Cascade Golfer June 2014 by Varsity Communications

VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 2 • JUNE 2014 • COMPLIMENTARY

SCOTTY CAMERON’S NEW TOYS VANCOUVER ISLAND IS A NOT-SO-DISTANT PARADISE TALKIN’ GOLF WITH JON KITNA AND DETLEF SCHREMPF NORTHWEST GOLF NEWS & VIEWS cascadegolfer.com

CG CUP, NORTH SOUND SHOOTOUT HEATING UP

@cascadegolfer

Apple Tree Resort

Just 12 months before the 2015 U.S. Open, Chambers Bay is officially on the clock

Salish Cliffs Golf Club

Port Ludlow Golf Club

Cedars a Dungene

Play2er0s14Card Highlander Golf Club

Leavenworth Golf Club

Mt. Si Golf Course

Bucket of Balls

LESS THAN 30 CG PLAYERS CARDS REMAIN GET YOURS TODAY!

FREE

$10 PUETZ BUCKS See page 57 for details.

JUNE

No cash value. Cannot be combined with other promos / discounts. Expires 6/30/14. Limit one per househol d.

FATHER’S DAY SPECIAL SAVINGS See pages 30-33 for details.

No cash value. Cannot be co Expires 6/30/14

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit #1 Seattle,WA

cascadegolfer.com

JUNE 2014

A LOOK

CASCADE

INSIDEGOLFER

Departments 6

PUBLISHER’S PITCH

10 SHORT GAME • • • • • • •

First Green turns courses into classrooms Carnation returns as Blue Heron Boeing Classic turns 10 Short game’s a cinch with new wedge, putter Premier Golf gets juniors in the game Win a trip to Arizona in North Sound Shootout SG Extra: One man, $200, and an unforgettable night

22 TEEING OFF

48 TRAVEL BAG

• Sonics star Detlef Schrempf scores for charity

24 PUETZ IN THE BAG

52 ROAD HOLES

• Gear up for summer — drivers, wedges, putters, carts, shoes and more

• North Shore G.C., No. 11

THE COUNTDOWN’S ON With the conclusion of the U.S. Open at Pinehurst later this month, Chambers Bay steps into the spotlight. STORY BY BOB SHERWIN

• Our favorite summer getaways

54 SAVE SOME GREEN

29 RISK VS REWARD

• Peninsula gems

58 POSTGAME

Features

• Vancouver Island is paradise in our backyard

• Bet on it

PUETZ GOLF SAVINGS! 8-9 | 30-33 | 56-57

HOME BOY Jon Kitna passed for nearly 30,000 yards in the NFL — but that’s nothing compared to what he’s trying to accomplish at Lincoln High School. STORY BY BRIAN BEAKY

THIS PAGE Salish Cliffs Golf Club will host the Puetz Golf Shootout, on July 12, where two-person teams will compete for more than 20 prizes, including a stay-and-play package to Palm Springs. Learn more on page 11.

ON THE COVER Since earning a U.S. Open in 2008, Chambers Bay’s Rolex has been ticking away the minutes until the U.S. Open comes to University Place next June. Read about the final preparations starting on page 34. 4

JUNE 2014

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cascadegolfer.com

JUNE 2014

Volume 8 • Issue 2 • JUNE 2014

CASCADE

GOLFER cascadegolfer.com

Cascade Golfer is published and owned by Varsity Communications, Inc. This publication is mailed free to more than 106,000 registered Puetz Golf Preferred members. Additional copies are printed and distributed throughout the Puget Sound.

VARSITY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 4114 198th Street SW, Suite 5 Lynnwood, WA 98036 P: (425) 412-7070 F: (425) 412-7082 varsitycommunications.com

EDITORIAL STAFF

P R E S I D E NT / P U B LI S H E R Dick Stephens E D I TO R Brian Beaky ART DIRECTION Robert Becker GR APHIC DESIGNERS Robert Becker, John Kimball CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tony Dear, Bob Sherwin FOR EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS AND INQUIRIES: Brian Beaky • (425) 412-7070 ext. 103 editor@cascadegolfer.com

PUBLISHER’S PITCH

Golf’s good business leads to great friendships, eh!

hen you hang around this business long enough, you come across the same people over and over. Most professionals move along to a new job every few years, and in golf, that’s no different. But the true professionals and believers — they come around again and again. I love when I get to meet new people and reconnect with old friends in golf. My recent trip to Vancouver Island, detailed in this issue, was downright Auld Lang Syne-ish, as I reconnected with people I had done business with years before. And, like good friends, I was happy for their successes and the professional and personal journeys they have made. One of the first people I ever sold an ad to, way back when I was the publisher of Pacific Northwest Golfer magazine, was a woman by the name of Trisha Larsen. It was the ‘90s, golf was booming and this bright young woman with marketing and journalism chops was promoting golf courses tucked into the British Columbia mainland. She’s doing the same today — and incredibly well. Tens of thousands of golfers come across the border each year as a result of the efforts of Trisha and her team. It’s been a pleasure to see her master the art of marketing

ADVERTISING & MARKETING STAFF

Super Natural British Columbia from one end of the province to the other — catching up with her about our jobs and families was a testament to how good business and good relations lead to cool friendships. I also reconnected with another familiar face in Chris Currie, who is now Golf Sales Manager of Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort and Spa in Victoria. This is a new post for the sharpest and boldest dresser in the business, who had worked with us before in his previous job in the Pebble Beach area. I played 36 holes with him and Chris Elder of Golf Vancouver Island on my trip, and I haven’t laughed that hard in a long while. His wit and insights into life and the game made the day for me – and having done good business with him before only allowed us to build on a great friendship. I am also grateful for his definition as to why Canadians say, “eh.” Chris says that it’s a friendly way of keeping the conversation going with the other person — similar to saying, “Don’t you think so?” or “Right?” Thank you Chris, Chris, Trisha and the folks in B.C. for being such hospitable hosts and friends, eh? Enjoy the sunny weather and as always, TAKE IT EASY!

THE ALL NEW

VICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR OF SALES Kirk Tourtillotte

ALLENMORE GOLF AND EVENT CENTER

SALES & MARKETING Simon Dubiel, Johnny Carey, Josh Nantz FOR ADVERTISING INQUIRIES, CONTACT: Simon Dubiel • (425) 412-7070 ext. 100 simon@cascadegolfer.com

DICK STEPHENS

BEST DEAL IN GOLF!!! For current specials visit www.GolfNow.com

ACCOUNTING STAFF

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE Bobbi Kramer ACCOUNTS PAYABLE & RECEIVABLE Pam Titland

PRINTING

Consolidated Press • Seattle, WA COPYRIGHT 2014 Cascade Golfer. PRINTED IN THE USA. All rights reserved. Articles, photos, advertising and/ or graphics may not be reprinted without the written permission of the publisher. Advertising and editorial contained herein does not constitute endorsement of Cascade Golfer or Varsity Communications, Inc. Publisher reserves the right to edit letters, photos and copy submitted and publish only excerpts. The publisher has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all material contained in this issue. However, as unpredictable changes and errors do occur, the publisher can assume no liability for errors, omissions or changes. All photos are courtesy of the course or individual unless otherwise noted.

allenmoregolfcourse.com Pro Shop: (253) 627-7211 Events: (253) 272-1117

PRODUCER AND OWNER OF THE PROUD CHARTER MEMBER

2013 S. Cedar St. Tacoma, WA 98405

JUNE 2014 2014

Restaurant now OPEN!

Tacoma’s newer dining venue, Smoke + Cedar, is now open. Famous Chef Gordon Nacarrato has created a menu to delight your taste buds and a beautiful bar with all your favorites and a few unique drinks to enjoy while you watch the action on the course.Located in the “Heart” of Tacoma offering Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner along with catering your event, onsite or off.

cascadegolfer.com

JUNE 2014

DEMO DAYS

CUSTOM FITTING EVENTS

15 PUETZ GIFT CARDS FOR EVERY $ SPENT 100

EARN

AT ALL FOUR LOCATIONS Seattle • Bellevue • Southcenter • Tacoma

JUNE 7 TH & JUNE 14 TH *earn $15 Puetz Gift Cards (PGC) on every $100 USD in retail value, each Saturday – 9am – 9pm from participating vendors – certain PING products are excluded from this promotion. See Stores for complete list and restrictions. No cash value. Returns will be adjusted accordingly. PGC’s expire 12/31/2014. 8

JUNE 2014

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SATURDAY

JUNE 7 TH

SATURDAY

JUNE 14 TH

Tour team on-site to build YOUR new custom putter!

at the Seattle Driving Range! MANUFACTURERS' TECH REPS ONSITE â&#x20AC;˘ 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 11762 Aurora Ave. N.

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go to puetzgolf.com & SIGN-UP TODAY! cascadegolfer.com cascadegolfer.com

JUNE 2014

SHORT GAME

NW Foundation Turns Links Into Labs

he Pacific Northwest has a reputation across the country for being particularly committed to environmental causes. So it’s only natural that one of the nation’s only programs designed to get K-12 students out of their schools and onto local golf courses to learn about science, math and environmental stewardship should have its roots right in our backyard. The First Green Foundation was started in 1997 by Jeff Gullikson, the superintendent at Spokane Country Club, and Bill Meyer, the longtime president of the Washington Junior Golf Association, as a way to introduce children to the game of golf, teach them about STEM topics (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), and demonstrate the many ways in which golf courses positively impact their local communities. It has since grown into a national program serving more than 15,000 students in all corners of the United States. Students are brought to local golf courses — including Glendale Country Club, where the First Green program is headquartered, Chambers Bay and others — to experience a day of hands-on interaction with the environment. Some students might conduct experiments on soil to learn about drainage and runoff, while others collect water from streams to measure acidity, flow rates and other factors that impact salmon habitats and overall stream health. Still others learn math by calculating acreage or measuring putting distances and angles, then rotate with their classmates to experience the full range of hands-on activities. “It just takes somebody to do it once, and they’re totally hooked,” says Lynn McKay, a high school environmental horticulture teacher who has been working with The First Green since its inception. “There’s not one kid that doesn’t like to come here.” Golf course superintendents work hand-in-hand with the students’ teachers to lead the programming, making it a truly collaborative experience. In addition to teaching the students the basics of environmental science, The First Green programs also introduce kids to

JUNE 2014

the game of golf, and demonstrate the ways in which golf courses provide essential services towards maintaining, and even increasing, the environmental health of the communities they’re in. “Ninety percent of the students who attend have never set foot on a golf course,” says Jeff Shelley, president of the board at The First Green Foundation and a longtime Northwest golf writer. “The First Green demystifies those big, huge green spaces behind the fences, and shows them that golf courses are good shepherds of the environment.” Shelley estimates that each student who attends a First Green field trip shares their experience with an additional 12-15 individuals (parents, other students, etc.), turning them into ambassadors for the game of golf and the importance of golf courses in the local community, both recreationally and environmentally. “It’s a subtle approach to introducing the game and golf courses as viable community assets,” he says. The program has been so successful in Washington that in 2013 the USGA gave The First Green a $100,000 grant to expand its programming into Oregon and Northern California. Earlier this year, the USGA approved an additional $155,000, which Shelley says will be used to fulfill requests from science teachers and golf course superintendents in five additional states — including Illinois, Utah, New Jersey, New York and Florida — to bring First Green programs to their courses and districts. Recently, KING-5 reporter Allen Schauffler teamed up with First Green to make a series of videos highlighting the program, which can be viewed online — along with other news features, articles, and information on starting your own program — at www.thefirstgreen.org. “The kids love having the chance to get outside and learn about nature, and the parents and teachers love it, too,” Shelley says. “And so do the supers, who get to flip naïve opinions about what golf is. It’s a win-win for everybody.” cascadegolfer.com

