I WON’T BE attending the 2017 Masters tournament as a patron.
I’m not alone. The Masters’ credential committee sent out its “regret to inform you” email Tuesday morning to thousands who had applied for the annual random drawing for tickets.
A tradition of disappointment unlike any other for certain, but it won’t stop me from trying again next year.
On the positive side for fellow applicants: plenty of golf opportunities exist here on the North Olympic Peninsula this weekend and in coming weeks.
Ludlow hosts benefit
The Jefferson Healthcare Foundation will host its inaugural Crushing Cancer Classic at Port Ludlow Golf Course on Saturday.
The four-person scramble event will tee off with a 10 a.m. shotgun start.
Prizes, raffles, contests and food, including a barbecue dinner following play, are planned.
Entry fees are $60 for Port Ludlow members, $100 for the public, and foursomes are a reduced rate of $375.
For more information, or to register, phone Kate Burke at 360-385-2200, ext. 2014 or phone Port Ludlow at 360-437-0272.
Summer series starts
Discovery Bay Golf Course near Port Townsend will kick off its Summer Series of four Saturday golf tournaments, each with a different format, this Saturday.
Two quality prizes will be given away at this first tournament, a two-person best ball that will open with an 8 a.m. shotgun start.
Discovery Bay member Gary Griswold donated a print of his original watercolor painting of Pebble Beach’s famous 106-yard par-3 seventh hole.
Griswold told me he painted the piece after playing a round at Pebble Beach.
And for those interested the wind was in his favor and Griswold made par on the hole.
Entry fees are $40 for cart users and $29 for walkers, a discount from normal Saturday 18-hole rates of $60 and $45.
Lunch and a beverage are included.
To sign up, phone Discovery Bay at 360-385-0704.
Disco Bay discount
Discovery Bay also has reduced rates on tee times from 12:10 p.m. to 12:50 p.m. to $36 Monday through Friday and $40 on Saturday and Sunday.
Both rates include a cart.
This discount will run for the remainder of the month.
Junior and ladies clinics
Discovery Bay head pro Jeff Kent will host junior golf clinics in July.
Sessions will be held at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Wednesdays (July 13, 20 and 27) and Fridays (July 15, 22 and 29).
The cost is $10 per session, or $50 for all six clinics. The sessions are limited to eight players.
To sign up, phone 360-385-0704.
Clallam County Amateur
Three Clallam County golf courses are teaming up to host the most prestigious individual medal play competition of the year on the North Olympic Peninsula — the Clallam County Amateur Championship.
The amateur will be held from Friday through Sunday, July 8-10, at Peninsula Golf Club in Port Angeles, and SunLand Golf & Country Club and The Cedars at Dungeness in Sequim.
“This event has the potential to turn into one of the marquee events in Western Washington,” Cedars at Dungeness head pro Garrett Smithson said.
“It is the best value I have seen for a three-day event.
“The payouts are going to be great, and we will have a ton of raffle prizes and on-course prizes.”
A maximum of 80 golfers with valid USGA handicaps will compete for $3,500 in prize money across three divisions in the medal, or stroke, play event.
Raffle prizes totaling $1,500 will be given away during the tournament.
The entry fee is a steal by itself — a chance to play three high-quality courses is just $110 for the public and $90 for members of any of the three courses.
Range balls and a meal on the final day of the tournament are included.
A $5,000 cash prize will be on the line each day for potential hole-in-one hitters.
The deadline to enter is July 4.
For more information, phone 800-447-6826 or 360-683-6344.
Support salmon
Support the next generation of environmental stewardship by playing in The North Olympic Salmon Coalition’s annual golf tournament at Cedars at Dungeness on Saturday, July 9.
A 9 a.m. shotgun start will start the tournament.
Entry fees are $100 per person and include green fees, use of cart, tournament prizes, a goodie bag, drinks and an awards lunch following play.
Thousands of dollars worth of cash and prizes will be given away and there will be games galore.
Players will have a shot at winning a brand-new Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck courtesy of Ruddell Auto with a hole-in-one on a designated hole.
Proceeds will support the coalition’s place-based, restoration and engineering middle school education program across the North Olympic Peninsula.
Registrations forms are available at www.nosc.org, or phone Cedars at 360-683-6344.
Kobe beef burgers
The fourth annual Friends of Olympic Christian School Charity Golf Tournament is set for Saturday, July 16, at Cedars at Dungeness.
The cost is $90, which includes green fees, cart, range balls, and for the second year in a row, a gourmet lunch featuring hamburgers made with Kobe beef.
This year, the tournament also serves as an official Lavender Weekend event.
A total of $30,000 in prizes, including shots at two big hole-in-one prizes, will be up for grabs.
This includes a swing for $10,000 for a hole-in-one on the fourth hole courtesy of First Federal.
Players also will shoot for a new 2016 Dodge Dart courtesy of Wilder Auto Center if they can hole out on No. 17.
A scramble format with a 9 a.m. shotgun start is planned .
There will be two divisions for scoring prizes: a low gross and the OCS Eagle flight.
All skill levels will have fun at this tournament.
Sponsorships, which include free golf also are available.
Register as a sponsor, or as a single player through a foursome at www.olympicchristian.org, or phone 360-477-0802.
Save the date
The fourth annual Leo Bourget/Don DeFrang Memorial Golf Tournament, a benefit for the Port Angeles Food Bank, will be held at Peninsula Golf Club in Port Angeles on Saturday, Aug. 13.
Get your teams together four the four-person scramble event.
For more information, phone Jim Bourget at 818-445-8200 or email jimbourget@wavecable.com.
Father’s Day present
Peninsula Golf Club member Rick Hoover earned his second career hole-in-one last Sunday, holing out on the 156-yard par-3 ninth hole with his 7-iron.
Hoover’s ace was witnessed by Tre Hoover, Jack Heckman and Jim Heckman.
Nice shooting, Rick.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-452-2345, ext. 57050 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.