PORT TOWNSEND — What better place to host an old-fashioned hickory club golf tournament than smack dab in the middle of Port Townsend, with all of its days-gone-by Victorian charm?
Port Townsend Golf Club will host its first Hickory Stick Scramble, a two-person team event, with a 10 a.m. start time Saturday, Aug. 27.
Rental sets will be available for $30, and entry fees are $25 per player.
“I’m going to try to make this an annual event,” Port Townsend general manager and golf pro Gabriel Tonan said.
“It’s a two-man scramble, so you don’t have to rely just on yourself. And teammates can share the clubs, unless you have a righty and a lefty in the same group.”
I’ve known Tonan for nearly 20 years, and his first season as the Port Townsend High School golf coach overlapped with my senior year on the team. And in all that time, the self-described golf nut has searched high and low for both the newest and best golf equipment available, as well as indulging his appreciation and respect for the game’s origins.
“A couple years ago, I called a buddy of mine, Jim von Lossow, a PGA Tour pro in the 1970s who’s a gear rep over in Seattle,” Tonan said.
Von Lossow also has a passion for crafting hickory clubs in his North Seattle garage.
“I had been dreaming of playing hickory clubs, so I decided to call him and he invited me and Adam Barrows [Port Ludlow assistant pro] went with me to play hickory golf at Sand Point Country Club in Seattle,” Tonan said.
Tonan loved the experience playing with the traditional clubs on one of Seattle’s oldest golf courses (1927).
“The nostalgic feeling of playing there with Adam, one of my dear friends, that was a great day,” Tonan said.
“The history of the game really grabbed me.”
Tonan mentioned the 2005 film “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” about Francis Ouimet, the first amateur to win a U.S. Open as a great example of the hickory stick era.
“That movie has more resonance to me now,” he said. “It’s fascinating to me.”
And Tonan’s interest spurred him to begin accumulating hickory clubs in earnest.
“I have a little collection growing in my club room,” Tonan said.
“And last year I played Gamble Sands [a newer, well-reviewed course in Eastern Washington] on my birthday weekend. I got to play one day with my modern clubs and then played two days with my hickory clubs with the Northwest Hickory Players, a great group of guys.”
Tonan fared well with the older clubs in windy weather on a challenging course, finishing with rounds of 77 and 83.
“The clubs react so much differently [than modern equipment], but it’s fun,” Tonan said.
“It’ss a feeling, unless you go out and do it, it’s hard to describe.
“But I love the game of golf as it is, I have that love for teach and playing the game, and part of that is wanting to pass along some of its history.”
Tonan said members of the Northwest Hickory Players are coming to play in the Port Townsend scramble.
Many of those players enjoy dressing in period-appropriate clothing and headwear.
Think the late, great Payne Stewart winning the 1999 U.S. Open in his knickers and tam-o-shanter hat.
“I will definitely have my plus-fours on for the tournament,” Tonan said.
“The early 1900s clothing is entirely optional, though.”
Tonan said he enjoys wearing plus-fours, the baggy golf pants that reach below the kneet.
“But I’m not very comfortable wearing a full-button up coat with a sweater and tie like some of these guys,” Tonan said.
“I can’t swing with a suit jacket on.”
For more on the tournament, phone the Port Townsend golf shop at 360-3854547.
Best edition ever
Dan Hendrickson checked to say the fourth annual Friends of Olympic Christian School Charity Golf Tournament held July 16 at Sequim’s Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course was “a great success with a full field of 12o golfers.”
Nobody won the new Dodge Dart put up by Wilder Auto Center for a hole-in-one on the 17th hole, or the $10,000 cash prize from First Federal on hole No. 4, but plenty of fun was had.
A $400 gift certificate for low gross was won by the team of Heckman, Dupuis, Tweeter and Ketchum
with a score of 52. Their team was sponsored by Coldwell Banker Uptown Realty in Port Angeles.
The Olympic Christian School Eagle Flight net score prize of $400 was won by the team of Hartig, Hartig, Wickman and Wickman.
Longest Drive for Men was Mike Dupuis; for Senior Men was Randy Gray; and for Women was Sarah Shea.
Straight drive honors went to Mark Kaetzel and the longest putt honors went to Liam Payne..
The Pro Challenge Flight was won by a team assembled by Cedars Golf Professional Bill Shea. His team of
himself, Jack Shea, Alex Atwell and Aaron Staeben fired a score of 56.
The coveted Pro Challenge plaque and bragging rights are Shea’s for the next year.
Hendrickson said the highlight for many was the gourmet Kobe beef hamburger lunch following the tournament and the shotpack drawing with the grand prize of a Weber barbeque grill.
“The Friends of Olympic Christian School team wants to thank all of our generous sponsors and players for making this tournament the best yet,” Hendrickson said.
Plans are in the works for the fifth version of the tournament, set for the Saturday of Lavender Festival weekend in July of 2017.
Boe knows golf
Peninsula Golf Club member Quint Boe recently notched his second career hole-in-one.
Boe used his 6-iron to hole out on the 160-yard, par-3 14th on Thursday, Aug. 11.
His single was witnessed by Darrel Vincent, John Pruss and Steve Murata.
Save the date
SunLand Women’s Golf Association and the SunLand Lady Niners are joining together to host their annual Drive for the Cure Golf Tournament and Luncheon at the Sequim course on Thursday, Sept. 29.
The event raises funds for Olympic Medical Center Foundation efforts to pay for breast cancer detection for men and women in need on the Olympic Peninsula.
Men and women are welcome to play, have lunch, and donate to the cause.
Shotgun time for the 18-hole competition is 9 a.m. and the nine-hole game will open with an 11 a.m. shotgun start.
The cost is $36 for 18 holes and lunch, and $26 for 9 holes and lunch.
SunLand members pay $20 for 18 or 9 holes and lunch, which will be charged to their account.
Those interested are welcome to come for lunch for the cost of $15.
Riding carts may be reserved for $16 per seat for 18 holes and $10 per seat for nine holes.
In addition, a minimum donation of $25 is suggested for the OMC Foundation.
The deadline to sign up is noon Thursday, Sept. 22.
For more information, phone SunLand Pro Shop at 360-683-6800 and ask to have Judy Flanders or Christie Wilson return your call.
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Sports reporter/columnist Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
