RIGHT ABOUT THE time Hurricane Ridge models it’s first snowfall of the season, I’m reminded that winter is indeed coming and has already arrived, albeit in winter rates form, at our North Olympic Peninsula golf courses.
The all-encompassing darkness at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, the first day of standard time, helped hammer that point home.
I will either need a vacation to a sunny clime this winter, or some sunny days off out on an area course to chase away the SAD, or seasonal affective disorder issues associated with our turn away from the sun.
It’s going to be several, lengthy months until spring and the promise of warmer days.
Kill some of that time at an area course this fall and winter.
Peninsula Golf Club
Public play is available at this scenic Port Angeles course from 11 a.m. to dark Friday through Tuesday and from noon onward on Wednesdays.
Members get the run of the 18-hole course on Thursdays.
Rates for adults through March are $26 for 18 holes, $13 for nine holes. Juniors 18 and younger can play 18 holes for $10 and nine holes for $9.
Nonmembers can book tee times up to five days in advance.
For more information, phone the Peninsula pro shop at 360-457-6501.
Cedars at Dungeness
Cedars at Dungeness in Sequim piles on the value in the winter months.
Rates slide down to $30 for 18 holes, $17 for nine, $20 for twilight, $15 for super twilight and $45 for all-day play.
Twilight begins five hours from sunset.
Juniors can play 18 holes for $12 and nine holes for $8.
Phone 360-683-6344 for a tee time.
SkyRidge rates
Get the links style experience for about a sixth of the price of Chambers Bay here in Sequim.
Winter rates for SkyRidge are $22 for 18 holes and $16 for nine every day of the week.
SkyRidge also has scheduled it’s annual Post-Turkey Day Scramble, for Friday, Nov. 28.
The two-person scramble and better ball event will tee it up at 9:30 a.m., barring frost.
Men will play the front nine in a scramble from the green tees with a minimum of three drives per player and better ball on the back nine with each team having to use three gross scores from each partner.
The ladies will follow the same format but play from the purple tees.
Entry is $60 per team, with a $20 per team honey pot.
Gross and net prizes will be up for grabs, KP’s and LP’s will be contested and lunch will follow after play.
Carts are $15 per seat.
An optional honey pot is $20 per team and an optional horserace scramble will follow after lunch with teams playing six more holes for $10.
Phone SkyRidge at 360-683-3673.
Discovery Bay rates
Discovery Bay near Port Townsend switched to winter rates last Saturday.
Players will receive 18 holes for $25, and nine holes for $16.
Seniors can play 18 for $20 and nine for $14.
A twilight rate after 1 p.m. provides 18 holes for $16, which rises to $24 with cart.
The nine hole twilight rate is $11, $18 with cart.
The course has started it’s two-for-one greens fees on Tuesdays and Thursdays (which is based off the course’s regular summer time rates).
Discovery Bay also is holding a food drive for area food banks from now through February.
Golfers who bring a nonperishable food item for donation will receive 10 percent off their regular green fee for that day.
That 10 percent off can’t be used with other specials, however, so plan accordingly.
For more information, phone 360-385-0704.
Port Townsend Golf Club
Winter rates are in effect until March at the course: $13.75 for nine holes and $18 for all-day play.
The course stays relatively dry for our area, minus the flooding that occurs around the pond on hole No. 2/11.
Port Ludlow rates
Rates through Dec. 31 are $30 for play from Monday through Thursday and $35 for Friday through Sunday play.
Replay is available for $16 per person, as is a seat in a cart.
For more information, phone 360-437-0272 or 800-455-0272.
Hilltop Open set
Port Townsend Golf Club will host the annual two-person scramble Hilltop Open on Saturday.
Play will begin at 10 a.m. and cost for the event is $40 per player and includes KP’s, LP, prizes and Judy Lundgren’s “world-famous lasagna,” following play up at the Hilltop Tavern.
Phone the course at 360-385-4547 or stop by to get in the game.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5152 or pdngolf@gmail.com.