First-Time Winners Take CG Cup Opener at Chambers Bay

Xxxxx. • Hole No. X

2014

ohn Rial’s day started with a par (and net birdie) on Chambers Bay’s long, downhill, par-4 14th. A good start, sure, worth three points in the Cascade Golfer Cup Season Opener’s modified Stableford scoring, which awarded one point for a net bogey, two for a net par, three for a net birdie, and so on. That was followed by another par at the famous par-3 15th, Lone Fir. Then another at No. 16. Then another at the par-3 17th — which his partner, Daniel Wilskie, birdied, for a net ace. By the time Rial made a fifth-straight par, at No. 18, the duo had accumulated 13 points and were well on their way to a 50-point total and a two-point victory in the first event of the 2014 Cascade Golfer Cup. Their prize? A stay-and-play package to Mesquite, Nevada, including lodging and golf at some of the southwest’s most scenic courses and resorts. In addition, the team of Aaron Cherney and Shawn Heidel took home the low-gross prize with an impressive 39, earning a stay-and-play of their own, to LaQuinta Resort and Club. In all, a sold-out field of 64 teams kicked off this year’s seven-tournament series, the largest and most popular amateur tournament series in the Northwest, matching two-person teams in net and gross-scoring divisions for the chance to win up to 26 great prizes. New to the tournament this year — and new to all seven CG Cup events — was the addition of the Glenlivet Scotch Shot Of The Day, which challenged golfers to go for the green at the short (262-yard) par-4 12th. And it was Wilskie who came closest to the hole, setting up a two-putt birdie and clinching a bottle of Glenlivet 18 — which, valued at nearly $100, will no doubt take

a prized place on the shelf, right next to that Cascade Golfer Cup trophy. In May, the series headed to the Muckleshoot Casino Players Championship at Washington National, where Craig Peterson and Bruce Craig took home a stay-and-play package to Bandon Dunes. The action continues throughout the summer, with the DiabloGolf. com Classic at McCormick Woods on June 14, the Puetz Golf Shootout at Salish Cliffs on July 12, and subsequent events at RMG Club at Oakbrook (Aug. 2), Mill Creek Country Club (Aug. 23) and White Horse (Sept. 3). As always, tournaments are run independently of each other — meaning you can jump in and out at anytime. Many golfers choose to enter just one or two Cascade Golfer Cup tournaments each year, targeting specific courses or prizes, while others choose to play in more and rack up points towards the season-long Cascade Golfer Cup Grand Prize: 20 twosomes of golf to the top courses in Washington state. In addition to a shot at the overall title, teams that play in four events — or just three, provided two of the three are McCormick Woods and Oakbrook — earn FREE entry into an eighth event, the Cascade Golfer Cup Appreciation Day Tournament at The Classic. That’s right — a FREE tournament, as a thank you to our most loyal players. In other words, the fun is just beginning. To learn more, or to register, visit CascadeGolfer.com/Cup, or contact Simon Dubiel at simon@cascadegolfer.com. Apple Tr Resort ee

Salish Cl iffs Golf Club

Port Lu dlow Golf Club

Cedars Dungen at es

Seven Great Rounds for Just $199

f you’re still reading, you must think that headline sounds like a pretty sweet deal, right? It is. Fewer than 30 Cascade Golfer Players Cards remain on our shelves, and for good reason: $199 for golf at Salish Cliffs, Apple Tree, Highlander, Port Ludlow, the Cedars at Dungeness, Leavenworth and Mount Si — plus a bucket of balls at Puetz to get you warmed up — is a deal few golfers can pass up. Both Salish Cliffs (No. 4) and Apple Tree (No. 12, also receiving votes) were among the top vote-getters in our 2013 rankings of Washington’s Top-10 Public Courses, while Highlander/Leavenworth and Port Ludlow/

cascadegolfer.com

Apple Tree Resort

Highland Golf Club er

Play2e0rs14C ard 20rs14Card

Leavenw orth Golf Club

Playe

Highlander Golf Club

Cedars at Dungeness

Port Ludlow Golf Club

Salish Cliffs Golf Club

Leavenworth Golf Club

Mt. Si Golf Co urse

Mt. Si Golf Course

Bucket of Balls

Dungeness represent two of our favorite 36-hole summer day trips. Throw in a fun afternoon round under the sun at scenic Mount Si, and you have a whole summer of golf to enjoy, for an average of just $28 a round — less than the greens fee at almost any course in the region. All rounds are good through Dec. 31, and are valid seven days a week (some weekend morning times restricted), so there’s nothing holding you back from picking one up and locking in your savings this summer. To get ‘em before they’re gone, visit cascadegolfer.com or email simon@cascadegolfer.com. JUNE 2014

SHORT GAME Carnation Reborn as Blue Heron Golf Course (425) 430-6800

BEST “IN SEASON” VALUE MONDAY - FRIDAY Regular: 18 Holes $32 • 9 Holes $24 Senior (62+): 18 Holes - $24 • 9 Holes $16 SATURDAY & SUNDAY Regular: 18 Holes $38 • 9 Holes $24 VISIT US AT

Rentonwa.gov/Living in Renton /Maplewood FOR

MONTHLY PRINTABLE COUPONS & PROMOTIONS! Maplewood Golf Course and RiverRock Restaurant are THE PLACE TO BE!

JUNE 2014

hen Carnation Golf Course reopened its doors in 2013, new owner Reza Yasseri chose to rename it Blue Heron Golf Course, invoking one of the Northwest’s most majestic birds. A more appropriate choice, though perhaps geographically confusing, might have been “Phoenix.” Like the mythical bird that rose from the ashes, so has Blue Heron risen from the ashes of Carnation, which fell victim to a struggling economy in 2011. Built by Bob Tachell in 1967, Carnation, in the town that shares its name, had always had it tougher than most courses, even its fellow Northwest tracks that share our fickle climate. Surrounded on three sides by the Snoqualmie River, not

to mention two sloughs and the Carnation marsh, the course went underwater — literally — every single year, as heavy winter rains and early-spring snowmelt from the nearby Cascade Mountains caused the river to overflow its banks and cover practically the entire course, reaching all the way to the front steps of Carnation’s clubhouse. That meant weeks of work for the Tachell family — including son Dan and grandchildren Chad and Stephanie, and their crew — to get the course back into playing shape each year. For nearly 45 years, first Bob, then Dan, then Chad and Stephanie, battled Mother Nature. The economy, though, proved to be one battle they simply couldn’t win.

cascadegolfer.com

In the ensuing years, debate raged as to what to do with the land. Nearby Tall Chief Golf Course was converted to farmland, and other small, family-owned courses throughout the region were turned into public parks or overrun by business development. Finally, in 2012, Yasseri, owner of a Redmond engineering firm, announced he was buying the land, and — to the surprise of many — that he planned to continue operating it as a golf course. His first call was to Dan Tachell. Tachell spent six months bringing his family home back to life, cutting back two years of overgrowth, reconditioning fairways, greens and bunkers, and — importantly — taking advantage of the new owner’s investment to overhaul the course’s drainage, the better to help it survive future winters. In addition, a newly-renovated clubhouse welcomes golfers to the course, while the brand new Blue Heron Bar & Grill serves up fish tacos, chicken wings, homemade meatballs and more to local golfers and residents happy to see an area icon back to full health. If it’s been a few years since you’ve been to Carnation, it’s worth a trip back to check out Blue Heron this summer, when it’s at its best. You’ll post a good score, have a good meal, and enjoy being outdoors among the herons and eagles, along the western edge of the Cascades — all for under $45 (yes, including the meal). And you’ll play a small part in bringing a family-owned local favorite back to life.

cascadegolfer.com

Be a VIP at the 2014 Boeing Classic — On Us!

here’s no louder cheer at the Boeing Classic than the one that erupts from the VIP Canyon Club every time a golfer makes birdie at the epic par-4 14th. Sure, it’s partly because Canyon Club patrons want to show their support for legends of the game like Fred Couples, Mark O’Meara, Rocco Mediate and others, but it’s also because for the 10 minutes after every birdie at 14, beers in the Canyon Club are just half price. Of course, that’s just part of the reason that golf fans throughout the Northwest have made the Canyon Club the place to be at our region’s only PGA TOUR event. The Champions Tour has no more thrilling shot than the 14th tee shot at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge, where players have to decide — do I lay up and play for birdie, or throw caution to the wind, aim my driver over Bear’s Canyon, and go straight for the green? That’s why we’re giving one CG reader front-row

seats to every heart-stopping decision in the form of two Canyon Club Party Passes to this year’s Boeing Classic, which celebrates its 10th year in 2014. Not only will you go inside the gates to watch Boom-Boom, Bernhard Langer, Tom Kite, Tom Lehman and other major champions and PGA TOUR greats work their magic from just a few feet away, you’ll have access to the VIP Canyon Club — a private tent on the 14th hole where you can enjoy upgraded concessions, big-screen TVs showing all the action, and — of course — roar with your fellow patrons every time a Champions Tour pro puts a circle on the scorecard. Follow along with all the latest updates to the field at boeingclassic.com, and log on to CascadeGolfer.com today for your chance to win! Enter To Win Today At CascadeGolfer.com!

JUNE 2014

SHORT GAME Inventor Makes Clubs So Good, A Blind Man Could Use Them

aul Donaghue had a problem. He loved the game of golf, but had gone blind in one eye, and struggled to square his putter to the intended line. He needed a putter with an alignment aid that was simple to see, and easier to line up — even with only one eye. In other words, he wanted to simply point … and putt. In 2011, Donaghue’s Point N Putt SX1 putter officially hit the market, and in the three years since, golfers have raved about the ease with which they can line up putts. Typically, a good putting stroke is a two-part process — the ball must be struck with the center of the face, along its intended line. The Point N Putt utilizes a large silver pointer behind the face to turn those two steps into one — simply aim the pointer through the ball down the intended line, then strike the ball as if trying to hit it with the pointer, not the face. By keeping your eye on the pointer, not the face, research shows that you’re significantly more likely to strike the ball in the center of the face (where the pointer aims) — up to 67 percent more likely, in fact, resulting in a straighter, more accurate putt. Donaghue’s putter was so popular that he has since expanded his short-game line to include a lob wedge and sand wedge, each similarly admired for their simplicity of design and use, and their irrefutable performance. Donaghue’s 56-degree RAKE sand wedge has done for struggling bunker players what his flaststick did for poor putters. By combining 26 degrees of entry rail bounce and 10 degrees of sole bounce, the RAKE sand wedge (and its sibling, the 60-degree RAKE lob wedge) is more stable and controllable in deep grass or sand, resulting in cleaner, smoother swings that generate more distance and loft — the two areas poor sand

players struggle the most with. PGA Tour golfers like Brian Gay and Mike Weir each travel with a RAKE wedge, which received full USGA approval last November. In addition, teaching pros throughout the country have adopted the club as an excellent training tool for developing golfers and others needing help from tough lies. “I am amazed at how easy it is to execute what normally would be a difficult shot out of the rough, and how effortlessly you can lift the ball out of the bunker,” says Kathy Jensen, the director of instruction at Spokane’s Indian Canyon Golf Course and a finalist for the U.S. PGA National Teacher of the Year honor in 2013, who uses the RAKE with her students. Eddie Heinen, the company’s U.S. Marketing Manager, says that what sets Donaghue’s company, PNP Golf, apart from others is their willingness to take feedback from golfers and industry experts and incorporate it into their designs. “They really listen,” he says. “And as a result, they’ve created products that have a lot of merit for anyone who struggles on or around the greens, especially in the sand and rough.” Heinen adds that, as a small family company, PNP is actively looking for quality affiliates — teaching pros like Kathy Jensen and others who believe in the clubs and are willing to speak out on their behalf, or feature them in stores and golf shops. Currently, all sales are conducted online at www.PNPGolf.com. “Our goal is to continue to grow our online presence, and connect with more affiliates,” he says. “It’s a fantastic product; now we just need to spread the word.”

ENTER TO WIN A REVOLUTIONARY SAND WEDGE That new RAKE Sand Wedge from PNP Golf sounds pretty sweet, right? Well, find out for yourself just how the RAKE can improve your sand game by logging on to CascadeGolfer.com and entering to win a RAKE sand wedge for yourself. That’s a $169 value, absolutely free!

