OAK HILL WILL need to wring out a memorable performance from the field when the PGA Championship, the final major of the 2013 season, is held this weekend at the historic course in upstate New York.
Why? For our collective personal enjoyment, of course, but that goes without saying.
No, if Oak Hill wants me to remember the course, it has some work to do to take back its name.
For a younger sports fan like me, Oak Hill refers to Oak Hill Academy, a national high school basketball powerhouse and producer of such talented pro basketball players as Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant and Rajon Rondo.
Apologies, back to golf.
I missed out on learning anything about the course during the last major held there, the 2003 PGA Championship, due to a lack of cable in my college apartment.
The course has history aplenty, having been a three-time host of the U.S. Open, and this will be the third PGA Championship contested there. It has also hosted two U.S. Amateur and two U.S. Senior Open tourneys and a Ryder Cup (a Euro win in 1995).
Maybe the academy should change its name.
Sports Illustrated’s Gary Van Sickle spoke with Oak Hill golf pro Craig Harmon — son of Claude, a former Masters champ, and brother of famed golf coach Butch Harmon and Billy Harmon, a former tour caddie for Jay Haas and now a Golf Channel personality.
Craig Harmon has been head pro at the club for 41 years, through a good deal of physical changes to the course.
He even provides a secret Oak Hill “bible” to his brother’s coaching charges with little tidbits on where the cart traffic of members is directed and outlines of potential putts.
With the distance off the tee provided by improved equipment and better-trained athletes, Harmon offered that he would be surprised if a player “hit a driver seven times [each round].”
Appropriately, the course has thousands of trees, due to a planting spree by Oak Hill’s own Johnny Appleseed, a local physician who grew many of the seedlings planted on the formerly-farmed land that eventually became the course.
So bailing out right and left of the fairways, which are not narrowed for majors and maintain a berth of 16-24 yards wide on average, is not an option.
Precision off the tee, be it with woods or irons, is required.
Tiger Woods, runaway winner of last weekend’s Firestone Classic, had harsh words for Oak Hill after a practice round last Monday. He critiqued the greens as spotty and slow and mentioned the high rough.
The rough is still high, but he had a much different reaction in talking to reporters after a Tuesday practice round.
“The golf course is in fantastic shape. It’s dry now, it’s got some speed to it, and the rough is certainly up, and it’s clumpy,” Woods said.
“It’s imperative to hit the ball in the fairways and hit the ball on the greens, because it’s going to be tough to get up-and-down.”
Woods mentioned that the fairways are playing very fast, and he felt they were cut down-grain on the left-hand side to promote extra roll.
This could make for a lot of well-struck tee shots bounding into unforeseen trouble and subsequent “clumpy” attempts to get back into the green grass.
So, typical major tournament golf, really. Lets hope for an atypical performance.
Enjoy the tourney, TNT will provide much of the early coverage, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
CBS will pick up coverage at 11 a.m. and go to 4 p.m. on the weekend.
SWGA honors past
SunLand Women’s Golf Association member Nancy Harlan checked to let me know the association recently celebrated its 39th year with a luncheon that hosted and honored all past captains.
There were 18 past captains in attendance, and each was presented with a long-stemmed red rose.
Kit Nill, association captain in 1982, was the senior honoree.
Before the luncheon, nine of the past captains joined in a round on the SunLand course.
The association also held a recent Beat the Pro game, putting up each ladies’ net score against the gross score of SunLand pro Tyler Sweet.
Sweet managed a 72 and the net scores of nine ladies successfully “beat the pro.” They were Sherry Meythaler, Carol Goodman, Judy Flanders, Judy Nordyke, Eileen Larsen, Jan Stoecker, Cecil Black, Dana Burback and Nan Godfrey.
Disco Bay skins
A nine-hole Thursday skins game will begin this Thursday at Discovery Bay Golf Course near Port Townsend.
The game will continue “until we are rained out,” which after last Friday’s unpleasant dip back into wet weather, won’t happen for another month or two.
This week’s game will start with Discovery Bay’s Farm (front) nine, with games alternating nines each week.
Tee off with a invested partner (they must be in the game also) anytime of the day and provide a signed and attested card back to the club house at closing.
