I’VE SAID MANY times, mainly in jest, that I would probably quit playing golf if I ever carded a hole-in-one.
The chance to finish “on top of the sport” like John Elway with his second Super Bowl title or Michael Jordan after hitting an NBA-title winning jumper (the second time he retired) appeals to the goofball in me.
This is the same goofball that would equate one simple swing, however beautiful the result, as similar to the culmination of years of effort put in by championship athletes.
I kid, I kid.
If I was able to hole out during the final round of Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce’s second annual $500,000 Hole-In-One Challenge on tap in August and September, I’d have the chance to enjoy a financial windfall during my “retirement” from golf.
Yes, it is time again for the joint fundraiser sponsored by 7 Cedars Casino, Ruddell Auto and the Elwha River Casino, to benefit the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Olympic Medical Center Foundation.
Players can qualify for the final round of the event by playing at Cedars at Dungeness and SkyRidge Golf Course in Sequim and Peninsula Golf Club in Port Angeles the weekends of Aug. 19-21 and Aug. 26-28.
Qualifying will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Aug. 19 and 26, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 20-21, and again on Aug. 27-28.
For $2 per ball, $10 for six or $15 for 20, participants will have the chance to qualify for the final round on Saturday, Sept. 10 at Cedars at Dungeness.
Three closest to the pin shots qualify each day from each course and any hole-in-one carded on those days will also give you a free pass to the finals.
A hole-in-one from the first ball of any player during a qualifying day at any course will receive a cash prize of $500.
In the first round of the finals, finalists will hit one shot from 135 yards on hole No. 9 at Cedars starting at 3:30 p.m.
Any hole-in-one receives $5,000 and a (Rod Roddy from “The Price is Right”-voice) new car from Ruddell Auto.
If no hole-in-one occurs, the closest to the pin will pick up a $100 prize.
The top 24 competitors with the closest shots will move on to the final round, a 150-yard (men) or 140-yard (women) shot at $500,000.
Any hole-in-one during the finals wins $500,000 and a new car from Rudell Auto.
Prizes will be given to the top three shots closest to the pin.
Save the date
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Foundation will hold its first golf tournament at Discovery Bay Golf Club outside of Port Townsend on Saturday, Aug. 27.
The four-person scramble will tee off at 1 p.m.
Registration will start at 11:30 a.m. Cost is $300 per team or $75 for individual golfers.
If you are a single player, event organizers will match you up with some playing partners.
Teams will compete for prizes. Teams comprised of police, sheriff, fire and other law enforcement disciplines will compete for a traveling trophy for the lowest scoring public safety team.
The cost includes green fees, carts, a raffle ticket, lunch and afternoon appetizers.
For more information, phone 360-379-1602 or 360-437-1355.
SkyRidge changes
Next week’s column will detail the addition of nine new tee boxes to SkyRidge Golf Course’s nine-hole layout.
Currently, if golfers want to put in a full round of 18 holes they play one colored set of tees on the front nine before switching to a different colored set on the back nine.
Different distances for each hole but the same teebox.
These tee-box additions will allow golfers the chance to play a more varied course, with different shot angles and par setups on these “new” holes.
This will be my top item in next week’s column, so check back for more details.
I came so close . . .
It makes no difference. My mind is made up . . . it’s going in the hole.
Despite all evidence to the contrary, every time I tee it up on a par-3 hole, I think I’m going to fly it straight and true and it will trickle on in for my first-ever hole-in-one.
The closest near-miss is seared in my brain.
Defying the pond on the second hole at Port Townsend Golf Club, my tee shot skillfully (for once) avoided traffic on nearby F Street and landed just up from the center cut pin placement.
Gravity, or the superb backspin I put on the shot (but probably the gravity) helped my ball roll slowly back down the steep green toward the cup.
Just as I was making preparations to celebrate, the ball hopped over the cup and ended up a foot below the hole.
Typically, I revel in making birdie putts but this was easily the most ego-deflating birdie I’ve ever carded.
I think my first hole-in-one is waiting for me.
Hopefully, it doesn’t take me the 45 years it took for 84-year old Andy Vanderweyden to knock in his first career single.
Vanderweyden holed out from 157 yards on hole 17 at Peninsula Golf Club on Tuesday.
Nice shot, Andy!
________
Michael Carman is the golf columnist for the Peninsula Daily News. He can be reached at 360-417-3527 or at pdngolf@gmail.com.
