoria’s Inner Harbour. It has a relaxing Asian feel and offers a full menu of spa services. I highly recommend the Ylang-Ylang: De-Stress Body Treatment, a very gentle exfoliation, wrap, massage combination that will revive you and prepare you for a day outdoors. Spa at the Grand also has packages available for him and her. For Her includes a facial, eye treatment, manicure, pedicure and Swedish massage. For Him is comprised of a facial, pedicure and sports massage.
After the event had concluded at Bear Mountain, I drove up island to the Parksville/Qualicum Beach area where there are three courses to choose from a mere 30 minutes apart: Pheasant Glen, Morningstar and Fairwinds. Before my first round, I checked into the Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort. They offer many lodging choices from cottages to ocean front condominiums and spa bungalows. Its ocean-side location is breathtaking. When I checked into my room at 11am, I couldn’t believe the beach stretched out over 3km at low tide. Right outside your room is the opportunity for the warmest beach swimming in Canada once the water returns. Once settled, I headed to town and had lunch on the seaside patio where there is a brand new boardwalk that spans the length of the beach which invites one to explore.
I played twilight on the back nine at Morningstar. Several holes require strategically placed shots whether you want to lay up to avoid a stream or sand trap or try to clear them in hopes of shaving off a stroke. Fairway bunkers challenge on much of the course as well. Bullfrogs serenade during afternoon play and eagles can ruin your concentration if they fly overhead during your backswing.
Canadian golf architect Les Furber designed both the Morningstar and Fairwinds courses with undulating greens that are either long and narrow or short and wide. Morningstar’s signature 12th hole demands a left favored fairway shot followed with a tricky approach over a railroad tied bunker that nearly lines the entire front of the wide rolling green. I need to play that hole again! Morningstar has hosted many Canadian Pro events and measures in at 7018 yd, par 72 from the back tees and 5313 yd, par 72 from the front tees.
Pheasant Glen in Qualicum Beach may be my new favorite course. It probably has something to do with the fact that I broke “100″ for the first time after playing for ten years. It wasn’t just a 99 either, it was a 96! I even scored par on the (ladies’) hardest hole. The course nicknamed “Nature’s Golf Course” is so peaceful and relaxing that I was put at ease immediately. It is tucked away from highways with no home construction; so there is no fear of an errant shot ruining your day by landing in someone’s yard. Pheasant Glen is a walkable course with an amazing view of Mount Arrowsmith. My biggest obstacles of the day were the par 3 holes, none of which I could par. Grassy meadows and creeks adorn the wide open front nine, while the back 9 is heavily treed with Douglas Fir and feels like a different course. In 2005, Pheasant Glen was renovated from a par 69 course to a 6700 yard championship par 72 by modifying holes 16 through 18, which then received the distinction of “the three toughest finishing holes in BC” by the BCGA Executive Director of 2006 & 2007. The forward tees measure in at 4812 yard par 72. If you should desire to brush up on your game while on vacation, the Brent Morrison Golf Academy at Pheasant Glen offers private instruction, semi-private instruction for groups of 2-4 or game evaluation where the instructor joins you for a 9-hole round to see you in action and share tips.
The Grotto Spa at Tigh-Na-Mara is the largest resort spa in British Columbia and the #1 Spa in Western Canada as ranked by Spas of America compared to over 700 others spa and wellness facilities in North, Central and South America. The Grotto is a 2500 square foot cavern-like warm water mineral pool with a two-story cascading waterfall, accompanied by a whirlpool. There is a private patio if you choose to curl up with a magazine or book before or after your treatment. Natural minerals and trace elements refresh the body and senses. Use of the mineral pool is complimentary with any spa treatment on your day of service. Grotto Spa suites with soaking tubs for two are offered for couples wishing to share the spa experience. Packages include wine and cheese & fruit plate or champagne with chocolate covered strawberries. Facials, manicures and other treatments may be added as well.
After an incredible facial, I headed upstairs to the Tree Top Tapas & Grill for endless tapas. Yes, “endless”. The grill is available solely for the spa’s robed guests. The Chef’s Choice selection is the way to go. Over three hours later, I was incredulous at the fresh assortment and combinations that Chef Eric Edwards showcased from the gazpacho duo shooters of spicy tomato & red pepper and sweet honeydew & cucumber to the grilled flatbread with caramelized onions, goat cheese and bacon; the crab and shrimp roll with avocado mousse; not to mention the salmon, lamb, duck, chicken, pork and snapper creations. It was all magnificent and accompanied by a nice variety of BC wine. Tigh-Na-Mara prides itself on featuring West Coast cuisine throughout all of their dining facilities and uses organic and locally grown products as much as possible.
The next morning, I checked out of Tigh-Na-Mara and drove south towards to Nanaimo to play Fairwinds. Fairwinds boasts over 70 sand bunkers and beautiful ocean views and is often referred to as a “thinking golfers” course. The signature 16th hole is 330 yard hole from an elevated tee box with water to the left and bunkers short of the green on both sides. Don’t get distracted by the amazing view of the ocean in the distance. Fairwinds is 6204 yards, par 71 from the back tees and 5173 yards, par 71 from the front. The greens are immaculate and wildlife can be seen throughout your round. I witnessed a mama deer with her fawn nibbling on shrubs on the practice green before my round and then saw them again later on the 9th hole strolling along the water.
In June 2009, Fairwinds was certified by the Audobon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for its commitment to Environmental Stewardship. One of only eight British Columbia golf courses with this distinction, it has demonstrated environmentally friendly practices in Environmental Planning, Wildlife and Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use and Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation and Water Quality Management.
Now that I have tempted you with all that Vancouver Island has to offer, aren’t you ready to start planning your own vacation? With very mild temperatures, Vancouver Island is the perfect year round golf and spa destination, so get your clubs and travel documents ready! For more information, please visit www.golfvancouverisland.ca
Pure Indulgence: Northwest Wine Country Golf
July 8, 2010 by sydney
Filed under Highlights From Last Month...
