OCTOBER IS PULLING its usual double-duty, serving as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and National Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
A benefit golf tournament held recently at Port Ludlow Golf Club served to further the interests of the latter movement and did so in a big way — raising $6,500 for Dove House Advocacy Services.
The Olympic Peninsula Boeing Bluebills, a group of committed volunteers with a big base in Port Ludlow, held the inaugural Dove House Benefit Golf Tournament to raise awareness and funds for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
Dove House provides crisis intervention, emergency food and shelter, medical advocacy, legal advocacy, individual support and counseling support groups, therapy for child and adult victims, and maintains a 24-hour crisis line at 360-385-5291.
Michael and Mea Graham organized the event with the assistance of Port Ludlow assistant pro Matt Prichard.
The event was a big draw with 124 golfers, more than 20 volunteers, three major sponsors and 27 tee box sponsors.
It went so well in fact that a second annual tournament is set for Sept. 7, 2013.
Team winners in the Ladies Division were Suzy Gruber, Annette Isaaksen, Lucinda Thompson and Bonnie Vahcic.
Men’s Division first place winners were Mike Blair, Dan Holtz, Jack McKay and Myron Vogt. Second place winners were Bill Browne, Gene Guiberson, Dick Ostlund and Clint Webb, and third pace went to Ken Avicola, Jack Hirschmann, Dan Kimble and Jack Lambton.
Mixed division first place went to Bob Asbell, Pam Asbell, Adam Barrows and Suzy Lee. Dave and Linda Aho and Mike and Elaine Raymond took second, while Ed and Barbara Berthiaume and Arlyn Hanna and Bob Losey took third place.
The longest drive for the men went to Terry Lyle and Kathy Williams had the longest drive for the women.
Port Ludlow specials
There’s still ample time left this month to take advantage of their October special — 18 holes with cart, lunch at Niblick’s Restaurant (soup and a half-sandwich) and a sleeve of Callaway Diablo golf balls for $49.
If you play in October you’ll also be entered into a drawing for two free rounds with a cart at a later date.
Port Ludlow is also donating 10 percent to breast cancer charities on all pink merchandise purchased this month.
Glow-golf outings set
A series of Friday night glow-golf events have started at Discovery Bay Golf Club near Port Townsend.
Play normally tees off at 7:30 p.m., but the tee time will likely move up as darkness descends earlier and earlier each week.
Golfers are asked to arrive 30 minutes early to get their glow ball equipment and meet their teammates.
Cost is $10 for the nine holes plus a fee for the night golf equipment.
Clubhouse staffers tell me golfers should bring a flashlight.
Single players are welcome and if you have foursome together, that’s your team.
Phone the clubhouse at 360-385-0704 to get in the game.
Peninsula Ladies feted
Peninsula Golf Club member Sandy Granger checked in with a report on the Peninsula Lady Golfers.
The Peninsula Lady Golfers celebrated their 2012 season at the Peninsula Golf Clubhouse in Port Angeles with a 9-hole scramble, season awards presentation, business meeting and a tasty lunch last Wednesday.
Officers for the 2013 season were elected, with the majority of this year’s officers agreeing to continue another year.
Officers are: Ruth Thomson, president; Gloria Andrus, vice president; Chris Anderson, secretary-treasurer; Sherry Henderson, 18-hole captain; Doris Sparks, TOPS captain; and Adrienne Heinz, the new 9-hole group captain.
Henderson presented the tournament and special awards.
The trophies and plaques were on display with the engraved names of the 2012 winners.
Winners List
■ Gray Cup (May): 18-hole winner: Rena Peabody; 18-hole runner-up: Doris Sparks; nine-hole winner: Dona Scarcia; nine-hole runner-up: Adrienne Heinz.
■ Commemorative Match Play (June): 18-hole winner: Denise Clarke; 18-hole runner-up: Dolly Burnett; nine-hole winner: Barb Thompson; nine-hole runner-up: Sandy Granger.
■ Club Championship (July): Champion: Denise Clarke; runner-up: Doris Sparks; net winner: Chris Anderson; net runner-up: Linda Bruch; nine-hole Champion: Barb Thompson; nine-hole net winner: Mary Murphy.
■ Best Ball Partners (August): 18-hole winners: Rena Peabody and Cindy Schlaffman; 18-hole runner-up: Dolly Burnett and Ruth Thomson.
■ Captain’s Choice — Three Clubs and a Putter (September): 18-hole winners (tie): Dolly Burnett and Sandy Granger.
■ Eclectic Competition (April to June): First Division: Dolly Burnett; Second Division: Duffy DeFrang; nine holes: Sandy Granger.
■ Eclectic Competition (July-September): First Division: Dolly Burnett; Second Division: Duffy DeFrang; nine holes: Mary Murphy.
■ Birdie Tree: First Division: Dolly Burnett; Second Division: Duffy DeFrang.
■ Most Improved: Doris Sparks.
Halloween tourney
The Peninsula Lady Golfers will be having their Halloween tournament on Oct. 31 at 9:30 a.m.
Costumes are encouraged for the event.
Starting in November, the Peninsula Ladies will tee off at 10 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Members and guests are welcome.
Tough night, San Diego
Monday night was tough to swallow for many San Diego sports fans, Peninsula Daily News executive editor Rex Wilson included.
Riding high at halftime, up 24-0, the Chargers imploded in the second half, falling 35-24 to the Denver Broncos.
The first inkling that things were amiss occurred during halftime.
San Diego’s native son Phil Mickelson had a chance to hit a wedge shot from one end zone to a five-foot portion of the opposite end zone to win $1,000,000 for First Book, a nonprofit that provides reading materials for needy children.
Mickelson’s shot was on target but a bit long, glancing off the tarp placed over the end zone and towards the stands.
Organizers made Phil hit off an artificial turf mat, which may have affected the shot.
Golf Channel writer Jason Sobel had a brutal comment afterward that referenced Mickelson’s final-holes struggle at the Ryder Cup.
“Hearing that Phil Mickelson’s shot went long. Maybe they should have let Justin Rose putt it instead,” Sobel wrote.
Rose of course, drained three straight pressure putts to stay alive, take the lead and eventually close out Mickelson on Ryder Cup Sunday.
That’s cold-blooded.
The promotion still raised $50,000 for First Book.
The nonprofit is active here in Clallam County, with a local chapter distributing more than 33,850 books since 1997.
For more information about First Book or to make a donation to help children in need, visit www.firstbook.org or phone Marsha Omdal at 350-681-2254.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3527 or pdngolf@gmail.com.