Log on to CascadeGolfer.com for your chance to win! 14

JUNE 2014

cascadegolfer.com

2014

Over $100,000 In Prizes

The Northwest’s Premier Tournament Series April 26th

Season Opener at

Chambers Bay

10 a.m. Two-Person Best Ball Stableford

May 17 th

Muckleshoot Casino Players Championship

Washington National

7:30 a.m. 2-Person Best Ball

DiabloGolf.com Classic McCormick Woods

June 14 th • 2 p.m. Two-Person Scramble

Puetz Golf Shootout

Salish Cliffs Golf Club

July 12 th • 2:00 p.m. Two-Person Best Ball

August 2 nd

August 23 rd

Sept. 13 th

RMG Club at Oakbrook

Mill Creek Country Club

White Horse Golf Club

Michelob Ultra Open

Bridgestone Golf Invitational

1:30 p.m. 2-Person Chapman

9:00 a.m. 2-Person Scramble

Cascade Golfer Challenge

8:00 a.m. 2-Person Best Ball Stableford

GRAND PRIZE STAY AND PLAY GOLF PACKAGE TO BEND, OREGON

including 4 nights and 4 rounds of golf for two! To Register Visit

cascadegolfer.com PRESENTING

STAY AND PLAY GOLF PACKAGE TO PALM SPRINGS

including 4 nights and 4 rounds of golf for two!

Two-Player Format Net and Gross Prizes

CONTACT: Simon Dubiel

simon@cascadegolfer.com

(425) 412-7070 ext.100 FEATURING

SUPPORTING

SHORT GAME Get Your Kids On The Links This Summer

ometimes, we conceive a good story out of thin air. Other times, we receive a press release, or note an item in the news, or even receive tips and leads from CG readers or friends in the industry. And sometimes, we get a call from Mom. That was how we stumbled into this story, about the free clinics for junior golfers at Interbay Golf Center in downtown Seattle, every Sunday morning from 10-11 a.m. “All that’s required is that the junior golfer or their parent purchase the range balls,” says general manager Jimmy Sprague. “The instruction part is free.” On a recent rainy Sunday morning, there were only two juniors on the range, which meant that they essentially received one-hour private lessons from Interbay staff — an $85 value per kid, for free. Most Sundays are more crowded, but at no more than the cost of range balls, it’s an outstanding deal for any golfer who’d love to get their kids started in the game, but is terrified of the thought of cursing their children with their own bad swing habits. In addition to the free lessons, Interbay offers junior camps throughout the summer, including two-day

JUNE 2014

(Thurs.-Friday, Ages 6-10, $149), three-day (Mon.-Wed., Ages 10-17, $225) and five-day camps (Mon.-Fri., Ages 1017, $375). Camps begin June 16, and run weekly through the end of August. Of course, Interbay isn’t the only Premier Golf facility catering to younger players. At Legion Memorial and Walter Hall in Everett, the Joe Richer Jr. Golf Club offers weekly play, clinics and events for golfers of all ages. Older or more skilled golfers have the chance to play 18-hole events each week, while younger or developing golfers play nine holes. Each event is preceded by a one-hour instructional clinic, all at a cost of just $7-$10 a week, plus a $40 one-time entry fee. Jackson Park and Jefferson Park each host their own series of summer lesson programs, too, while Jackson Park’s Men’s Club hosts a summer tournament for juniors

aged 6-17. And in Pierce County, Lake Spanaway and Fort Steilacoom also offer junior camps and clinics, while on the eastside, Bellevue Golf Course lets all juniors (17 and under) play for free with a paid adult relative at twilight times on summer weekends — a great chance to get outdoors with your young player, while enjoying a round for yourself, as well. The next generation of Cascade golfers has to come from somewhere — and thanks to programs like those at Interbay and other Premier courses in the area, not to mention the abundance of First Tee programs throughout the Puget Sound region — it’s as easy as ever to find a top-quality lesson for the young golfer-to-be in your life. To learn more about camps or lessons at Interbay, call 206-838-4549. For full information on all Premier Golf summer programs, visit www.premiergc.com.

cascadegolfer.com

SHORT GAME Just Three Weeks Left to Register For 2014 North Sound Shootout! Play Pebble Beach — On Us!

eck, play Pebble Beach, St. Andrews, Kapalua, Pinehurst No. 2 … the world’s greatest courses are at your fingertips at Lynnwood’s Clubhouse Golf Center, and we’re sending you there to play two hours of golf on their state-of-the-art indoor simulators, absolutely free! More than enough time for a twosome to finish 18 holes, you’ll be knocking ‘em stiff on the top tracks on the planet, without so much as setting foot outside the Northwest. Meanwhile, you can catch a game on one of the Clubhouse’s bigscreen TVs, enjoy food and drinks from the bar — day or night, rain or shine! Log on to CascadeGolfer.com for your chance to win!

JUNE 2014

hree weeks from now, we’ll be kicking back with dozens of fellow CG readers at the Swinomish Casino and Lodge, throwing some dice and hitting flushes on the river, and sharing stories from the first of two rounds at the North Sound Shootout — with a

second amazing day of golf just a few hours away. The question is … will you be there with us? The 2014 North Sound Shootout tees off Saturday, June 28 at Swinomish Golf Links, then concludes the following day at Avalon Links in Burlington. In between,

cascadegolfer.com

THE SEASON’S MOST EXCITING GOLF TOURNAMENT IS BACK! PRESENTED BY

NORTH

SOUND

SHOOTOUT

A CASCADE GOLFER PRODUCTION

OVER $10,000 IN PRIZES Last year’s North Sound Shootout field included local celebrities like 710 ESPN radio personality Jim Moore (left) and former UW and NFL tight end Cam Cleeland (second from right)

we’re hosting the Coors Light 19th Hole Party on Saturday night at the Swinomish Casino and Lodge, a fun night of gaming in the casino, dining in a private room, hitting balls in the state-of-the-art, on-site Callaway Performance Center, and cracking jokes and telling stories with dozens of fellow Cascade golfers and CG staff. Just as with our popular Cascade Golfer Cup events, the two North Sound Shootout rounds will be played in fun, team-scoring formats (best-ball and scramble) and are open to any player with an established handicap. Best of all, with prizes in both the net and gross categories, truly everyone has a chance to win — whether you’re a 2, a 12 or a 22, play your best on one weekend in June, and you’ll be taking home the grand prize. And what is that fabulous grand prize? Glad you asked! This year, we’re sending the winning team on a golf trip they’ll never forget — a stay-and-play vacation to Phoenix, Ariz., including amazing rounds of golf, lodging, airfare and (as if that wasn’t enough) two tickets to the PGA TOUR Waste Management Phoenix Open, golf’s “Greatest Show on Grass.” That’s right — just for winning one little tournament in Skagit County, you’ll be spending the week under the sun with Tiger, Phil, Rory and our own Ryan Moore, while escaping to the saguaro-lined fairways of Arizona for your own incredible winter rounds. We’ll also be giving away rounds of golf to our favorite Northwest tracks, golf clubs and equipment — more than 50 prizes in all! In fact, more than half of the players in the field at last year’s North Sound Shootout (including, among others, former Husky and NFL tight end Cam Cleeland, and 710 ESPN personality Jim Moore) took home at least one prize, a ratio that even our own Cascade Golfer Cup events would be hard-pressed to top. So, grab your favorite playing partner, head to CascadeGolfer.com/Shootout, and make plans to join us at the Swinomish later this month. We’re going to have a blast — are you? cascadegolfer.com

Grand Prize

Stay & play package to the Waste Management Phoenix Open

SWINOMISH GOLF LINKS

JUNE 28TH TWO-PERSON BEST BALL

AVALON GOLF LINKS

JUNE 29TH

PLUS THE

TWO-PERSON SCRAMBLE

CASCADEGOLFER.COM/SHOOTOUT

19TH HOLE PARTY JUNE 29TH

Simon Dubiel • simon@cascadegolfer.com • (425) 412-7070 ext.100 STAY CONNECTED

JUNE 2014

SHORT GAME

EXTRA

MUCKLESHOOT

MADNESS

We treated our newest employee to a round of golf and a nice dinner,

THEN SENT HIM INTO THE MUCKLESHOOT CASINO WITH $200 IN HIS POCKET, AND A CHALLENGE — keep playing until dawn, and a

ast fall, we welcomed Johnny Carey to the CG family. A 24-year-old Washington State grad with a swing as sweet as butter, he’s brought a youthful enthusiasm to CG HQ, and been our go-to-guy for all things east of the mountains. He’s also talked some game about his skills at the tables — poker, blackjack, you name it. So, this spring, we put him to the test. We took him out for a round of golf at Washington National and dinner at BSB (Burgers-Spirits-Beer), the gourmet burger and beer joint at the Muckleshoot Casino, then handed him $200 cash and a mission — make it last from the time we walked away (a little before 9 p.m.) until we came back the next morning to pick him up. Johnny’s reward? A twosome at Chambers Bay, and any profits over our original $200 nut. It was a no-lose situation for us — if he succeeded, we got our $200 back and a fun story for Cascade Golfer, at the cost of a twosome to Chambers that we’d definitely squeeze ourselves into. And if he failed, we’d likely get an even more entertaining story, at a still reasonable cost. There were two rules. First, he had to play every game in the casino at least once (slots, roulette, craps, etc.) — no hanging out at the nickel slots all night, just to drag it out. Second, he had to play for at least 50 minutes of every hour — just enough time for bathroom breaks. We sent a friend in with him to give moral support, bring him food and drinks as needed, and to make sure he played by the rules. Then we wished him luck, made plans to pick him up at 6 a.m., and headed home to our families and warm beds. Our night was over. Johnny’s, though, was just beginning.

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twosome at Chambers Bay is all yours. This is his story. Story By • Johnny Carey Intro By • Brian Beaky

hen I first heard the idea, I couldn’t help but think, How lucky can a guy get? Two of every man’s favorite hobbies — golf and gaming — though not ones typically written into a job description. I gladly accepted. While at Washington National, my friend Josh and I discussed several ways that we could conserve the $200 for the majority of the evening — after all, if we weren’t careful, it could disappear faster than the Mariners playoff hopes in spring. First, we would hit the slots for a few hours — that way, if I started off struggling, it wouldn’t hurt my bottom line too badly. Then, I’d take my talents to the table games and test my luck on craps, roulette, blackjack, and maybe even a poker tournament in the casino’s much-talked-about poker room. Following one of my best rounds of the year at Washington National, and a humongous Kobe Angus beef burger and cold ale from BSB, it was time for the challenge to begin. I’m not quite sure what happened between the time where Josh and I strategically planned our mission and the time we set foot on the casino floor — maybe it was the high of the good round of golf, or the influence of the brews over dinner — but I was flush with confidence. To heck with nursing our purse at the slots — we headed straight for the roulette wheel. We were going to let it all ride on black, the first bet of the night. If I lost, I lost, and I figured I’d use some of my own money to try and earn it back. On the other hand, if I won, I’d have $400 to play around with for the next eight hours. 26 — black. You beautiful 26 black. Just like that, I doubled up. Grinning from ear to ear, I decided not to press my luck any longer, and returned to the original plan. We allocated the next three hours to several of the 3,100 video gaming machines that provide much of the color and sound to the Muckleshoot Casino floor. Though I didn’t make any big gains, I didn’t take any significant hits, either,

and at 12:30, we walked away from the video machines with another $121 added to our kitty. Though I’m biased because of the success I had playing it, I recommend the game named after the “King of Cool,” Dean Martin’s Pool Party. Having played for three solid hours, we had some down time to spare, so we made a quick pit stop to refuel on Red Bull and crab mac-and-cheese at Coyaba Grill, another one of Muckleshoot’s restaurants, before getting back to gaming just after 1 a.m. Our first stop was the poker room, the largest non-smoking poker room of its kind in the state. It was incredibly accommodating, with its very own bar and tableside food service – meaning I didn’t even have to leave the floor in the first place! The only thing bad about the poker room, in fact, was my level of play — after about two hours of tough beats, I swallowed my losses, packed it in and headed to my next destination, still in good spirits, with just over $300 left. The final three hours went fast, and so did my energy — but much to my delight, my earlier luck returned. We hit 21 a few times on the blackjack table, played various versions of table poker that I learned on the fly, and rolled some dice on the craps table, even though I’m honestly still not entirely sure what I was doing, or what I was betting on — I just looked at the table manager, and when he smiled and pushed me some chips, I smiled, too. We ended it with a little Pai Gow, and were sitting on a remarkable $513 with just 15 minutes left. Well over our 50-minutes-per-hour mandate, we decided to call it a night and grab a coffee and a muffin, then wait for our co-workers to pull back in so we could flash our winnings. Or, at least, that’s what we should have done. We had been on an inconceivable run of luck. We’d been playing all night, and while we hadn’t won everything, we had more than doubled our money — a great night, by any measure. cascadegolfer.com

Book your tee time today! But, as we were walking out, Josh said, “We only have to finish with one dollar more than our original $200 to win the challenge, right? Why not let the other $312 ride one last time? Even if we lose, we still get the rounds at Chambers.” It was a great point — or, at least, it seemed so at the time. There was only one place to go — back to the roulette table, where we had started this crazy run of luck with one probably inadvisable wager nearly nine hours earlier. A wise man once said, “The only sure thing about luck is that it will change.” And just before 6 a.m. on this late spring morning, he was right. When the wheel stopped spinning with the ball sitting in 32 red, we had only $201 left in chips — $1 in total profit for the night. But, we had a heck of a story — and a fantastic round of golf coming our way. Looking back, with the benefit of a good night’s sleep, I can’t say enough how much fun the whole night was. From the wait staff on the casino floor, to the dealers, the Muckleshoot Casino staff were hospitable throughout the night, and the casino itself was clean and easy to get around. Plan your own Muckleshoot Casino challenge at muckleshootcasino.com or 800-804-4944, and let us know how it went. For me, it’s off to Chambers. As for the drinks, they’ll definitely be on Josh.

