THE BULLETIN • Wednesday, September 14, 2011 D5
Ridge Continued from D1 “I guess you have to walk around ’em before putting,” proclaimed one of my playing partners, Dave, from Seattle. “(The break) seems obvious after you miss it.” Dave was right. Taking your time and truly reading the greens is particularly important at Ridge, where the greens break subtly and punish those who rush their shot. Yet all day I could not get a read. I skimmed the edge of the cup on the par-4 17th hole, an exasperating miss that led to a double bogey after yet another three-putt. “It’s not going to give it to you,” said my other playing partner for the day, Dale, a retiree visiting from Spokane. “You have to earn it on this course.” Ridge has another side, too. For those golfers who tend to stand over their tee shots strangling a driver — nervous that the ball will fly into a thick forest of trees — Ridge offers a reprieve. The course is lined with juniper trees, to be sure. But rarely does a juniper come into play. And the trees are loosely grouped, making escape relatively easy. Mounding throughout the course does provide challenges, including uneven lies at times. But Ridge gives many of us the opportunity to feel comfortable with a driver. “This course is pretty forgiving,” Dale said after he pushed his tee shot on the long par-4 17th well to the right, but still in play. “Even as crappy as I’ve played, I’ve been able to (find my ball and) hit most of my second shots.”
gone some changes recently, most notably the switching of the nines. It’s been a nice switch, leaving the longest par 4 on the course — now the 434-yard 17th — and the risk/reward par-5 18th for the finish. Despite the changes, Ridge remains a remarkably consistent course. Though the course has few jaw-dropping holes, it offers a number of quality holes that are tougher than they appear — as my bogey-heavy round would attest. For the entire round it seemed like I was in position for a par or better, yet hole after hole I could not quite squeeze out the right score. Needing a par to salvage my round, I laid up to 100 yards. That left a shot over water into the large green. I left the approach short of the putting surface and barely safe from the water after a fortuitous bounce. A tough chip left 15 feet for par. What came next? Three putts and a tap-in for a gut-wrenching double bogey. I guess Ridge is a bit tougher than it appears, at least for me.
Scorecard A look at the scorecard for Eagle Crest Resort’s Ridge Course: Hole Par Yardage No. 1 Par 4 389 yards No. 2 Par 4 372 yards No. 3 Par 3 219 yards No. 4 Par 5 563 yards No. 5 Par 4 405 yards No. 6 Par 3 179 yards No. 7 Par 4 422 yards No. 8 Par 4 382 yards No. 9 Par 5 511 yards Out 36 3,442 yards No. 10 Par 4 424 yards No. 11 Par 4 422 yards No. 12 Par 4 337 yards No. 13 Par 3 191 yards No. 14 Par 5 542 yards No. 15 Par 4 446 yards No. 16 Par 3 173 yards No. 17 Par 4 434 yards No. 18 Par 5 541 yards In 36 3,510 yards *All distances from back tees Tee Tournament M Black M Blue M White M Blue W White W Red W
Rating Slope 72.7 134 70.4 128 68.9 116 66.3 110 74.2 130 71.7 131 66.8 117
Difficulty of course
The strength of Ridge is its par 3s, a group that includes the gorgeous mountain views presented at the dramatically downhill, 190-yard third hole, the surprisingly tough 133-yard sixth hole and the water-protected, 173yard 16th. The Ridge Course has under-
Few Central Oregon golf courses offer a more forgiving layout than does the Ridge Course. The track is lined with loosely gathered juniper trees, but it is nothing like the many heavily wooded courses in this region that gobble up wayward tees shots. That makes Ridge ideal for distance-loving bombers as well as novices, who will find few overwhelming holes and plenty of room to miss the fairway. The putting surfaces at Ridge create the greatest resistance to
par. Only rarely will a golfer find a straight putt, and the breaks are subtle, making reading the correct line a real challenge.
