A FAMILIAR FACE has returned to the fairways, greens and tee boxes of Port Townsend Golf Club.
Ralph Baker has returned to Port Townsend as course superintendent.
Baker served in the same position in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
“He has been back for less than a month and the course improvements are already noticeable,” assistant pro Gabriel Tonan said.
“Ralph is a great addition to the staff at PTGC and is the hardest worker I have ever seen.”
Coincidentally, Baker coached a group of castoffs from the Blue Heron Middle School eighth-grade boys basketball team in an intramural/AAU setting in 1996.
I was one of those castoffs.
Apologies to Baker for any and all headaches that I may have caused as I slowly learned the basics of the flex offense.
Busy slate upcoming
Port Townsend will begin its summer-long Men’s Club Match Play Championship on Saturday, May 12.
Cost is $30 with reduced greens fees for non-members.
The tournament is double-elimination and provides a good way to enjoy a different spin on a round of golf.
The annual Jim Caldwell Memorial Rhody Open comprises two events and will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 19-20.
Players can play both days or just pick whichever is more appealing.
An individual gross and net competition with closest to the pin and long putt prizes will be held on May 19.
Play tees off at 8 a.m. and is $35 per player with $10 greens fees for nonmembers.
Sunday’s event is a two-person best-ball competition with closest to the pin and longest putt prizes.
The tournament starts at 9 a.m. and is $30 per player with $10 green fees for nonmembers.
Proceeds benefit the Rhododendron Festival.
Weekly events at PTGC
Port Townsend’s Merchant League has been going on now for three weeks.
If you are interested in playing in the competition or being a sub for a team, go out to the course and get a qualifying round of nine holes in and play.
Competition is only $7 with green fees at $8 for nonmembers.
Port Townsend hosts weekly nine-hole skins games all day Thursdays and Saturdays.
Cost is $10 with reduced greens fees for nonmembers.
Ladies golfers compete on Tuesday mornings.
Free junior lessons
Free junior golf lessons for ages 10-15 are on tap for Saturday mornings this summer in Port Townsend.
I’ll have more information on these lessons in upcoming columns.
For more information on any Port Townsend event, phone the pro shop at 360-385-4547.
Demo days this month
Port Ludlow Golf Club will host three demo days this month.
Representatives from Cleveland, Adams and Ping golf will visit the course from noon to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9.
Cleveland will have full sets to use that day as part of their “Demo” experience, and Cleveland is now taking sign-ups for personal club fittings.
To sign up for a fitting, phone Port Ludlow Golf Club at 360-437-0272.
Director of Golf Vito De Santis wanted to pass along that anyone who comes out and mentions the Peninsula Daily News on May 9 will receive a two-for-one golf coupon valid at Port Ludlow.
If you factor in the value of a round of golf at Port Ludlow, you would see that it pays to read my column.
Nike reps will visit from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, May 18 and Callaway Golf’s Tour Fit Van will cruise on in to Port Ludlow on May 25.
Anyone who makes a purchase of $200 or more on May 9, 18 or 25 will receive a free round of golf at Port Ludlow.
Discovery Bay events
Discovery Bay Golf Club near Port Townsend is rolling out some very enticing rates for walkers and riders.
A walking duo can play 18 holes for just $22. That’s $11 apiece for 18 holes of golf.
Two cart riders can play all day for $48 total.
Merchant League play
Discovery Bay’s Merchant League will swing away for the first time this season with a four-man scramble.
The league plays on Thursday nights, and there is still an opening for a team.
Single players looking for a squad can contact the pro shop for placement.
Golfers should arrive by 4:30 p.m. for a 5 p.m. shotgun start.
New carts aplenty
Discover Bay has added a new fleet of EZ Go golf carts.
With new batteries, those carts can go for a long time, allowing riders to really get their monies’ worth with the course’s “Play all day with a cart” special.
Cinco de Mayo special
Rosa’s Delicia Mexican restaurant, the new course restaurant at Discovery Bay, will celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3 p.m. Saturday.
“I can’t explain in words how great it [Rosa’s cooking] smells in the clubhouse, you need to experience it for yourself,” Discovery Bay’s Randy White said.
The restaurant is offering two-for-one entree coupons this whole month.
Coupons will appear in the PDN and one can be printed at
www.facebook.com/groups/311772318863122.
Moms play free
On Mothers Day, take your mom out for a round of golf and she will play for free at Discovery Bay.
Stay for lunch or dinner and mom will get a free entree with a paid entree at Rosa’s.
For more information on Discovery Bay, visit www.discoverybaygolfclub.com or phone 360-385-0704.
Facebook for free golf
You have to be a member of Facebook.com to enter but The Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course in Sequim is offering a chance at a free round of golf if you visit woobox.com/kuxoof and “Like” the 7 Cedars Casino, and provide your email address.
You will probably start to receive emails from the casino and the golf course after you enter.
Memorial tourney
Last Thursday, 36 golfers from four Clallam County golf courses participated in a benefit tournament for Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County.
The ladies all enjoyed a fun morning of laughter and companionship in some wet conditions.
“Despite the sudden downpour and wet greens, everyone continued to play golf and have a good time,” Cedars member Lee Stanley said.
Ladies lunched at Legends at Dungeness where winners were announced.
Each winner received a prize by the golf course, which had generously sponsored that hole in memory of past members.
Stanley went on to praise event organizer Jan Boyungs with able assistance from The Cedars of Dungeness staff, Bonney Benson, who organized the food, and Kitty Gross, designing the sponsor boards at the appropriate holes.
Send in your golf items
Have a golf event coming up and want to see it listed in the golf column?
Did you recently take a vacation and have a golf trip report or photo to share?
Send it to me, Michael Carman, Golf Column, Peninsula Daily News, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362; phone, 360-417-3527, fax, 417-3521; email pdngolf@gmail.com.
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Golf columnist Michael Carman can be reached at 360-417-3527 or at pdngolf@gmail.com.