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• • • • •

Great golf experience without the pressure Over 50 world-class courses to choose from Family friendly www.clubhouse-golf.com Great food and drinks Largest indoor golf center (425) 582-9813 & sports bar in WA state 3105 Alderwood Mall Blvd, Suite A, Lynnwood, WA 98036 • Watch your favorite sporting events on the giant screens

JUNE 2014

Schrempf with young golfers Sam Canton, Jared Speake, Gavin Morkert and Cole Darcey. The Detlef Schrempf Celebrity Classic, held each June at McCormick Woods, has raised over $15 million for over 100 Northwest children’s chartities.

When I was traded back to Seattle from Indiana, we partnered up with KJR Radio to give back to the community. It grew so quickly that we had to start a charity, the Detlef Schrempf Foundation, just to get better organized. Now, we have key signature events — the Gala and Auction [held June 21 at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue] is still our largest event, followed Monday by the golf tournament at McCormick Woods. We’ve also taken over the St. Patrick’s Day Dash, we’ve done the Nordstrom Fashion Show for many years, and this year we’re going to do the Taste of Main in Bellevue.

Chris Hansen and the Sonics. Chris has done an amazing job. The guy is sincere and humble. When he first presented his plan, he said it was a three- to five-year plan. Obviously, with what happened in Sacramento, all of a sudden within six months people were talking about us having a team, and things just went crazy. It didn’t happen, but he’s just stayed the path. We have another 2-4 years in his plan to make this happen, and I think it will happen. The NBA knows that this is a market where they need to have a team, especially with 10 other teams struggling in their markets. We’ll just have to be patient, and wait and see.

How much money has the tournament and foundation helped raise? We’re at about 15 million dollars. Our first year, we raised $22,000, then the second year we jumped up to $175,000, and now we’re raising about $1 million a year. A bulk of it has gone to a few charities in particular, like Inspire Youth Project, The Healing Center, the Children’s Hospital Autism Center and the Campfire Kids Puget Sound Region. We work with close to 100 children’s charities. How can the public become involved? Every public foursome gets a celebrity — actors like Christopher McDonald, Patrick Warburton, Ryan Stiles, and athletes from different sports, like Lawyer Milloy, Brent Barry, David Robinson, Nick Collison and Spencer Hawes. It’s a great turnout, and they’re all good people. We don’t take headaches — the people who are paying to attend don’t want to hang out with jerks, so we make sure that the celebrities we bring in are all a really good group. It pretty much sells out every year. Many teams come back year after year, which accounts for maybe 20-30 foursomes that sell right away. That leaves maybe another 8-10 foursomes that we can sell, and they go pretty quickly. Sounds like you need to tap into some of your Parks and Recreation castmates. Yeah, I’ve tried, but none of them play golf! I’ve been trying to get back on there, but I can’t get a callback. That was a hilarious experience. A lot of odd humor; at times I was like, “What am I doing here?” But it was funny. I can’t let you go without asking your thoughts on cascadegolfer.com

JUNE 2014

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RISK vs. REWARD North Shore Golf Course

By Simon Dubiel

Hole No. 11 • Par 4 • 286 yards (white tees) The Setup: This short, dogleg-right par 4 offers a wide array of options off the tee. Trees line the fairway on both sides 200 yards out, leading all the way up to the putting surface. A big hitter may be able to fade around the corner, or even go over the top, to reach the green or a greenside bunker. Reaching the dance floor is only part of the challenge, however, as the green slopes severely from back to front, leaving any putt a challenge.

The Risk: Have you ever hit a club that you were second-guessing? And then, at the moment you made contact (and watched your ball head towards trouble) asked yourself, “Why did I do that!!?” Undoubtedly, this is the conver-

sation many golfers have in their head on this tee box. There are plenty of trees that can make your decision look bad. A loose tee shot can leave the golfer in jail for their second, and at that point, one is just hoping to cut their losses.

The Reward: An eagle. How many good looks do you really get in a season? Maybe you are a stick and eagles come and go for you all the time. But for the average hack, they are few and far between. One well-struck drive here can leave you just a putt away from putting two circles on your scorecard. Anything near the green is a great leave, and even the bunker shots are pretty straightforward, playing uphill to the green.

Final Call: Laying up on a drivable par 4? Bor-ing. Sure, go ahead and pop your six-iron out there, leaving yourself wedge in. That is a safe play. But perhaps Matt Damon’s “Rounders” character, Mike McDermott, says it best: “Sure, you can’t lose what you don’t put in the middle, but you can’t win much either.” Pot odds say to make this bet, and so do we. Grip it and rip it.

PRESENTED BY

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JUNE 2014

The Final Countdown Get excited, golf fans — the 2015 U.S. Open is just one year away. And you’d better believe host-to-be Chambers Bay will be ready By Bob Sherwin

JUNE 2014

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GROW, BABY, GROW

fter the millions of dollars spent, the thousands of man-hour sweat and multiple adjustments to the course, Chambers

Bay’s fine and finicky fescue grass is on the clock. Over the next 12 months, all those involved in the fledgling course’s preparation for the 2015 U.S. Open will be figuratively holding their breath as they watch the grass grow. As tedious a pursuit as that is, it’s all that matters — and the only thing still uncertain with the Open now just one year away, June 18-21, 2015. Everything else — from volunteer registration to ticket sales, corporate sales, grandstands, housing, parking/transportation, etc. — is meeting, or exceeding, expectations for this point in the schedule. But without a robust growing season that provides consistent putting surfaces next June for those world-class PGA players, nothing else matters. That’s why for tournament planners, the next 12 months are all about the grass.

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he 2015 tournament will mark the first time since the Open was first contested, in 1895, that the entire playing surface on the seven-year-old golf course will be fine fescue, including — and especially — the greens. “I think it’s neat,’’ says Mike Davis, the USGA’s executive director. Davis, the lord of all things in professional golf, has been involved in the Chambers Bay site for more than a decade, when the first shovel was turned on the degraded gravel pit on a tilt to the Puget Sound. He loves the idea of end-to-end fescue competition. “We’ve played the U.S. Open on poa annua, new hybrid bentgrass, old hybrid, Bermuda. Different types. It’s just another variation,” he says. “Having said that, there will be a huge percentage of players playing in the U.S. Open who have not played on fescue (greens). “They are different when you look down at them,’’ Davis continues. “They are going to have an unusual look to them. They are going to look kind of hairy. But, when prepared, the ball rolls beautifully on it.’’

“This is not a normal golf course,” says Larry Gilhuly, the NW Director of the USGA Green Section. “You are going to see a creation of shots that are out of this world.”

JUNE 2014

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But will the greens be prepared? Since the course opened in 2007, it has been a grand experiment to achieve a pure roll, a challenge given fescue’s particular characteristics. Fescue works well in this Northwest climate and is natural for a links course such as Chambers. It needs little water, little fertilizer, has deep roots and is sun- and shade-tolerant. The problem, though, is that the grass goes dormant during the winter, and with continued public play, the seedlings become trampled or chopped off, turning portions of the green into mere sand. Some greens have been slow to establish, with persistent threadbare patches, and some greens just weren’t quite right from the beginning. It’s safe to say that in any one year, not even when the course hosted the 2010 U.S. Amateur, were all 18 greens up to Open standards. During the Amateur, the greens on the then threeyear-old course were acceptable but, based on playing patterns, it was clear that four greens — No. 1, No. 4, No. 7 and No. 13 — needed reconstruction. One by one since 2010, those greens have been restructured and reseeded, a risky move so close a major championship. Since it’s a public course and it has a fiduciary responsibility to Pierce County to pay the bills and keep the public churning through, it’s been necessary to protect the fragile growth, always with an eye on the Open. Greens have been completely closed off at times, with temporary fairway greens until the grass can properly grow in. This spring, the No. 1, No. 7 and No. 10 holes needed temporary greens. That will continue to be a necessary pattern as the summer and fall approach. Now it’s down to one year to go and, coming out of

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“We expect to be (sold out) quicker than any place we’ve ever been,’’ says Chambers Bay general manager Matt Allen. “There’s a lot of intrigue, a lot of excitement. It’s unbelievable pent-up demand.’’ this winter, one chance to grow. The course will need a veritable fescue fiesta by next June when all the players arrive, when FOX Sports debuts its golf coverage and 200 million people around the world tune in to watch the four-day competition. No temporary greens. No bare patches, just greens that are green and a roll that can be measured consistently throughout the course. “We’ll have capacity restrictions now up until the U.S. Open,’’ says Matt Allen, the course’s general manager since it opened in 2007. “Our play in May (2015) will be roughly half the rounds (as this May) and there will be some reductions in April. We’ll close June 1. “But that’s as important as it is in November, December and January to not put as many golfers on the course when fescue is not growing.’’ There also is a concern, on the other end, of getting roll too true. Open greens are notoriously fast, but if Chambers’ speed approaches 11 on the stimpmeter, that may be too much. Because of the greens’ undulating nature, fair approaches and putts could simply roll off the putting surface. The course has two agronomists who are experts in the wonders of fine fescue. Eric Johnson, the course’s director of agronomy, came aboard in July 2012. He had

been the grounds superintendent at fescue-abundant Bandon Dunes, specifically the Old MacDonald course. The course’s superintendent is Josh Lewis, who also worked at Bandon Dunes and more recently was the assistant superintendent at Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, Calif. They will have starring roles in the course’s one-yearout preparation, working in cooperative fashion with two old standbys, Mother Nature and Father Time.

