MICHAEL CARMAN ON GOLF: Island links just a little elusive

SAN JUAN GOLF and Country Club in Friday Harbor will just have to remain a mystery to me for the time being.

We didn’t forget to pack our clubs.

The bags were in the car and our rental condo, just waiting to be broken out on the links-style course Sunday afternoon.

Too bad their owners had been laid low by a little too much wedding reception and post-wedding reception “good cheer” Saturday afternoon and evening (and maybe some of Sunday morning, too).

I’ll be back to play those nine holes someday.

Hopefully it will be soon, because I loved it up on the island.

Like the Men’s Wearhouse tuxes worn by members of the wedding party, “I guarantee it.”

Junior golf program

Port Ludlow Golf Course will holding its 2010 Junior Golf Program from 1-3 p.m. every Saturday through July 31.

The program emphasizes unique aspects of golf which build strong character and create lasting friendships as well as improve playing skills.

The focus is on putting, chipping and pitching, full swing elevation, rules of golf and etiquette.

There is also a skills contest and three-hole on course competition.

Cost is $125.

For more information, phone the club at 360-437-0272.

Disco Bay information

Today’s your last day to receive a nice gift: A free round of golf with membership in the Discovery Bay Golf Course men’s and women’s clubs.

For $40 and $35, respectively, the clubs are offering year-long memberships along with membership in the state golf association and the GHIN handicap system (a $25 value).

For more information, phone 360-385-0704.

Tee off, help tutors

The Port Angeles Education Foundation, Kiwanis Club of Port Angeles and the Kiwanis Foundation of Port Angeles will present the Tee Off For Kids! Golf Tournament on July 10 at Peninsula Golf Club in Port Angeles.

The event raises funds to support the tutoring and mentoring efforts of programs like North Olympic AmeriCorps in the Port Angeles School District.

Funds will supply equipment, supplies and enhancement opportunities for the tutoring and mentoring program.

The four-person scramble event will tee off at 10:30 a.m.

Entry fees are $240 per team with lunch included.

Prizes will be awarded to winning teams and winners of the closest-to-the-pin and longest drive competitions.

There also will be an opportunity to bid in a silent auction on holes throughout the course.

Carts aren’t included, so if you would like a cart, phone the pro shop at 360-457-6501.

Interested sponsors can get in touch with tournament chair Andrew Fitch at afitch@portangeles schools.org or by phone at 541-350-6083.

Rally for the Cure

The Port Ludlow lady golfers will host their 11th annual Rally for the Cure Golf Tournament on July 8.

The nine-hole tourney supports the Susan G. Komen Foundation, which is dedicated to bringing the breast cancer awareness message to women.

The event begins with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.

It includes some unique fundraising opportunities where participants are encouraged to buy their way into the winner’s circle through purchase of mulligans and drives.

This is a tournament with an important message but a fun focus and has strong support from the local businesses through sponsorship of holes and donations.

The Port Ludlow Men’s Club also provides assistance in many ways from hefting bags to measuring KPs.

There will be a luncheon at the Port Ludlow Bay Club following play where attendees can buy raffle tickets for several theme baskets and win door prizes.

Proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Entry fees are $45 for members and $65 for nonmembers.

That includes green fees, cart, a pink rally visor, prizes, lunch and a one-year subscription to a selection of magazines.

The tournament is limited to 80 participants, so sign up now at the Port Ludlow clubhouse or call Carol Katuzny at 360-437-1157.

Port Townsend Golf Club

Port Townsend Golf Club’s Friday afternoon Scotch doubles game had 24 players last week.

Couples tee it up every Friday at 4:30 p.m. in an “every-other shot format” with reduced greens fees and competition fees of $10.

Players bring a side dish and the course provides different items to barbecue every week.

No handicap is necessary as handicaps are established as the games go along.

Junior golf clinic

Port Townsend Golf Club owner and golf pro Mike Early and assistant pro Gabriel Tonan will hold a junior golf clinic from 9 a.m. to noon on July 7-8.

Many past camp participants have gone on to play for the Port Townsend High School team, district champions seven of the last eight years.

YMCA tourney at PT

The Fire Cracker Open Jefferson County Family YMCA benefit tournament will be held Saturday.

Entry fees for the two-person best ball tourney is $45 per player with $10 greens fees for non-members. Tee time is 8 a.m.

Port Townsend continues its weekly Thursday afternoon skins games between 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. each week.

Entry fee for the skins game is $10 plus $10 reduced greens fees for nonmembers.

Bring your GHIN handicap. If you don’t have one, they will give you an 0.0 for the skins game.

For more information on anything related to the Port Townsend Golf Club, phone the pro shop at 360-385-4547.

SkyRidge Lavender

SkyRidge Golf Course will host the fifth annual Lavender Festival Golf Tournament on July 17.

Tournament proceeds help support Disabled Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The two-person scramble format has a 9 a.m. shotgun start.

The tourney is $45 per player with a $15 per-seat cart fee.

Participants with a 2010 Lavender Festival button will receive $2 off their cart seat charge.

Lunch and prizes come with the tournament fee.

AP Shootout

SkyRidge hosted a unique event for the North Olympic Peninsula on Sunday, the second annual Allen Patton Shootout.

Allen Patton is best described as SkyRidge’s “right-hand man;” another of those vital guys willing to do whatever it takes to make our local courses among the best collection in the state.

Any amateur or pro with a single digit handicap from the area was invited to compete for a winner-take-all cash prize.

The course was set up at its longest yardage with two flags on each green.

Pin placements were arranged to reflect the talent of the players on the course.

Camano Island’s John Morrow holed out a 25-foot putt for birdie to shoot a -1 under 71 and edge out SunLand golf pro and general manager Tyler Sweet by one shot.

Peninsula Golf Club’s Mike DuPuis was third with a 73.

Morrow certainly earned it.

SkyRidge’s Jeff Pedersen told me it was Morrow’s first time out on the track.

Participants were impressed with the conditions and course set up offered up by Patton.

SunLand honors

The SunLand Women’s Golf Association recently held its Spring Field Day, capped with a nice luncheon at the clubhouse.

Past captains present at the luncheon were honored, including Jean Saunders (1978) and Betty Ederer (1979); Kit Nill (1982); Jan Grace (1989); Dorothy Plenert (1991); Nonie Dunphy (1992); Patti Fogard (1994); Linda Beatty (1998); Pat Beltz (1999); Mary Jo Lesage (2002); Cheryl Coulter (2003); M.J. Anderson (2006); Willadee Tallman (2008) and Dana Burback (2009).

During the event the winners of the five-week match play Captain’s Cup tournament were announced.

The Captain’s Cup champion with five wins was Cynthia Edel. Runners up with three wins were Marine Hirschfeld and Hilda Duncan.

Consolation winner was Cecil Black with three wins.

Match play is a nice diversion from the regular stroke play.

I look forward to watching some of the best amateurs play it during the U.S. Amateur at Chambers Bay in late August.

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Michael Carman is the golf columnist for the Peninsula Daily News. His column appears on Wednesdays. He can be reached at 360-417-3527 or at pdngolf@gmail.com.

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