A SUNNY RUN of weather is a perfect selling point to get back on the golf course after a trying winter.

And the annual Merchants League at Peninsula Golf Club, which is currently forming teams, offers competition and camaraderie on a week-in, week-out basis every Wednesday from April 24 through Sept. 18 this season.

A preseason practice day open to all league members will be held April 17.

Green fees will be $16 for nonmembers and competition fees will be $6 each week.

Cart fees will increase to $13 per player for nine holes when nine new carts are expected to make their debut at Peninsula in mid-May.

Team rosters can be as large as 12 players but no additions or substitutions are allowed after week four.

Alex Atwell will serve as league director this season.

To get in on the league, stop by the Peninsula pro shop or call 360-457-6501.

Simulator Champs

The Peninsula Golf Academy at Peninsula Golf Club recently crowned its first winter champions with the PGC Studs edging out All Weather Heating & Cooling to win the 2018-19 Simulator League Championship.

Team members are Mike Hammel, Peninsula’s recently retired course superintendent, Aaron Staeben, Adam Carignan, Atwell and Wagner.

The league uses the full-swing simulator at Peninsula, “where it’s always 70 degrees and sunny,” according to Wagner.

That point hits home when you consider Peninsula was covered in snow for much of the month of February.

PGC Studs edged All Weather 98 to 107 in the championship match played on the back nine at Bay Hill last week in honor of Arnold Palmer’s Invitational.

PRISM Consulting finished third, Disorderly Simulation was fourth and The Crew beat the Cedars Pro Shop for fifth.

The Gut Buster

SkyRidge Golf Course in Sequim hosts its toughest tournament of the year, The Gut Buster, this Saturday.

The first tee time for the individual medal play event is set for 9 a.m.

Men will play from the black tees, a distance of 6,529 yards. Seniors aged 65 and older will play from the green tees (6,146 yards) and women will play from the 5,772-yard silver tees.

There will be two pin placements for each green (except for hole No. 9 and No. 18).

A free practice round Friday is included with the $75 entry fee which also covers green fees, a steak/shrimp lunch, range balls and entrance into a honey pot.

Three KP prizes are up for grabs and a long putt contest is planned on the 18th hole.

Carts are $15 per seat.

To get in the game, call SkyRidge at 360-683-3673 or stop by the pro shop and register.

Cedars members step up

The Cedars at Dungeness Men’s Club deserves a solid round of golf claps for their recent donations to the Sequim High School boys and girls golf teams.

Men’s Club members dedicated their weekly play March 13 as a fundraiser for the Wolves’ golf teams and club member Russ Veenema described it as “a terrific success.”

He also passed along an email that Cedars’ head pro Garrett Smithson sent to club members thanking them for their generosity.

“It is with absolute amazement that I write this email,” Smithson wrote.

“It doesn’t surprise me what happened today because I know how generous you all are year after year. It does, however, make me realize that I get to be around some of the most amazing people on a day-to-day basis.

To see how 42 guys came together today and donated over $2,500 in cash, book money and equipment makes me realize how important the growth of the game and youth golf is to our Men’s Club.

I got to witness [boys] coach Bill Shea give one of his golf team young men a complete new set of clubs. Nothing makes me happier than seeing a smile on a young person’s face. Especially when it has to do with them getting excitement out of the game we’ve all grown to love.

I could go on and on… but I will finish with a big fat thank you to all that participated today. Bill Shea and I can’t tell you how much it means to us and the program.”

Way to go, Dungeness. Sometimes the barrier to entry in this sport is having the right equipment. I didn’t play my first two years in high school because I didn’t have modern clubs, I had irons and woods from the 1950s that were not up to par 40 years later.

And its a good reminder to see what clubs we aren’t using anymore and get them in the hands of those who really need them.

Go Big at Cedars

The sixth annual Spring edition of the GO BIG Golf Tournament will be held at Cedars at Dungeness in Sequim on Saturday, March 30.

A 10 a.m. shotgun start is planned.

The one-person scramble event will have players competing to put the ball into eight-inch in diameter cups.

In keeping with the Big theme, turkey legs will be served along with 22 ounce beers, sodas and waters.

The cost is $70 for the public, $47 for members and employees, and includes green fees, competition and range balls.

The tourney is open to all with Callaway, Gross and Net divisions planned.

For more information, call Cedars at 360-683-6344.

Hole-in-one

Port Angeles’ Steve Jones carded his third-ever hole-in-one Tuesday on the 120-yard par-3 14th hole at Peninsula Golf Club.

Jones used his 8-iron and a Titleist Pro V ball to sink the shot.

The ace was witnessed by Andy Duran and Gene Middleton.

Way to hit it, Steve.