The Man Behind The Curtain

avis, too, will be hovering during the countdown. He has had as much impact on this course as the original architects, the renowned RTJ II Golf Course Architects team, headed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. Davis walked the property when it was just gravel and gunk. He watched bulldozers shape the terrain. He was there when the grass was applied. He knows what it once was and has the vision for what it can be. That’s why, just seven months into its operation, Davis was instrumental in the USGA’s decision to award Chambers the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Open. “I think he staked his reputation a bit on the decision to come here,’’ Allen has said. “I don’t think he’s nervous about that decision. (But) it’s a bold move.’’ Davis talks with Allen a couple times a month and visits the course two or three times a year. He has directed an assortment of changes, particularly ones made evident after the Amateur. Just about every hole has had some alteration, some

JUNE 2014

significantly. The first hole might be the best example. During the Open, this hole will vary between a par-4 and a par-5. A new back tee complex has been added at more than 600 yards, the landing area will be squeezed by infringing rough on each side and the green approach has been softened for better access from the right side. Uniquely, when No. 1 rotates from a par-4 to a par-5, No. 18 will counter from its usual par-5 to a par-4, allowing the Open to be played at a par-70 each day. No. 13 was a par-5 during the Amateur and was, by far, the easiest hole to score. Davis wanted the rebuilt green to allow the approach shot to be more receptive. Then he changed it from a par-5 to a par-4, still in the 500-yard range. Greens No. 1, No. 4 and No. 7 also were rebuilt and reseeded. They’ll have restricted access this summer and beyond to allow hardy growth. Davis already has jotted down the various distances for the four par-3s. No. 3 will play 193, 163 and 142 yards; No. 9 will play 224, 217 and 202 yards; No. 15 will play 246, 167 and 123 yards; and No. 17 will play 218, 172 and 119 yards. For the dramatically elevated No. 9 hole, tucked into the hillside in the southeast corner of the property, Davis requested a tee position completely separate from the high stair-step tee locations. He had a tee built on the valley floor, near the old driving range. It’s nearly the same level as the green and the direct 202-yard approach allows use of the distant bank to help draw the ball back toward the hole. “The angle is completely different,’’ says Larry Gilhuly, the Northwest director of the USGA’s Green Section who reports to Davis. “From a playing standpoint, it’s going to be unique.

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From this spot behind the No. 16 green, attendees will be able to see the entire par-4 16th and, in the distance, the risk-reward par-4 No. 12, plus the No. 2 green and, behind them, the par-3 17th. “This is not a normal golf course,” Gilhuly continues. “You are going to see a creation of shots that are out of this world. We saw that at the Amateur, where guys were hitting up banks and bringing it back. That’s what’s going to make it unique.’’ Danny Sink, the USGA’s Championship Director, adds, “This is what Mike Davis wants. He wants those guys challenged on every shot. He doesn’t want two shots the same the entire length of the championship. There are five different ways to play every hole out there based on pin placement, teeing areas, what we do with the fairways. It’s truly going to be a challenging golf course.’’ Davis is everywhere and everything in the game. You’ll see him in the background at most tournaments. He determines rough length, pin positions and tee positions, and oversees the rules of the game and standards of equipment. His impact on the game – and certainly Chambers Bay – has been enormous. Davis, though, says that when it comes to the U.S. Open, the tournament

takes center stage, not the tournament director. “I’m trying to do things right for game and right for the U.S. Open,” Davis says. “If we do it right, it’s going to be about Chambers Bay and those 156 players playing. That’s what we want to see talked about. If I end up talking in the press tent, then things haven’t gone right.’’

The 12TH Man

hat is going right, even a year out, is the public’s need to be part of the first Open ever in the Northwest. That was reflected in the call for volunteers in February. “We kicked off our volunteer program and had 5,000 applications in 36 hours,” Sink says. “That’s something that never really happened before, that many in a short amount of time. It’s a great testament to public support of this championship.’’ Those volunteers queued up in rapid fashion despite

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the fact that they are required to put up $165 for their official Open gear. Eric Steimer, the assistant Open manager who works under Sink, added, “Generally, that’s (volunteer response) five months down the road in every other market. So the 12th Man goes above and beyond here.’’ Sink adds that corporate sales also have gone so well that there are only a limited number remaining. It may be that some large corporations expecting to pay between $125,000 and $235,000 for a tent could be turned away, because space is running out. It will be quite the affluent Tent City in an episodic economic boom that is estimated to bring in $140 million to the region during Open week. General public ticket sales for the Open go on sale June 9. A 28th straight Open sellout is anticipated. “We expect to be (sold out) quicker than any place we’ve ever been,’’ Allen says. “There’s a lot of intrigue, a lot of excitement here ... It’s unbelievable pent-up demand.’’ Sales will be limited to 35,000 tickets per day. Chambers’ vast 950-acre footprint could handle more, but that’s the estimate the USGA believes allows for the fans to roam the pathways safely with optimum viewing positions. How many seats will be erected around the course is still an uncertain figure. It will be next spring before decisions are made on how many and where grandstands will be set up. Sink said the USGA has an idea, mentioning stands for about 18,000 along the 18th hole and another high on the hill behind the 12th green, but other locations are still under consideration. The entire property will be under USGA control,

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including the perimeter and the public trail that cuts through and rises above the course. Non-ticketed fans will not be allowed to view the course from the high vantage point along Grandview Drive. No clubhouse has been built, nor will there be one. That’s not a problem. The USGA is used to setting up functional temporary modules for the players. They have been used at places such as Torrey Pines and Pebble Beach, which are public facilities where clubhouses are essentially non-existent. The clubhouse and scoring facility will be set up in the central meadow, on the south side of those “ancient” stone pillars that line the 18th fairway.

The Transportation Tango

his is the 15th Open for Sink, who moves his family to an Open site every two or three years ahead of the event. It’s his job to solve all outside-the-ropes issues. Invariably, the toughest problem is getting people there and back without congestion, frustration or hassle. “There aren’t any courses on an eight-lane interstate,’’ Sink says. “It’s always a challenge.” Chambers, like most courses, has limited vehicle access. The only road to it is the residential two-lane Grandview Drive, with an extremely small parking lot. That’s untenable. Since Sink arrived in the fall of 2012, he has been working with Pierce County officials and community leaders to solve the gnarly transportation dilemma. Large open parking lots or fields are being identified. A bus shuttle system will be set up to transport people from the lots to strategic dropout points, diverting as

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much traffic as possible away from the site. That plan is under way, but no announcement will be made until it is finalized in April 2015. “Everyone wants this to be a success. It’s the largest sporting event ever in the Northwest, except maybe the Olympics in Vancouver,’’ Sink says. “We have to provide parking (and access) for those players, fans and vendors in the right places. It’s like we’re building a city for 35,000 with no infrastructure.’’ Another way to arrive, somewhat unique to this Open site, is by rail. Sink is close to an agreement with BNSF Railway and Sound Transit that will bring patrons in from downtown Seattle. This is an important step, because it opens up the state’s largest city — and its thousands of hotel rooms — to the event. There are only so many rooms in Tacoma, Bremerton, Fife and Federal Way. A direct link from King Street Station to a drop-off area behind the 18th tee in just 50 minutes is critical to making the U.S. Open a successful regional event. Even though the Puget Sound waters lap up against the property, water access will not be allowed. The cruise ship idea was a pipe dream. Neither Chambers Bay nor Pierce County have jurisdiction out from the shoreline, and there is no dock, landing area or marina. “We talk about ‘what if this happens’ or ‘what if that happens,’’’ Sink says. “We plan for everything. We have one shot at it. We want to be invited back. That’s why we’re here two or three years in advance.”

Looking Ahead

hat is the plan. Even though the course has yet to host its first Open, all parties want a second one, and more. The next possible opening would be 2023. “A second U.S Open,’’ Allen adds, “would solidify the championship pedigree of the place.’’ Because it’s a new course played on an unusual surface, more than the usual number of potential Open players might trickle in this summer. They want to play the course in the same conditions as it will be next June. However, the vast majority won’t set foot on the premises until two weeks before the event. Some might prepare in a similar fashion to Peter Uihlein, who won the 2010 U.S. Amateur at Chambers. “Knowing the Amateur would be at Chambers Bay, his goal was to be the champion, so he worked with a swing coach to build his swing with a ball flight trajectory best suited for this course,” Allen says. “He changed his swing to be in the best position on a links golf course.” Phil Mickelson has a rigorous pre-major routine. He has been known to spend two or three hours with his caddy on each green, mapping out the roll and the breaks. Of course, few courses feature so many rolls, breaks, banks and bunkers. It is essentially a U.S./British Open, with elevation. “When you play Chambers, you know it’s not a normal test of golf,’’ Davis says. “It’s unique in a wonderful kind of way.’’ Bob Sherwin is a veteran of the Seattle Times and the New York Times, a frequent contributor to Cascade Golfer, and the co-publisher of GolfersWest.com. He last wrote about PGA Tour star Richard E. Lee in our August 2013 issue.

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JUNE 2014

DREAM NFL VETERAN

JON KITNA HAS RETURNED HOME TO DO FOR TACOMA’S YOUTH WHAT OTHERS DID FOR HIM BY BRIAN BEAKY CG EDITOR

n 1995, fresh off of winning an NAIA National Championship at Central Washington University, Jon Kitna applied for the job of math teacher and head football coach at his alma mater, Lincoln High School. Lincoln administrators said thanks, but no thanks. It’s a response Kitna has heard all his life. And one he’s never been willing to accept.

JUNE 2014

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ey man, how’s it going?” Kitna says as he strides towards the clubhouse at The Home Course in DuPont, one of the Tacoma native’s favorite venues (along with Chambers Bay) and our hosts on this drizzly March morning. He looks no worse the wear for his 16 years in professional football, including one in the World League, four with the Seahawks, five with Cincinnati, and three each with Detroit and Dallas — no obvious aches or pains, no physical limitations. Indeed, just over two decades after embarking on one of the most unlikely careers in football history, which started out in a trailer home, passed through an NAIA college that didn’t particularly want him and had never sent a player to the NFL, and ended 16 years later with 29,745 career passing yards — 39th in NFL history at the time of his retirement in 2013 (well, almost retirement … we’ll get to that), ahead of legends like Terry Bradshaw, Ron Jaworksi, Ken Stabler and Joe Namath — Kitna seems from all outward appearance to be completely unchanged by the experience. But appearances can be deceiving. To understand how Kitna has remained so humble, and why in 2012 — just months after concluding his last NFL season — he chose to become the most recognizable high school math teacher in America, you have to understand where he’s come from, what he’s seen, what he’s done — and the profound changes he’s had to make in his life to persevere. Kitna was born in Tacoma in 1972, to 18-year-old parents who stifled any outward dreams they might have had to raise a son, while simultaneously teaching their boy to dream as big as his heart would allow. Throughout his teenage years, Kitna was admittedly a troublemaker — drinking, partying, stealing. In a story published by Yahoo Sports in 2012, Kitna’s former college teammate and a current assistant coach at Lincoln High School, Eric Boles, said to an assembled group of 7-Eleven executives, “You guys can invoice Jon Kitna because he stole so much from you.” It took years for Kitna to become Lincoln’s starting quarterback, and when his high school career ended, nobody came calling. Don James wanted Puyallup’s Damon Huard, not Kitna. Washington State had Drew Bledsoe. Not even any of the small colleges offered Kitna a scholarship. Finally, Central Washington agreed to let Kitna walkon, but he’d have to pay his own way, and compete with the 11 other quarterbacks on the Wildcats’ roster. Less than a month later, he was the team’s starting quarterback — and living the lifestyle that came with it.

