SHAKESPEARE ADVISED TO “beware the Ides of March” but Cedars at Dungeness member Robert Chamberlin will forever embrace March 15, the date of his second hole-in-one in just seven days.
The Sequim golfer collected his second ace with his now “lucky” 6-iron on the 139-yard No. 8 hole at Dungeness.
His 6-iron also was in his hands when he launched his first hole-in-one March 8 on the course’s 140-yard fourth hole.
Chamberlin has no plans to bronze and display the productive club.
“No, its been working well for me and I’ll keep it in the bag,” Chamberlin said.
His second single was witnessed by his brother, Jim Chamberlin, and Bill Rucker.
Neither shot produced instant euphoria, in both cases pin placement and contours of the greens shielded Chamberlin and his playing partners from seeing the shots drop into the hole.
These were aces of the “walk up and find it” variety.
He’ll take them.
Retired from a career with a Kansas manufacturing firm, Chamberlin moved to Sequim to be near his father and brother.
He would frequently play rounds with his brother when vacationing in Sequim, and has really picked up his game since moving here, playing about five times a week.
His wallet is a little lighter after buying rounds after the two shots, but he joked that he lucked out as “there was no out-of-town group in the clubhouse when we came in.”
I facetiously asked Chamberlin if he had any plans to give up the game after beating the odds and posting the two perfect singles, and he answered with a laugh, “You’ve got to be kidding! I retired to Sequim to play golf!”
Well, now that we’ve had two in a week, can North Olympic Peninsula golfers one up that feat with two in a day? Two in a round?
Scratch that, I’m no math whiz and my mind boggles at trying to figure out those probabilities.
“Go Big” tourney
Staying at Cedars at Dungeness, the course has some “big” news: the introduction of a fun, new tournament.
Every hole will have 8-inch cups at the first “Go Big” Tournament on Saturday, March 30.
You can bet the tourney staff will find some interesting pin placements for these big cups.
In this unique, one-person scramble event, players can use a mulligan on every hole with the caveat that once put into play the second ball becomes your scoring ball and the first is retired.
To keep with the “Big” theme, foot-long hot dogs, 22-ounce beers and soda in sizes that would make Mayor Bloomberg cry will be served.
The event has a 10 a.m. start and cost is $50, which includes green fees, competition, range balls and lunch.
To sign up for this inaugural event, stop by the pro shop or phone 360-683-6344.
A SkyRidge signature
The Gutbuster, one of SkyRidge Golf Course’s signature golf tourneys, is on tap for the Sequim course Saturday.
Golfers will play from the tips (6,529 yards for men and 5,737 for women) and putt to the most difficult pin placements Jeff Pedersen and SkyRidge staffers can devise.
The format is individual medal play.
For the $65 entry fee, players will receive their Gutbuster round, lunch, range balls, honey pot, a shot at three KP prizes and one free practice round on Friday, March 22.
Tee times will begin at 8:20 a.m. on March 23.
Carts are an extra $15 per seat.
Get into the Gutbuster by phoning SkyRidge at 360-683-3673 (FORE).
St. Patricks in PT
The St. Patrick’s Day Golf Tournament helped ring in festivities a day early Saturday at Port Townsend Golf Club.
A fun event, the tourney typically draws a big crowd because even if you play poorly you still get treated to Vicki Handyside’s traditional corned beef, cabbage, potato, carrots and Irish soda bread feast as well as some beer or whiskey post-round if you are partial.
The meal? “Amazing as always,” per Port Townsend Assistant Pro Gabriel Tonan.
The golf? Mitch Black and Doug Collins teamed to top the gross division with a 72, followed by Scott Nelson and Russ Jerabek and Fred Heywood and Greg Miller with 75s.
On the net side, Bruce Madsen and Mike Dahmer tied with Earl Boroughf and Jerry Spieckerman, with each team shooting 60.
Upcoming events at PT
Up next on the Port Townsend Golf Course schedule is the 17th annual Camp Beausite Northwest Golf Tournament sponsored by the Port Townsend Kiwanis Club, set for Saturday, March 30.
This one helps provide camp scholarships for people with special needs and funds youth projects.
In a change from year’s past, the event is a straight-up two-person best ball, with no mulligans for string purchases.
Cost is $50 per player, with $10 green fees for nonmembers, and includes play, KP, LP, long drive and lunch.
A 10 a.m. start will kick things off, and a raffle will follow play.
Merchants League play tees it up at Port Townsend Golf Course beginning Tuesday, April 9, and running until September.
Now is the time to form a team, get a sponsor (or sponsor a team yourself) and get involved with a fun, weekly game of golf.
If you’re an individual that would like to play, contact Port Townsend Golf Club and someone there will try to find you a team.
Not available every week? Become a substitute and help teams stay in the running for a trophy.
Upcoming events include The Men’s Club Spring Fling Scramble and Steak Feed on April 13 and the four-person scramble Relay For Life Linda Constantine Memorial Golf Tournament on April 27.
Phone the Port Townsend Golf Club pro shop at 360-385-4547 to get involved.
Peninsula opening day
Peninsula Golf Club member Paul Reed reports that the course’s men’s club started off in fine fashion with its opening day scramble on St. Patrick’s Day.
Many players opted to wear the colors of the day, with Reed pointing out Al “The Wardrobe” Osterberg as “undoubtedly the best dressed golfer.”
The affair started Saturday evening with the team strategy session, and concluded Sunday with the tournament.
Although the conditions were miserable, Peninsula still had 100 hearty souls participate in this popular event.
With the weather, scores were a bit higher than normal with the team of Terry McCartney, Jim Jones Jr., Carl Cadwell and Gene Middleton notching a 10-under par 62.
One shot back of the leaders was the team of John Pruss, Bill Evenstad, Matt Murray and Andy Duran.
Sounds like a great turnout for the start of a fun slate of men’s club events at Peninsula Golf Club.
For more Peninsula Golf Club info, phone 360-457-6501
Unlimited Ludlow golf
Indulge your golf addiction with an unlimited golf special at Port Ludlow Golf Course through April 15.
Golfers can play all day, enjoy a hamburger or hot dog lunch and receive a sleeve of Callaway golf balls for $45 Monday through Thursday, or $50 Friday through Sunday.
Disco Bay madness
If your eyes begin to weary of college basketball this weekend, head out to Discovery Bay Golf Course near Port Townsend and take advantage of their March Madness deal.
March Madness is a two-for-one golf promotion where you and a friend can play nine or 18 holes for $22 total. Use of a cart is not included in the deal.
Discovery Bay’s ladies and men’s clubs are recruiting new members and have scheduled their first meetings for March 28 and April 24, respectively.
Phone Discovery Bay at 360-385-0704.
Next week’s column
I’ll have my high school golf column next week.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3527 or pdngolf@gmail.com.