THE WASHINGTON STATE Convention and Trade Center transforms into the biggest pro shop in the Pacific Northwest this weekend when it hosts Golf Fest Northwest, Seattle’s fall golf show.
Attendees will have a chance to peruse the wares of a variety of exhibitors from across the spectrum of the game of golf, including the opportunity to try out the latest in golf technology from club manufacturers like Ping, Callaway, Cleveland, Mizuno, Nike and TaylorMade/Adidas.
Golfers can also learn some exercise and fitness tips to keep fit on the fairways and gather some information on some rarely-visited out-of-area golf courses to play when on vacation or business trips.
Be sure and stop by the Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course booth and say hello to some familiar North Olympic Peninsula faces.
Golf Fest Northwest will also have long drive, closest-to-the-pin and putting challenges for prizes, and visitors can take advantage of a free mini-lesson from the GolfTec Lesson Zone.
Thirsty golfers in attendance on Saturday and Sunday can sip some suds while checking in on various college and professional football games on four HDTV’s at the event’s 19th hole.
Golf Fest Northwest runs from 2-8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $9 for students (ages 13-17), $7 for seniors (age 62 and older) and free for children 12 and younger.
Those attending Sunday’s Seahawks-Bears game also get in free with their game tickets.
For more information on Golf Fest Northwest, visit www.golffestnw.com.
Skyridge Checks In
Skyridge Golf Course hasn’t received a mention in my column yet, but to quote a character from an episode of the Simpsons, “There’s a doin’s a transpirin” out at the nine-hole links style course with some beautiful views in the Dungeness Valley.
The course will host a Rules and Etiquette Seminar from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1.
Course professional Kelly Omera and Skyridge owner Jeff Pedersen will be on hand to answer golfers’ questions on or alleviate concerns about behavior and the interpretation of rules on the golf course.
Learn how to properly repair divots on greens and fairways, how long players should look for a lost ball, where to stand during your partners’ shots and other important information that helps smooth out your round.
Skyridge will provide free hot dogs, soda, coffee and doughnuts, and they invite the public to, “stop on by and have dinner on us, and maybe learn a thing or two about this great and sometimes frustrating game.”
One simple request: Don’t be like Homer Simpson; please remember to share the doughnuts.
Skyridge is also hosting its seventh annual three-person scramble on Saturday, Oct. 3.
The first 22 teams that sign up for the tournament are guaranteed a spot and a chance to compete for a tee prize, team KP’s and a long putt payout.
A team costs $120 ($40 per person) with an extra $10 fee per player going toward a tournament honey pot. Three drives from each player must be used during the round.
The scramble has a 9 a.m. shotgun start, and lunch will be provided after play is complete.
Those interested in playing can contact Skyridge at 360-683-3673.
Reminders
There are a few other tournaments happening on local courses in the coming weeks.
• This Saturday, Cedars at Dungeness plays host to the Citizens for Sequim Schools Tournament.
Contact the Cedars pro shop or tournament organizer E. Michael McAleer at emichael@olypen.com or 360-460-2839.
• Port Townsend Golf Club hosts the Elks Best-Ball Tournament on Saturday and the Sunrise Rotary’s fourth annual Driving in the Dark Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 3.
For more information on those two events, contact the PTGC pro shop at 360-38-4547.
• Fans can also make the trip down to Gold Mountain Golf Club this Sunday and Monday for the Golfweek/Ping Invitational, a 54-hole stroke play event featuring a number of Top 20 NCAA men’s golf teams, including the second-ranked Washington Huskies and their No. 1 player, the world’s top-rated amateur golfer, Nick Taylor.
The 15-team event tees off at 8 a.m. on both days, with golfers playing 36 holes on the Olympic Course on Sunday and 18 on Monday.
The invitational is free to all.
Local Results
Port Townsend Golf Club recently hosted its annual Kings and Queens Tournament.
It’s a modified alternate shot format where men tee off on all of the odd-numbered holes and ladies tee off on the even-numbered holes. Teams then play the alternate shot format until the ball is holed.
Winning the low-gross of the field and a nice $200 prize were Greg Miller and Wanda Synnestvedt with a 75. Low-net winners were Mike and Allysa Russell with a 64, who also took home a $200 prize.
Randy and Gene Holeman (a great last name for golf by the way) won the net division with a 65, and Buddy O’Meara and Vicki Handyside claimed the low gross division with an 83.
Handyside and the PTGC staff also whipped up a spiral ham lunch feast for the players.
Staying in Jefferson County, the Discovery Bay Golf Club Ladies played their normal 18 holes last Thursday but only counted the par-4 holes and added half the player’s handicaps for individual scoring purposes.
Ann Meier was first with a 30.5, Barbara Aldrich second with a 31.5 and Joyce Wenz third with a 33.5.
Down at Port Ludlow Golf Club, the 18-hole women’s club played toss-a-hole on Sept. 15.
Debi Bozanich claimed the First Flight, Margo Campbell and Cathi Hampton tied for first in the Second Flight and Sandie MacDonald finished first in the Third Flight.
Hugh and Charlotte Pennington and Clint and Gayle Carrier claimed first prize in the 9-hole Couples Tournament on Sept. 17.
The final report comes from Peninsula Golf Club with the Peninsula Lady Golfers 18-hole group playing a game of relay on Sept. 16.
Dolly Burnett and Duffey DeFrang scored a 69.5 to finish first, followed by Sherry Henderson and Chris Anderson with a 70 and Rena Peabody and Pamela Fisher in third with a 70.5.
Finally, just a week after being lauded for shooting his age for the eighth time in his life, Cedars at Dungeness member Paul Ryan celebrated his 76th birthday on Sept.18 by firing a 76 while playing with Don Scott and Dick Thompson and being cheered on by his wife, Bobbi.
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Michael Carman is the golf columnist for the Peninsula Daily News. He can be reached at pdngolf@gmail.com or 360-504-0181.
