BREAK OUT THOSE billfolds: corporate hospitality sales are underway for the 2015 U.S. Open Championship at Chambers Bay near Tacoma.
Hopefully, some enterprising PDN readers are interested in promoting their business/rewarding their employees at this once in a lifetime event . . . and possibly inviting your loyal golf columnist in for a cold beverage?
Pat McCarthy, the championship’s general chairman and executive of Pierce County, which owns Chambers Bay, said the USGA offers hospitality options for companies of every size.
“Business owners and managers can provide the experience of a lifetime for clients, customers, vendors and employees,” she said.
“I encourage business owners to contact the USGA’s sales team and explore the opportunities to develop deep and lasting business relationships.”
Available options range from a table for one day in a shared hospitality venue to private facilities overlooking the first, seventh, 10th and 18th holes.
For more information on the corporate hospitality options, visit
www.msgpromotions.com.
Act fast, as locations within the hospitality venues are doled out by the site-selection number assigned by the USGA as deposits are received.
The U.S. Open will be held from June 15-21, 2015, which includes three practice-round days (June 15-17) and four championship-round days (June 18-21).
The USGA is planning on total attendance of 235,000 total spectators, volunteers, media, vendors and staff at Chambers Bay.
General-admission ticket sales begin in June 2014.
A gentle reminder: The U.S. Open has sold out for 27 consecutive years.
Full weekend set
SkyRidge Golf Course in Sequim will host two events this weekend, the eighth annual Lavender Golf Tournament on Saturday and the Clallam Links Open on Sunday.
The Lavender tourney is a two-person scramble event that will benefit disabled veterans helped by Port Angeles’ Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1024.
Saturday’s event will have a 9:30 a.m. shotgun start. Cost is $45 per player, with carts $15 per seat and an extra $10 honey pot available.
Players will have lunch provided after play.
Sunday’s individual medal play Clallam Links Open will begin after the Open is over, a nod to the final round of Sunday’s British Open.
Lunch is set for noon, with a mini-shotgun start at 1 p.m.
There are three divisions: a men’s amateur for handicaps from 0-14 that will play off of the course’s black tees (gross/net); a 15-and-up handicap division launching from the green tees (gross/net); and a women’s amateur division playing a net only game from the silver tees.
Cost is $55 for this one, $25 for golf, $25 for honey pot and $5 for lunch.
Players also get range balls, a chance at KPs and a longest-putt chance.
Carts are the same, $15 per seat.
To register for either event, phone SkyRidge at 360-683-3673.
Daisy & Duke tourney
SkyRidge also will host the second annual Daisy & 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, greens fees, lunch and snacks like muffins, chocolate chips and more.
“Daisy & 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
Last year’s Dove House Bluebill Golf Benefit was such a success, organizers will host the second installment 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, therapy for child and adult victims, and maintain 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 Aug. 15.
For more information, phone Michael Graham at 360-437-5052 or Port Ludlow golf course at 800-455-0272.
Summer league starts
Discovery Bay’s Summer League will begin its eight-week schedule with a team scramble Thursday, and wrap with a final on Sept. 19.
The weekly events will be held Thursday nights at 5:30 p.m.
Regular season competition will begin July 25.
Four-player teams are needed, and all teams are responsible for their own substitute players.
A wholly, separate Monday Night Skins game is in progress.
Phone club pro Dan Swindler or golf shop guru Randy White at 360-385-0704 if you are interested in the league or anything going on at Disco Bay.
SunLand junior camp
SunLand Golf & Country Club’s junior golf camp is set for 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. this coming Monday through Friday.
Golf skills, sportsmanship — including rules and etiquette — golf and “near-golf” experiences will be taught.
Children will be able to participate in fun games and activities, including a water-balloon toss, and each student will receive a PGA Sports Academy book and bag tag.
Cost is $75, and registration is available at the clubhouse or at
www.sunlandgolf.com.
The camp is limited to the first 25 who register.
Cedars junior camps
Cedars at Dungeness in Sequim will host golf camps for ages 5-9 and 10-16 on July 29-30 and Aug. 1.
The younger ones will be on hand from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on July 29-30, and 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 1.
The older kids will attend from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., July 29-30, and from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Aug. 1.
Putting, chipping, the full golf swing and etiquette will be taught over the first two days.
The last day, campers will be grouped according to age and play a tournament.
Youngsters will play a four-hole tourney, while the older kids will play from four to nine holes.
A cookout and awards presentation will follow the tournament.
Cost is $80 and includes teaching fees, greens fees, range balls, a barbecue, awards, snacks and a gift.
To sign up, phone the Cedars Pro Shop at 360-683-6344 or 800-447-6826.
Viva Las Vegas events
The SunLand Women’s Golf Association is set to host 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 (like 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.
The entry deadline is Aug. 9.
For information and/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.
Free junior golf in July
Port Townsend is offering free junior greens fees with a paid adult greens fee through the month of July.
The fairways are firm, the greens are rolling solid and it’s a great time of year to play in Port Townsend.
Oh . . . and a major
The third major men’s golf championship of the season takes place at Royal Muirfield in Scotland from Thursday through Sunday.
Live viewers are at a big time disadvantage, as rounds will start at 1 a.m. Thursday and Friday mornings on ESPN and 4 a.m. Saturday and 3 a.m. Sunday, all on ESPN.
A tape-delayed final round will air at noon on Sunday on ABC (KOMO-channel 4).
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3527 or pdngolf@gmail.com.