USGA rules apply and all players must have a GHIN hadicap.
Entry is $10, $8 for skins and $2 for KP, with one KP per nine.
Gross birdies are an automatic skin.
For more, phone Discovery Bay at 360-385-0704.
PT crowns champ
A champion will be crowned in Port Townsend this Sunday.
Port Townsend Golf Course hosts its two-day Men’s Club Championship on Saturday and Sunday.
Tee times start at 8 a.m. each day, and the cost is $50 per player.
Low gross and low net winners receive a year’s worth of bragging rights and a personalized parking spots right in front of the clubhouse.
The tournament is open to all men’s club members.
Port Townsend also will host the Lynda Constantine Memorial ninth annual Relay for Life Golf Tournament on Saturday, Aug. 24.
The event is presented by Pacific Environmental Services Co. and the Hilltop Tavern.
A four-person, 18-hole scramble, the event will have a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
Tournament fees are $45 per player, plus $12 green fees for nonmembers.
Fee includes golf, prizes, KPs, LPs and lunch.
A special raffle will follow play.
Tournament sponsorships of greens and tees are also available for $125.
Sponsor two or more spots for $200, and participating sponsor spots are available for $300 (four-player entry and name on tee/green).
Phone Port Townsend Golf Course at 360-385-4547 for the full scoop.
Viva Las Vegas events
Friday is the deadline to sign up for the SunLand Women’s Golf Association Viva Las Vegas-themed events on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 16-17.
A nine-hole “Best Poker Hand” scramble will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, followed by casino games, food and a no-host bar at 4 p.m.
A continental breakfast will kick things off at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, followed by an 18-hole two-woman better ball competition.
This round includes tee prizes, raffle prizes and low gross and net prizes that will be awarded during a luncheon following play in the SunLand ballroom.
Participants are encouraged to wear attire that carries out the Viva Las Vegas theme (such as an Elvis jumpsuit).
Prizes will be awarded for the best theme attire.
Practice balls will be provided both days at the SunLand driving range.
Handicap numbers are required and ladies need a partner.
The cost to play Friday and Saturday is $90 per person.
Golf on Saturday only is $75 per person.
Golf cart rentals are available for $15 per seat for 18 holes, and $7.50 per seat for Friday’s nine-hole event.
For information or a registration form, call the SunLand Pro Shop 360-683-6800, ext. 13, and ask to have Cheryl Coulter or Carol Goodman return your call.
Daisy and Duke tourney
SkyRidge hosts the second annual Daisy and Duke Golf Scramble, a four-person event that will benefit Chapter EP of Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) on Sunday, Sept. 8.
The ladies in this organization advocate for the education and advancement of women through grants, scholarships and awards.
Entry for the tourney is $65 per player, with cart, green fees, lunch and snacks, such as muffins and chocolate chip cookies.
“Daisy and Duke” attire is optional, but each team must have at least one female golfer.
Registration will start at 10:30 a.m., with lunch from 11 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., a putting contest with honey pot at noon and a 1 p.m. shotgun start.
Awards for golf and best costume will be presented following the tournament in the SkyRidge clubhouse.
For more information, phone Lucille Blydenstein at 360-582-3136, or SkyRidge at 360-683-3673.
Dove House benefit
A second Dove House Bluebill benefit golf tournament will be at Port Ludlow Golf Club on Saturday, Sept. 7.
Proceeds from the event benefit Dove House Advocacy Services, a Port Townsend-based provider of crisis intervention, emergency food and shelter, medical advocacy, legal advocacy, individual support and counseling support groups and therapy for child and adult victims. Dove House also maintains a 24-hour crisis line at 360-385-5291.
Organizers of the event are the Boeing Bluebills, a Boeing-supported group of Boeing retirees and other volunteers who work with local agencies and schools to improve the lives of people in our communities.
Cost is $90 for the public and $45 for Port Ludlow members.
Players will receive use of a golf cart, box lunch, raffle opportunities and awards ceremony with hor d’oeuvres.
Registration is due by Thursday, Aug. 15.
For more information, phone Michael Graham at 360-437-5052 or Port Ludlow golf course at 800-455-0272.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3527 or pdngolf@gmail.com.