THWACK, PLUNK, CURSE . . . those are the typical sounds that have accompanied many of my tee shots to Port Townsend Golf Club’s signature hole, the 165-yard, par-3 11th hole (Port Townsend is a nine-hole course with two sets of tees.)
I’m exaggerating a bit, most of the curses are silent ones to myself but that hole has claimed what seems like bushel baskets of my golf balls.
The view from the tee box is daunting for a duffer: a large pond ringed by about 10 yards of cattails with a tiny, postage-stamp-sized green as your target.
Go short, it’s wet. Go right: still wet or the ball’s on the 3rd/12th fairway.
Hit it too far over the green and good luck with your chip shot onto a severely sloping back-to-front green.
Snap-hook it left or give it too much draw and you are out of bounds on F Street.
“To me, it’s the most beautiful hole on the golf course,” assistant pro Gabriel Tonan said.
“It might not have the views of the Olympics [like many of the other holes at Port Townsend] but the pond and wildlife is there.”
Players must carry their tee shot about 155 to 160 yards (more or less depending on what time of year you play and how much rain has been in the forecast) to the tiny green, the smallest on the course.
“The prevailing winds make the shot tough . . . very little room for error,” Tonan said.
A tough hole for sure, but one that gives you quite a charge if you do pull off a solid tee shot and stay below the pin to give yourself an uphill putt.
It’s still the closest I’ve ever come to a hole in one, sticking one stiff above the hole and watching it trickle back down and literally hop over the hole.
Now that we know how hard the hole is, let’s talk about what a scenic vision it can be, especially in late spring with the cattails in bloom or fall with the background foliage ablaze with color.
My favorite spot at Port Townsend, though, is the teebox area for No. 9/18 because its elevation provides a great view of the pond with the No. 2/11 green peeking out of the top, and the neighborhood houses in the background.
Hopefully, something can be done about the flooding that occurs during the wetter months.
Last year the problem was the worst I’ve ever seen as the pond — the collection point for runoff from F Street, Discovery Road, San Juan Avenue and a natural spring right off of No. 3 — spilled over and nearly took out the green.
Is it new development and poorly designed street drainage? Is it the spring? I’m not an expert but it’s a problem, and concerned golfers should share their thoughts with the city of Port Townsend to try and get it fixed.
Lady Niners start up
Lee Stanley checked in to tell me the Dungeness Lady Niners’ 2012-2013 golf season will begin Thursday at Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course in Sequim.
Captain Shari Miller extends a warm invitation to all interested ladies to join the group for a season of fun and friendship.
Regardless of your level of play, all are welcome. Check-in time will be 9:30 a.m. with tee off at 10:30 a.m..
The early arrival allows for the creation of teams for that day’s play, a chance to share new information regarding the game and to say hello to old friends and new.
For questions or more information, phone Miller at 360-582-0732.
If you are a golfer new to the area, or a new golfer, this is a great way to meet some like-minded women and have some fun.
Shamrock Scramble
Sequim’s SkyRidge Golf Course will put on its sixth annual Shamrock Scramble on St. Patrick’s Day, Saturday, March 17.
The Irish-themed four-person scramble will begin with a 9:30 a.m. shotgun start.
Cost is $160 per team, $40 per player.
Teams will receive four chances for two KPs, a long putt on No. 18, range balls and an Irish stew lunch
An optional honey pot is $40 per team.
Carts are $12 a seat.
Payments must be in by March 11.
SkyRidge’s signature tournament, the Gut Buster, will be held on Saturday, March 24.
The event will include the unveiling of the course’s new tee boxes.
The format is individual medal play, and the entry is $65 per player. Included in the fee are golf, lunch, range balls, honey pot and KP prizes.
There will be two divisions with gross and net winners in each.
Players in the tournament also will have one free practice round available on Thursday or Friday preceding the tournament.
To get in on the Shamrock Scramble or the Gut Buster, phone SkyRidge at 360-683-3673.
Discovery Bay events
Discovery Bay Golf Course will let players do what many wish they could — namely have the option to play a mulligan on every hole — during their One Man Scramble on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.
The event is $10 plus greens fees, and players get a level of freedom typically afforded only to those who cheat — the chance to hit it over again.
The venerable course near Port Townsend is also continuing its all-day $48 special for two players with a cart through March.
“No excuses, except the one you tell your spouse about where you were the last 12 hours,” Discovery Bay clubhouse manager Randy White wrote about the special.
Discovery Bay also announced that it will hold the second annual Jefferson County Amateur on Aug. 18-19.
The event is open to all. No need to be a Jefferson County resident.
Peninsula Cup tourney
Peninsula Golf Club in Port Angeles will have the chance to be the first repeat champion when it plays host to the Fourth annual Peninsula Cup on Saturday, May 19.
Twelve-player teams from area courses will compete for the title in a stroke-play format that counts the two best net scores and the eight best gross scores.
Cost is $50 per player plus $15 for a seat on a cart.
Registration will open soon at area courses.
Check my column for more details in the coming weeks.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3527 or at
pdngolf@gmail.com.
