BITS AND PIECES, dribs and drabs, there are many smaller events set to create a sizeable amount of golf happenings set for the North Olympic Peninsula.
Before we get to those, let me take a moment to recognize the passing of former player and longtime CBS golf analyst Ken Venturi.
Since I’m relatively late to the game, I associated Venturi predominately with his coverage of the Masters and other tournaments televised by CBS, until his retirement in 2002.
I knew he had played pro golf and his career had been cut short due to carpal tunnel syndrome — a common ailment today, but little was known and understood about it back when Venturi retired in the mid 1960s.
I came away impressed and amazed after reading his New York Times obituary, which details his greatest playing achievement: Winning the 1964 U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club near Washington, D.C.
Played in sweltering humidity, with temperatures near 100 degrees, the 1964 U.S. Open was the final Open to conclude with the final 36 holes played on the same day.
Venturi battled the heat all day, nearly collapsing of heat exhaustion on the 17th green of his morning round.
Going into the final 18 holes, Venturi was two shots behind the leader, Tommy Jacobs.
From the Times obituary: “After a 45-minute break, Venturi virtually staggered through the final round, trailed by Dr. John Everett, who was monitoring the players and who had warned him against continuing out of fear he would die from heat prostration.”
Ice cubs, iced tea and salt pills were given to him during the round, with Venturi eventually carding a 70 to beat Jacobs by four shots.
His playing partner Raymond Floyd had to remove Venturi’s ball from the cup on the final hole — Venturi was just too weak to do so.
Floyd told the Associated Press in 1997: “He was running on fumes. If you had asked him his name, he could not have told you.
“It is one of the most heroic things I have ever seen.”
To read the full obit, visit tinyurl.com/VenturiPassing.
Golf claps abound
A round of the heartiest of golf claps to the Peninsula Golf Club membership for their willingness to fund a practice round at Chambers Bay for the five Port Angeles High School boys state golf tournament qualifiers.
Chambers Bay is hosting the Class 2A boys state golf championship (today is the final round), and will host the 2015 U.S. Open.
The course is ridiculously lengthy, nearly every hole has significant elevation changes and it’s chock full of sand traps. Trouble lurks everywhere.
Hopefully, the Port Angeles boys — Alex Atwell, Joe Barnes, Micah Needham, Garrett Payton and Austin Underwood — can bring home a team title.
And good luck to the Chimacum boys team (Nathan Browning, Riley Downs and Kevin Miller), playing in the 1A state championship at Lake Spanaway Golf Course in Spanaway, and the girls from Port Angels (Dana Fox) and Sequim (Maddy Fisher and Elisa Sallee), who are playing in the girls 2A championship at The Classic Golf Club, also in Spanaway.
Ace for Synnestvedt
Cedars at Dungeness women’s 18-hole Club newcomer Wanda Synnestvedt recently notched her sixth career hole-in-one, using a pitching wedge to sink a 109-yard shot on Cedars’ eighth hole.
Wanda is a retired educator from the Port Townsend School District where she worked with a lot of kids with special needs.
The patience and commitment needed in that capacity appears to be translateable to golf, as she is a superb player.
These ladies typically meet for play at 8 a.m. with tee off at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesdays.
This week, a scheduling conflict moves their weekly date to Monday morning.
Head out and play.
Grad Night tourney
The Sequim Parents for a Substance-Free Graduation are sponsoring the ninth annual Golf for Graduates Tournament on Saturday to support the 2013 Sequim High Graduation Party.
Proceeds will help fund an alcohol- and drug-free party for Sequim High School Class of 2013 graduates.
Format is a four-person scramble with a twist. The tourney has a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
Cost is $200 per team, and there is an optional $40 honey pot.
Fees include golf, lunch and KP prizes.
Putting and chipping contests will be held before the event.
A 50/50 raffle before the tournament, and during lunch and a silent auction are planned.
Carts are available for $12/seat
Players from the Sequim High Golf Team will be available to pick up as an extra team mate if your team is the highest bidder.
Phone SkyRidge at 360-683-3673 or Brian Cays at 360-460-2934, or email jeteye@olypen.com.
Girls hoops tournament
SkyRidge Golf Course in Sequim will host the second annual Sequim High School Girls Basketball Tournament on Saturday, June 1.
Proceeds will go to the Sequim girls basketball program to help pay for summer tournaments and camps.
The two-person scramble event will tee off with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
Cost is $100 per team, and includes green fees, range balls and lunch.
Carts are an extra expense.
Event sponsorships are available as well.
To get in the game, phone SkyRidge at 360-683-3673.
Discovery Bay deal
Golfers can take advantage of a good deal all month long at Discovery Bay Golf Course near Port Townsend.
If players start after noon each day, they can play 18 holes with a cart for $22.
For more information, phone 360-385-0704.
Ludlow ladies event
Ladies at Port Ludlow Golf Club celebrated “Dancing (Golfing) With the Stars” during their annual spring tournament.
The two-day event used the best net ball of each threesome on day one, and any improved score the next day.
A luncheon at the course restaurant, Niblicks, allowed ladies to deck themselves out in all manner of costumed jewelry.
The team of Grace Allen, Sudie Parker Hensen and Sue Fechner finished first with a score of 46, followed by Joy Herring, Diane Kobz and Sheila Schoen in second with 53.
A “card-off” dealt third place to Sandy MacDonald, Turney Oswald and Suzie Lee with a 53.
The Port Ludlow ladies’ next big event will be the Captain’s Cup, beginning Tuesday, June 4.
Gone fishin’
As most of you read this I am headed over state Highway 20 this morning for a long-weekend vacation casting for the voracious tiger muskie, bass and maybe a trout or two (I’m less skilled as an angler than a golfer, so you’ll note I didn’t write “catching”).
Our destination is Curlew Lake State Park, 75 miles from the closest golf course in eastern Washington’s far-flung Ferry County.
I’ll just have to play twice when I get back to make up for the missed chances.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3527 or pdngolf@gmail.com.