LAST WEEK’S EXTENDED series of lightning storms was a rarity for the North Olympic Peninsula, which is good thing for the game of golf.
Too many days like last Friday — where golf was pretty much a no-go at every area course — are not a boon for business.
I’ve never been caught out on the course in a lightning storm but if I saw any flashes I would head for the hills (i.e. the cozy confines of the clubhouse) and wait it out if at all possible.
Repeatedly swinging a steel-shafted club in an open area with lightning in the vicinity is not my idea of safe play.
The National Lightning Safety Association and the USGA have teamed for years on posters that advise golfers on what to do if caught in a lightning storm.
Most of the tips are common sense: golfers should avoid lone trees, puddles and water hazards, open areas and small rain and sun shelters along with anything metal, such as clubs, carts or maintenance machinery.
Instead, head for large permanent buildings, fully-enclosed vehicles, such as your car or truck, large swaths of trees or the lowest elevation you can find.
Play smart out there. If the sky suddenly turns University of Washington-purple its time to mark your ball, head on in, have a beverage and wait it out.
Port Ludlow busy
Port Ludlow Golf Club has a slew of events on the horizon.
On Thursday, July 26, the club plays host to a benefit for the Greater Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce and the Olympic College Poulsbo Campus Scholarship Fund.
The 2012 Golf Classic is a four-person scramble event that begins with an 11 a.m. lunch.
A putting contest follows at 11:30 a.m. complete with a chance to win $25,000.
A 12:30 p.m. shotgun start will begin the tournament and there will be an awards dinner following play.
To register for this tourney, phone 360-779-4999.
The Port Ludlow Festival By the Bay Golf Tournament will be held Friday, July 27.
Sign-in for the four-person scramble begins at 11 a.m. with a 1 p.m. shotgun start.
Individuals and smaller teams are welcome, as the Port Ludlow golf staff will combine these entries into four-player teams.
Prizes will be awarded for both gross and net team scores.
There will also be prizes for KPs on two of the par-3 holes and a $10,000 prize for a hole-in-one on a designated three-par hole.
Entry fee for Port Ludlow members is $30 and $65 for nonmembers.
It includes a box lunch, range balls, prizes for on-course contests, prizes for the winners and an admission badge for all events in the three-day festival centered near the Port Ludlow Marina.
A post-tournament awards ceremony will be held at Niblick’s.
To sign up, visit the golf shop or phone 360-437-0272.
A festival schedule is available at PLFest.org.
Port Ludlow and Lakewood’s Oakbrook Golf & Country Club will co-host the Subway Washington Games Golf Championships on Sunday, July 29, and Monday, July 30.
This 36-hole tournament is open to male and female adults and juniors, 9th grade and older, with no handicap restrictions.
The first 18 holes will be played on July 29 at Oakbrook, which is also the site of a U.S. Amateur qualifier on Aug. 1.
The no-cut tourney will wrap with a final 18 holes at Port Ludlow on July 30.
There will be gross and net payouts.
Registration is due July 25.
To register, phone 360-895-0130 or visit www.jrgt.com/2004/schedule.php.
Port Ludlow will also host The Pacific Northwest Golf Association’s 58th Annual Junior Boys’ Amateur Championship Aug. 6-10.
Cedars golf camp
I missed The Cedars at Dungeness’ Junior Golf Camp in my roundup of youth camps last week.
Sessions for youth ages 5-9 will be held at the Sequim course Monday and Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Ages 10-16 are set for 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday and 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
Players will learn putting, chipping, the full swing and golf etiquette.
Cost is $75 and includes green fees, awards and a barbecue cookout.
Phone the Cedars pro shop at 360-683-6344 to sign up.
PT Junior Golf Camp
Port Townsend will hold its next Junior Golf Camp from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday through Thursday.
Phone the course at 360-385-4547 for more details.
Lavender tourney set
SkyRidge gets into the theme of Lavender Weekend Saturday with the course’s seventh annual Lavender Faire Golf Tournament.
The two-person scramble will tee things off with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
Cost is $45 per player with carts an extra $15 per seat.
A $10 honey pot will be available as well.
Players with a Lavender Weekend button will get $2 off their cart seat fee.
A Captain Henry’s blackened salmon dinner with all the fixin’s will be provided.
Proceeds from this event will help support disabled veterans of foreign wars.
Clallam Links Open
SkyRidge will host the Clallam Links British Open after British Open play on Sunday.
Lunch is set for noon with tee times beginning at 1 p.m.
The event has three divisions: Men’s Amateur for handicaps 0-14 and playing from the black tees; Men’s Amateur for handicaps 15 and over, playing from the green tees; and Women’s Amateur, which will play from the purple tees.
Players can form their own foursome or sign up with the clubhouse for placement.
Cost is $55 with $25 for golf, $25 for honey pot and $5 for lunch.
Players also receive range balls, a chance at KPs and longest putt.
Carts are $15 per seat.
If there’s a full-40 person field, there will be a $1,000 payout and 30 percent of the field will get some cash.
To get in on any of these events, phone SkyRidge at 360-683-3673.
Pirate Tourney slotted
The Peninsula Pirate annual Golf Scramble Celebration is set for The Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course in Sequim on Friday, Aug. 10.
An 8:30 a.m. shotgun start will kick off the four-person scramble format event.
Cost is $100 per individual or $300 per team, and includes cart, greens fee, tee prize and an awards banquet.
Sponsorship opportunities are available.
To get signed up or for more information, phone Lance Von Vogt at 360-417-6467 or email lvonvogt@pencol.edu.
Pip, pip, cheerio and…
I should have saved my recent order of fish and chips from a certain Port Townsend Boat Haven greasy spoon for this weekend’s third major, the 2012 British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Anne’s Golf Club.
David Duval won in 2001 for his last win the last time the course hosted the Open.
Reading up on Royal Lytham it appears a winner will have to manage their distances off the tee, stay accurate to avoid punishing rough and the 206 sand bunkers sprinkled around the course and as always with the British, contend with the elements, as rain is forecasted for three of the event’s four days.
ESPN has live coverage of the Open starting at 2 a.m. on Thursday and Friday, 4 a.m. on Saturday and 3 a.m. on Sunday.
KOMO (channel 4) will air tape-delayed rounds at noon Saturday and Sunday.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3527 or pdngolf@gmail.com.