AFTER A VACATION that more resembled an extended sick leave, I’m back with golf information and insights.
My plans were to write the second half of my year in review column while I was away but I was leveled by a potent cold/flu combination.
Thankfully I hadn’t planned or paid for any long trips or outings, and instead spent the vast majority of the vacation quarantined watching college football bowl games and the NFL playoffs.
Now, with the Seattle Seahawks revving back up after a week off and set to begin their playoff run on Saturday, at least one North Olympic Peninsula course is going “Beast Mode.”
SunLand Golf & Country Club in Sequim is open to public play on weekends and now through the end of January, the course is offering a “Beast Mode” package.
Golfers can play the 18-hole course with a cart for $24 (plus tax), the uniform number of arguably the most beloved Seahawk, “Beast Mode” himself, Marshawn Lynch.
The course also is presenting a Marshawn Lynch jersey drawing contest.
Golfers who purchase a “Beast Mode” package receive five entries in the drawing.
Another entry is earned for every $12 spent in the club’s pro shop and for each “Like” of SunLand’s Facebook page.
The drawing is set for 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, a mere 24 hours from kickoff of Super Bowl XLIX.
My main man Russell Wilson says it best, “Go Hawks!”
SkyRidge scramble
SkyRidge Golf Course in Sequim will host a Midwinter Open three-person scramble on Saturday.
The event has a 9 a.m. shotgun start (barring frost), which leaves plenty of time to wrap the round in advance of the Seahawks 5:15 p.m. kickoff.
Each team in the scramble must have a total team handicap of 15 or higher.
Every player will be responsible for three drives and three second shots.
Range balls, chances at two KP’s, a team LP, a later afternoon lunch and green fees are included in the $90 per team fee.
Power carts are an extra $15 per seat.
An optional honey pot is $60 per team or $20 per player also is available.
Polar Bear at Cedars
A fierce challenge arises at Cedars at Dungeness in Sequim, the 22nd annual return of the course’s Polar Bear Championship from Friday, Jan. 23 to Sunday, Jan. 25.
The tournament begins with a practice round of golf that Friday, followed by play on Saturday and Sunday.
Players with a USGA handicap index of 27.0 or lower can enter the 36-hole individual stroke play event in any of three amateur divisions, while PGA professionals or apprentices can join the professional division.
Cost is $140 per person and includes the Friday practice round, range balls on Saturday and Sunday, tee prize and green fees, plus lunch on Sunday.
A total of $5,000 in prizes will be available based on a field of 100 players.
Entry deadline is Monday, Jan. 19.
Phone Cedars at 360-683-6344 or stop by the course at 1965 Woodcock Road.
And don’t fret about missing any NFL playoff action, as the Polar Bear Championship falls on the bye week between the league’s conference championships and the Super Bowl.
A worthy trio
Rory McIlroy, Stacy Lewis and Bernhard Langer each picked up a second career Player of the Year award from the Golf Writers Association of America, it was announced Tuesday.
See? Golf writers can get something correct on occasion.
McIlroy received 94 percent of the vote for Male Player of the Year after a season in which he won two major championships (British Open Championship and PGA Championship), a World Golf Championships event, the BMW PGA Championship and the European Tour’s season-long Race To Dubai title.
“Truly a great honor for me,” McIlroy said.
“This award is testimony to my best year as a professional golfer and something I can aim toward winning again as I go into next season.”
My question is, which player did that six percent of voters who didn’t pick McIlroy select for the award? That’s bewildering.
Langer, whose five wins in 2014 included a pair of senior major championships, also won in a landslide, winning 90 percent of the vote for Senior Player of the Year.
Lewis won her award in much closer fashion, edging Lydia Ko and Michelle Wie and grabbing 57 percent of the vote for Female Player of the Year.
Lewis won three times in 2014 and also won the LPGA money title, scoring title and Rolex Player of the Year honors.
“It is tough to win one, let alone all three,” Lewis said. “
It’s a true honor to be recognized by as GWAA Player of the Year for the second time.”
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or pdngolf@gmail.com.
