A TIP FOR those looking for a Father’s Day present for dear old dad: the best gift you can give is your time.
More than any ugly tie, package of socks or other practical but impersonal present, dads with grown children would like to spend more time with their offspring.
And a great place to while away two to five hours of time with your father? Playing a round with pops out on a North Olympic Peninsula golf course.
I never played golf with my dad, but after we watched Tiger Woods win the Masters in 1997 a seed was planted. I dug up my grandfather’s set of Ben Hogan woods and he called his boss to teach me some of the finer points of the game (using only a 7-iron).
I was sold on the sport pretty quickly and I’m glad. It’s taken me to some fun places — getting to play on the course and cover the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay and the U.S. Senior Open at Sahalee Country Club are high up on my list.
So spend some time out on the links with Dad. He’ll appreciate it. So will you.
Cedars at Dungeness in Sequim and Peninsula Golf Club in Port Angeles are teaming up on a Father’s Day golf special.
For $75, players will receive two rounds of golf — one at Cedars and one at Peninsula. The fee includes cart use and an entry into a drawing for a new Sun Mountain golf bag.
Sign up for the deal at either pro shop from June 16 through June 30.
Simulator special
Peninsula also is running a Father’s Day simulator special for its new golf simulator.
An hour of simulator time can be had for $25 between Thursday and Sunday.
Dad can pick his favorite out of 84 golf courses and play a round using real clubs and balls.
The simulators’ computer analyzes each player’s swing speed, swing angle and more.
Players can practice with all of their clubs and receive exact yardage information, taking out the guesswork that can come with hitting balls on the driving range.
For more information, or a reservation, phone 360-457-6501.
SkyRidge anniversary
SkyRidge Golf Course will celebrate its 14th anniversary with a two-person modified Chapman SkyRidge Anniversary Golf Tournament on Saturday.
Each player will hit a tee shot, then hit their partners’ ball on the second shot. From there, it becomes alternate shot, using the better of the two second shots. The player whose second shot wasn’t used will hit the third shot and the teams will continue to alternate shots until the ball is holed.
A 9 a.m. shotgun start will open play.
Cost is $70 per team and includes 18 holes of golf, range balls, a hamburger lunch after play, KPs and long putt challenge.
A horse race contest is possible after lunch.
An optional honey pot is $30 per team.
Gross and net winners will be crowned.
Cart rental is $15 per seat.
For more information, phone SkyRidge at 360-683-3673.
Discovery Bay special
Through Sunday, golfers can play 18 holes at Discovery Bay Golf Club near Port Townsend for the price of nine holes from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. Mention the special at check-in to receive it.
Head pro Jeff Kent said that the Washington State Golf Association visited the course last Tuesday to provide a new rating for the layout. Kent said that a new set of forward tees for ladies golfers will become permanent when the course receives the results from the WSGA’s re-rating.
The course also is on summer rules now with the course in superb condition.
This is true, I drove past the course Sunday while taking the scenic route home from a birthday visit to Port Townsend. The course looked so green and inviting that If I would have had my golf clubs with me I would have played nine holes.
Save the date and a plate
The fifth annual Friends of Olympic Christian School Charity Golf Tournament is planned for Saturday, July 15 at Cedars at Dungeness.
This year’s tournament will run a week before Sequim’s Lavender Weekend, a change from last year.
Players will still be treated to a gourmet lunch featuring hamburgers made with ground Kobe beef, the third straight year for that tasty treat.
The entry fee for the scramble-format tournament is $90, and includes green fees, cart, range balls and the delicious lunch.
A shotgun start will open the event at 9 a.m.
Players also will have a shot at bringing home $30,000 in prizes, including two big hole-in-one opportunities.
Golfers will swing for a $10,000 prize on the fourth hole courtesy of First Federal. And if any player aces No. 17, they’ll win a brand new car from Wilder Auto Center.
Two divisions will be offered: a low gross and the OCS Eagle Flight — which rewards lucky, erratic scores.
Sponsorships also are available.
Proceeds from the tournament are used to benefit students at Olympic Christian School.
To register, visit www.olympicchristian.org or phone 360-477-0802.
Ludlow clinics
Weekly golf clinics for junior players ages 11-16 will begin Thursday, June 22 at Port Ludlow and will be offered by Chimacum High School and University of Idaho alumni Nathan Browning and Kevin Miller.
The clinics will run through Sept. 7 and start at noon, except for July 27 and Aug. 10, which will both start at 3 p.m.
The cost is $20 per session, and if players participate in at least nine sessions, the rest are free.
Browning and Miller will offer clinics for kids ages 6 to 11 from noon to 2 p.m. on July 10-12, July 24-26, Aug. 7-9 and Aug. 21-23.
The cost is $90, with a hot dog or sandwich and drink included each day. Kids also will have the chance to win prizes.
For more information on either set of junior clinics, phone the course at 360-437-0272.
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Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