Favorite hole Ridge boasts an excellent set of par 3s. But the most enjoyable hole to play is the 14th, an uphill par 5 that at 497 yards from the black tees (the back gold tees are rarely used at Ridge) is reachable in two shots. The tee shot is played into a fairway that bends slightly right. Shots that drift too far right will find a grassy gully that runs the entire length of the fairway. Shots that wander too far left bring into play two fairway bunkers and desert beyond a series of mounds. Those who choose to lay up will find a roomy landing zone. Those who go for it will be forced to negotiate a medium-size green well-protected by mounding and three bunkers. Still, that’s not much of a risk for a chance at a birdie.
Strategy Don’t forget to pack a driver, because you are likely to want it at the bomber-friendly Ridge Course. The relatively wide-open layout at Ridge should be a boon for aggressive golfers, who will have ample opportunity to go for extra distance. While at 6,952 yards from the back tees it is not particularly long, Ridge does offer some exceptionally long holes (particularly on the back nine) for which driver is mandatory. But it also has some short par 4s and par 5s that make for good birdie opportunities.
Golfers are advised to play approach shots below the hole, as most of the greens slope from back to front. But be careful when picking a line. Ridge’s greens are subtly difficult, and they will have you second-guessing the break for much of the round.
Extras Just a few feet from the Ridge Course clubhouse (which is shared with Eagle Crest’s Challenge Course), a golfer can make use of two putting greens, a roomy short-game practice area and a full-size driving range. Eagle Crest’s popular 18-hole putting course — which features water hazards, sand traps and crazy breaks — gives golfers an added reason to work on their putting. The course is part miniature golf and part practice green. Cost to play is $11 for adults, $7 for juniors.
Value The Ridge Course costs $69 per golfer, which is about average for Central Oregon’s top-tier public golf courses. But Ridge does not offer a twilight rate, making it tough to find a bargain. A punch card good for six rounds (at any of Eagle Crest’s three courses) costs $299, or about $50 per round. Junior golfers get the best deal at Ridge. Before 3 p.m., juniors (age 17 and younger) can play the course for half price. After 3 p.m., juniors accompanied by an adult play for free, and unaccompanied juniors can play for $10. That makes Ridge an affordable option for families. Zack Hall can be reached at 541-617-7868 or at zhall@ bendbulletin.com.
GOLF SCOREBOARD LOCAL The Bulletin welcomes contributions to its weekly local golf results listings and events calendar. Clearly legible items should be faxed to the sports department, 541-385-0831, e-mailed to sports@bendbulletin.com, or mailed to P.O. Box 6020; Bend, OR 97708.
