PLENTY OF TIME remains for those wishing to scoop up a Christmas present or two for the golfer in the family, or for the golfer in the family to find a gift for another and receive a little something in return for their efforts.
Pro shops at our North Olympic Peninsula golf courses have some enticing offers for those still on the hunt for a holiday present.
Port Ludlow Golf Course is offering a free round of golf for every $100 in merchandise or gift cards purchased through Monday.
Cedars at Dungeness in Sequim is offering pretty much the same deal: $100 in purchases will net you a free round, but you have until Christmas Eve to take advantage of this deal.
Unfortunately, I phoned SunLand Golf & Country Club on its maintenance day (Tuesday) and was unable to get in touch with pro/general manager Tyler Sweet to check on any deals at that course.
The public can head over on Saturday or Sunday and play a round to check and see.
The pro shop at Peninsula Golf Club in Port Angeles is still in transition between former operator Chris Repass and new man on the scene Jacob Lippold. So, no holiday deals up there this year, but there may be some choice post-Christmas sale items available there soon.
Check in with SkyRidge (360-683-3673), Discovery Bay (360-385-0704) and Port Townsend (360-385-4547) to see if there are deals to be had in those smaller pro shops.
Chili Open set
All-you-can-eat chili and golf together in one place? Sold.
Port Ludlow will host its annual Chili Open Golf Tournament this Saturday.
The 18-hole, two-person best ball format event is $80 per team and includes competition, cart, range balls and as much chili as you can handle.
Things kick off at 10 a.m.
It’s perfect weather for heading out for a round, provided you know there’s a warm vat of chili awaiting you.
I may in fact, steal this idea and make a crock pot full of patented “Wazzu Tailgate Chili” for Sunday’s Seahawks game. The delicious recipe can be found at tinyurl.com/PDN-Chili.
To register for this fun event, phone Ludlow at 360-437-0272.
Secretive Santa
Cedars at Dungeness in Sequim will hold a HO-HO-HO Holiday Scramble on Saturday.
Head pro Garrett Smithson promises a memorable event.
“You do not want to miss this tournament,” he said.
“We are not going to give any secrets away until the day of the event, but we will tell you that this will be one of the most unique events you have ever played in, and fun for all playing abilities.”
The four-person scramble has a 10 a.m. shotgun start.
Cost is $49 per person for the public, $31 for members and employees, and includes play, cart, lunch, range balls and prizes.
Cedars will also host its 2014 New Year’s Invitational with a 9:30 a.m. shotgun start Saturday, Jan. 4.
The front nine is a two-person shamble format, the back nine a more-traditional two-person best ball.
KPs, green fees, range balls, a cart, a boxed lunch and $1,500 in competition prizes (based on full field) are up for grabs.
Cost is $60 for nonmembers and $40 for members.
Cedars’ 21st annual Polar Bear Championship is slated for Jan. 24.
More details on that one as we draw closer.
To sign up for these events, phone Cedars at 360-683-6344 or visit the clubhouse.
Mid-Winter Open
SkyRidge Golf Course in Sequim has set its three-person Mid-Winter Open scramble event for Saturday, Jan. 11.
Each team has to have a total team handicap of 15 and higher and three drives and three second shots must be used by each team.
Shotgun start is set for 9:30 a.m. and the cost is $90 per team.
Phone SkyRidge at 360-683-3673 to get in the fun.
Albatross carded?
Port Angeles resident Shane Price carded an incredibly rare albatross (or double eagle) when he knocked in an ace at Cedars at Dungeness on Monday.
Price aced the modified par-4 No. 2 hole from 240 yards with his driver and a TaylorMade golf ball.
I say modified because Cedars’ second hold is under a bit of maintenance for the time being, work to create a new cart path is underway and the hole, which normally plays around 390 from the tips and 223 at it’s shortest, has been tightened a bit in the meantime.
So the albatross (a score three under par on any hole) is a little different than most, but still certainly counts in my book.
Good shooting, Shane!
Year in review, part one
I’ll have a nice Christmas present for readers next Wednesday, a look back at the biggest moments of the first part of 2013 (January through June) as I begin my annual two-part year in review column.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3527 or pdngolf@gmail.com.