IT’S BECOMING APPARENT that the best-laid plans of vacationing golf columnists often go astray.
Yes, I went on another mini-vacation, this time camping at Suttle Lake, which is about 10 miles away from the golf haven of Black Butte Ranch and only about 40 or 50 miles from Bend, Ore., a city surrounded by some of the best courses in the Northwest.
Nope, I didn’t play any of them despite printing out a coupon and packing the clubs and a golf outfit.
Weather, including nearly persistent gusty winds, a little snow, a hailstorm and a little rain, all helped conspire against getting in a round.
From our vantage point on the lake, we could see the next weather front flowing down the valley from Santiam Pass.
Other factors leading to a lack of the links: I didn’t drive down and didn’t have wheels to trek over to play.
And there was no shower, cold or otherwise, in our camp.
Even if Mother Nature had cooperated, course staffers might have had to write our campfire-stinking cart off as a total loss.
When all the other campers near our site had packed it in and left last Sunday, we did get a rousing game of campground golf in at the most recent TPC course: TPC at Suttle Lake.
If anybody finds some badly scuffed Top Flite golf balls around the campsites or some Golden Bear’s down near the lakeshore, well, you can keep them.
Ah, well. I enjoyed the scenery available between cloud bursts and I can see why the area is so popular.
I’ll be back and I’ll drive next time.
It’ll probably be when the calendar actually says summer, not when I’m wishing for it to be summer.
State a success
Congratulations are in order for Chimacum High School’s Mason Moug, who finished highest amongst his North Olympic golfing compatriots, taking fourth at the Class 1A state tournament at The Home Course in Dupont.
Port Townsend’s Jenny Grauberger was fifth in the girls 1A tourney, and the Redskins’ Cody Piper was ninth in the boys meet.
Sequim’s Ryan O’Mera bounced back from a rough opening day to finish eighth at the Class 2A tourney at the Classic Golf Course in Spanaway.
A recap of their tournament performances can be found at www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011305269993.
SunLand on tap
Head pro Tyler Sweet and staffers will host a demo with Callaway from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday at Sequim’s SunLand Golf & Country Club.
At SunLand’s open house on Saturday, golfers can use newly purchased Callaway equipment like a Razr Hawk Driver or some Razr X irons.
Players can get in a round of golf, have lunch and learn about SunLand all for only $10.
SunLand also will host an ESPN Golf Challenge Qualifier on Saturday, June 11.
This qualifier costs $52 and includes a dozen Callaway IX Tour golf balls, a Golf magazine subscription and 18 holes.
Winners won’t have to advance too far as SunLand will be the host of the 2011 ESPN Regional Tournament on Aug. 14.
The course is open to the public on weekends with 18 holes available for $35 through October.
For more information, or to sign up for any SunLand-related event, phone the pro shop at 360-683-6800, ext. 13.
SkyRidge turns 8
SkyRidge Golf Course in Sequim will celebrate its eighth anniversary with a two-person modified Chapman format “SkyRidge Chapman” tournament on Saturday, June 11.
The tourney will tee off with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
Cost is $60 per team and includes 18 holes of golf, range balls, lunch after play, KPs and long putt prizes.
An optional honey pot will be available for $20 per team.
There will be gross and net divisions.
Each player will hit a tee shot, and then players will hit each other’s ball on the second shot.
Then teams will switch to alternate shot, using the better of the second shots.
The kicker is the player with the worst of the second shots has to hit his team’s third shot.
To sign up for the tournament, phone 360-683-3673.
The ‘Quimper Quarrel’
On June 11, Port Townsend Golf Club will host the annual Port Townsend Alumni Association Golf Classic that pits Port Townsend graduates against their Chimacum rivals.
The tourney raises funds for the Port Townsend High School Alumni Scholarship Fund.
The 18-hole four-person scramble will begin with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start.
For more information, or to sign up for any Port Townsend event, phone the pro shop at 360-385-4547.
Port Townsend will also host the annual Jefferson YMCA Fundraiser on Saturday, June 25.
That one is a four-person scramble event with proceeds supporting a solid nonprofit organization that provides programming for kids and teens.
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Michael Carman is the golf columnist for the Peninsula Daily News. He can be reached at 360-417-3527 or at pdngolf@gmail.com.