Club Results AWBREY GLEN Men’s Guest Day, Sept. 7 Better Ball Gross: 1, Keller/Keller, 63. 2, Johanson/Jensen, 72. 3, Ertle/ Carmicheal, 73. Net: 1, Rosencrance/Urich, 59. 2, Hinkle/Campbell, 64. 3, Stump/Agnew, 64. KPs — Jim Keller, No. 6; Tom Campbell, No. 13. Nine-Hole Women’s Sweeps, Sept. 7 Two Net Better Balls 1, Tammy Florio/Jean Pedelty/Barbara Chandler/Blind Draw, 66. 2, Lynne Scott/Sally Murphy/Donna Baird/Darlene Warner, 67. Women’s Sweeps, Sept. 8 Two Net Better Balls 1, Rosie Cook/Kaye Williams/Lynda Weinstock/Edith McBean, 123. 2, Kathy Fleck/Pauline Rhoads/Claudia Arthur/Bonnie Tomsheck, 124. 3, Roxy Mills/Louann Thomas/Sonya McLaughlin/Mary Fellows, 126. Chip-ins — Roxy Mills, No. 1; Louann Thomas, No. 4. Night Golf Tournament, Sept. 9 Stroke Play On Five-Hole Loop Course Men: 1, Archie Bleyer, 18. 2, Tom Riley, 19. Women: 1, Barb Chandler, 23. 2, Rosie Long, 26. Saturday Men’s Game, Sept. 10 Net Better Ball 1, Mike Mount/Bill Macri, 60. 2, Ron Foerster/Shelly Grudin, 61. 3, Doug Watson/Dan Danford, 61. Skins — Mount/Macri, Nos. 3, 5, 12; Johanson/Long, Nos. 6, 13; Miller/Larson, No. 7; Gayer/Morton, No. 10. BEND GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB Ladies Golf Association, Sept. 8 Stroke Play Championship Flight — Gross: 1, Sue Keeney, 76. 2, Jane Goodwin, 82. Net: 1, Judie Bell Putas, 68. 2, Debbie Kerr, 70. A Flight — Gross: 1, Judy Boulet, 87. 2, Madeline Henderson, 95. Net: 1 (tie), Marty Wade, 73; Mari Tank, 73. B Flight — Gross: 1, Elaine Dehart, 95. 2 (tie), Linda Corson, 104; Mary Ellen Marlatt, 104. Net: 1, Joan Thye, 72. C Flight — Gross: 1, Anita Brown, 101. 2, Robin Schueler, 105. Net: 1, Karen Rouse, 72. 2, Nan Cooley, 76. D Flight — Gross: 1, Dorothy Stenkamp, 109. 2, Sue Wesson, 110. Net: 1, Martha Weaver, 69. 2 (tie), Nancy Eldredge, 76; Sue Archey, 76. Nine Hole Division — Gross: 1, Berta Cleveland, 54. Net: 1, Sally Mann, 36.5. 2011 Ladies’ Fall Fling Member-Guest, Sept. 10-11 Saturday Scramble, Sunday Best Ball Overall — Gross: 1, Sue Keeney/Sue Hall, 144. Net: 1, Vicki Taylor/Leslie Satterfield, 111.2. Chrysanthemum Flight — Gross: 1, Kandy Lamson/Laurie Rogerson, 147. 2, Gretchen Byrd/Susan Eschelman, 153. 3, Barb Walley/Kate Lach, 155. Net: 1, Bev Dunderdale/Ann Brown, 122.4. 2, Debbie Kerr/Shan Wattenburger , 124.6. 3, Janet Windman/Patty Simone, 126.6. Golden Rod Flight — Gross: 1, Judy Boulet/Sally Sieberts, 161. 2, Nancy Lynch/Lynette Sanders, 172. 3, Kay Miller/Pam Looney, 175. Net: 1, Pam Caine/Kathy Spere, 123.6. 2, Joan Thye/Moe Bleyer, 125.6. 3, Joan Brookhart/Mary Lou Stephens, 125.6. Dahlia Flight — Gross: 1, Roberta Cleveland/Judy Davidson, 170. 2, Erica Higlin/Patty Higlin, 175. 3, Jane Boubel/Gail Knotek, 187. Net: 1, Nancy Eldredge/Barbara Weybreight, 115.6. 2, Kathi Salvog/Diana Norem, 117.2. 3, Linda Kammerich/Carol Ratzlaff, 124.8. KPs — Chrysanthemum: Sue Hall, No. 6; Golden Rod: Norma Barnes, No. 3; Dahlia: Joan Trapp, No. 11. LDs — Chrysanthemum: Jennifer Jackson, No. 13; Golden Rod: Judy Boulet, No. 10; Dahlia: Erica Higlin, No. 12. Broken Shafts Putting Course Contest — 1, Barbara Walley, 19. Splash Down Chipping Contest — 1 (tie), Kandy Lamson, Janet Windman, Nancy Eldredge. BLACK BUTTE RANCH Women’s Golf Club, Sept. 6 Modified Stableford A Flight — 1 (tie), Betty Carlsmith, 22; Karen Mayberry, 22. 3 (tie), Mae Williamson, 21; Phyllis Lees, 21. B Flight — 1, Laurine Clemens, 25. 2 (tie), Barbara Harris, 20; Ellie Rutledge, 20; Jackie Kvanvig, 20; Linda Goebel, 20. Men’s Club, Sept. 7 Net Scramble 1, Gene Nelson/Kent Godfrey/Mel Jolly/Jerry Christopherson, 62. 2, Chuck Leutwyler/Bob Hausman/Jerry Kvanvig/Tom Hedford, 62.25. 3, Jerry Lawhun/Bryon Kirchart, 63.25. BROKEN TOP Sachiko Sez Sayonara Twilight Golf, Sept. 9 Team Golf Flight 1 — 1, Lucy Stack & Jeff Stack/Greg Cushman & Peggy Cushman/Brad Gray & Sarah Gray/Lynn Smith & Mary Erbe, 27. 