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One night, his girlfriend — now his wife, Jennifer — caught him in bed with another woman. Kitna had everything — the starting job on a college team, the big-time lifestyle, the admiration accorded to the most famous man in a small town. And yet he had never felt lower in his life. “That was the last straw for me,” Kitna says of that night, and the ensuing argument. “I wanted to change and become a better man.” Kitna had seen his friend and teammate, Boles, undergo a similar transformation in recent years, and called him to learn his secret. Boles’ message was simple: “’The Gospel of Christ,’ he said. So, from that point forward, I turned my life over to Him,” Kitna says. And just like that, Kitna’s faith was rewarded. The quarterback who now wore clothes adorned with crosses and spoke to anyone who would listen about the power of Christ led the Wildcats to an NAIA National Championship in 1995. Of course, despite the championship, despite the numerous collegiate passing records, scouts said it was just Central — hardly a level of play that translates to the NFL. Come draft day, Kitna’s phone never rang. It was then that Kitna, math degree in hand, first applied for the Lincoln High School teaching job, turning his focus towards the kids like himself — kids from a poor, inner-city neighborhood, with mostly absent fathers, who desperately needed a positive role model to steer their lives in the right direction. “I thought it was over. And I was fine with it,” he says. “I was going to go back to Lincoln and become a teacher, with my wife. Sure, we wanted to go to the NFL, but that was always our biggest dream, to teach in the same high school. Then Dennis Erickson called.” Erickson, the Seahawks coach, was doing a favor for his nephew, Jamie Christian, one of Kitna’s receivers at

Central. Kitna says scouts from multiple teams had been invited, but when no one showed up, Erickson worked out the assembled players himself. Christian had been the draw, but Kitna was the star. Erickson invited Kitna to training camp in 1996 and sent him to the World League to give him some professional seasoning. Just as he had done at every level of play previously, Kitna exceeded all expectations, leading the Barcelona Dragons to the World League title and earning championship game MVP honors and the nickname “The Magic Dragon.” The following year, Kitna made the Seahawks roster out of camp, and for the next 16 years, held down one of the most glamorous jobs in the world — NFL quarterback. Each stop holds a special memory — Seattle for the chance to play in front of friends and family, and step on the field for the first time as an NFL quarterback (“It was amazing,” he says.); Cincinnati for the bond he forged with a young Carson Palmer, still one of his closest friends (“I love that guy like a brother,” Kitna says.); Detroit for the back-to-back seasons in which he started every game and threw for over 8,000 yards, despite being sacked a total of 114 times, nearly four times per game; and Dallas for their devoted fans, loyal owner, and a 2010 season in which he came in for an injured Tony Romo and racked up nearly 2,400 yards and 16 TDs in just half a season, at age 38. Finally, in 2012, Kitna pulled off the pads for what he assumed would be the final time. He picked up the phone, and called Lincoln co-principal Pat Erwin. It was time to get to work.

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his is a nice hole,” Kitna says, as we prepare to tee off on The Home Course’s par-4 ninth hole, Old Fort. Like most holes at The Home Course (ranked No. 7 in Cascade Golfer’s 2013 rankings of Washington’s public courses), Old Fort’s fairway pitches and rolls from tee to green, with a little local knowledge helpful towards guiding players to the most desirable landing areas and angles of approach. Kitna first picked up golf in Cincinnati, teaming with Palmer to sneak out after morning practices at training camp and squeeze in 18 holes before dashing back to the team’s Germantown, Ky., facility for the afternoon practice. At his best, he says he had his handicap down to a three; now, he’s a 10, though on this day, he plays much closer to his old number than his new one. The ongoing demands of being a teacher, coach, father and role model JUNE 2014

DREAM

BIG

for over 100 Lincoln High School football players takes up nearly every hour in the day. Most days, he’s up around 4:30 a.m., working out and getting his own four kids — Jordan (16), Jada (15), Jalen (10) and Jamison (6) — off to school, before heading in to Lincoln to start his own workday. Unlike most of his first two years at Lincoln, Kitna doesn’t have a math class to teach this semester, so the first few hours of his day consist of logistical work — helping his students with their SAT prep and college applications, drafting up offseason training and weightlifting schedules for the football team. In the afternoons, it’s training time with students and student-athletes in the weight room, before returning home for dinner with Jennifer and the kids. Tonight just happens to be family night, when the whole Kitna clan gathers around to watch “Survivor” — “It’s our absolute favorite show,” he says. When Kitna first returned to Lincoln, he knew he’d encounter more challenges than had ever been presented by an NFL defense. But even he wasn’t prepared for just how bad things had become in the 20 years he’d been away. “We have 100 kids, and on average, 85 of them don’t have a dad at home,” he says. “Four out of five are on free or reduced lunch. Before we even get to football, we’re just trying to increase their basic needs.” Kitna learned that one student was walking five miles

each way to and from school each day. He set up a booster club and 501(c)(3) charity, put Jennifer in charge, and bought the student a bike. He spent $150,000 to overhaul the Lincoln weight room, and tapped into a lifetime of NFL relationships to replace Lincoln’s worn-out, outdated gear with state-of-the-art equipment. Palmer, Tony Romo, Calvin Johnson and DeMarcus Ware are just a few of the NFL All-Pros who jumped at the chance to help their for-

mer teammate — as big a testament to the respect and esteem with which Kitna’s teammates regard him as any statistic ever could be. Money, though, can only do so much. To truly reach the kids, to impact their lives in the way that mentors had impacted and changed the course of his own, he had to reach deeper. He had to get R.E.A.L. In prefacing his R.E.A.L. program, essentially a set of guidelines by which to live your live, Kitna cites a 20-year-study that found that 80 percent of NFL players are broke, divorced or addicted to drugs within one year out of the league. “The NFL life affords you the ability to really stay a child,” he says. “All you have to worry about is yourself; you’re in your own little bubble. It’s a very selfish lifestyle. All of a sudden, nobody wants your autograph anymore, and you’re not making any money. If that was your identity, now what?” Eighty percent. If accurate, it’s a staggering number, and puts into perspective the challenge of maintaining a clean lifestyle in an environment that drives so many in another direction. “And then, what does society tell us a real man is like?” Kitna continues. “Society tells us he has a lot of money, a lot of sexual conquests or a lot of fame. So, by definition, I spent 16 years of my life surrounded by real

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JUNE 2014

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men. But if the world says that’s what a real man is, and that’s what’s happening to those ‘real’ men — that four out of five are divorced, broke or on drugs — then we need to redefine what a real man is.” According to Kitna, a R.E.A.L. man:

• • • •

REJECTS PASSIVITY, EMPATHIZES WITH OTHERS, ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY, AND LEADS COURAGEOUSLY.

He calls them the four pillars of manhood, a moral — and, importantly, secular — set of guidelines to help his players, and indeed anyone, live a virtuous life. For Kitna, it’s about breaking the cycle of irresponsibility and indifference in which so many of his students have been raised, and building a foundation from which an entire generation of healthy, productive families can grow. In addition to spreading his message among the halls and locker rooms of Lincoln High School, Kitna shares the R.E.A.L. philosophy with corporate groups throughout the United States, who want to learn more about team-building and personal strategies for success. “Obviously, football is a big part of what we do [at Lincoln], but not many of them are going to play football after high school,” he says. “But they’re all going to go on in life,

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“The NFL life affords you the ability to stay a child,” Kitna says. “All you have to worry about is yourself; you’re in your own little bubble. It’s a very selfish lifestyle. All of a sudden, nobody wants your autograph anymore, and you’re not making any money. If that was your identity, now what?”

so that’s really what we try to focus on more than anything.” s Kitna sits in his cart on the fairway of the par-5 16th, Puget Sound just a few hundred yards to the west and the Olympic Mountains looming beyond, he shakes his head at how busy his life has become. “I never knew what busy was when I was in the NFL,” he says. “The NFL is the most normal sports job.

It’s really a 9 to 5. My wife and I, when we were in college, we talked about how we really want to be in the NFL and all that. But our biggest dream was that we would teach and work in the same high school. And now we’re doing it. And it’s a lot harder than I ever thought it would be. But it’s a lot more rewarding than I ever thought it would be, too.” If you were creating the perfect person to bring the message of leadership, responsibility and courage to kids in Tacoma’s roughest neighborhoods, you couldn’t do better than Kitna. In fact, he’s so well-suited for the job — a product of the same neighborhood, the same school and the same failed socio-economic system, who made the same mistakes before reclaiming his life and attaining the highest pinnacle of hero worship in America today, NFL quarterback, before giving up that lifestyle to return home and humble himself for the betterment of his community — that honestly, nobody would ever believe you could find such a perfect match. “I’m a product of my dreams,” he says. “There were plenty of people who didn’t think the dream could happen, but I didn’t pay attention to them. I paid attention to the people who thought the dream could happen. Maybe it was naive, but I never gave up on the dream. So whatever opportunity I had, no matter how small, I looked at as a golden opportunity.”

JUNE 2014

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DREAM

BIG

“I’m a product of my dreams,” Kitna says. “There were plenty of people who didn’t think the dream could happen, but I didn’t pay attention to them. I paid attention to the people who thought the dream could happen.”

In the days following the Dallas Cowboys’ season-saving 24-23 win over the Washington Redskins on Dec. 22, 2013, Kitna received one last opportunity from the NFL. Word began to spread that Cowboys’ quarterback Tony Romo, who had played through a back injury for much of the season, wouldn’t be able to suit up for the team’s Week 17 game against the Eagles — a game that would decide the NFC East title. Kitna, hearing the news at home, sent a text to Cowboys coach Jason Garrett, saying, “Hey, if you need someone to come in for four or five games, I can make that happen.” Garrett texted back, “Are you serious?” To which Kitna replied, “I’m serious if you’re serious.” The day after Christmas, Kitna signed a one-week contract with the Cowboys, flew to Dallas and spent the next three days brushing up on the Cowboys’ offense, reminding himself of the plays he had been running for Dallas just two years before. Come game day, Cowboys backup Kyle Orton made it through four quarters unscathed, and Kitna flew back home to Tacoma — with a $53,000 check for the Lincoln High School booster club. What did your kid’s math teacher do over Christmas break? For many around the country, Kitna’s decision to donate his salary to the school was seen as particularly magnanimous. For Kitna, it was merely an extension of the way he has lived his life for the better part of the last 20 years — for others. In particular, for those who have helped him become the man he is today, and for the future men he may be able to influence with his words and actions. “I was the ultimate reclamation project,” he says. “Christ redeemed me from this life of destruction, and I owe him my life. Tony Evans always said, ‘A blessing is never a blessing if it stops with you.’ We just feel like it’s what we’re called to do, what everyone is called to do. “To live generously. To give back.” cascadegolfer.com

10 Y E A R S 2005 – 2014

TRAVEL BAG

Golfing On Island Time B.C.’s Vancouver Island Golf Trail is A MUST-DO

Bear Mountain Resort • Mountain No. 19

hey say a picture is worth a thousand words. In this case, even six pictures and more than

2,000 words can’t do justice to my recent stay-and-play trip to Victoria and Vancouver Island. It is, quite simply, one of the most treasured golf trips I’ve ever taken — and one of the most affordable, thanks to the packages currently being promoted by the Vancouver Island Golf Trail. I skimmed along the Salish Sea via the Victoria Clipper, but you can also get to the island via ferry from Port Angeles or the Canadian coast, or by seaplane, using Kenmore Air. Whichever way you choose, Vancouver Island is just a hop, skip and jump away for us Puget Sound golfers — closer, in fact, than Bend, Coeur d’Alene and a number of other Northwest golf destinations — yet leaves you feeling like you’ve traveled to the other side of the world. 48

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By Dick Stephens CG Publisher

OLYMPIC VIEW GOLF CLUB When I first covered Vancouver Island many years ago, I designed a magazine page around the image of a waterfall that backs the 17th green at Olympic View Golf Club, wondering at the time what it would be like to play that hole. Last month, I stopped wondering and got to see it, hear it and let it pull me along on a four-hour journey through this Bill Robinson masterpiece, knowing that the scenic 17th would cap a perfect day. Sculpted through forest, rock formations and dotted with bright red arbutus trees, Olympic View is a calling-card track for the island and a trek here is not complete without playing it. It’s breathtaking — many of the holes here would be signature holes on thousands of courses across the continent. Of its many accolades, those that snagged my attention (and my Bridgestone B330s) were the holes that are Canadian legends. The par-5 13th is a double-dogleg that starts high atop an elevated tee. At five yards shy of 600 clicks, I had to play it from the back. We reached No. 13 as twilight settled and I thought I was in heaven, with shadows and sunbeams piercing gaps in the forest and illuminating the “A” position sightline. The hole has been voted the hardest par-5 in

the province, and deservedly so. If you hit the green in regulation, you’re a daisy. No. 17 is also one of the most popular holes in B.C. I’ve hit approaches into island greens, over Scottish burns and over a mountain gorge, but never into a green backed by a rushing waterfall. I used the cascading whitewater as my target and had my picture taken, like thousands of others before me. The course is extremely affordable, gently hilly and is a complete outing with dinner and a drink in their beautiful clubhouse. Visit www.olympicviewgolf.com and use the hole-by-hole tour — you’ll be sucked right in.

