BIRDIES FOR BEAN Dip, a benefit golf tournament for Brett Allen, will be held at Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course in Sequim on Saturday, Sept. 30.
Bean Dip, aka Allen, is a golf-loving, outsized personality who worked at the course as a cook until he was injured in an accident in May.
“It’s actually a family thing,” Cedars at Dungeness head pro Garrett Smithson said about the nickname. Smithson grew up with Allen in the Cherry Hill neighborhood in Port Angeles.
“They called him Beaner as a kid and it evolved into Bean Dip and that’s what we’ve known him as since he was about 16,” Smithson said.
“Brett is a Roughrider, he played on the golf team in school. He’s an Allen, an awesome tribal family, and he’s been employed by the tribe since he was 16 and been a huge staple of our business.”
According to a GoFundMe account set up after his injury (and still accepting donations at tinyurl.com/PDN-BeanDip) Allen hopped a ride on the back of a golf cart heading to his cousin’s house nearby after the annual Boys & Girls Club fundraiser at Cedars.
Allen fell when the cart made a turn into the parking lot and he struck his head on the pavement — suffering a significant brain injury.
He was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center and received emergency surgery to remove a section of his skull to relieve pressure and slow the bleeding on his brain. He also suffered a massive stroke and was placed in a medically induced coma.
Large strides
Allen has made large strides since his injury, coming out of the coma and being moved from Seattle to Sequim Rehab, where he has regained some movement and is able to answer questions.
“It’s going great, that’s what the people at the rehab center tell us,” Smithson said. “He can move his hands, you can ask him yes or no questions. I’ve asked him, ‘Bean Dip, do you like the [Washington State] Cougs? because I’m a Coug and he’s a big [Washington] Huskies fan. He answers no, of course.”
Smithson said Allen has a love of costumes and has never passed up the opportunity to dress up, so he’s asking those who attend the event to come in some sort of costume — an early Halloween, if you like.
“He’s a character, just a great guy. He’s one of those guys that is liked and loved by everybody he comes into contact with,” Smithson said.
This is evidenced by an outpouring of support for him since the tournament was first announced.
“We’ve had 100 people sign up already,” Smithson said. “We have maxed out at 144 players before, but we can make 200 work for this if we need to. And we’ve had people call and say they can’t play, but they have stepped up and provided donations ranging from $100 to those in the $1,000s.”
The event has a 9 a.m. shotgun start for those playing 18 holes, and an 11:30 a.m. start for golfers playing nine holes.
Entry fees are $100 for 18 holes ($75 for members/employees) or $60 for nine holes ($35 for members/employees).
Players will receive range balls, a cart seat, two drink tickets, lunch, green fees and a custom Bean Dip shirt.
Organizers of the event don’t want to spoil too many surprises, but the day will include bowling, Shock Top beer, beer goggles and beer pong and other Bean Dip-themed games and holes.
The deadline for entry is Friday, Sept. 29.
To sign up, phone 360-683-6344, ext. 1 or stop by the pro shop.
Discovery Bay deal
Discovery Bay Golf Club near Port Townsend is offering a twilight special after 2 p.m. through Sunday.
A round of golf is $20 for walkers and $29 for those using a cart.
To make a reservation, phone 360-385-0704 or stop by the clubhouse.
Port Ludlow offers
All month long, golfers can play 18 holes with a GPS-enabled cart at Port Ludlow for $49.
The course also is offering a month-long twilight golf special after 3 p.m. each day. Walking players can play for $20 and cart users can play for $29.
Aerification of the course is planned later this month and Port Ludlow has a $29 cart special running Sept. 25 through Oct. 8 for players who don’t mind a sandy, bumpy putting surface.
Merchant champs
The Cedars at Dungeness Merchants’ League season concluded last Wednesday after crowning a new champion, the Dungeness Golf Shop.
The Golf Shop squad knocked off the Mischmidts 8 1/2 to 1 1/2 to earn its second title in three seasons.
It was noted that the finals match represented a historic event in the 30-year history of the series, in that seven of the eight participants in the championship match were women.
The 14-team Merchant’s League field competed over sixteen regular season weeks, with the teams vying to obtain one of eight playoff spots.
Besides the championship pairing, the remaining playoff contenders played for third through eighth places, respectively, including the Jamestown Aces, SkyRidge Golf Club, Bill Mair Heating, Castell Insurance, Sequim Plumbing, and All Weather Heating. Ninth place, based on accumulated points was awarded to Dungeness Tile and Stone.
The awards banquet, hosted by the Cedars at Dungeness and emceed by Courtland Mildenberger, was attended by many of the team players, who enjoyed a great dinner, awards ceremony and door prize giveaways.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
