I MAY REMEMBER this year’s U.S. Open more for Jim Furyk’s duck hook on No. 16 and the spaced-out “coo-coo” calling bird-brain who invaded U.S. Open champion Webb Simpson’s title presentation than Simpson’s stellar weekend play at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.
Olympic’s reputation as the “Graveyard of Champions” bubbled to the surface again, as former U.S. Open champs Furyk and Graeme McDowell fell short and the plucky underdog walked away with the trophy.
The “graveyard” claimed Arnold Palmer in 1966, so the irony of Simpson — a fellow Wake Forest grad who played for the Demon Deacons on an Arnold Palmer Scholarship — winning the U.S. Open at Olympic is not lost on me.
Kudos to Simpson, consecutive 2-under par rounds on that course? A thing of beauty.
Simpson’s quick quip “Enjoy the jail cell, pal” after the fan’s interview invasion? Just as smooth.
PT’s Lux at Olympic
Port Townsend resident Mike Lux was on hand for last Wednesday’s practice round and Thursday’s opening round at Olympic.
Lux has a pal who lives in nearby Sausalito. This friend has a neighbor who works for the online ticket exchange Stubhub, and was able to get them some VIP passes for the event.
Lux’s group ranged around Olympic last Wednesday, talking to course marshals, getting close to players and speaking with course maintenance staffers about the setup of the course.
They saw how painstaking the setup process is for the course, with staff hand-mowing, striping and rolling the greens and even rolling the fringe within 30 to 40 yards of the green.
“No. 18 [green] was really scary but No. 17 was terrifying,” Lux, a 2-handicap golfer said.
Lux and pals followed Ernie Els and Angel Cabrera for awhile on the course, with Lux enjoying Cabrera’s interactions with spectators.
“Cabrera was a lot of fun, good-natured and throwing golf balls to the kids,” Lux said.
They also followed the Lee Westwood, Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy trio and Sergio Garcia, Furyk and McDowell.
“Furyk looks so serious and tough out there but he was more interactive [than you would expect],” Lux said.
It was Lux’s first trip to a major golf tournament.
He’d been to the Byron Nelson and Texas opens when he lived in Dallas, but this was special, and he has plans to be at Chambers Bay when the U.S. Open makes its first-ever appearance in Washington in 2015.
Let the countdown begin!
Soroptimist tourney
Soroptimist International of Port Angeles Noon Club will hold a Pink Up Port Angeles benefit golf tournament for Operation Uplift at Peninsula Golf Club in Port Angeles on Friday.
The tournament has a shotgun start at noon, and will be followed by an award reception for golfers, sponsors and guests at the clubhouse from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
There will be prizes for first and second place, long drive for men and women and hole-in-one prizes supplied by Ruddell Auto Mall.
A putting contest also is on tap.
Cost is $80 for nonmembers and $45 for Peninsula members.
To get in the game, phone the course at 360-457-6501 or stop by the pro shop.
Cedars demo day
Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course in Sequim will hold a TaylorMade Demo Day from noon to 4 p.m. Friday.
Launch Monitor fitting will be available and there will be an instant $100 rebate on the purchase of irons.
Lady Niners tourney
The Cedars at Dungeness Lady Niners will hold their Jokers Wild Invitational on Thursday, July 19.
Check-in will begin at 11 a.m. with tee-off at 1 p.m.
Results will be announced during a lasagna feed following play.
To sign up, phone Jo Hendrickson at 360-808-3440.
Registration closes July 5.
Discovery Bay info
Golfers looking for some competition can find it all week long at Discovery Bay.
Regular men’s competitions are scheduled for 9 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and 5 p.m. on Thursday.
The course will hold a Red,White and Blue Scramble on July 4.
Single players can get in touch with the pro shop to sign up.
Discovery Bay is also continuing its Two-For-Tuesday pricing, with two players playing for the rate of one. No carts in this deal though.
Players can still take advantage of Discovery Bay’s two players and a cart for $60 deal through the end of June.
Discovery Bay’s Junior Golf camp for ages 7-17 will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. July 16-18.
Cost is $50 and includes a golf hat.
Dan Swindler is coaching the juniors and is also available for private lessons.
For more information, phone 360-385-0704 or visit www.discoverybaygolf
course.com.
Port Townsend events
Port Townsend Golf Club will host its annual Independence Day Scramble on Saturday, July 7.
The blind-draw tournament is $30 with reduced greens fees at $10 per player for nonmembers.
There will be net and gross prizes along with closest to the pin and longest putt competitions.
On Thursdays this summer, Port Townsend hosts a “Summer Gangsome Skins & Comp” event at 11 a.m.
The event includes reduced greens fees and different competitions each week.
Players can show up at 10:45 a.m. and the guys in the pro shop will take care of arrangements.
Port Townsend is also hosting Food Bank Wednesday’s where players can bring nonperishable food items to the pro shop in exchange for a reduced rate of $10 for nine holes and $15 for 18.
A nice way to support the golf course’s neighbors, as the food bank is located across from the course entrance at Mountain View Commons.
Port Townsend also has a series of junior golf camps set for this summer.
Phone the course at 360-385-4547 for more details.
West hole-in-one
Port Townsend Golf Club member Al West recently notched his second career hole-in-one on the 160-yard seventh hole.
West used his 6-iron on the shot which was witnessed by Laurie Stewart, Charlie O’Shea and Buddy O’Meara.
Good job, Al!
Rally For the Cure
The annual Rally For the Cure benefit golf tournament will be held at Port Ludlow Golf Club on Thursday, July 12.
This 9-hole tournament is open to both male and female golfers.
Mulligans may be purchased to support the cause and prizes will be awarded.
Everyone is invited to wear some pink to show support for finding a cure for breast cancer.
Sign-in will begin at 7:30 a.m. with a group photo at 8:30 a.m. and a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
Following golf, the Rally Luncheon with raffles and door prizes will be held at the Port Ludlow Bay Club.
Cost for golf, a cart and the luncheon is $45 for Port Ludlow members and $65 for nonmembers.
Those not playing in the tournament can enjoy a catered lunch from Applebee’s for $10.
To register for the event, pay at the Port Ludlow Pro Shop; send checks to Rally for the Cure, Port Ludlow Golf Course, 751 Highland Drive, Port Ludlow, WA 98365; or phone the Pro Shop at 360-437-0272.
Entries are due by Sunday, July 8.
SkyRidge event slated
SkyRidge Golf Course will hold its Stars and Stripes golf tourney on Saturday, July 14.
The two-person event will feature three formats in 27 holes of play.
Cost is $80 per team and includes range balls, food and competition money.
A honey pot is an extra $20.
To get in on the game, phone 360-683-3673.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3527 or at pdngolf@gmail.com.