MY EARLY ARRIVAL at the Sonny Sixkiller Husky Golf Classic last Friday gave me some time to ponder some questions for special guest sportscaster Brent Musburger and Sixkiller.
I mostly talked about, surprise, surprise, college football and the prospects for new Washington head coach Chris Petersen.
If the Huskies new hire could be compared to a golf drive, the consensus is Petersen is a 300-yard blast off the tee, straight in the center of the fairway.
As a Washington State fan, I’m worried the Huskies really traded up after Steve Sarkisian bolted for USC. But, as a Washington State fan, I’m always worried.
I did ask the pair about their golf games.
Musburger will get out to play for social occasions but doesn’t play day-in, day-out, even though he lives in the offseason at the Stock Farm Club in Hamilton, Mont.
The Stock Farm Club includes a Tom Fazio-designed golf course set amid the absolutely, gorgeous Bitteroot Valley.
Seriously, check out the views available on its website at www.stockfarm.com.
Musburger was more interested in helping out his team during the Sixkiller tourney.
“If I can sink a 30-foot putt to help the team out, then I’m golden,” Musburger said.
Sixkiller, a resident of the University of Washington-adjacent Laurelhurst neighborhood in Seattle, doesn’t play regularly, just on social occasions.
But he enjoys the game, the camaraderie and was looking forward to everyone having a blast during Friday’s play.
With sunny skies, a challenging and well-conditioned golf course and hijinks galore, Sixkiller got his wish.
Peninsula Golf Club ladies
Peninsula Golf Club member Sandy Granger checked in with a report on the activities of the Peninsula Ladies Club’s July activities.
The ladies had quite the July, with exciting individual accomplishments their Club Championship contested on July 19-20.
“With the “final four” being cheered on by the rest of the players waiting on No. 18 during the Sunday, July 20 final round, Denise Clarke’s low gross total of 156 earned her her second straight club championship.
Dolly Burnett came in as second low gross with a 160.
The low net scores for the two rounds were Christy Brown with a 129 in first place and Doris Sparks, second low net with 139.
Congratulations to Denise and all of the winners for playing such great golf!
Two ladies members picked up aces during July.
On July 2, just two days after her 85th birthday, Duffy DeFrang singled out with her drive on the par-3 17th hole.
DeFrang said this is her fifth career hole-in-one.
While golfing with her husband Rick on July 13, Sandy Granger earned the first ace of her career after holing out on the slightly downhill par-3 14th hole.
Congratulations ladies.
Peninsula pro Jacob Lippold gives lessons to the ladies at 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays prior to the ladies golf game of the day.
Tips on chipping, pitching, sand shots, and swing tempo have been included.
There will be several more weeks of lessons.
Lady guests are invited to participate.
Granger said the lessons are a way to get to know the pro, the group, and get some great tips for your game.
Peninsula ladies will play in The Sisters Challenge at Gold Mountain Golf Course in Bremerton on Aug. 7, the Nels Sutherland Husband and Wife Championship on Aug. 10 and the Fall Shotgun Invitational at Peninsula Golf Club on Aug. 30-31.
The Peninsula Golf Club ladies tee off at 9 am on Wednesdays and guests are welcome.
For more information, phone Ruth Thomson at 360-457-5888 or Cindy Schlaffman at 360-452-7955.
Men’s Club Championship
The preferred parking space right outside the clubhouse is up for grabs once again at the Port Townsend Golf Club’s annual Men’s Club Championship this Saturday and Sunday.
A new twist this year for the two-day gross and net division event, is tee times instead of a shotgun start.
The tourney is open to all Men’s Club members.
Phone 360-385-4547 for details.
Port Townsend is running an August special where any junior age 17 and younger plays for free with a paying adult.
Port Townsend will see the return of the Kings and Queens Invitational on Saturday, Aug. 16.
The male-female partner tourney is an 18-hole modfied Scotch ball event.
Cost is $40 per player and includes play, lunch and prizes.
This tourney tees off with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
Twilight rates at Port Townsend are pretty low: $13.75 for nine holes after 3 p.m. every day but Saturday.
Port Townsend also hosts weekly skins games on Thursdays and Saturdays.
Get in these games for $10 plus reduced green fees for nonmembers.
Hackers Cup on tap
SunLand Golf & Country Club in Sequim will host the first Hackers Cup, a medal-play format event with outsized 8 inch cups, on Friday, Aug. 15.
The event has a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start and entry is $60.
Overall gross and net champs are guaranteed $200 apiece, and a full-field of 80 players will yield a prize fund of $2,100.
Stop by the pro shop at SunLand or phone 360-683-6800, Ext. 13.
Junior clinic slated
Discovery Bay’s summer junior clinic will run from Monday through Thursday, Aug. 11-14.
Cost is $65 per player.
Phone the Discovery Bay golf shop at 360-385-0704 to sign up.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or pdngolf@gmail.com.