An Associated Press article dated March 31st and which appeared in the Washington Post, LA Times, New York Times and on ABCnews.com describes how the Washington wine industry is no longer the cottage industry it was 20 years ago or the slighter larger niche industry it had grown into by the turn of the century. With over 650 licensed wineries, it is now a major player in the State’s economy, generating over $3 billion annually and ranking second only to California (in the US at least) in terms of size, output and, to a lesser degree, quality. Indeed, Washington’s wines have been competing very favorably with the best that the Golden State can produce for quite a while now. In Wine Spectator’s 2009 list of the world’s top 100 wines, Washington had eight entries compared with 15 from California.
It’s a similar story with the two States’ golf industries. At last count, there were somewhere between 900 and 950 courses in California while Washington possessed a little over 300. And while California always boasts a dozen or more courses on the popular national magazines’ various ‘best of’ lists - public, private, municipal, new, modern, classic, resort, etc - Washington can rely on Chambers Bay, Gold Mountain, Semiahmoo, Palouse Ridge, Sahalee and now Wine Valley, which celebrated its first birthday on June 6th, to ensure it attracts its share of national and international attention.
Wine Valley, the Evergreen State’s newest great course, may be a 2009 vintage but it looks considerably older. It fits into the landscape like a glove and shares numerous characteristics with many of America’s classic courses. It’s very picturesque for one, but didn’t manufacture its good looks by resorting to the sadly clichéd ‘flowers and fountains’ approach to beautification that so many golf courses around the world have felt the need to adopt. Rather, it let Mother Nature toot her own considerable trumpet.
One wonders how different this course would have looked had it been built in the 1980s or ’90s. No doubt, a million gallons of water a day plus a gazillion tons of fertilizer, pesticide and whatever else the superintendent had knocking around the maintenance shed would have been used, getting it to look as green as possible. A good deal more earthwork would have been necessary in order to establish the fake mounds and faux-dunes that were all the rage at the time; petunias and half a dozen other alien plant species would have been introduced to give the place a dash of much-needed color and a large lake would almost certainly have been dug in front of the 18th green, adding a little drama to what is now a very boring hole (I’m joking, of course; it’s actually a rollicking good three-shotter).
Thankfully, with the game moving slowly out of its much maligned period of gratuitous over-consumption, Wine Valley could be designed to look and play like a fast-running inland links, making it infinitely more enjoyable than it would have been were it a softened target-style course that required the imagination, strategy and guile of a clueless donkey to play.
Dan Hixson, a young(ish) designer from Portland, saw potential the moment he set foot on site and determined to make Wine Valley enjoyable for all - scratch men looking to beat its par of 72, 25 handicappers looking to beat 100, win a few dollars off their buddies and come home with roughly the same number of balls they started with, plus environmentalists who, with some justification, had grown weary of golf’s huge appetite for environmentally-unsympathetic chemicals. “I was really dedicated to making something sustainable, environmentally-sound and which everyone could get around,” he said shortly after the course opened. “But I also wanted to keep it of high quality and design to stimulate excitement from great players to higher handicaps. John (Thorsnes, Director of Golf) and I discussed at length what we felt were good and bad examples of courses that claimed to be for everyone, but really weren’t. It’s a fine line.”
Hixson remained conscious of that line all 225 days of the construction process, and did an excellent job of remaining on its more desirable side. He had very little experience to draw on having completed only one other solo project - Bandon Crossings in Oregon - but the final result was exactly as he had planned - simultaneously difficult, exacting, straightforward and accommodating, and always enjoyable.
Something else that’s always enjoyable in Walla Walla (or anywhere else for that matter) is a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon or a dry but powerful Syrah such as Dunham Cellars’ 2006 Lewis Vineyard Syrah which was released on March 1st and which, according to the Winemaker Taster’s Notes, is steeped in rich chocolate, caramel and vanilla with a velvety textured mid-palate.
“We’re very excited about it,’ says the cellars’ owner Mike Dunham, whose son Eric is the senior winemaker and who established the winery in an old WW2 aircraft hangar at the city’s regional airport in 1998. “It’s exquisite and has been elevated to ‘Island Wine’ status which means that if I was ever stranded on an island, like Tom Hanks in Castaway, I would be happy if all I had with me was this wine.”
Dunham lives with his wife JoAnne on the 3rd hole at Walla Walla Country Club and is an accomplished player having been part of the Oregon State University golf team back in 1964-65. He won the Walla Walla City Championship in 1960 and was the country club’s champion in 1973, ‘74 and ‘95, the year JoAnne won the Ladies club championship for the fourth time. Golf has long been a passion for Mike Dunham, but it is wine that fills his days now.
The Hangar Lounge tasting room was runner-up in Sunset Magazine’s ‘Best Winery Tasting Room’ competition last year and is, of course, the perfect place to try not only the Syrah, but some of the winery’s other creations such as Three-legged Red named for Eric’s dog Port which he saved (minus his front right leg) from a pit-bull in 1994, and any of the Cabernets which attracted something of a cult following in the 1990s. In addition to them, try the 2006 Pursued by Bear, a wine Eric produced in conjunction with actor Kyle MacLachlan who first became aware of Dunham Cellars when looking for a home-state wine for his wedding reception. Move on to the Jeff Dunham collection that the comedian created with his namesake winery using his on-stage characters for the label.
A visit to Dunham, one of Walla Walla’s 100+ wineries, is certainly recommended especially if you can make it down to celebrate the grape harvest at one of its D-Day events planned for August 27th, 28th and 29th when live music, food to order, wine by the glass and other attractions will be offered.
Of course, Dunham Cellars won’t be the only place combining great wine with live music and food this summer. Leavenworth, home to nine wineries, is the perfect stop-off point before or after a game at Leavenworth or even the Prospector Course at Suncadia 55 miles south on Hwy 97. Known as “The Heart of Washington Wine Country,”® the Tri-Cities region is home to more than 160 wineries all within a one-hour drive.
