PENINSULA GOLF CLUB’s search for a new golf pro and general manager officially ended when Sequim native Jacob Lippold signed a three-year contract with the club last Friday.
Both Peninsula members and Lippold, 31, believe he will be around much longer than this initial three-year deal.
“He intends to be here a long time,” Peninsula board president Todd Negus said.
“We feel his heart is here on the Peninsula.”
Lippold’s parents live in Port Angeles and Sequim and he’s the “awesome uncle” to three nieces/nephews younger than 4 who live in the area.
He’s no stranger to local golfers either, having worked at Cedars at Dungeness on multiple occasions:
First, on the range and in the restaurant while attending Sequim High School, then as an outside services coordinator after graduating from Western Washington University.
Finally, following a period of intensive work on his game, he moved inside as an assistant pro for two years.
Lippold graduated from the PGA Professional Golf Management Program, a three-level course that someone interested in a career as a PGA head pro can take on his or her own or in a classroom setting at the PGA Education Center in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
He chose to take the courses onsite one level at a time and finished the program after 26 months (applicants can take up to two years to finish each level).
Coursework included classes on business planning, customer relations, tournament operations, golf car fleet management, merchandising, turfgrass management and multiple teaching and fitting courses.
He attended the final level and graduated with current Cedars head pro Garrett Smithson.
Lippold then made the move down U.S. Highway 101 to the then-just-opened Salish Cliffs Golf Club near Shelton in October 2011.
His primary responsibility as an assistant pro at Salish Cliffs has been in event planning, setting up outings ranging “from larger, full-field shotgun tourneys to smaller group parties coming out for the day.”
Lippold also has overseen inventory management in the golf shop and split many of the myriad other duties that come with running a resort course with a fellow assistant pro.
With Salish Cliffs having less of a full-time membership and more visitors than many courses, Lippold has interacted with a varied clientele in his two-plus years at the club.
He’s eager to transition to relationship-building in his new position with Peninsula.
“I’m looking forward to the change and the ability to develop relationships with people you will see repeatedly,” Lippold said.
“It’s a little more gratifying to help someone you are going to see on a regular basis.”
He has a great goal for his first year in charge: to meet and play at least nine holes with every one of the more than 200-plus members at the club.
Once he’s got a handle on the day-to-day responsibilities and has started building up relationships, his primary focus figures to be bringing in some new membership for the club.
This will include more outreach to women, with themed events and outings.
Lippold also plans outreach to local schools, including conducting onsite clinics on school grounds.
“There are lots of schools in the P.A. area, and they all have a field we could practice on,” Lippold said.
“And there is some funding I could pursue from the PGA for equipment if the instruction is school-related.”
Both Lippold and Negus mentioned his relationships with “the guys at Cedars [Smithson and director of golf and general manager Bill Shea]” and Tyler Sweet, head pro and general manager at SunLand Golf & Country Club.
They each mentioned a willingness to try and build up some package tours for visitors, combining forces and marketing the ability to play those three courses over a weekend or short vacation.
Decisions on future improvements to the club are up to the membership, but Lippold mentioned his desire to eventually see an expanded driving range and a larger chipping and putting area.
“It’s the same six-space driving range since I was coming over for high school tournaments,” Lippold said.
The small range does have a benefit: less populated instructional clinics allow instructors to have more interaction with those learning the game.
Lippold mentioned “the feel at Peninsula,” with the Olympic Mountains standing protectively over the course and Port Angeles harbor and Strait of Juan de Fuca seemingly just a long drive away.
“I didn’t remember it being that way but it’s overwhelming,” Lippold said.
“Every time you turn around you get a view of the water or the mountains.”
Negus said Lippold’s first day on the job will be Sunday, Dec. 1, but he might assist with the Apple Cup Tournament, the final major event for outing pro Chris Repass, on Friday, Nov. 29.
Turkey tourneys slated
■ Port Ludlow hosts its annual Turkey Shoot Tournament on Friday, a two-person shotgun start event with six holes of best ball, six holes of scramble play and six of alternate shot.
Cost is $100 per team and includes competition, range balls, cart and a dinner of open-faced turkey sandwiches with gravy, garlic mashed potatoes, salad and pumpkin bread.
There will be KPs on every hole, and KP winners will receive a turkey.
Gross and net division winners also will receive a turkey.
If you and a partner want in on the Turkey Shoot, phone the Port Ludlow pro shop at 360-437-0272.
■ Port Townsend Golf Club’s Turkey Shoot is set for Saturday.
For details phone the club at 360-385-4547.
■ SkyRidge Golf Course in Sequim will hold a Post-Turkey Day two-person scramble and better ball event on Friday, Nov. 29.
The front-nine portion will be played from the green tees and will have a scramble format with a minimum of three drives per player.
The back nine is a better ball format played from the green tees.
A 9 a.m. shotgun start is planned, barring frost.
Cost is $60 per team, with a $20 per team honey pot available
Gross and net prizes are planned along with KPs and lunch after play.
Carts are $15 per seat.
An optional six-hole Horserace Scramble is planned after the tournament for $5 per team.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3527 or pdngolf@gmail.com.
