YOU KNOW IT’S real when the U.S Open host course closes for public play.
Less than three weeks remain before the biggest event in Pacific Northwest golf history begins down in University Place.
I recently received a press release announcing the opening of the U.S. Open Main Merchandise Pavilion at Chambers Bay.
The pavilion is open to the public, with no ticket required, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, June 11-14.
It will provide 41,000 square feet of golf gear, such as hats, jackets, pins, balls, repair tools, ball markers and towels, all imprinted with the U.S. Open’s Chambers Bay logo.
Volunteers for the U.S. Open also should have received a uniform set with two polo shirts, a hat, a jacket and a water bottle in the mail from the USGA.
These uniform sets cost volunteers about $150.
Pants weren’t included in the uniform set, just a suggestion from official clothing provider Ralph Lauren to purchase slacks “designed to complement the look of your U.S. Open apparel.”
A photo essay of the U.S. Open volunteer Curtis Black received is available at tinyurl.com/PDN-OpenVolunteers.
I am interested in speaking with and writing about any North Olympic Peninsula golfers who are heading down to fill the minimum four volunteer shifts at the U.S. Open.
If you’d like to be part of a story on area volunteers, my contact information follows at the end of the column.
Senior Open at Cedars
Cedars at Dungeness in Sequim is hosting the 7 Cedars Casino Senior Washington Open Invitational through Thursday.
The course has hosted the event, which draws players from famed courses around the Pacific Northwest such as Sahalee and Pumpkin Ridge, since 2007.
North Olympic Peninsula golf courses are represented as well.
Cedars has six representatives: Larry Smithson, Ron Sather, Ken Lane, Brian Anderson, Robert Mares and John Raske.
Port Ludlow has a foursome of Ted Wurtz, Shelton Washburn, John Germain and Allen Panasuk entered in the event.
Gary Thorne, a member of Peninsula Golf Club in Port Angeles, also will compete.
Cedars also will host the Washington Women’s Amateur and Senior Amateur Championship from Tuesday through Thursday, June 23-25.
Coulter holes out
SunLand Golf & Country Club’s Nancy Harland checked in with news on an ace.
“SWGA is proud to announce that Cheryl Coulter made a hole-in-one last week during Ladies Day at SunLand,” Harlan said.
Coulter scored the single with her 7-iron on the 17th hole.
“She struck the ball easily and it soared over the sand trap and landed softly on the green, 95 yards away,” Harlan said.
Rolling toward the hole, Coulter and her playing partners yelled for the ball to go in the hole, and the group eventually saw the ball dip below the lip of the cup.
“Cheers erupted and the three ladies rushed to the green to verify that the ball was indeed in the cup,” Harlan said.
“The hole-in-one was witnessed by Barbara Slagoske, Harlan and an elderly gentleman who was out for his daily walk.
“He said that as a young man he caddied many years twice a day and carried two bags at a time, but had never seen a hole-in-one until he witnessed this one today.”
The ace was Coulter’s first at SunLand in 18 years of playing the course.
Her first came on the Navy/Marine Course on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.
“The celebration commenced as soon as Cheryl finished her game and returned to the clubhouse,” Harlan said.
Weekly game in PT
The Port Townsend Women’s Golf Club’s weekly nine-hole game is open to all women, whether beginners or experienced golfers.
The ladies tee off at 9:30 a.m. each Tuesday.
The club will host a Guest Day on Tuesday, July 7.
Phone 360-390-4662 or the pro shop at 360-385-4547 for more information.
Hospice benefit
A record number of 40 Clallam County golfers came together May 14 for a special cause: the Cedars at Dungeness Lady Niners fourth annual Memorial Tournament, a fundraiser for Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County.
“This event has grown in popularity, and as the number of participants has increased each year, so have the funds raised for hospice,” said Lady Niners member Lindsay Busch.
Golfers from SunLand and SkyRidge golf courses in Sequim, and Peninsula Golf Course in Port Angeles joined in for a fun nine-hole golf competition.
The format this year was a modified Florida Scramble, where the foursome tees off, determines which is the best ball, and then the player who made the best shot stands down, while the other three hit the second shot, and so on until the ball is on the green.
The twist this year was to let all four golfers the opportunity to putt, including the player who got the best ball on the green.
The first-place team of Terri Green, Bonney Benson, Wanda Synnestvedt and Lori Oakes won a decisive victory with 35 on the front nine holes.
Placing second was the foursome of Kathy Langston, Sandy Deckman, Joanie Oakes and J.P. Persall coming in at 36.
The golfers had an opportunity to buy raffle tickets for a myriad of prizes, including golf lessons from the Cedars at Dungeness teaching professionals.
The fundraising really heated up with a silent auction of another array of items, such as artwork, kitchen accessories, yard ornaments, wine and gift baskets, and golf clothing and accessories.
Jan Boyungs passed the hat for yet more cash donations matched by the Cedars at Dungeness golf course.
Every prize and auction item was generously donated by Cedars Golf Course and the Lady Niners, along with the snacks and table decorations.
Vernice Quigley collected, organized and showcased the donated items again this year.
The group managed to raise $2,263 for Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County, a 74 percent increase in funds raised over last year’s tournament.
Proceeds will fund hospice services like around-the-clock nursing care for terminal patients and support for their families from Diamond Point to Joyce.
During the luncheon following golf, a number of ladies from all four courses shared memories of fellow golfers who have passed away over the past few years, most of them and their families benefitting from the compassionate care of Volunteer Hospice.
“There were a few tears, but mostly laughter in telling stories of the affection that we come to feel for our sisters-in-golf,” Busch said.
For more information, visit vhocc.org.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3525 or pdngolf@gmail.com.