And following a game at Columbia Point or Horn Rapids in Richland, you should get along to the Barnard Griffin Winery on Tulip Lane for the ‘5 for $5 at 5pm’ event where you can sample five of the cellar’s 15 wines for $5 starting at, yes, 5pm. Also, Tagaris Winery is a must-visit that offers not only award winning wines (look for the Platinum winning 2007 Mourvedre and Malbec) but also the highly patronized Summer Concert Series with live music each Friday and Saturday evenings thru the month of September. Slightly nearer to Seattle, a jaunt around the Lake Chelan AVA with stops at any one of Tsillan Cellars, Tunnel Hill, Nefarious, Chelan Estate or Karma on your way up to Bear Mountain Ranch for one of Washington’s most scenic rounds is just about the perfect way to spend a summer weekend.
To steal a familiar line that Gary Player, Arnold Palmer and Ben Crenshaw use in their adverts for the World Golf Hall of Fame in Florida; if you love Washington wine and you love its golf courses, you’ve got to go.
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Golf & Wine In Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valley
July 8, 2010 by sydney
Filed under Highlights From Last Month...
No, it’s not likely the pig-tailed prom queen on the golf course beverage cart is going to be ditching her ice-chilled stock of beer for Australian Syrahs and Oregon Pinot Noirs any time soon. After all, golf and beer go together like cake and ice cream. But, thanks to wine regions like Napa, Niagara - and one you’ve rarely, if ever, heard about, Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valley - golf and wine are getting paired together more and more often. And, if you’re like me, the palate can definitely make room for the combination.
With Victoria sprawling likes it’s never sprawled before, the Cowichan Valley, located a short 45-minute drive “up island” over the Malahat, is having an awakening, of sorts. People are coming. People are buying property. People are finding out about the wines. And people are discovering that the fairways and greens here are some of the finest on the island.
The Cowichan Valley, or “The Warm Land,” as it means in the language of the local First Nations people, is a lush, farm-friendly region that has a surprisingly different character than bustling Victoria. This tiny region (the population of the Cowichan Valley is just over 79,000) is home to quaint, by-the-sea fishing villages, tucked-away towns that haven’t changed much in 75 years, and, of course, great golf courses and up and coming wineries - both of which march to their own beat.
In all, the tranquil Cowichan Valley is home to just 12 wineries - some well established and others just starting out. Visiting a winery and trying the fruits of the labour could be participating in a regularly scheduled tour and tasting or a matter of driving down a bumpy gravel road, wedging your vehicle between the vines, waving madly at the owner/winemaker (who’s busy trimming and inspecting his vines but will happily come talk to you) and having him unlock the door to the private tasting room to give a sample. Quite charming, really. And certainly unpretentious.
Unpretentious, too, is a good word to describe the golf here. Duncan, the commercial hub of the Cowichan Valley, is home to the Duncan Meadows Golf Club. Arguably, it’s the best in the region. With two fairly distinct nines (the back nine is more in the woods), Duncan Meadows is a championship-ready track that was recently named one of the most underrated courses in Canada by SCOREGolf Magazine.
The course starts out in the meadows with plenty of room to play (and spray). A great start for creaky swings that haven’t been properly lubricated. But then, dropping into low-lying parkland, things progressively tighten up, the firs start coming into the play, water-hazards start biting into the fairways, and you’ve got to have your sights on.
One of the best holes at Duncan Meadows is the par-5 17th. At 491 yards from the back tee, it’s certainly not a long par-5, but throw in a nasty little bend through the towering firs, a ball-hungry creek, and a massive pond short of the green and you’ve got all the ingredients for a late-round disaster. Or, of course, an eagle for the ages. Regardless of what happens on 17 - or the other 17 - enjoying a drink or two (some of the local wines are available in the restaurant) in the beautiful clubhouse would be the appropriate thing to do.
But on a golf/wine trip, wrapping up the day’s activities at the golf course is generally not the wisest thing to do. So on the short drive back to Duncan you’re best advised to get off the Island Highway and spin through the back roads. It’s here where you’ll discover some of the “secrets” of why a visit to the Cowichan Valley is so rewarding. Besides the wineries, family-run farms, (such as Cowichan Bay Farm, where you can pull up and pick up fresh cider-flavoured chicken sausage on the honour system), European-style bakeries (check out True Grain Bakery in Cowichan Bay), native art galleries (a “must” for arts and crafts lovers is Whipple Tree Junction), and strolls along the driftwood-strewn beaches are just some of the possibilities. Certainly, exploring this region will always bring about some memorable, off-the-beaten-path discoveries.
So how do the wines of the Cowichan Valley stack up? Well, for starters, this is a very young wine region. The big reds - the Cabernets, the Syrahs, etc. - simply do not do well here. The climate just isn’t hot enough. But winemakers such as Hans Kiltz (one of the pioneers of island wines) of Blue Grouse Estate Winery have discovered it’s the German “cool climate” white varietals that really flourish here. Grapes such as Ortega, Muller-Thurgau, and Siegerrebe produce clean, crisp, fruit-forward wines that pair exceptionally well with seafood, especially.
But this isn’t to say that red wine lovers will leave disappointed. In fact, one of the best Pinot Noirs in the country comes from this region. Little-known Venturi-Shulze Vineyards (call ahead if you want to do a tasting, there are no regular hours) in rural Cobble Hill is about as meticulously and lovingly operated as a vineyard can be. If you can swing a taste, you won’t be disappointed. Unfortunately, because of high demand, their wines are chronically short in supply.
Also in high demand are ciders from Merridale Estate Cidery, another gem in the area. Another favourite here is the Blackberry Port from Cherry Point Vineyards. Recently purchased by the Quw’utsun’ Vineyard Development Corporation, a subsidiary of the Cowichan Tribes of Duncan, BC, Cherry Point’s beautifully appointed tasting room, gift shop, and larger-than-average production levels make it one of the most popular visits on the “tour.”
