GOLFERS LOOKING TO break the routine of manicured greens, tightly mown fairways and waiting out the group or groups ahead of them should head west.
Clallam County has a different option for golfers, one I’ve known of for years but only investigated recently: the 18 holes available at Salt Creek RV & Golf, along state Route 112 just past the turn for Salt Creek Recreation Area.
For $10, golfers can play to their hearts content at the course, positioned on a gently rolling piece of real estate just up from the highway.
A good deal that $10, but what do players receive from a round?
Peace and quiet, at least for me when I played on a sunny Monday afternoon, was the biggest gift.
I was alone on the course, minus whatever species of creature that scurried away from me and splashed into the dark pond in front of the second tee box.
Shook up, but none the worse for wear, I continued the round.
Players have a chance to hone their wedge game on the predominately par-3 course. There are three par-4s, with distances of 315, 210 and 208 yards.
The course plays to a par-30 on 1,439 yards on the front nine and a par-27 on the 1,118-yard back nine.
With the short hole lengths, you might think driver is out of play all day but the height of the grass in the fairway doesn’t provide much, if any, roll.
So let it rip, at least on the 315-yard hole.
The greens are teeny and mowed to a level more likely found on a tee box at our other area courses, so give the putt an extra bit of juice to make it up to the cup.
Serious, low-handicap golfers may get frustrated by the au naturale conditions, but I enjoyed my afternoon and can see spending good chunks of my Mondays off out at the course.
Callaway/Adams demo
The Cedars at Dungeness will host a Callaway/Adams Golf demo day featuring the companies’ 2014 product lines from noon to 5 p.m. today.
Appointments can be made by calling 360-683 6344.
Make an appointment and receive a free hot dog.
Anyone who makes a club purchase will be entered into a drawing to win a new Callaway Mack Daddy 2 wedge of his or her choice.
Hospice scramble
A four-person scramble and raffle to support the efforts of Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County will be hosted by the Cedars at Dungeness Lady Niners in Sequim on Thursday.
An 11 a.m. shotgun start will get things going, and female golfers are invited to participate.
The tournament is being held in appreciation of all the support and assistance Volunteer Hospice has provided lady golfers and their families who have passed away.
For more information, phone 360-808-3440.
Peninsula Cup on tap
Port Ludlow Golf Course will host the sixth edition of the annual Peninsula Cup on Saturday.
The popular event matches 10-man teams in medal play action.
Each team will use the eight best scores, two of them gross and six of them net, to find a worthy champion.
Action will tee off at 9 a.m.
Primary sponsor 7 Cedars Casino returns, along with Sound Community Bank and Les Schwab Tires.
The event was started by golf enthusiast Ray De Jong, who has stepped back from organizing the competition this year.
Port Ludlow resident Tom Jones, who has experience running fundraising golf events for nonprofits in the past, has stepped in to run the event.
Rhody Weekend in PT
The Rhododendron Festival extends down to Port Townsend Golf Club for Saturday and Sunday’s annual Jim Caldwell Memorial Rhody Open.
The Rhody Open is two separate tournaments under the same name and players can choose to play in one or both events.
Saturday’s tourney is a an individual gross and net format with KP’s and long putt prizes.
Entry fee is $35 per player plus $10 green fees for nonmembers.
An 8 a.m. shotgun start is planned in order for players to make it to the grand parade at 1 p.m.
Sunday’s event is a two-person best ball gross and net tourney with KP’s and long putt prizes and a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
Entry is $30 plus $10 for nonmembers.
To sign up, phone the golf shop at 360-385-4547.
Support PC athletes
Spots are filling fast for the Pirate Athletic Association golf tournament, a fundraiser for Peninsula College athletics, set for Friday, May 23 at Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course
A scramble format is planned with a 1 p.m. shotgun start.
Prizes for low gross, net, long drive and closest to the pin will be awarded, and other prizes will be drawn.
Lunch and beverages will be served on the course, and appetizers will follow play along with a brief prize ceremony.
Players also will receive a PC golf hat and a sleeve of balls.
The entry fee for individual golfers is $100.
Players can win golf packages for winning your division, $10,000, a plasma screen television, roundtrip domestic airfare for two, and a set of Callaway Golf irons.
For more on playing in the event, phone Mitch Freeman at 360-417-6467.
Players also can register for the tourney online at www.brownpapertickets.com under “Pirate golf.”
Grad party tourney
A Graduation Party Golf Tournament benefit for the Sequim High School Class of 2014 is set for Cedars at Dungeness on Saturday, May 24.
Funds raised will go toward holding an alcohol- and drug-free party after the Sequim High Class of 2014’s graduation ceremony.
The four-person best-ball scramble tournament will begin with a 1 p.m. shotgun start.
The tournament fee is $75 per player and includes golf, range balls, power cart and dinner.
Prizes will be awarded to the top teams, and there will be a competition for long drive and closest to the pin.
A new car from Wilder Auto will be given to the person who hits a hole-in-one on the 17th hole.
Sequim High School golf team members will be auctioned off to the highest bidders to add a fifth player and improve your team’s chances of winning.
Hole sponsors and putting greens sponsorships also are available.
For more information, phone Garrett Smithson at Cedars at Dungeness at 360-683-6344, ext. 4 or email ggsmithson@7cedarsresort.com, or phone Meg Pinza at 360-930-4510 or email candlefish46@gmail.com.
SunLand Women
Nancy Harlan of the SunLand Women’s Golf Association checked in after the group’s tournament of the year, played in a downpour last Thursday.
I was over in Sequim attending the course’s TaylorMade demo day for a future column and I can attest to the sopping wet conditions.
“The brave players of SunLand Women’s Golf Association (SWGA) slogged through their first tournament of the year, the 1-2-3 Waltz Tournament [that] was chaired by Barb Evans and Janet Real,” Harlan said.
It was followed by a luncheon and the Spring General Meeting.
The SunLand Pro Shop staff commended the ladies for finishing their round in the rain.
The team of Alice Myers, Jan Prout and Lani Warren, plus a blind draw, were first-place winners with the score of 111.
Second-place team was Geri O’Claray, MJ Anderson, Nancy Harlan, and Barbara Slogoske logging a score of 115.
Capturing third place with a score of 120 was the team of Susan Elvert, Pennie Dickin,Eileen Larsen, and Linda Collet.
The 2014 Executive Board was introduced at this first meeting: captain Judy Nordyke, assistant captain Nonie Dunphy, secretary Barbara Evans, treasurer Patricia Palmeri, rules Ruth Lowe, handicap chair Dorene Berard, and past captain Sherry Meythaler.
Four new members were welcomed: Bobbie Piety, Geri O’Claray, Lani Warren, and Susan Elvert.
Longtime member, Kitty Merrifield also was recognized after a lengthy absence from playing with SWGA.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or pdngolf@gmail.com.
