MAYBE THE PUREST golf experience available in the Pacific Northwest — a three-day trip to Bandon, Ore., to play three of the four full links courses at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort — was recently enjoyed by three 12-man teams of North Olympic Peninsula golfers.
The Cedars at Dungeness director of golf Bill Shea, head pro Garrett Smithson and Peninsula Golf Club head pro Chad Wagner captained the squads and drafted teams ahead of the trip south to compete in what the guys named The Battle at Bandon.
“We had 36 guys head down to Bandon Dunes to battle the December weather, but we were meet with the nicest conditions we could expect,” Wagner said. [It was] 45 to 55 degrees each day, slight wind and barely a drop of rain.”
Wagner said the teams played Pacific Dunes, Bandon Dunes and then finished with Old Macdonald.
“Pacific Dunes is hands down the top course I have ever played, and the complex is the No. 1 resort for a reason,” Wagner said.
Kyler McCaslin, left, won the overall low net title and Chad Wagner claimed the low gross crown during the Battle at Bandon, a team golf competition for North Olympic Peninsula golfers.
Team Wagner came out on top in the three-day Stableford competition — eight of 12 players’ scores counted for the team total.
Team members are: Wagner, Jason Doig, Steve Wilson, Jake Tjernall, Louie Bashour, Danny Romero, Tim Mannor, Kyler McCaslin, Frank Catelli, Jeff James, Kevin Borde and Kyle Trussell.
Team Shea ended up second: Shea, Kyle Stutesman, Rick Burwell, Casey Northern, Jake Lippold, Rick Hoover, Eric Schaefermeyer, Brett Moore, Brady Meyer, Robert Nute, Rick Smith and Jed Kliman.
Team Smithson headed up the rear: Smithson, Curtis Rose, Justin Ewing, Brendan Winger, Alex Atwell, Dustin Halverson, Al Osterberg, Mike Dupuis, Jade Tisdale, Eric Hegge, Chad Williams and Bill Rinehart.
Team Wagner’s McCaslin won the overall low net crown for the three days and Wagner claimed the overall low gross for the event.
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort will host the 120th U.S. Amateur from Aug. 9-16.
SkyRidge scramble
I like the optimism shown by SkyRidge Golf Course in Sequim.
Despite winter officially beginning just last Saturday, the course will host its Mid-Winter Open, a three-person scramble event Saturday, Jan. 4.
Each team must have a total team handicap of 15 or higher.
Four drives and four second shots must be used from each player.
The tournament has a 10 a.m. frost free shotgun start.
Entry fees are $90 per team with entries limited to the first 24 teams.
An optional honey pot is $60 per team ($20 per player) and power cart seats are $12 apiece.
To register, visit the pro shop at 7015 Old Olympic Highway or call 360-683-3673.
New Year’s Tournament
The Cedars at Dungeness will host a 2020 New Year’s Two-Man Tournament on Saturday, Jan. 4.
Players will play a shamble format on the front nine and two-person best ball on the back nine.
A shamble is a format in which players all tee off, pick the best drive and play out the hole from the spot of the drive. Essentially it is a scramble off the tee and stroke play through the hole.
Two thirds of a player’s front-nine handicap will be used for the shamble, and 90 percent of each player’s back nine handicap will used for the best ball portion of play.
Entry fees are $65 for the public, $45 for members/employees. Green fees, a boxed lunch, KPs, cart and range are included and up to $1,500 in prizes will be available if a full field of 5o teams registers.
There also is an optional $20 team honeypot for gross and net divisions.
To sign up, visit the pro shop or call 360-683-6344.
Polar Bear on tap
The 27th annual Polar Bear Championship is set for The Cedars at Dungeness on Jan. 24-26.
Competition rounds will be played Jan. 25-26, with a practice round available Jan. 24.
The 36-hole individual stroke play event is open to amateurs with a valid USGA handicap index of 27 or lower and to PGA pros or apprentices in good standing.
Entry fees are $160 for the public, $110 for members/employees. Three rounds of golf, range balls, tee prizes and green fees plus a final round lunch are included.
Players will compete for $5,000 in prizes based on a full 100-player field.
The practice rounds begin at 10 a.m. Jan. 24.
Competition rounds will start at 9 a.m. Jan. 25-26.
To register, visit the pro shop or call 360-683-6344.
PTHS golf coach
Port Townsend High School is in need of a golf coach for the upcoming spring season after Port Townsend Golf Club’s Gabriel Tonan stepped down after 20 years in the top spot (including coaching this golf columnist in his rookie season as head coach way back in 1999).
To view the job description, visit tinyurl.com/PDN-PTGolfCoach.