Certainly, if you’re a wine and golf lover, you’ll be challenged with balancing your itinerary on a trip to the Cowichan. So alluring are the visits to the tucked-away tasting rooms, farmer’s markets, beaches, etc., that the golf can, if you’re not careful, slip to the wayside. It shouldn’t.
Both Arbutus Ridge, which is one of the top-ranked courses in GolfBC’s strong and growing collection, and the Cowichan Golf and Country Club have plenty to offer the swingers. And, just like the region’s wines, both are very different in style and character. Arbutus Ridge is a contemporary, upscale course that shoots through a hilly subdivision in Cobble Hill. Although relatively short, some fine holes twist through the trees and the do-or-die shot to the peninsula green on the 17th is always something to look forward to. Cowichan is a classic, old-style course with small greens, tight fairways, and towering trees as the main defence.
Another must play if you visit the area is the Bear Mountain Resort in nearby Langford (over the Malahat towards Victoria). While the courses in the Cowichan Valley are laid-back and rural in nature, Bear Mountain is a hyped-up and exceptionally dramatic experience. Boasting Canada’s first and only Nicklaus design golf offering in Canada and future Nicklaus Academy, Bear Mountain is a huge, multi million dollar concoction complete with a massive Westin Hotel, Santé Spa, five restaurants, Mountainside Athletic Club and now retail stores as well. The mind-bending scale of the Bear Mountain mega-project has to be seen to be believed.
Interestingly, there’s an ongoing discussion about starting up a vineyard at the Resort. If all goes as planned, it shouldn’t be too much longer before grapes are flourishing on the open slopes beneath the perched green on Bear Mountain’s famous 19th hole. And, thanks to the pioneering efforts of the talented winemakers of the Cowichan Valley, it likely won’t be long before the region’s beverage carts are stocking crackers and cheese - and your favourite locally-produced Pinot Noir.
For more information, please visit: www.wineislands.ca and www.golfvancouverisland.ca . To reserve your Golf and Wine vacation, please contact Golf Vancouver Island at 1.888.465.3239.
Andrew Penner is a freelance writer based in Calgary, Alberta.
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!
Come Play the 2010 Golf Today Magazine-sponsored McCormick Woods Classic
Can you feel the anticipation of warmer days, imagine the smell of freshly mowed greens, or the lure of standing on the tee box ready to send another Northwest winter into the history books? I can! Spring is nigh and it is time to regrip the clubs, review (or rebuild) your swing, hit the links with your golfing buddies, read about golf , and get ready for what should be an exciting Northwest golf season. Make sure you circle the following dates on your calendar: The 2010 U.S. Senior Open, July 26-Aug 01 at Sahalee; JELD-WEN Tradition, Aug 19-22 at Crosswater Club at Sunriver Resort; The LPGA Safeway Classic, Aug 20-22 at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club; The Boeing Classic, Aug 23-29, at TPC Snoqualmie; and the 2010 U.S. Amateur Aug 23-29 at Chambers Bay. Phew! My only hope is that I can steal myself away from the office to take in as many events as possible. This is truly a great opportunity for Northwest golfers to see the best amateur and professional men and women athletes duke it out under beautiful Northwest skies. Can’t wait!
What else is worthy of mention? Well, for starters, we need to congratulate three of our Northwest friends who stopped by Golf Today Magazine’s booths at the Seattle and Spokane Golf Shows last month. Congratulations to Tacoma-native James W. who correctly guessed the number of pink tees we had on display at the Seattle Golf Show. James is an avid golfer who now has a new TaylorMade R9 driver to add to his bag. Also winning a brand new Cleveland Launcher DST is Juliann R. of Heyburn, ID who stopped by our Spokane Golf Show booth to say “hi” and is now gearing up to try out her new club at one of her favorite local Ponderosa Golf Course in Idaho. Last but by no means least, Golf Today congratulates Paul P. from Spokane, WA., the lucky recipient of a three day, two night Stay at the beautiful Suncoast Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV including golf for two at the Alliante and Angel Park golf courses! Enjoy, Paul and a big congratulations to all Golf Today winners!
What’s New?
With our first Golf Today Magazine-sponsored Heron Lakes Spring Classic “fun event” of the season scheduled for later this month at the Heron Lakes Golf Course in Portland, Monday, April 26th, stay tuned for a full recap in the May issue of Golf Today. Of course as we look ahead to Tuesday, June 22, you’ll also have an opportunity to come and play the 2010 Golf Today Magazine-sponsored McCormick Woods Classic. A 1:30pm shotgun start at the premier McCormick Woods Golf Course in Port Orchard, WA. is the perfect way to spend an afternoon. If having fun and enjoying a sociable event with great camaraderie is high on your list, complete with great tee prizes for all, you’ll have to make a point to join us. As previously mentioned, Golf Today events are focused on providing golfers with great golf and value in a non-competitive atmosphere where everyone goes home with a bag of swag! Don’t have a handicap? It doesn’t matter. All players, regardless of score, will take home a Tee Prize Package worth at least $100, including gift cards from Pro Golf Discount that can be redeemed at any of their six Washington locations. Though there will be closest-to-the-pin and long drive contests, the vast majority of prizes will be awarded to players by the draw of names in a raffle after the round of golf. You’ll have a chance to win great prizes such as a one day, stay-and-play package at the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel, including golf for two at the spectacular Circling Raven Golf Club in Worley, ID; Stay-and-play package including an overnight stay at the terrific Clover Island Inn in the Tri-Cities, breakfast for two, and two rounds of golf including cart at the exclusive Tri-City Country Club. Yes, two lucky Golf Today Classic raffle winners will have the opportunity to experience the beautiful but challenging Tri-City course, while enjoying a friendly and welcoming Country Club atmosphere that is steeped in tradition. What else are we giving away? Tickets to the upcoming 2010 U.S. Senior Open, 2010 Boeing Classic, and twosomes to highly acclaimed Tetherow, Wine Valley, Moses Pointe Links, and discounted golf certificates at other great Seattle and Washington courses! Entry fee is $115 per player, $105 per player for a twosome and $95 per player for a foursome. For more information and entry forms, call 425-941-9946 or email Cameron@golftodaynw.com. We will fax, send, or email entry forms to you!
