PRE-GAME SHOWS are strenuously avoided in my world — a friend once asked which network’s show, CBS or Fox, I preferred to take in before enjoying hours of NFL football action.
My reply was simple and got straight to the most important issue early on a Sunday morning: “Neither. And what’s for breakfast?”
Super Bowl Sundays take the pre-game show format to the nth degree, with host CBS planning on seven hours of coverage running from 8:30 a.m. until the game’s 3:30 p.m. kickoff.
My tried and tested method to avoid the hype is prepping your own tasty vittles for the Super Bowl party is usually how I spend much of that time — that once-a-year treat of brown-sugar baked, bacon-wrapped Li’l Smokies aren’t going to just place themselves on the party toothpicks.
Area golf courses also will provide plenty of opportunities to pass some time before kickoff.
Super Scramble PA
Peninsula Golf Club will host a Super Bowl Scramble before Sunday’s championship game.
The two-person scramble will include team gross and net merchandise awards, a shot at a KP prize, a chance to wager on a Super Bowl square and two drink tickets.
Playing partners can have a maximum 10-stroke handicap differential with handicaps set at 35 percent of the team total using end of year 2018 handicaps.
The cost is $55 person for the public, $40 for Peninsula members.
To get in on the fun, call Peninsula at 360-457-6501.
Cedars Scramble
Cedars at Dungeness will host a Super Bowl Scramble before the big game Sunday.
The four-person scramble will tee off at 9 a.m. and includes KPs, a cart seat, two squares on a Super Bowl wager board, a bloody Mary bar, refreshments and “good times.”
Cost is $65 per person for the public, $45 for annual members.
The event is open to all, even those without handicaps.
For more information, call 360-683-6344.
SkyRidge scramble
SkyRidge Golf Course in Sequim will host a two-person Better Ball Pre-Super Bowl Scramble on Saturday (a day before the big game).
A 9:30 a.m. shotgun start is planned, barring frost.
Cost is $35 per person, $15 for annual members and employees.
Cart seats will be available for $10. There will be an optional honey pot of $20 per team.
Golfers will play from the green tees.
Included in the price is 18 holes of golf, lunch, range balls, two closest to the pin opportunities and a long putt contest.
Gross and net prizes will be awarded.
Winter Links Open
SkyRidge also will host its 27-hole Winter Links Open on Saturday, Feb. 16.
Four-person teams will compete in nine holes of two-person scramble play, switch partners for nine holes of better ball and switch partners again for a final nine holes of alternate shot as each four-person team arrives at a 54-hole total.
An optional honey pot is $80 per team. Cart seats are $15.
Each four-person team must have a total handicap of 24 or higher.
Cost is $160 per four-person team and includes golf, range balls, food and four KPs.
Call SkyRidge at 360-683-3673 to get in on the Pre-Super Bowl Scramble or the Winter Links Open.
Arctic Open in PT
Be prepared for every winter weather condition you can think of if you are planning to play in Port Townsend Golf Club’s next big event.
The 33rd annual Bud Light Arctic Open sponsored by Crown Distributing, a two-round, 36-hole two-person team tournament with 18 holes of best ball play and 18 holes of scramble format, is coming up Feb. 16-17.
A practice round also is set Feb. 15.
The tournament will be held no matter the weather, so players should bring all forms of all weather gear and be ready to play.
Tournament rounds will begin with 10 a.m. shotgun starts. Lunch will be served on the course both days. There will be KP prizes and special hole-in-one prizes for the lucky shooter.
Awards will be given out immediately following Sunday’s round.
Cost is $200 per two-person team.
To sign up, call the golf shop at 360-385-4547.