MINE WAS A valiant fight but after a solid month or more my efforts at avoiding the illness circulating through the cubicles of the Peninsula Daily News failed.
I spent a gorgeous weekend for golf, at least a sunny and seasonally warm Sunday, cooped up indoors with my good pals Vicks Vapor Rub, DayQuil and Vitamin C.
Instead of hacking my way around a nine-hole outing, I spent the time hacking, coughing and sneezing.
I could go on making bad illness-related golf puns but I’ve got North Olympic Peninsula golf news to share.
Wolves are the champs
A round of the heartiest of golf claps for the members of the undefeated Sequim High School boys and girls golf teams.
Both teams finished 8-0 in league and on top of the Olympic League standings.
The Sequim girls repeated as league champs, rolling to a 15-0-1 record in matches during the two-year span.
Barnes takes MVP
Port Angeles High School junior Joe Barnes was named Olympic League boys golf MVP after posting a 38.0 average for nine holes on the season.
Port Angeles coach Mark Mitrovich called Barnes “a pleasant surprise,” in my season-preview column back in March.
Barnes picked up the game less than a year ago but put in the extra time to best teammate Jordan Negus (38.4) and Sequim’s Ryan O’Mera (38.5) for the top spot.
He also won the individual title at the prestigious Tim Higgins Memorial Golf Tournament at Kitsap Golf and Country Club.
“Amazing to me is that Joe has accomplished all of these things and manages his diabetes like a champion as well,” Mitrovich said.
“It is not very often that a new player enters a program and makes such a positive impact on others. Joe has done that for the Riders.”
Joining Barnes on the All-Olympic boys team were Negus and Garrett Payton of Port Angeles and O’Mera and Casey Torres of Sequim.
On the girls side, Sequim’s Hailey Estes (48.8) and Elisa Sallee (52.5) were joined by Port Angeles’ Dana Fox (49.1).
Klahowya’s Sally Fletcher claimed the Olympic League girls golf MVP.
Mention PDN for 2-for-1
Representatives from Cleveland Golf will visit Port Ludlow Golf Club from noon to 4 p.m. today.
Port Ludlow director of golf Vito De Santis said that anyone who attends the demo and mentions the Peninsula Daily News will receive a two-for-one golf coupon valid at Port Ludlow.
Cleveland will have full sets available for tryout, and club fittings will be held.
To sign up for a fitting, phone Port Ludlow Golf Club at 360-437-0272.
Nike reps will visit from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, May 18 and Callaway Golf’s Tour Fit Van will cruise on in to Port Ludlow on May 25.
Anyone who makes a purchase of $200 or more today or May 18 or 25 will receive a free round of golf at Port Ludlow.
Match play Saturday
The summer-long Men’s Club Match Play Championship will begin at Port Townsend Golf Club on Saturday.
Cost is $30 with reduced greens fees for non-members.
The tournament is double-elimination and provides a good way to enjoy a different spin on a round of golf.
Rhody Open slated
The annual Jim Caldwell Memorial Rhody Open comprises two events and will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 19-20.
Players can play both days or just pick whichever is more appealing.
An individual gross and net competition with closest to the pin and long putt prizes will be held on May 19.
Play tees off at 8 a.m. and is $35 per player with $10 greens fees for nonmembers.
Sunday’s event is a two-person best-ball competition with closest to the pin and longest putt prizes.
The tournament starts at 9 a.m. and is $30 per player with $10 greens fees for nonmembers.
Proceeds benefit the Rhododendron Festival.
Weekly events at PTGC
Merchant League play takes place Tuesday evenings at Port Townsend.
If you are interested in playing in the competition or being a sub for a team, go out to the course and get a qualifying round of nine holes in and play.
Competition is only $7 with green fees at $8 for nonmembers.
Port Townsend hosts weekly nine-hole skins games all day Thursdays and Saturdays.
Cost is $10 with reduced greens fees for nonmembers.
Ladies golfers compete on Tuesday mornings.
Free junior lessons
Free junior golf lessons for ages 10-15 are on tap for Saturday mornings this summer in Port Townsend.
For more information on any Port Townsend event, phone the pro shop at 360-385-4547.
Discovery Bay events
Discovery Bay Golf Club near Port Townsend is rolling out some very enticing rates for walkers and riders.
A walking duo can play 18 holes for just $22. That’s $11 apiece for 18 holes of golf.
Two cart riders can play all day for $48 total.
Those cart golfers will be playing in Discovery Bay’s new fleet of EZ Go golf carts.
Moms play free Sunday
On Mother’s Day, take your mom out for a round of golf and she will play for free at Discovery Bay.
Stay for lunch or dinner and mom will get a free entree with a paid entree at Rosa’s Delicia Mexicana.
For more information on Discovery Bay, visit www.discoverybaygolfclub.com or phone 360-385-0704.
Tourney update
The memorial scramble golf tournament benefit hosted by The Cedars at Dungeness Lady Niners raised $887 for Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County.
A tip of the golf cap to the ladies of Cedars, SunLand, Peninsula and SkyRidge for their participation in that worthy effort.
Cedars Lady Niners will play “Three C’s and a P” on Thursday.
Pick your three most useful clubs and your putter and head out to Cedars by 8 a.m. for the 9 a.m. start.
Forbes golf handicaps
Forbes magazine did the dirty work in compiling a list of celebrity golf handicaps.
Or, to be more accurate, they entered celebrity names and guessed at state of residences to come by their findings.
Clint Eastwood feels lucky, punk, with a 22.1 handicap; three-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady has a 6.4 and University of Washington grad and elevator music hitmaker Kenny G holds a .6 handicap.
For the whole list visit, tinyurl.com/ForbesGolfList.
Send in your golf items
Have a golf event coming up and want to see it listed in the golf column?
Did you recently take a vacation and have a golf trip report or photo to share?
Send it to me, Michael Carman, Golf Column, Peninsula Daily News, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362; phone, 360-417-3527, fax, 360-417-3521; email pdngolf@gmail.com.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3527 or at pdngolf@gmail.com.