My Value Pick!
Are you looking for a quality experience as well as value? This month my pick is The Sun Country Golf Course & RV. Located about four miles West of Cle Elum, WA. Sun Country opens April 2. Northwest golfers, just for the month of April, can play 18 holes for $18. Yes, $18! I had the good fortune of playing the John Steidel-designed course late last year while it was still growing in and am certain this is one course that will be increasingly talked about this year. Sun Country is the first golf community you’ll come to as you travel over Snoqualmie Pass. Just a little under an hour from North Bend and approximately 60 minutes from Seattle, Sun Country owner Jim Hembree has the right model for success. ”Our goal is to offer a great golf experience at a price everyone can afford. Once you play Sun Country you will be back.” And Golf Today will be back. Stay tuned for our full course review later in the year! For more information about their April specials, please look for their ad on page 19 of this month’s issue.
Have something to say? Comments are always welcome at Cameron@golftodaynw.com.
Northwest Golf Season Kicks Off With Regional Golf Shows!
What a month! Northwest native Fred Couples continues to tear up the Champions Tour, Spokane native Alex Prugh is becoming a solid fixture on the PGA Tour, and UW alum Paige McKenzie continues her work on the LPGA Tour. Throw in three Northwest Golf Shows in one month and Northwest golfers have much to cheer about! The unofficial ‘official’ start of the 2010 golfing season kicked off last month with the concurrent staging of the Seattle and Portland Golf shows held over three days and the Spokane Golf Show held a week later. With unexpected fair weather, local golfers converged on Northwest exhibition halls filled with vendors tempting you at every turn. Yes, Northwest golfers were in a festive spirit choosing to forget about or, at least ignore for a day, the fledgling economic recovery and opting rather to spend their hard earned cash on everything from the usual golfing ‘must haves’ and Stay-and-Play packages to indulgent day spa services. The feeling of “doom and gloom” that has persisted for too long was for the most part blissfully absent. Or if it was bandied about, it did not filter its way to me! While there is cautious optimism, people are ready and willing to engage in this wonderful activity in any way they can and Golf Today shares and supports that drive towards a future recovery. We applaud our advertising partners who also understand that the good times will return, and when they do, they too will prosper and succeed. Golf Today Magazine had another tremendous show season. A huge thank you to golfers and readers who came to our booth to congratulate us on our monthly magazine, and to offer feedback (positive and constructive) and even new story ideas. Thank you to all that did so. As we enter our second year, we cannot thank enough our editorial contributors, our advertising partners who provide terrific products and services to our readers, and to our readers for supporting our format and editorial approach. Here’s to a great 2010!
What’s New?
Come Play the 2010 Golf Today Magazine-sponsored McCormick Woods Spring Classic June 22nd. A 1:30pm shotgun start at the premier McCormick Woods Golf Course in Port Orchard, WA is the perfect way to spend an afternoon. Yes, its time to tee it up, have fun, and enjoy a sociable event with great tee prizes for all. Golf Today events are focused on providing golfers with great golf and value in a non-competitive atmosphere where everyone goes home with a bag of swag!
Golf Today is excited and pleased to introduce Golf Today readers to the 2010 McCormick Woods Golf Classic, a one-day, play your own ball, “fun event.” Located in Port Orchard, WA on the Kitsap Peninsula, McCormick Woods is an 18 hole Audubon Society certified championship public course that opened in 1987. Nestled amongst idyllic lakes and towering firs and cedars, McCormick Woods will certainly test the mettle of players of all abilities, but fear not, there are five-tee placements at each hole to choose from! Golf Digest and Golfweek think McCormick Woods is a “goodie” as well, rating it “Best Course” and “Most Enjoyable Course” respectively. After the round golfers will enjoy hot appetizers at the delightful Clubhouse Restaurant, which boasts panoramic views and an outdoor patio overlooking North Lake.
So what makes our events different? Golf Today Magazine’s “Fun Tournaments” are open to men and women players of all abilities. Yes, you do not need to have a handicap and all players, regardless of score, will take home a Tee Prize Package worth at least $100. Now throw in the $7500 in value raffle prizes where ALL golfers have a chance to win great prizes such as a one day, stay-and-play package at the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel, including golf for two at the spectacular Circling Raven Golf Club in Worley, ID. The winner will enjoy a round of golf on the course Golfweek rates as “One of the Best Casino Courses 2007-2009); just be sure to keep an eye out for your ball as it is not uncommon to share the fairway with local wildlife such as elk and the errant bear!
In addition, we’re giving away other regional Stay and Play Packages, tickets to the upcoming 2010 U.S. Senior Open, 2010 Boeing Classic, and twosomes to the highly acclaimed Nevada courses such as Angel Park, Alliante, and The Legacy Golf Club, highly acclaimed Tetherow, Wine Valley, and free or discounted golf certificates at other great Seattle and Washington courses!
Before you warm up, any golfer interested in a quick FREE onsite Swing Analysis can do so at the GolfTEC mobile Swing Analysis booth. You’ll need to get in line, however, as I’ll likely be the first one in line ready for a little guidance from our good friends at GolfTEC!
If you are like me, and you’ve got your eyes on that new 2010 stick that you’ve been waiting to let rip, we’ll also have a Clubmaker Demo of Clubs on site-Try them with no obligation!
Entry fee is $115 per player, $105 per player for a twosome and $95 per player for a foursome. Now be sure to act fast to secure your spot. In fact, if you book by Mar 31, we’ll knock 10% off!
For more information and entry forms, call 425-941-9946 or email Cameron@golftodaynw.com. We will fax, send, or email entry forms to you!
The following are a few golfing “goodies” that I discovered while walking the exhibit halls at last month’s Northwest golf shows and deserve mention. Good luck and I hope they help and foster further enjoyment of this great game!
