MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF returns to Western Washington June 7-12 for the KPMB Women’s PGA Championship at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish.
Those who felt priced out by the high cost of attending last June’s U.S. Open can relax.
This major, featuring 156 of the world’s best women’s golfers, is affordable for all.
Tickets recently went on sale for the event online at tinyurl.com/PDN-PGATickets.
Weekly ground tickets are $75 and provide access to the four championship rounds and two practice rounds.
Flex tickets are $30 and allow patrons to attend any day they choose.
Tuesday and Wednesday practice round tickets are $10.
Tickets for the first two rounds on Thursday and Friday are $20, while weekend tickets are $25.
Admission is free for active duty and retired military, along reserve and National Guard members and their spouses.
Juniors age 17 and younger also receive free admission with a paid adult.
Volunteer opportunities
Those interested in assisting with the tournament will have to pay for the opportunity just like for the U.S. Open.
Volunteers ages 18 and older must pay a fee of $130.
But volunteers will receive a volunteer uniform of a golf shirt, outerwear piece and a headwear item from Ralph Lauren; free parking; access to all six days of the tournament; the event program; food and water vouchers and discounts on championship merchandise.
To volunteer, fill out the application online at tinyurl.com/PDN-LPGAVolunteers.
Better conditions
Golf fans put off by the USGA’s handling of the course conditions at Chambers Bay also can breathe easy.
Sahalee is much more of a prototypical Pacific Northwest golf course than Chambers Bay. Towering cedar and fir trees frame the fairways and will have an impact on club and shot selection for players.
The course North and South nines are used for tournament play, and there are some prominent water hazards in play on each nine.
Oh, and the Sahalee greens and fairways will actually be green in late spring. There’s no way the USGA can meddle with the amount of water each surface will receive like they did at Chambers Bay.
Sahalee’s location on the Sammamish Plateau is a longer jaunt than University Place for North Olympic Peninsula attendees, but having covered the U.S. Senior Open held there in 2010, I can say with certainty that I prefer Sahalee’s visitor experience.
The fairways on each nine are mainly flat, but any elevation change at Sahalee is much more muted than spectators encountered at Chambers Bay.
At Sahalee it will be easier to see the players compete and much easier to walk the course.
See you there.
Cedars plans events
Cedars at Dungeness in Sequim has two tournaments on the radar.
First up, the 23rd annual Polar Bear Championship set Friday through Sunday, Jan. 29-31.
The 36-hole individual stroke play event includes three rounds of golf (practice round on Friday), range balls, tee and green prizes, dinner on Saturday and lunch on Sunday.
Cost for the tournament is $160.
Golfers will compete for $5,000 in prizes based on a field of 100.
Three amateur divisions and one professional division are planned.
Amateurs must have a USGA handicap index of 27 or lower.
For more information, phone Cedars at 360-683-6344.
Cedars also will host the Super Bowl Bash, a four-person scramble with Handicap and Callaway divisions, Sunday, Feb. 7.
The event includes green fees, KP’s, a cart seat, two squares on a Super Bowl betting board, access to a Bloody Mary bar and refreshments.
A 9:30 a.m. shotgun start is planned.
Cost for the event is $65 for the public, $45 for annual members.
A $10 discount is available for those who wish to walk the course.
A $40 per team honeypot also is available.
To sign up, visit the course or phone 360-683-6344.
Entries are due by Friday, Jan. 29.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3525, ext. 5152, or pdngolf@gmail.com.