2, Chuck Raudman & Jeanne Raudman/Bill Michel & Susan Michel/ John Moeckel & Charlene Moeckel/Craig Brown & Ann Brown, 28. Flight 2 — 1, Tony Rosenthal & Lynn Rosenthal/Rich Burk & Linda Burk/Greg Quesnel & Michelle Quesnel/Carl Davis & Gloria Davis, 27. 2, Richard Scherzer & Judy Scherzer/Charley Berry & Jeanne Berry/Randall Falk & Penny Falk, 27. KPs — Judy Scherzer, No. 2; Brian Crosby, No. 5. Six-Hole Putting Challenge — Holes 1-6: 1, Brian Crosby/ Tina Burnside, 11. Holes 7-12: 1, Bill Dubois/Norma Dubois, 12. Holes 13-18: 1, Bob Kehrer/Nina Kehrer, 13. CROOKED RIVER RANCH Men’s Golf Club, Sept. 6 Net Red, White, Blue 1, Herb Parker/Gerry Skaurud/Eddie Maroney, 194. 2, Ron Aker/Art Crossley/John Frey, 196. 3, Wylie Harrell/Joe Griffin/Doug Wyant, 197. 4 (tie), Al Kellogg/Jim Platz/Terry Rodgers, 198; George Mitchener/Jay Sheldon/Ed Elliot, 198. 6 (tie), Gary Johnson/Cary Poole/A.K. Majors, 199; Guy Crapper/Romano Romani/Brian Dillavou, 199. 8, Jim Hipp/Ted Carlin/Ron Mahood, 201. 2011 Ladies Golf Club Fall Championship, Sept. 7-8 36-Hole Stroke Play Club Champion — Suzanne Greig, 167. Flight A — Gross: 1, Deborah Fitzpatrick, 168. 2, Selma Cu-
sick, 172. 3, Judy Ann Skaurud, 182. Net: 1 (tie), Diana Lester, 132; Myrna Harris, 132. 3, Marie Olds, 145. Flight B — Gross: 1, Bonnie Gaston, 178. 2, Judy Parker, 185. 3, Ruth Smallwood, 188. Net: 1, Jana Dunham, 134. 2, Linda Romani, 139. 3 (tie), Ellie Rice, 150; Cookie Dillavou, 150. Flight C — Gross: 1, Charlyn Hughes, 200. 2, Jo Modrell, 209. 3, Jeanne Bonnell, 214. Net: 1, Cathy Hunter, 138. 2, Dandy Borges, 142. 3, Elaine Harrell, 146. EAGLE CREST Men’s Club, Aug. 31 One Low Net, Two Low Net, Three Low Net, etc. at Resort Course 1, Bob Hocker/Ray DuPuis/Don Greenman/blind draw, 126. 2, Steve Peccia/Allan Falco/Billy Balding/blind draw, 129. 3, Mike Thurlow/Bill Goss/Dick Hill/Bill McCullough, 130. 4, Randy Myers/ David Rygh/Phil Chappron/Bill Houck, 131. 5, Greg Pluchos/Bob Mowlds/Jim Meyers/Randy Thomason, 133. 6 (tie), Bill Hurst/Mike Narzisi/Ken Benshoof/Ernie Brooks, 134; Jim Hehn/David Drake/ Gary Sowles/Bob Reed, 134. Ladies/Men’s Mixer, Sept. 7 Three Net Best Balls at Resort Course 1, Joe Perry/Ken Benshoof/Nancy Dolby/Diane Concannon, 191. 2, John Boynton/Pat Kenny/Carol Hallock/Carol Whitehurst, 192. 3 (tie), Ron Wolfe/Ted Moore/Betty Stearns/Joan Mathews, 197; Chris Wood/Kathleen Mooberry/Phil Chappron/Paul Pertner, 197. 5 (tie), Kat Widmer/Dennis O’Donnell/Cliff Shrock/Lori Black, 197; Margaret Sturza/Allan Falco/Bob Reed/Maria Langworthy, 197. Tom Johnson/Marilee Axling/Betty Chappron/Bill Howiler, 197. 8 (tie), Jim Hawkes/Rich Sackerson/Kathie Johnson/Vicky Diegel, 201; Larry Clark/Alice Gommell/Ned Ongaro/Marli Perry, 201. THE GREENS AT REDMOND Ladies of the Greens, Sept. 6 Stroke Play A Flight — Gross: 1, Diane Miyauchi, 33. 2, Vivian Webster, 42. 3, Janie Richter, 42. Net: 1, Lynne Holm, 25. 2, Bev Tout, 30. 3, Doris Babb, 31. B Flight — Gross: 1, Michelle Oberg, 39. 2, Bobbie Moore, 44. 3, Barbara Rogen, 46. Net: 1, Lynne Ekman 28. 2, Marilyn Feis, 31. 3, Ruth Backup, 31. C Flight — Gross: 1, Ethelmae Hammock, 47. 2, Sarah Winner, 49. 3, Carol Suderno, 51. Net: 1, Pat Elliott, 31. 2, Bert Gantenbein, 33. 