AlmostGOLF
AlmostGOLF’s Point 3 golf ball allows you to practice or play anywhere. The Point 3 combines tour quality flight characteristics with safety unmatched by any other practice ball on the market. Weighing just 13.5 grams the Point 3 carries 1/3 the distance that you would hit a traditional golf ball and has a COR rating of .32 (Point 3). As a result it has realistic launch angle and spin off the clubface, so you can safely hit true fades, draws to help accurately diagnose and correct swing flaws while practicing. Now juniors, beginners and serious players can get real practice time in their backyard, schoolyard or on any playing field. Practice trouble shots and difficult lies anytime, anywhere without the worry of hurting anything. This product is proudly endorsed by Dave Pelz and used in his golf schools nationwide.
GOLFNOW.com
Golfnow.com is the largest online tee time retailer in the United States. Operating in 25 states, and partnering with more than 1,500 courses across the nation, GolfNow offer northwest golfers affordable pricing, 24 hour tee time bookings, and excellent customer service to manage more than 1.5 million registered golfer accounts. Please visit www.golfnow.com for details.
PREMIER GOLF CENTERS
Was established in 2001 and currently manages 10 golf courses for five municipalities in the Puget Sound region including the city of Seattle. Become a member of their Premier Golf Club and enjoy discounts on green fees, range balls, and golf carts at any of their 10 courses. Please visit www.premiergolfcenters.com for more information.
Mt SI Golf Course
I’m always amazed at just how busy their booth is each year; however, it’s not a stretch to work out why as Mt SI, located in Snoqualmie, WA, serves as a beautiful backdrop to a course headed by long time Head Professional Matt Campbell. Mt Si often offers golfers terrific coupons such as “Two for Ones”, “Pay for Nine, Play 18,” and “50% off Breakfast and Lunch”. Please visit www.mtsigolf.com for more information.
Pollen Putters
Pollen Golf, a new Seattle-based putter company, unveiled two acrylic putters at the Show. The putters look and feel like nothing else on the market, composed of a high-density polymer and stainless steel. “The concept behind the Pollen design is to shape the entire club head out of this lightweight acrylic,” explains Ian Burke, spokesperson for Pollen (www.pollengolf.com). “This allows the weight to be precisely added back in, for solid contact and good balance. Most leading manufacturers are milling out the face of a metal putter and filling it back in with a polymer. We just made the entire club head out of this material.” Check them out at pollengolf.com.
Vancouver Island Golf Trail
A 250-kilometre golf trail of Pacific paradise from Victoria to Campbell River, awaits golfers on British Columbia’s Vancouver Island - ranked as the Top North American Island by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine. Over the past couple of decades numerous “golf trails” have sprung up. Many have detoured and disappeared. The product, the experience, the logic to the whole thing, just wasn’t there. But, rest assured, The Vancouver Island Golf Trail - unquestionably, one of the finest golf trails in North America - isn’t going anywhere. It’s too good. And it just keeps getting better. Two new courses - The Valley Course at Bear Mountain and Highland Pacific - have boosted the total number of courses on the trail to 12. Throw in a couple of days of sightseeing, fishing, or whale watching, and you’ve got two weeks worth of good times. Please visit www.vancouverislandgolftrail.com for more information.
Golf-n-Scope
Want to see how a rangefinder can improve your game? There’s an app for that! Now iPhone users can download Golf-n-Scope, a digital rangefinder, from the iTunes App Store for a one-time cost of $4.99.
Golf-n-Scope uses your iPhone’s camera, with flag recognition and range finding calculations to estimate your distance to the flag. It works without GPS, making it usable on any golf course regardless of coverage. It’s easy to use, just aim the cross hairs at the flag, press the camera button and Golf-n-Scope gives you your distance to the flag. You can fine tune the flag location by touching the markers on the screen. Golf-n-Scope will suggest a suitable club based on the computed distance to the pin and clubs in your golf bag. For more information visit www.qualnetics.com/golf-n-scope. You can purchase Golf-n-Scope at http://itunes.com/apps/golf-n-scope.
The CLUBGLIDER
The CLUBGLIDER Travel Bag continues to wow golfers and Tour professionals alike. It virtually eliminates sore shoulders and back resulting from lugging golf clubs from the parking garage through the airport check-in counter and to the hotel. The integrated set of legs with in-line caster wheels retracts into the bag making ClubGlider safe and secure for travel. At baggage claim simply extend the legs and glide to your destination. This is great for the traveling golfer. Golf Today readers enjoy a special $30 discount and free name embroidery by using Promotion Code GTNW at www.clubglider.com.
Chicks Golf, Too
Chicks Golf, too is a fun, inviting store for women’s golf apparel, shoes, and accessories. The shop, located in Downtown Puyallup, WA is a lively and social gathering place to stop in and share your stories - about golf, family, work or whatever - all while seeing what is new in ladies golf fashions, the coolest gadgets and must-have bags. A big hit at the Seattle Golf Show, Chicks Golf, Too also has an online store for those shoppers wishing to browse the logo products on the Internet. “The goal we had in mind for our booth, was to create a mini-replica of the shop,” says owner Amanda Brunaugh. “It was a huge hit with all of the show’s lady attendees, and we look forward to visiting with them all again soon during the 2010 golf season.” For more information, please visit www.chicksgolf2.com.
My Two Cents
by Cameron Healey
We have a Winner!
Golf Today extends a hearty congratulations to Gene Gilbertson from Seaside, OR who correctly guessed and matched the names of the Washington and Oregon private and public golf courses featured on Golf Today’s December cover. Gene and three of his golfing buddies have chosen to tee it up at Chambers Bay later this month on Golf Today Magazine’s dime. No slouch on the greens, Gene currently plays to a 12 handicap and practices his craft at the Gearhart Links in Oregon 2-3 times a week; however, he is thrilled to have an opportunity to test his mettle on a track that will play host to the 2010 U.S. Amateur and 2015 U.S. Open. Let us know how you fare, Gene, and congratulations again from the Golf Today team!
