CEDARS AT DUNGENESS can take a bow as the golf course was recently selected as the winner of “Best Golf Course” in KING TV’s annual Best of Western Washington voting.
In voting conducted online, the Sequim golf course bested 57 other tracks for the honor.
Cedars had made the final four in voting in previous years, but this is the first time the course took the top spot.
And it’s difficult to argue against the selection.
A beautifully maintained 6,456-yard, par-72, 18-hole course, Cedars is nestled in the Dungeness Valley’s Blue Hole, allowing for dry play nearly every day.
The course also boasts two great restaurants: Stymie’s Bar and Grill and the Double Eagle, which I’m sure played a role in vote-getting.
Holiday scramble
Registration is open for two upcoming holiday tournaments at Cedars.
A four-person Ho Ho Ho! Holiday Scramble is set Saturday, Dec. 19.
The event, with handicapped and Callaway divisions, will open with a 10 a.m. shotgun start.
Cost for the tourney is $49 for the public, and $31 for members and employees.
The price includes green fees, cart, range balls, prizes and lunch.
Cedars is being a bit coy with the format, not wanting to divulge any secrets until the day of the event.
It does promise the tournament to be one of the most unique events golfers have ever played, and that it will be fun for all playing abilities.
New Year’s invite
Cedars also will host the 2016 New Year’s Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 2.
This event is a two-person shamble (use best drive and play each hole out individually) on the front nine and a two-person best ball on the back nine.
A shotgun start is planned for 9:30 a.m.
The cost is $60 per person for the public, and $40 for members and employees.
The fee includes green fees, prizes, cart, range balls, a boxed lunch and a shot at $1,500 in competition prizes (based on a full field).
A $20 per team honeypot for gross and net divisions also is available.
The event is open to amateurs with a valid USGA handicap and professionals.
One pro playing a zero handicap is allowed per team.
The shamble portion will use two-thirds of a players handicap, while the best ball will use 90 percent of an individual’s handicap.
To sign up for either event, phone Cedars at 360-683-6344.
Course record snapped
Cedars recently saw its 21-year old course record fall after Bainbridge Island product Carl Jonson fired a blistering 12-under-par 60 during the 2015 Olympic Peninsula Pro-Pro Team Best Ball Tournament.
Jonson teamed with Ryan Benzel, the PGA Director of Instruction at Sahalee Country Club, to shoot a team score of 21-under-par 123 to win the event and $1,450 apiece.
Jonson recently turned pro after a four-year career at powerhouse NCAA program the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.
He’s no stranger to success, having won the 2014 Northwest Open Invitational at Wine Valley in Walla Walla as an amateur.
Jonson is pursuing a tour career but just missed in a bid to qualify for the Web.com Tour qualifier earlier this month.
Work off that turkey
SkyRidge Golf Course in Sequim will hold its annual Post Turkey Day two-person scramble and better ball tourney Friday.
Play opens with a front nine scramble, with men playing from the green tees and women teeing off from the purple tees.
A minimum of three drives per player must be used.
On the back nine, the format switches to better ball.
Teams must take three gross scores from each partner to arrive at a score.
Barring frost, the event has a 9:30 a.m. shotgun start.
Entry is $60 per team, with a $20 per team honey pot.
Gross and net prizes will be awarded and players will compete for KP and LP honors.
Lunch will follow play, and an optional six-hole horse race scramble follows the meal.
The horse race scramble is $10.
Carts are available for $15 per seat.
To sign up, phone 360-683-3673.
Re-live the U.S. Open
Fox has a Thanksgiving treat for golf lovers: “Spieth’s Northwest Conquest,” a documentary recalling Jordan Spieth’s triumph in the 115th U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.
The documentary will be shown following the conclusion of the Detroit Lions-Philadelphia Eagles football game, a scheduled start time of 1 p.m. Thursday.
Jon Hamm, best known for his Emmy Award-winning role as ad man Don Draper on TV’s “Mad Men,” will narrate the documentary.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3525, ext. 5152, or pdngolf@gmail.com.
