GOLF FOR $1?
Yes, such a thing exists, but you’ll have to rent a cart and deal with the remnants of the recent aerification of greens.
Port Ludlow Golf Course is offering the $1 golf special, dependent upon cart rental, through the end of October.
I’ve never played a round out there during fall, but I can venture the foliage is in full swing right now.
If you can see the course through the fog, that is.
My push in last week’s column for players to enjoy the vibrant fall colors at our North Olympic Peninsula golf courses took a hit from the grey blanket of fog that’s enveloped most of us since late last week.
Should things clear up, golfers also can practice for the Golf Channel Amateur Tour, which will visit Port Ludlow Golf Course on Saturday, Nov. 9.
The Golf Channel Amateur Tour is the largest amateur golf tour in the United States.
The tour’s website says the Am Tour “provides an authentic PGA Tour experience to players of all ages and abilities, allowing golfers to compete with others at their skill level, gain access to top courses in their area and across the country.”
There are many local events scheduled throughout the year in regions across the U.S. and “Major” tournaments set for famous courses like TPC Sawgrass, Kiawah Island, Pinehurst No. 2, Blackwolf Run and even Chambers Bay in Tacoma.
The tournament entry fee for Port Ludlow is $105, which includes green fees, cart fees, range balls, trophies and a player prize fund.
An optional $20 skins game will be made available to interested players at check-in.
Non-tour members can play in this event as “guests,” which is great because this is the last event of the 2013 Golf Channel Am Tour season for the Seattle area.
Players must have registered GHIN handicaps to play in these events.
Tee times are from 9 a.m. to noon, with registration opening at 8 a.m.
For more information, phone Port Ludlow at 800-455-0272, or Seattle tour director Todd Waltmire at 206-909-5296.
Peninsula ladies wrap
Sandy Granger checked in with an update on the Peninsula Golf Club Lady Golfers.
The group celebrated the end of its 2013 season last Wednesday with a nine-hole scramble, award presentations for the season, a business meeting with election of officers for the next year and “a very tasty luncheon.”
President Ruth Thomson and secretary-treasurer Chris Anderson are both continuing in their capacities for another year. New officers for 2014 are: Linda Bruch, vice president; Cindy Schlaffman, 18-hole captain; and Linda Beatty, TOPS Captain.
Rena Peabody, Sue Barber, Duffy DeFrang and Mary Murphy captured the nine-hole scramble, with the team of Dolly Burnett, Chris Anderson, Gloria Andrus and Sandy Granger in second.
The winners of the awards for the season were (winner listed first, followed by runner-up):
■ May — Gray Cup, 18-hole: Sherry Henderson, Ruth Thomson.
Nine-hole: Donna Willenberg, Barb Thompson.
■ June — Commemorative Match Play, 18-hole: Cindy Schlaffman, Sherry Henderson.
Nine-hole: Barb Thompson, Donna Willenberg.
■ July — Club Championship, 18-hole: Denise Clarke, Doris Sparks.
Net winner, 18-hole: Linda Bruch.
Nine-hole champion: Barb Thompson.
Net winner, nine-hole: Sandy Granger.
■ August — Best Ball Partners, 18-hole: Tie between Chris Anderson and Denise Clarke, and Linda Beatty and Cindy Schlaffman.
■ September — Captain’s Choice, 18-hole: Duffy DeFrang, Barb Thompson, Donna Willenberg.
■ Eclectic Competition, April through June, 18-hole winners: First Division: Denise Clarke.
Second division: Sue Barber.
■ July through September: First division: Denise Clarke; second division: Linda Bruch; nine-hole: Donna Willenberg.
■ Birdie Tree, First division: Denise Clarke.
Second division: Duffy DeFrang.
■ Most Improved: Sherry Henderson.
Congratulations to the Peninsula Golf Club Lady Golfer winners and to the club for a great season.
Winter golf starts at 10 a.m. Wednesday mornings. Guests are welcome.
Lady Niners
The final submission from Dungeness Lady Niners publicity chair Lee Stanley arrived in my email inbox this week.
Lee has been a delight, sending me tons of information the past couple of years, even when some of it never made my column for space reasons.
Don’t worry, folks, she’s not going anywhere, just handing the baton of publicity along to another group member for next season.
Stanley’s last note summarized the group’s final meeting of the season plus the annual Lady Niners annual award presentations.
The Dungeness Lady Niners gathered for their last game of the season last Thursday, a game that Stanley described as “delightful” in praising organizer Jan Boyungs.
Hoots and hollers could be heard across the greens while a most unconventional game of “Girls Goofy Golf” transpired.
Just a sample of the craziness of the game included putting with eyes closed, using a 6-iron for the entire tee to green play, putting with a croquet mallet, driving and then playing to green with a sand wedge and even rolling the ball into the cup by hand.
The team of Carol Inglesby, Donna Maclean, Andi Grams, Kathy Benedict and Kitty Gross (and yes, there were five on that team) finished first with a 43, followed by the second-place team of Terri Green, Olympia Brehm, Jan Boyungs and Lee Stanley with 44. Bonney Benson, Pat Charters, Dian Woodle and Sandy Deckman took third with a 45.
Award winners were:
■ Club Championship: Jan Boyungs.
■ Most Improved Golfers: Tie between Andi Grams and Donna Maclean.
■ Eclectic winners: Lisa Ballantyne, first; Pat Conway, second, Jan Boyungs and Jo Hendrickson.
■ Low Net: Vernice Quigley, first, and a three-way tie for second with Lili Gomes, Kitty Gross and Lori Purser.
Outgoing captain Arlene Cox handed the gavel to incoming captain Bonney Benson and her new board consisting of co-captain Olympia Brehm, secretary Vernice Quigley and treasurer Debbi Kahle.
Bonney reminded everyone that the Lady Niners’ game schedule has ended, but GHIN scores can continue to be posted until Nov. 15 and will resume Feb. 28.
Friday night golf slated
Discovery Bay has started its Friday Night Golf events, with play occurring at 7 p.m. each Friday until the wind and wet come in earnest.
Cost is $10 for the golf and $5 for night golf supplies (glow in the dark golf balls cost extra, or golfers can bring their own).
Discovery Bay is also running a Sunday morning competition each week, perfect to play in before coming home and watching a Seahawks home game.
Phone the Discovery Bay pro shop at 360-385-0704 for details on that game or anything else related to the course.
PT events on tap
Signups are underway for The Port Townsend Golf Club Hilltop Tavern Fall Classic on Saturday, Nov. 2.
The “Last Major” of the season is a two-person scramble with the tantalizing lure of Judy Lundgren’s famous lasagna calling to players at the post-round party at the Hilltop Tavern.
Good times, good (and some bad) golf and great lasagna.
For more information on Port Townsend Golf Club events, phone the clubhouse at 360-385-4547.
Port Townsend hosted the annual Men’s Club Octoberfest three-person blind draw scramble last Saturday.
As usual this time of year, the temperature outside was colder and a bit brisk, but a good field of players came out and enjoyed the competition.
Gross winners were Doug Collins, Buddy O’Meara and Bud Meacham with a 62.
Net winners were Hazli Katsikapes, Terry Rohring, and Mark Lux with a 47.9.
Port Townsend also has a Turkey Shoot tourney planned for Saturday, Nov. 23, and a Toys for Tot’s fundraiser on Dec. 14.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3527 or pdngolf@gmail.com.