3, Judi Vanderpool, 35. D Flight — Gross: 1, Anita Epstein, 49. 2, Mary Bohler, 52. 3, Jane Schroeder, 53. Net: 1, Karlene Grove, 30. 2, Theone Ellis, 31. 3, Marilyn Marold, 31. Golfer of the Week — Lynne Holm, 37/25. Low Putts — Vivian Webster, 13. Men’s Club, Sept. 8 Net Stroke Play A Flight — Nine Holes: 1, Ron Munkres, 26.5. 2, Miles Hutchins, 28.5. 3, Don Offield, 30.5. 4, Bob Grabar, 31. 18 Holes: 1 (tie), Don Offield, 59; Miles Hutchins, 59. 3 (tie), Bob Grabar, 60; Joe Carpenter, 60. B Flight — Nine Holes: 1, Jerry Aarons, 25. 2, Arlie Holm, 27. 3, Scott McMillin, 28.5. 4, John Comisky, 29. 18 Holes: 1, Arlie Holm, 54. 2, Scott McMillin, 56. 3 (tie), Pee Wee Blackmore, 61; Paul Osborne, 61. KPs — Bob Grabar, Nos. 7, 12; Arlie Holm, No. 5; Terry Lucas, No. 13. Golfer of the Week — John Comisky. JUNIPER Ladies Golf Club, Sept. 7 Best Ball 1, Sandy Cameron/Judy Davidson/Cherry Spurlock/Ruby Kraus, 125. 2, Jan Carver/Carol Mitchell/Marilyn Baer/blind draw, 130. 3, Fran Atchison/Mary Ann Doyle/Barb Schreiber/Adrienne Castle, 132. Chip-ins — Marry Ann Doyle, No. 1; Karen Wintermyre, No. 2; Marilyn Baer, No. 6; Ruby Kraus, No. 9; Carol Ann Still, No. 12. KPs — Linda Wakefield, No. 3; Carol Ann Still, No. 8; Jan Carver, No. 13; Fran Atchison, No. 16. Men’s Club, Sept. 8 Stableford 1, Pat Rogers/Dale Carver/Wayne Castle/draw, 153. 2, Johnny McDaniel/Jim Cooper/Hank Weldin/draw, 147. 3, Chuck Swenson/ Scott Martin/Don Garney/draw, 142. 4, Gene Peles/Jim Flaherty/Jim Goad/Bob Babcock, 141. KPs — Pat Rogers, Nos. 3, 13; Jim Goad, No. 8; Johnny McDaniel, No. 16. MEADOW LAKES Men’s Association, Sept. 7 Modified Chapman “No Scotch” Gross: 1, Dustin Conklin/Pat O’Gorman, 32. 2, Zach Lampert/Jim Montgomery, 33. Net: 1, Johnnie Jones/Hank Simmons, 31. 2 (tie), Steve Spangler/Rick Fosburg, 31.5; Paul Adams/Todd Goodew, 31.5. KPs — A Flight: Alan Hoover, No. 13; Dustin Conklin, No. 17. B Flight: Hank Simmons, No. 13; Ron Edgerly, No. 17. RIVER’S EDGE Men’s Club, Sept. 6 Two Best Balls, Red/White/Blue Gross: 1, Hi Becker/Mike Brasher/Scott Brasher/Keith Wood, 139. 2, John Brenton/Bob Phillips/Wayne Johnson/Richard Schieferstein, 151. 3 (tie), Dave Black/Dave Bryson/Dave Fiedler/Jerry Egge, 162; Lee Agee/Steve Langenberg/Randy Olson/Paul Runge, 162. 5, Bob Deane/Bob Drake/Flip Houston/Lloyd Vordenberg, 191. Net: 1, Becker/Brasher/Brasher/Wood, 124. 2, Black/Bryson/ Fiedler/Egge, 125. 3 (tie), Agee/Langenberg/Olson/Runge, 129; Brenton/Phillips/Johnson/Schieferstein, 129. 5, Deane/Drake/ Houston/Vordenberg, 143. KPs — David Black, No. 14; Paul Runge, No. 16. WIDGI CREEK Women’s Club, Sept. 7 Five Clubs First Flight — 1, Mindy Cicinelli, 69. 2 (tie), Jan Sandburg, 73; Elly Cashel, 73; Denise Waddell, 73. Second Flight — 1, Jan Guettler, 71. 2, Karen Larson, 74. 3, Linda Barnett, 76. KPs — A Flight: Jan Sandburg, No. 2. B Flight: Sue Gordon, No. 2. Men’s Club, Sept. 7 Individual Four-Club Monty Blue Tee Flight — 1(tie), Greg Watt, 73; Jerry Olsen, 73. 3 (tie), Mike Carroll, 74; Jerry Grieve, 74; Mike Rothermel, 74; Gary Wendland, 74. White Tee Flight — 1, Maurice Watts, 67. 2, Russell Struve, 69. 3, Ron Saunders, 71. 4 (tie), Mike Baker, 72; Don Kramer, 72.
Team Results Combined Flight — 1, Jerry Olsen/Spike Vanderwall/Mike Rothermel, 123. Blue Tee Flight — 1, Greg Watt/Jim Hammett/Jim Wellock/ Daryl Hjeresen, 130. White Tee Flight — 1, Don Kramer/Ron Stassens/Mike Baker/ Russell Struve, 123.
