JUDGING BY THE amount and frequency of the email messages I’m receiving to my pdngolf@gmail.com address, the beginning of golf season has arrived.
This feeling is further confirmed by the presence of North Olympic Peninsula high school golfers beginning practice sessions at area courses, men’s and women’s clubs hosting meetings to discuss the upcoming season and the increased amount of daylight (which will only increase with daylight saving time starting Sunday).
If your golf clubs have been hanging out in the garage or you are just arriving back on the Peninsula after a winter away, there are plenty of events on tap, so jump in.
SunLand Women start
SunLand Women’s Golf Association, SWGA, will tee off its 2014 season Thursday with a game of Better Nine.
A kickoff meeting/social without golf is planned for Monday, March 24. This event is hosted by the current board of directors headed by captain Judy Nordyke.
Her elected board includes assistant captain Nonie Dunphy, treasurer Patricia Palmeri and secretary Barbara Evans.
New members Sue Elvert, Kitty Merrifield, Mary Kubas-Meyer, Geri O’Clarey, Bobbie Piety and Lani Warren will be introduced and welcomed to the group.
SWGA has a full slate of events planned this season, highlighted by the annual Drive for the Cure tournament, which is open to other clubs, in September.
This tournament benefits breast cancer diagnosis and treatment for women in need on the Olympic Peninsula.
I’ll have more information on the rest of the SWGA’s season in next week’s column.
Cedars youth camp
A Spring Break Junior Golf Camp hosted by Cedars at Dungeness is planned for Monday, March 31 to Wednesday, April 2.
Golfers ages 5-16 will meet from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday and Tuesday that week and from noon to 4 p.m. that Wednesday.
Putting, chipping, the full swing and etiquette will be taught over the first two days and a tournament is set for the last day.
A pizza party and awards presentation will follow the tourney.
Players also will receive a gift.
Cost is $80 for the public, $50 for any Cedars-employed juniors.
To sign up, phone Cedars at 360-683-6344.
March Madness special
We’ve hit March, the month known for college basketball’s annual NCAA tournament, and to celebrate, SunLand Golf & Country Club in Sequim will offer two rounds of golf, two range buckets and use of a cart for $64 each weekend this month.
“Everyone who takes advantage of this special will be entered into a drawing to win an NCAA team basketball jersey,” SunLand general manager and head pro Tyler Sweet said.
“The winner will have the opportunity to pick the school jersey and size they want.”
SkyRidge events set
SkyRidge is hosting a tourney Saturday to benefit the Sequim High School softball program, which brought home the gold mitt from the 2011 state tournament (I’m not sure if the championship trophy is a mitt but that would be cool) and a fourth-place finish in 2012.
This event will raise funds for a new field, concessions stand and equipment.
The four-person scramble has an 8 a.m. check-in with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
Players will have the chance to swing away for a hole-in-one on the 165-yard par-3 fifth hole, and anybody lucky enough to convert will win a brand new car from Price Ford.
Cost is $50 per person, and carts are not included but can be reserved for $30 total or $15 per seat.
This event has a 20-team maximum and reservations are encouraged.
SkyRidge also will host its eighth annual Shamrock Scramble on Saturday, March 15.
The four-person scramble will tee off at 9:30 a.m. with green fees of $40 per player or $160 per team.
Golf, lunch and range balls, and a chance at a KP and a long putt are included.
Carts are an extra $15 per seat.
Best-dressed prizes are available for those who would like to get their inner leprechaun on.
Save the date for SkyRidge’s “toughest tourney,” the Gut Buster, on Saturday, March 22.
Phone SkyRidge at 360-683-3673 to get in the game.
Mark your calendar
Cedars is planning some big events for the upcoming spring golf season.
A St. Patty’s Day Shootout event and par-3 contest is planned for Tuesday, March 18.
Cost is $55 for the public, $38 for members and includes green fees, an Irish dinner, range balls, KP’s on each hole and drink specials.
Tee times are set from 10 a.m. to noon, and players should wear green or expect to receive a two-stroke handicap.
The course’s second annual “Go Big” spring golf tournament, a solo scramble with oversized 8-inch cups for each hole, foot-long hot dogs, 22-ounce beers/sodas/waters, is set for a 9 a.m. shotgun start Saturday, March 29.
This one is open to all and there will be Callaway, gross and net divisions.
Green fees are $50 for the public and include competition, range balls and lunch.
Cost is $27 for Cedars members and employees.
Carts are an extra charge.
Cedar’s 32nd annual Big Ball tournament is Saturday and Sunday, April 12-13, with a complimentary round thrown in on Friday, April 11.
The two-person, 36-hole, four-ball stroke play event has a maximum handicap index of 34.0, with 90 percent of the handicap used for the competition.
Partners must be within eight handicap strokes of one another.
Hosted dinners are set for Saturday night at 7 Cedars Casino and a hosted lunch, and awards ceremony will follow play at the course on Sunday.
Cost is $350 per team.
Phone Cedars at 360-683-6344 for more information or to register.
St. Patrick’s Day at PT
Port Townsend Golf Club will host a St. Patrick’s Day two-person 666 tourney, with six holes of Chapman play from forward tees, six holes of best ball from the white tees, and six holes of scramble from the black tees.
Everything kicks off at 10 a.m.
Cost of the tournament is $35 per player plus $10 green fees for non-members.
The tournament includes: Prize Fund, KP’s and LP’s, and a corned beef dinner following play.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-2345, ext. 5152 or pdngolf@gmail.com.