THESE RAW, GRAY mornings give way to . . . well, raw, gray days.
We’re all lacking for light at this time of year, and some choose to hibernate indoors with a good book and a warm fire.
Or in today’s world: a Netflix subscription and the heater set to high.
But there is light to be found: it’s the holiday season and courses are celebrating with Christmas parties and golf tournaments sure to break folks out of their funk.
Port Townsend Golf Club will host their annual Christmas Party at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
It’s a potluck gathering and the public is invited to bring a main dish, a desert or your favorite beverage.
I’ve been to a couple of these holiday parties and the food always is top notch.
The grog’s none too shabby, either.
The Port Townsend pro shop also will be open for some holiday sales during the evening
A blind-draw scramble with a 10 a.m. start will follow Saturday morning.
Handicaps will be used to formulate the teams.
Cost is $30 per player.
Pre-Christmas tourney
SkyRidge Golf Course in Sequim will offer a challenging test of golf Saturday with its Pre-Christmas 18 Hole Golf Tournament.
The two-person team event will tee off from the green tee boxes and includes six holes of scramble play, six of better ball and aggregate play on the final six holes.
Handicaps will determine 10 percent of the total for scramble play, and then players are left to their own devices as strokes will be counted where they fall for better ball and aggregate play.
A 9:30 a.m. shotgun start is planned barring any frost delays.
The field is limited to 28 teams.
Cost for the event is $60 per team and includes green fees, range balls and food.
A $30 per team honey pot also is available.
Cart rental is available for $15 per seat.
Warmup at Ludlow
Port Ludlow Golf Course is offering a present all December long.
Walking golfers can play a full round of golf for $20 through Friday, Dec. 31.
For more information, phone Port Ludlow at 360-437-0272.
Holiday scramble
Registration is open for two upcoming holiday tournaments at Cedars at Dungeness in Sequim.
A four-person Ho Ho Ho! Holiday Scramble is set Saturday, Dec. 19.
The event, with handicapped and Callaway divisions, will open with a 10 a.m. shotgun start.
Cost for the tourney is $49 for the public, and $31 for members and employees.
The price includes green fees, cart, range balls, prizes and lunch.
Cedars is being a bit coy with the format, not wanting to divulge any secrets until the day of the event.
It does promise the tournament to be one of the most unique events golfers have ever played, and that it will be fun for all playing abilities.
New Year’s invite
Cedars also will host the 2016 New Year’s Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 2.
This event is a two-person shamble (use best drive and play each hole out individually) on the front nine and a two-person best ball on the back nine.
A shotgun start is planned for 9:30 a.m.
The cost is $60 per person for the public, and $40 for members and employees.
The fee includes green fees, prizes, cart, range balls, a boxed lunch and a shot at $1,500 in competition prizes (based on a full field).
A $20 per team honeypot for gross and net divisions also is available.
The event is open to amateurs with a valid USGA handicap and professionals.
One pro playing a zero handicap is allowed per team.
The shamble portion will use two-thirds of a players handicap, while the best ball will use 90 percent of an individual’s handicap.
To sign up for either event, phone Cedars at 360-683-6344.
________
Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3525, ext. 5152, or pdngolf@gmail.com.