Seattle, Portland, & Spokane Golf Show
Rain, rain, rain! The wet stuff… and lots of it! Yes, based on the 5 inches more rain that fell on Seattleites last month compared to the same time last year, I feared that I would teeter on the edge of insanity. Of course, it is a safe bet that the Northwest winter will not result in a Vitamin D overdose anytime soon and the short dreary, wet, and often frozen days makes golfing best reserved for the hardy few. Kudos to the hardy few! While I have not put my clubs in hibernation, I would hardly declare that I have been a playing fiend either. Is that shameful? But, with the promise of better playing days ahead, I confess that I have readily jumped on the excitement band-wagon and began preparing for the upcoming Seattle, Portland, and Spokane Golf Shows. While Seattle Golf Show producers Owen Hoskinson and John Tipping have brought forward the show by one month to early February and have earmarked it as the “official” kick-off to the golf season in the Northwest, I’m simply looking forward to the anticipation of warmer days and better golfing conditions to come! And based on the 17% jump in attendees last year, I’m sure Tipping and Hoskinson are anticipating another great turnout for 2010.
You only have to consider what is coming down the pipeline this year for the Northwest region such as the 2010 U.S. Amateur at Chambers and the 2010 Boeing Classic at TPC Snoqualmie or the much anticipated 2010 U.S. Senior Open scheduled for late July at the Sahalee Country Club with Freddy Couples in tow and it all makes me a little giddy. To that end, Golf Today invites you to put on your thermals, don the Gortex, and visit us at our double booth at the Seattle Golf Show February 12-14, pick up copies of Golf Today at the Portland Golf Show, or visit us at the Spokane Golf Show Feb 20-21 where you can win a ton of prizes, including brand spanking new drivers, Stay-and-Play trips, and of course, take a shot at guessing how many pink tees are in our popular “Guess the number of Pink Tees” competition. Guess correctly and you’ll go home with either a brand new Cleveland or TaylorMade R9 Driver!
Heron Lakes Spring Classic
While response to our 2010 Heron Lakes Golf Classic, a fun one-day, play your own ball event Monday, April 26 at Heron Lakes Golf Course’s Great Blue Course has been great, we still have a few remaining foursomes available, so don’t wait. Yes, this event is open to ALL of our readers in WA and OR and you do not need to have a handicap; in fact, all players, regardless of their score, will take home goody bags worth $100 in value PLUS have an opportunity to win great raffle prizes such as stay-and-play packages, tickets to the 2010 U.S. Senior Open, 2010 Boeing Classic, two-somes to the highly acclaimed Tetherow, Wine Valley, and Pumpkin Ridge Golf Clubs, and free or discounted golf certificates at other great Portland and Oregon courses. Please see page 36 for more details.
What’s New?
Jorgensen Golf Club
While you may be familiar with local retail golf store Jorgensen Golf located in Mukilteo, WA, you may not be aware that the Jorgensens also run a men’s and women’s amateur golf club. Yes, Diana and Julius Jorgensen organize over 80 tournaments a year played at various Northwest tracks that include Chambers Bay, Langdon Farms, and Bandon Dunes. New this year is the opportunity for golfers to play at selected country club venues, so be sure to check out www.jorgensengolf.com for more information. The Jorgensen Golf Tour is open to players based on handicap index and all players have the opportunity, based on gross and net scores, to earn payouts equal to 40% of the field to win in-store credits for merchandise at Jorgensen Golf. Based on the number of balls I lose each round, I love this idea! Other membership benefits include a USGA GHIN handicap, PNGA Membership, Western WA Chapter PGA Pro-Ams, 20% off private video lessons, and free full swing simulator use for custom fitting. Look to their ad on page 5 for details.
Riverside Golf Club
The next time you are driving on I5 between Seattle and Portland and find yourself with the golfing itch that you just have to scratch, make sure you make a slight detour to play the Riverside Golf Club located just 5 minutes off the Interstate near Chehalis. Built in 1927 as a 9-hole track that eventually developed to the full 18 in the 1950’s, Riverside is one of those local tracks popular with the locals, but deserving of a much closer look from the region’s golfers. The golf is challenging for both weekend duffer and scratch golfer alike and the tree-lined surroundings are just delightful. It doesn’t hurt that the amenities and clubhouse (rooftop bar included!) are top notch and the restaurant menu is great-sure to satisfy the biggest post-game appetite. Yes, come spring I suspect the new rooftop bar will be a popular place for golfers while they bask in the afternoon sun reflecting on yet another quality round of golf. If you are somewhat of a traveling golfer, Riverside makes it easy to stay and play with a dedicated RV park containing 26 sites both 40′ and 50′ w/ full hookups, water and septic hook ups w/ 50/30/20 amp service. As mentioned, they have stay and play packages available. In summary, Riverside is worth the trip where you can play golf at an affordable price in a relaxed atmosphere and maybe even enjoy a few laughs with the locals. For more information, check out their two-for-one specials on page 8 for more information.
Semiahmoo Resort Golf & Spa
Is offering Northwest golfers a terrific opportunity to buy Pre-Season Golf Cards and save some coin. This is simply a great deal that will save you both time and money on the links with the Semiahmoo Pre-Season Rounds Card. All you need to do is pick the days and the number of rounds you want to play and you save a ton of money. Simple as that, but don’t delay as there are only a limited number remaining! For more information call 800-231-4425!