Hole-In-One Report Sept. 5 AWBREY GLEN Collins Hemingway, Bend No. 13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157 yards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-wood Sept. 5 BLACK BUTTE RANCH Cole Stockton, West Linn No. 13. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154 yards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-iron Sept. 6 DESERT PEAKS Chuck Schmidt, Madras No. 6. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163 yards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-iron Sept. 6 DESERT PEAKS Wes Graves, Culver No. 8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 yards . . . . . . . . . . pitching wedge Sept. 8 BEND GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB Buck Antle, Bend No. 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 yards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-iron
Calendar The Bulletin welcomes contributions to its weekly local golf events calendar. Items should be mailed to P.O. Box 6020, Bend, OR 97708; faxed to the sports department at 541-385-0831; or e-mailed to sports@bendbulletin.com. ——— TOURNAMENTS Sept. 15 — Central Oregon Golf Tour event at Sunriver Resort’s Meadows course. The Central Oregon Golf Tour is a competitive golf series held at golf courses throughout Central Oregon. Gross and net competitions open to all amateur golfers of all abilities. Prize pool awarded weekly, and membership not required. For more information or to register: 541-633-7652, 541-318-5155, or www.centraloregongolftour.com. Sept. 16 — Mountain View Hospital Foundation Classic at KahNee-Ta High Desert Resort & Casino is an annual event benefiting the Community Health Improvement Partnership. The tournament will begin with an 11:30 a.m. shotgun start. Cost is $150 per person or $500 per team. Entry fee includes green fees, driving range balls, cart, lunch, awards, and a traditional salmon-bake dinner with Native American dancers. Sponsorships and discounted room rates at KahNee-Ta are also available. For more information or to register, call Jill Sansom at 541-460-4033, or e-mail her at jsanson@mvhd.org. Sept. 16 — Gopher Broke Scramble at Bend Golf and Country Club. This four-person scramble tournament begins with a 1 p.m. shotgun. Proceeds from the golf tournament go to Bend Park & Recreation District Foundation scholarships. For more information or to register, visit www.bendparksandrec.org or e-mail Sue Boettner at sueb@bendparksandrec.org. Sept. 19 — 14th annual Bend Chamber Fall Invitational at Awbrey Glen Golf Club in Bend. Tournament separated into two flights: a serious net competition and a scramble with mulligans and strings. Shotgun start at 11 a.m. followed by dinner and awards starting about 4:30 p.m. Amateur men and women golfers compete in a four-person scramble tournament. Cost is $145 per person and includes cart, dinner, and contests. To register or for more information, call Gayle Najera at 541-382-3221. Sept. 26 — Cougar Summer Baseball Fall Classic at the Club at Brasada Ranch. Four-person scramble begins with a 9 a.m. shotgun start. Cost is $100 per player, and includes golf cart, lunch, and on-course drinks. Proceeds benefit the Cougar summer baseball program of Mountain View High School. For more information