TIGER WOODS’ DECISION to begin his 2012 season at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am inspired me to write this series of golf columns on the signature holes of our North Olympic Peninsula golf courses.
To be honest, thinking about just what hole at Pebble is considered the famed course’s signature hole inspired me.
Anytime Pebble Beach is mentioned, my mind conjures up Hole No. 7, with the elevated tee shot out toward the vast stretch of Pacific Ocean, and No. 8 with its dogleg over the coastline and No. 17, the scene of Tom Watson’s famed chip-in on the very tip of the Monterrey Peninsula.
Back on the North Olympic Peninsula, I knew about “Crabby,” the second hole at Sequim’s Cedars at Dungeness, and was aware that No. 2 on the Trail Course at Port Ludlow had been the resort’s most breathtaking hole with its Ludlow Bay and Mount Baker view before that nine was shuttered.
I wasn’t sure about the others, so I reached out to our area golf pros and in one instance a course designer to find out their thoughts.
Working from west to east, I’ll discuss Peninsula Golf Club in Port Angeles first, then Cedars at Dungeness, SkyRidge and SunLand Golf & Country Club, all in Sequim, and wrap the series with the three Jefferson County courses.
I’m spreading it out because I don’t want to shortchange each course, and I want to give the holes their proper send-up.
Peninsula Golf Club
Peninsula head pro Chris Repass went with Hole No. 12, describing it as “a dogleg right par-4, 362 yards with trouble throughout the hole.”
It’s not all doom-and-gloom because No. 12 is a beautiful hole that plays south to north out toward Ediz Hook and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Scenic views of Vancouver Island and Victoria are available on sunny days.
Golf is always a test of your self-control, and this hole really tasks your discipline and shot-making.
“Any player who plays here on a regular basis would take a par and run to the next tee . . . me included,” Repass joked.
He’s right. This little devil has three “very tall” trees along the right-hand side of the fairway, with a fairway bunker on that side about 150 yards from the green.
Avoid at all costs, or you’ll be laying up short.
Even if you hit it straight, you have to watch yourself. Go too long off the tee and you could find yourself in another stand of trees.
The slightly bowl-shaped green can send approach shots funneling into “two rather deep bunkers,” Repass said.
Follow Repass’ advice, and you’ll keep those ugly double-bogeys off your card.
Memorial scramble set
Peninsula Golf Club will host the Dick Brown Memorial Scramble on Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 5.
Don’t worry, it tees off well in advance of the big game at 9 a.m.
It’s a two-person scramble, eight-stroke differential tourney with 30 percent of the team’s combined handicap factored in.
Entry fees are $90 per team and include KP and long drive prizes, a square on the Super Bowl football board, hosted appetizers and beverages, a cash team honeypot payout and merchandise awards.
The course will take $20 from each entry to fund a scholarship in Brown’s name.
It is open to Peninsula members and guests.
Phone Peninsula at 360-457-6501.
Chapman tourney set
Discovery Bay Golf Club near Port Townsend will host a two-person Chapman competition Saturday.
Phone the course at 360-385-0704 to get in the game.
Watch for polar bears
Cedars also will host its 19th annual Polar Bear Championship on Feb. 4-5.
This is a 36-hole stroke play format with three amateur divisions and one professional division.
Entry fees are $140 and include three rounds of golf (including a practice round Friday), range balls Saturday and Sunday, a tee prize and lunch Sunday, and $5,500 in prizes (based on full field).
Amateurs must have USGA handicap of 27 or lower.
Carts are an extra $16 per day.
Entry deadline for this tourney is Monday, Jan. 30.
For more information, phone Cedars at 360-683-6344, ext. 1.
Arctic Open sign-ups
Port Townsend Golf Club is taking registration for “The 26th annual Coors Light Arctic Open,” sponsored by Marine View Beverages.
The tournament is a 36-hole two-person best-ball and will be held on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 11-12, and includes a practice round on Feb. 10.
Entry is $210 per team and includes the three rounds of golf, lunch served on the course each day, special hole-in-one prizes and closest to pin in all divisions each day.
The tourney is limited to the first 72 players.
Sign up for Port Townsend events at 360-385-4547.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3527 or at pdngolf@gmail.com.