POW Gloves
If you are like me you probably have 3-4 gloves sitting in your bag in various states of disrepair. To me a glove is a glove. However, when I met the folks at POW gloves last year at the PGA Show in Vegas, I’ll admit I changed my tune. Designed by a team of young guns who have made a name for themselves designing and making ski, snowboard, and mountain bike gloves, POW gloves are a combination of superior function, top notch quality, and frankly, are just plain cool! Each product is made from the finest quality materials and will find favor with both men and women with style. Made with Japanese Grain Cut Cabretta Leather, POW gloves feature air ports on and between fingers to help your hand breathe and are engineered with a pre-curved design that makes taking the glove on and off a cinch. In addition, the glove has Follow Thru Stretch Paneling that maximizes both comfort and ‘feel’. Yes, they are a firm fit initially but after a few holes POW gloves loosen sufficiently to comfortably mould to your hand, even in damp conditions, allowing golfers to truly “feel the contact” of the club during the swing. When it comes to function, POW gloves offer both the traditional adjustable hook and loop fastener and the more innovative zipper cuff which allows for quieter operation-important when your partner is lining up a 3 footer! With names such as “Townie” and “Noonan”, and colors and designs such as pink, pearl white, and blue/green argyle, you’re sure to find a style and color to fit your individuality. For more information, please visit www.powgloves.com or call 888-POW GLVS.
Spherical Blade Putters
Ok, hands up from all those that want fewer putts in a round! Hmm. No brainer, really. While there are seemingly endless variations of putter designs and nuances of what constitutes a solid putter, one company that is beginning to make some noise in the industry is Spherical Blade putters. Golf Today had the good fortune of meeting the S-Blade team at the PGA Show last year and was impressed by their technology. How so? S-Blade Black Eye Series Putters have a spherical shaped face, which means the putter face is designed with gentle curves both top to bottom and side to side, and engineered so that the contact is just above the mid-point of the ball. This promotes top over bottom roll and a wider sweet spot for better alignment during the putting stroke. The end result of this technology is that it creates no skid or bobble when the ball leaves the face, and coupled with accurate alignment, equals more holed putts. New in 2010 is the new putter Line called Black Eye Series with model names like Emperor Classic, Emperor Blade, Sabretooth, Crescent, and Arrowhead! With a street price of $190 they are not cheap, but you get what you pay for, right? If you want to demo a S-Blade putter, make sure you sign up for our Golf Today tournament in Portland, OR April 26th and try your hand at the long putt competition. Top two winners each win an S-Blade Putter to add to their bag! For more information, please visit www.sbladeputters.com.
Enjoy the issue and we’ll see you on the links! Oh, and if you have something to say or are you interested in having your product featured in Golf Today, please drop me a note at cameron@golftodaynw.com.
Come Play the 2010 Golf Today Magazine Heron Lake Spring Classic April 26 at Heron Lakes (Great Blue Course!)
Want to have fun playing Golf and go home with a bunch of swag?
You’ve been asking us for the last year “When is Golf Today Magazine going to put on a golf tournament?” Well, I’m pleased and excited to say we’ve listened and responded. Yes, our 23 year old West Coast edition has been “putting on” their own golf “fun events” for over 15 years having held over 70 such events that are famous for providing California golfers with a great days golfing and going home with “goodys” and prizes that are matched by none other.
Now it’s the Northwest Edition’s turn to provide Northwest golfers with the same combination of challenging golf, great prizes, and great food!
Welcome to 2010 Heron Lakes Golf Classic, a one-day, play your own ball, “fun event” Monday, April 26 at Heron lakes Golf Course, Great Blue Course. You may be familiar with Portland’s popular “muni” including The Great Blue Course, which is a favorite challenge among low handicap golfers and high handicappers alike. The 6,902 yard Robert Trent Jones II course’s fairways typifies Scottish-style mounds and offers golfers a collection of risk/reward holes that will test your course management skills to the core!
So what makes our events different? Golf Today Magazine’s “Fun Tournaments” are open to men and women players of all abilities. Yes, you do not need to have a handicap and all players regardless of their score will take home more than $100 in their Tee Prize Package “goody” bags PLUS raffle gifts! Now throw in the $5000 in value raffle prizes where ALL golfers have a chance to win great prizes such as a two day, stay-and-play package at the Resort at the Mountain including dinner at the fabulous Altitude restaurant where you and a friend will first tee it up at the The Resort’s 27-hole golf course (The Courses), nestled in the Salmon River Valley of the Mt. Hood National Forest.
In addition, we’re giving away other stay-and-play packages, tickets to the 2010 U.S. Senior Open, 2010 Boeing Classic, twosomes to the highly acclaimed Tetherow, Wine Valley, and Pumpkin Ridge Golf Clubs, and free or discounted golf certificates at other great Portland and Oregon courses! And if you are anxious to try out that new 2010 stick you’ve had your eye, we’ll have two major Clubmaker Demo of Clubs on site-Try them with no obligation!
And it gets even better! FREE Swing Analysis by GolfTEC! Our good friends at GolfTEC are offering event golfers free swing analysis on site, so why not have your swing checked out before the round and tackle that persistent slice or hook once and for all. It could turn out to be your best round of golf ever!
Entry fee is $101 per player, $91 per player for a twosome and $81 per player for a foursome. Now be sure to act fast to secure your spot. In fact, if you book by Jan 31, we’ll knock 10% off! Now, if you want to make a trip out of it, Golf Today has set up a special rate at the Portland North Harbour Courtyard, which is literally a stone’s throw from the course. All you need to do is ask for the Special Heron Lakes Classic Players Rate of only $89.00 plus taxes single or double occupancy. Offer good 4/24-4/27.
We’ll see you at the 2010 Golf Today Magazine Spring Classic on April 26….oh, and for our Washingtonian readers…yes, we have not forgotten about you-Golf Today Magazine will be hosting a summer event in Seattle …stay tuned for next month’s issue where we’ll reveal how and when you can “get in on the fun.”
For more information and entry forms, call 425-941-9946 or email Cameron@golftodaynw.com. We will fax, send, or email entry forms to you!
Oh, and before we forget (how could we forget?) we’re excited to reveal the correct answers to last month’s “Guess the Northwest Courses” promotion. The response from our readers was beyond what we expected and confirmed the fact that Northwest golfers really know their tracks-and not just their local haunts either! We invite you to visit page 35 of the Januart issue of our magazine to compare your picks and see how you fared! But stay tuned for next month’s issue where we announce the winning recipient of the free foursome to either the highly acclaimed Chambers Bay Links Golf Course or Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club. Hmm…tough choice, right?