or to register, e-mail Kory Bright at kory.bright@gmail.com. Sept. 26-29 — The Fall Tour is a pro-am tournament for teams and individuals through the Oregon Chapter of the PGA. This fourday event is held at Pronghorn Club in Bend, Widgi Creek Golf Club in Bend, Eagle Crest Resort’s Ridge Course in Redmond and Black Butte Ranch’s Big Meadow course. Admission is free for spectators. Contact: Amy Kerle, 800-574-0503 or www.pnwpga.com. Sept. 29 — Central Oregon Golf Tour event at Juniper Golf Course in Redmond. The Central Oregon Golf Tour is a competitive golf series held at golf courses throughout Central Oregon. Gross and net competitions open to all amateur golfers of all abilities. Prize pool awarded weekly, and membership not required. For more information or to register: 541-633-7652, 541-318-5155, or www. centraloregongolftour.com. Oct. 1-2 — The 84th OGA Men’s Team Championship at the Club at Brasada Ranch in Powell Butte is an Oregon Golf Association 36-hole gross stroke-play event. OGA member clubs nominate four amateur golfers to represent the club. Team scores are calculated using the best three individual scores on the team each day. For more information, visit www.oga.org or call the OGA at 866-981-4653. Oct. 1-2 — The Crooked River Ranch Couples Caper is a 36hole mixed couples Chapman. Open to any golfer with an official USGA handicap. For more information or to register, call Crooked River Ranch at 541-923-6343, or visit www.crookedriveranch.com. Oct. 1-2 — Deer Widows Invitational at Juniper Golf Course in Redmond is a women-only tournament. For more information or to register, call Juniper at 541-548-3121, or visit www.playjuniper. com. Oct. 3 — The 2011 Bpositiv Charity Golf Tournament at Bend Golf and Country Club. Four-person scramble begins with 1 p.m. shotgun start. Cost is $125 for a single golfer, $225 for a twosome, $325 for a threesome, or $425 for a foursome. Proceeds benefit Bpositiv, a nonprofit that serves families whose children are sent to hospice care. For more information or to register, call 541-3307684, email dtpite@aol.com or visit www.bpositiv.org. Oct. 8 — Red Dog Classic Golf Tournament at Juniper Golf Course in Redmond. The four-person scramble begins with a noon shotgun. Cost is $100 per golfer and benefits the Humane Society of Redmond. For more information or to register, call 541-350-7605 or visit www.redmondhumane.org. Oct. 8 — The Patriot Challenge at Aspen Lakes Golf Course in Sisters. Two-Person Best Ball begins with a noon shotgun start. Maximum of a 10-stroke handicap differential between partners. Cost is $200 per team, and includes cart, range balls, contests, lunch and tee prizes. Proceeds benefit the Folds of Honor Foundation and Patriot Golf Day. For more information or to register, call
Aspen Lakes head pro Josh McKinley at 541-549-4653 or e-mail him at josh@aspenlakes.com. Oct. 10 — Central Oregon Seniors Golf Organization event at Meadow Lakes Golf Course in Prineville. The format is individual gross and net best ball, as well as team best ball. Cash prizes awarded at each event. Tournament series is open to men’s club members at host sites, and participants must have an Oregon Golf Association handicap. Cost is $110 for the season plus a $5 per-event fee. For more information, call Ron Meisner at 541-548-3307. Oct. 11 — Central Oregon Golf