HIGHLAND PACIFIC GOLF Day two was special, as I learned the story of a 50-year-old piece of land that was bought, nurtured, protected, crafted and offered up to the world by a family and its love affair with their little corner of this Earth. Herb Plasterer was a Victoria architect and artist who made a visionary land purchase, high atop the View Royal area of the island. While he never got to see his dream unfurl, his five sons, daughter and wife carried forward Herb’s vision. In fact, the HP logo is not solely for Highland Pacific – it’s also Herb’s design initials. cascadegolfer.com

I played with one of Herb’s sons, who shared dozens of quips about how dynamite blasts through coastal mountain rock and the handiwork of family and friends built the Pacific (opened in 2008) and Highland Nines with love and sweat. This place blew me away with its views of Victoria, the ocean, the Olympic Mountains and a weaving Chris Young design that was as unique as the family. Garry oaks, arbutus trees, waterfalls and rock outcroppings are with you all day as you rise and fall in elevation. It’s not long, but it’s a shotmaker’s track. Between jaw-dropping vistas, heathland/coastal style golf layout, water features and the Thetis Lake Regional Park, there’s plenty to distract your eye from the best places to place your ball. I loved the par-3 eighth, a 221-yard rugged jewel with a view I will never forget. Another sweetheart is the 562yard fifth, which shows off the rocks. I thought it was the most impressive hole at a place where that honor could be debated for days. The best part was hearing Plasterer’s accounts of enjoying the land as an adolescent — camping, boating, fishing and just being a kid, long before it was ever to become a golf mecca. It was a reminder that their life is not about the golf, but about the land. I thought of the movie “The Descendants,” where rather than sell out, the family chooses to open their land so that others can come and enjoy something so special that no amount of money can do it justice. Check out www.highlandpacificgolf.com and enjoy it year-round – it’s one of the driest courses in B.C.

BEAR MOUNTAIN GOLF RESORT AND SPA If you go to Monterey, you have to play Pebble Beach. When you come to Victoria, the Westin Bear Mountain Resort (www.bearmountain.ca) is a must. It’s funny — across Canada, the resort is synonymous with golf and hotel excellence and is seen as the cherry on top of Vancouver Island’s sundae. But, here in Puget Sound, it’s still widely unknown. That’s something I hope to change. With 1,300 acres of hotel, spa, wine, food and two Jack Nicklaus-designed

Olympic View Golf Club • No. 14

Olympic View Golf Club • No. 17

courses, Bear Mountain is relaxed decadence — all the way, all the time. The harder of the two courses, the Mountain Course, is Golden Bear through and through. It reminded me of TPC Snoqualmie Ridge, featuring wildly and beautifully shaped holes that go up and down the mountain, with lots of bunkering and undulating greens. There are lots of places to put your ball in play, plus numerous chances to take a risk for an even greater reward. It could be punishing to a high handicapper, but I found it more than fair as an average golfer. The jewels of the joint Jack and Steve Nicklaus design were the par-5 14th and the bonus 19th, positioned between the 14th and 15th holes. The 14th is a long, uphill par-5 that seems to never end — and with native grass contrasts, perfect bunkering and a climb to the top accented by one the best views in golf, featuring Mt. Baker on one end of the panorama and Victoria’s Inner Harbor on the other, you almost wish it never would. Then, there’s the old “ betting hole” 19th — a 140yard par-3 from an elevated tee box, played to a shelf of a green hanging off the side of the mountain. It looks like a poster for out-of-this-world holes, and is a memory that’s burned in my mind. The Valley Course, the second 18-hole track at Bear Mountain, is on par with the Mountain course in design, test, playability and beauty. Everyone is so seduced by the vistas of the Mountain Course that it can be easy

Bear Mountain Resort • Valley No. 1

Highland Pacific Golf Club • Pacific No. 8

ENTER TO WIN A Vancouver Island Golf Getaway to Victoria! Bear Mountain Resort • Mountain No. 11

Cascade Golfer and GolfVancouverIsland.ca have teamed up to give one lucky golfer — and an even luckier guest of their choice — a weekend golf getaway to Victoria, including two nights accommodation at the luxurious Hotel Grand Pacific on Victoria’s Inner Harbour, plus three rounds of golf for two! You’ll be teeing it up at Bear Mountain Golf Resort, Olympic View Golf Club and Arbutus Ridge Golf Club, three of the most acclaimed tracks in all of British Columbia.

Log on to CascadeGolfer.com to enter to win your chance to play on island time! cascadegolfer.com

JUNE 2014

Stay In Style

TRAVEL BAG

Hotel Grand Pacific One of Canada Select’s 5-star winners, the Hotel Grand Pacific (www.hotelgrandpacific.com) is right in the middle of Victoria’s Inner Harbor. Less than a 90-second walk from the Clipper Vacations ferry terminal, it’s perfect for golfers hauling their clubs. There are four top choices to dine in and the Spa at the Grand is a great option after a work out in the Athletic Club. A perfect place for couples or golfers wanting the true Victoria experience.

Arbutus Ridge Golf Club • No. 17

Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort and Spa The incredible craftsman-styled hotel and grounds at the Westin Bear Mountain (www.bearmountain.ca) looks perfectly tucked into the dramatic mountain backdrop. The food, wine and spirit options are world-class, headlined by The Cellar, which boasts one of the finest wine collections in the province. The Bella Montagna restaurant overlooks the courses and was perfect for fine dining. I also enjoyed a golfer’s massage in the Sante Spa after 36 holes – a highly recommended experience.

Oceanfront Suites at Cowichan Bay (pictured, above) Sights and sounds of waterfowl and the calming saltwater tides are a part of your experience at the Oceanfront Suites (www.oceanfrontcowichanbay.com) in the quaint village of Cowichan Bay. A perfect companion to Arbutus Ridge, it’s quite luxurious, with all-new appointments and euro-design furnishings. I loved leaving the windows open when I slept and hearing the sounds of the bay. The hotel’s Terrain Kitchen is also famous throughout town.

Fuel For The Golfer’s Soul Canoe, in Victoria, is right up the golfer’s alley with hearty fish and beef dishes, an incredible beer flight and a bar with a great vibe. Moon Under Water Brewery and Pub, located on the edge of Victoria’s Inner Harbor, had the comfort and coolness of a place you might find in Seattle’s Fremont District. Little Jumbo features cool mixology, with unique twists on cocktails. It’s hip, but not in a hipsterish way. Lastly, Cherry Point Estate Wines (www.cherrypointestatewines.com), just down the road from Arbutus Ridge in Cobble Hill, is a must. I spent a chunk of an afternoon with the estate owners hearing their stories and loving their wines. It’s a little patch of heaven.

to say the Valley is a step down. In fact, the greens are dramatically different and the rocks are with you on this ride. I played both courses the same day and donated more balatas to the Valley than the Mountain. I would play the Valley first if I could do it again — making a fairer comparison.

ARBUTUS RIDGE GOLF CLUB My last stop was the perfect one, slamming a stake into the island’s grounds and tethering an all-around experience. I left Bear Mountain on a perfect spring morning and drove to Arbutus Ridge via the Malahat, a 1,110-foot climb featuring heart-pounding views of the Saanich Peninsula and Gulf Islands before dropping back down into Cobble Hill, where Arbutus awaits atop a plateau overlooking Mt. Baker, the Gulfs and Satellite Channel. The flattest of the five courses I played, Arbutus Ridge is another Bill Robinson track that stands the test of time. The 6,100-yard design weaves through a residential neighborhood, but is not overtaken by it. The course has as many awards as any on the island, but the thing that struck me most was how personable and proud the members and residents are. General Manager Jason Lowe has shaped this well-traveled and well-known destination course into one the top values in all of Canada. I saw hawks and deer during my four hours, capped by a closing series of three holes that at 411, 214 and 426 yards, are as challenging as any you will find. The Satellite Bar and Grill has one of the best menus in the Cowichan Valley and has an amazing B.C. wine list. See what Audubon International and Golf Digest are gushing about at www.arbutusridgegolf.com.

BACKYARD PARADISE This is a just a sampling of what Golf Vancouver Island offers, as the trail features 11 championship courses that run along 250 kilometers of the stunning coast on this heaven-like rock. It’s affordable, too, with a favorable exchange rate driving the value even higher. Design your own version of island time on their fantastic website, www.GolfVancouverIsland.ca/Seattle. 50

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cascadegolfer.com

JUNE 2014

ROAD HOLES

Black Butte Ranch Sisters, Ore.

Coeur d’Alene Resort Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

LOOKING FOR A QUICK SUMMER GETAWAY?

Here are two of our favorite spots to hunker down with our clubs for a weekend or more this summer: By Brian Beaky CG Editor

GEM STATE’S FINE JEWELS

ith one of the smallest populations of any state in the U.S., and no single “tourist” region, Idaho is often overlooked by national travel journals as too remote, its prime destinations too spread out. That’s just fine with Northwest residents, who take advantage of the national focus on over-booked destinations like Hawaii and the Florida coast to enjoy lower hotel rates and lower greens fees at some of the nation’s most outstanding public courses. Chief among them is the five-star Coeur d’Alene Resort and its world-famous floating green. That’s right, a floating green. Not just one of those so-called “island” greens that are actually connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land, or a bridge, Coeur d’Alene’s floating green, located on the 14th hole, bobs idly in the gentle waves of Lake Coeur d’Alene, connected by cables to the mainland. A ferry waits to shuttle golfers the 95 to 203 yards across the water (the green’s distance from shore can be adjusted manually), then returns golfers to the mainland — with a complimentary photo to commemorate the experience. A golfer who claims they came to Coeur d’Alene for any reason other than the 14th is a liar; that being said, just as many return home talking about the resort’s several other excellent holes. The par-5 11th mimics the famed 13th at Augusta National, while the par-4 13th runs along the lake shore, with water and bunkers threatening every shot. The back-to-back par-3s on the front nine are also among the course’s most memorable, particularly the 52

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120-yard third with a massive bunker from tee to green and beautiful rock formations. The greens fee — which includes forecaddies, mahogany-lined carts, massages, photographs at the signature 14th and a personalized bag tag, along with the ability to hit range balls into the lake — runs around $150 for non-resort guests, which makes the $167 stay-and-play package at the five-star resort a no-brainer, even for locals looking for a fun night out. Add just $35 more, and the resort will throw in dinner at any of its numerous on-site restaurants — take it from experience, the steak and wine at Beverly’s (not to mention the panoramic view of the lake) is worth every penny. Staying at the Coeur d’Alene Resort also puts you just 30 minutes away from Idaho’s other crown jewel, the Circling Raven Golf Resort in Worley. Designed by Gene Bates (whose most recent creation, Salish Cliffs, has been flying up Washington golf rankings since opening in 2011), Circling Raven sprawls across 620 acres of pristine Idaho landscape, with tall trees, colorful grasses and low mountains extending all the way to the horizon in all directions. Few golf experiences are as immersive — seemingly miles from any sense of civilization, it’s just you, your buddies and the golf course … and what a golf course it is. Distinctive white-sand bunkers dot nearly every fairway and green, rewarding daring players with shorter and easier approaches, without overly penalizing a golfer who chooses to play it safe. From the split fairway at the par-4 fourth, to the scenic par-4 eighth, to the beautiful par-5 12th, there are no shortage of holes that will send a thrill

tingling down your spine. At $95 on a summer weekend, it’s a worthwhile side trip from a Coeur d’Alene stay, or a stay-and-play destination of its own — packages including a night at the adjacent Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort start as low as $219 and include a round of golf for two. Idaho may not be high on the list of America’s top tourist destinations — and so long as the great deals keep coming, that’s just fine with us.

HIGH DESERT HEAVEN

here Idaho has remained a mostly undiscovered golf gem, there’s a well-worn trail leading to Bend, Sisters and the other Central Oregon locales, just two-and-a-half hours southeast of Portland, which boomed during the great golf expansion of the 1990s. Since golf travel has waned over the last 5-6 years, however, most of the national and international travelers have gone away — but the courses and resorts remain, turning the region into a kind of private playground for Northwest golfers and their families, and at rates that courses wouldn’t even have considered offering at the height of the market. Take one of our favorite destinations, Black Butte Ranch, just outside Sisters — a fabulous five-star resort featuring miles and miles of hiking and biking trails, river rafting, horseback riding, public parks, swimming pools, waterslides, a health spa and two of the region’s most acclaimed golf courses. A one-night’s stay in one of the cascadegolfer.com

resort’s beautiful vacation rental homes, plus a day of unlimited golf on its Big Meadow and Glaze Meadow courses — the latter reopened in 2012 after a $3.75 million renovation at the hands of John Fought — starts at an almost appallingly low $139 per person, in the peak season. One hundred thirty-nine dollars! The unlimited golf alone is worth more, much less the chance to kick up your heels before the fireplace in a rustic resort home, and enjoy the resort’s expansive list of amenities. In the summer, a serious golfer could easily play both courses in a day — heck, even 54 holes is more than doable. Fought’s work at Glaze Meadow earned a “Best Renovation” honor from Golf Digest in 2012, and has been one of the biggest draws for golfers to Central Oregon in the last two years. Big Meadow, meanwhile, has consistently ranked among the state’s top public courses since its opening in 1970, with some of the most iconic views of any golf course in the region. There’s fun for the whole family, too, with more than enough activities to keep the non-golfers in your party entertained, plus camps and clinics for kids and others looking to pick up the game. Just as with a trip to Coeur d’Alene, however, no matter how delightful the pleasures at your home base, you’re going to want to take advantage of the other outstanding courses within a short distance. For most golfers, this will be the one vacation you take all year — you’re darn sure going to make the most of it. Around Sisters, that means heading just down the road to Aspen Lakes, a course likely familiar to regular CG readers who have seen us sing its praises year after

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year, but still relatively off the beaten path leading to the higher-priced tracks and major resorts. The price is certainly a primary draw — just $75 on a summer weekend at mid-morning, and dropping as low as $20 at other times. Aspen Lakes claims to have a price for every budget — and it’s true, though we’ve yet to find a Central Oregon vacationer who wouldn’t consider even the full $75 a terrific deal. As we always say, though, true value comes not from a low greens fee, but from a course whose quality vastly exceeds its peers at that same greens fee, whatever it may be. Aspen Lakes blows its greens fee away, with up to 7,300 yards of narrow, tree-lined fairways and tight doglegs, plus open wetlands holes with water carries and scenic wildlife. With mostly short par-4s and long par-5s, it’s friendly to mid-handicappers (who struggle most on long par-4s) and challenging for more skilled golfers, with its creative routing and iconic, crushed-cinder bunkers. Sure, you’re going to want to check out the region’s aforementioned big boys — after all, who knows when you’ll be back this way again? Which is all the more reason to stay at Black Butte Ranch — with its low rates and unlimited golf — and tee up at least one round at Aspen Lakes. With the money you save, you can squeeze in a premier round at Brasada, Crosswater, Tetherow or any other of the region’s most sought-after tracks. And with the time you’ll save by having one home base, you can stroll down to B.J.’s Ice Cream in Sisters, order up some double scoops for the whole family, and watch the stars come out over the Oregon peaks.

Palouse Ridge Pullman, Wash.

We’re Sending You To Palouse Ridge

hen we close our eyes and envision the perfect golf day trip, we’re pulling into the parking lot at Pullman’s Palouse Ridge Golf Club on a sunny summer day, throwing our clubs on the back of the cart and getting ready to enjoy one of the most exhilarating golf courses in the Pacific Northwest. We’re making that trip happen this year — not for ourselves, though, but for one lucky CG reader and the playing partner of their choice! You’ll be teeing it up at Palouse Ridge and enjoying a course ranked No. 5 in the state by CG in 2013. The golf is on us — the memories, though, are all yours.

Enter to win at CascadeGolfer.com!

JUNE 2014

SAVE SOME GREEN SUMMER ACROSS THE SOUND BY TONY DEAR

or months, the Western Washington golfer sits and looks forlornly out of the window, hoping the rain clouds will finally clear, and the temperature rise. The Seattleite endures over 21 inches of precipitation from November to February, while the poor residents of Bremerton, just 15 miles west across Puget Sound, suffer over 34 inches … in four months! Happy, joyous even, is the western Washington golfer who survives the winter and comes out the other side ready for another glorious golf season on some of the most beautiful golf courses in the world. And when he can play those courses for less than $50 in many cases, he remembers why he chose to live here, and why he wouldn’t actually be anywhere else. Summer golf in Western Washington — and particularly on the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas — is a singular experience with fantastic scenery, ideal weather and usually immaculate course conditions. It’s just around the corner and, like you, we can hardly wait.

In the “Sun Belt”

New At The Golf Course Rockaway Bar & Grill

Great new Menu, Cocktails

Improved Website Book on line now!

Weekly Pro Shop Competitions Open to all

Prime Time Tournament Dates Available Call to inquire

Remember, we’re only 15 minutes from I-5 exit #212, in the “Sun Belt” on Camano Island.

McCormick Woods • Port Orchard, Wash.

McCormick Woods PORT ORCHARD

Opened in 1987, McCormick Woods epitomizes the game in the Pacific Northwest – stately pine and fir trees lining fairways you really ought to find if you want to match or better your handicap. A view of awesome Mt. Rainer also tells you where you are. The course – 7,040 yards from the tips and 6,658 yards from the blues — was designed by Jack Frei, a former University of Washington golfer who sadly passed away in January 2010 at the age of 65. Besides McCormick Woods, Frei designed three other northwest gems — Bear Creek Country Club and Echo Falls in Woodinville, and Desert Canyon in Orondo, which regularly ranks among the state’s best public courses. McCormick Woods is now part of the RMG Club and offers members attractive monthly dues — $179 for unlimited golf at all three RMG locations (McCormick Woods, Oakbrook GC, and The Classic), $109 for unlimited golf at one of the three courses, and $59 for unlimited twilight golf at any one of them. Daily green fees are also available and start below $50 on a summer weekday. Play after 3 p.m. and you can walk 18 holes for less than $30. General manager Shawn Cucciardi expects 2014 to be one of the busiest years in McCormick’s history, thanks to the already superb playing conditions. “I don’t remember the course looking so good at this time of year,” he says. “The greens came out of winter so well we didn’t even have to punch them.” Cucciardi puts the stellar surfaces down to Superintendent Scott Schenk’s vigorous maintenance program last April. “We aerified the greens to a depth of nine inches,” he says. “Most places will go down three, but by going down nine we were really able to ensure healthy turf this year.” The Clubhouse at McCormick Woods isn’t your typical quick-fix burger bar, but a full-service restaurant open for lunch and dinner (and breakfast on Sundays). The mac-’n’-cheese is way above average, and the Kona pork flat iron steak is extremely appetizing. Don’t go home until you’ve had your fill of Executive Chef Bruce Bonholzer’s award-winning food.

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Camaloch Golf Course

(800) 628-0469

www.camalochgolf.com 54

JUNE 2014

YARDAGE 5,299-7,040 RATES $29-$59 TEL (800) 323-0130 WEB mccormickwoodsgolf.com cascadegolfer.com

Port Ludlow • Port Ludlow, Wash.

Port Ludlow

Lipoma Firs Golf Course A 27 hole golf facility Great condition rain or shine.

Mention or bring this ad and receive 2 Green Fees for the prize of 1

PORT LUDLOW

The Trail Nine at Port Ludlow closed in 2009 and is sadly missed, but the Tide and Timber Nines which remain still make up one of the most pleasant and enjoyable courses in the state. Together, they opened in 1975 and were designed by Robert Muir Graves, who created over 80 courses and restored or consulted on hundreds more during a prolific, but often underrated, 50-year career. Born in Trenton, Mich., in September 1930, Graves was a Navy man who served in Korea in his early 20s, eventually rising to the rank of commander. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in landscape architecture and set out as a landscaper in the mid-1950s before shifting to golf course architecture in the early 1960s. He spent much of his career in the western United States, but also worked overseas in Portugal and Malaysia. Graves’s best-known courses in the Northwest include Big Meadow at Black Butte Ranch in Oregon, and Bend’s Widgi Creek, each among his favorite designs. In Washington, he designed Sun Willows in Pasco, Avalon in Burlington, and Canterwood in Gig Harbor, as well as the three nines at Port Ludlow. Of the two, it is the slightly longer Timber Nine that receives much of the acclaim at Port Ludlow, with a nice balance of right-to-left doglegs and holes that turn the other way. Director of Golf Vito DeSantis says the course enjoyed a mostly mild winter and is in terrific shape heading into the golf season. Rates peak at just $35 in the summer months, while resort guests can play the course for just $25 during the week and $30 at weekends ($30 and $35 for walk-ups). That is crazy good value for a lovely round of golf. And DeSantis recommends potential visitors look into stay-andplay packages at the beautiful Inn at Port Ludlow, which start at $179 – again, exceptional value.

LipomaFirsGolfCourse.com

10410 187th St. E. • Puyallup, WA 98374 • (253) 841-4396

YARDAGE 5,240-6,861 RATES $25-$35 TEL (800) 455-0272 WEB portludlowresort.com cascadegolfer.com

JUNE 2014

POST GAME

BET ON IT A

By Brian Beaky CG Editor

ccording to a recent USGA study, 93 percent of golfers say they sometimes gamble when playing golf. The other seven percent must not have understood the question. The truth is, almost everyone has put a little juice on the game at some point, whether in a formal tournament like our Cascade Golfer Cup, a local club tournament, or a weekend wager among friends. Stakes can be as great as a trip to Pebble Beach, or as low as a round of beers after the round — no matter what you’re playing for, though, it’s a rewarding thrill to make a long putt or a clutch shot with something on the line. While 61 percent of you play either Skins (where each hole is worth a “skin,” and the most skins after 18 wins) or Nassau (separate bets for the front nine, back nine and whole 18), there are literally hundreds of other games that can liven up your weekend round. Here are a few of our favorites:

Bingo, Bango, Bongo

5-3-1

One of the few games that’s perfect for a group of three. Points are earned on each hole for being the first on the green (bingo), the closest to the pin once all balls are on the green (bango), and the first in the hole (bongo). After 18 holes, the most points wins. In addition to threesomes, it’s also great for groups of mixed skill, as lesser players are often away (thus hitting first) on the fairway and green, giving them first crack at “bingo” and also have a good chance at “bango” after missing a green. Players can divvy a predetermined pot based on a percentage of total points, or have the loser pay the winner, with the middle scorer breaking even.

Another good one for threesomes, in which the low scorer on each hole receives five points, the second-low scorer three points, and the high scorer one. If there’s a tie, split the total. For example, if two players made par and one made bogey, the bogey-maker would receive one point, while the two par-makers would split eight points (5+3), each receiving four; if all three players tied, they would split nine points (5+3+1), each receiving three. Like “Bingo,” you can divide the predetermined pot as a percentage of points earned, or have the loser pay out the winner.

Add ‘Em Up

Sixes

A great game for groups of any size with mixed handicaps. Each player starts the round with a set number of points equal to their handicap. Players then receive one point for bogey, two points for par, four for birdie and eight for eagle (all gross scores). Negative points can also be given for triple bogey or worse. The player (or team) with the most points takes the pot.

Sixes is a four-player best-ball match with a twist — players rotate partners every six holes. Essentially, it becomes three six-hole matches, where everyone has the chance (or curse) to be paired with everyone else at some point. Find yourself on the winning team twice, and you’ll come out ahead.

Congratulations to the winners of April’s CG Swag! Palouse Ridge Twosome Bill Hazelett • Kent Salish Cliffs Twosome Raymond Hammock • Tacoma Auburn G.C. Twosome Rick Puckett • Seattle

And don’t forget to check this issue and follow us on Facebook (Cascade Golfer) and Twitter (@CascadeGolfer) for even more chances to win! • Boeing Classic VIP Passes: Page 13 • Simulator Time at Clubhouse Golf Center: Page 18 • Vancouver Island Stay-and-Play!: Page 49 • Palouse Ridge Twosome: Page 53

LOG ON TO CASCADEGOLFER.COM AND FOLLOW US ONLINE FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN!

JUNE 2014

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JUNE 2014