Tour event at Prineville Golf Club. The Central Oregon Golf Tour is a competitive golf series held at golf courses throughout Central Oregon. Gross and net competitions open to all amateur golfers of all abilities. Prize pool awarded weekly, and membership not required. For more information or to register: 541-633-7652, 541-318-5155, or www.centraloregongolftour.com. Oct. 13 — Central Oregon Golf Tour event at Juniper Golf Course in Redmond. The Central Oregon Golf Tour is a competitive golf series held at golf courses throughout Central Oregon. Gross and net competitions open to all amateur golfers of all abilities. Prize pool awarded weekly, and membership not required. For more information or to register: 541-633-7652, 541-318-5155, or www. centraloregongolftour.com. Oct. 20 — Central Oregon Golf Tour event at the Club at Brasada Ranch in Powell Butte. The Central Oregon Golf Tour is a competitive golf series held at golf courses throughout Central Oregon. Gross and net competitions open to all amateur golfers of all abilities. Prize pool awarded weekly, and membership not required. For more information or to register: 541-633-7652, 541-318-5155, or www.centraloregongolftour.com. Oct. 22-23 — The Tetherow Two-Ball Invitational is a twoperson, select-drive best ball at Tetherow Golf Club in Bend. Tee times Saturday will be between 10:30 a.m. and noon. Play will begin Sunday at 11 a.m. Cost is $600 per team, with no more than one professional on each team, and includes Friday practice round, breakfast and on-course snacks, Saturday dinner, caddie, gifts, trophies and prizes. Gross and net divisions. The field will be limited to the first 30 teams to register. For more information, call Tetherow at 541-388-2582. Oct. 27 — Central Oregon Golf Tour event at Crooked River Ranch. The Central Oregon Golf Tour is a competitive golf series held at golf courses throughout Central Oregon. Gross and net competitions open to all amateur golfers of all abilities. Prize pool awarded weekly, and membership not required. For more information or to register: 541-633-7652, 541-318-5155, or www.centraloregongolftour.com. Nov. 5 — The Turkey Open at Meadow Lakes Golf Course in Prineville is a best-ball tournament for two-person teams. Event tees off with a 10 a.m. shotgun start. Cost is $35 plus green fee. For more information or to register, call the Meadow Lakes pro shop at 541-447-7113.
PROFESSIONAL PGA Tour FedEx Cup Leaders Through Sept. 5 Rank Player Points 1. Webb Simpson 4,711 2. Dustin Johnson 3,814 3. Matt Kuchar 3,124 4. Luke Donald 2,875 5. Brandt Snedeker 2,869 6. Jason Day 2,357 7. Nick Watney 2,291 8. Steve Stricker 2,205 9. Chez Reavie 2,088 10. Phil Mickelson 2,040 11. Gary Woodland 1,966 12. Bubba Watson 1,842 13. Jonathan Byrd 1,785 14. Vijay Singh 1,778 15. K.J. Choi 1,771 16. Adam Scott 1,760 17. Mark Wilson 1,748 18. Hunter Mahan 1,719 19. Keegan Bradley 1,621 20. David Toms 1,595 21. Charles Howell III 1,577 22. Bo Van Pelt 1,549 23. Fredrik Jacobson 1,527 24. Bill Haas 1,525 25. Aaron Baddeley 1,467 26. Rory Sabbatini 1,435 27. Charl Schwartzel 1,428 28. Y.E. Yang 1,366 29. Jason Dufner 1,331 30. Kyle Stanley 1,298 31. Martin Laird 1,291 32. Charley Hoffman 1,284 33. Brian Davis 1,251 34. Justin Rose 1,248 35. Jim Furyk 1,243 36. Zach Johnson 1,227 37. Rickie Fowler 1,208 38. Steve Marino 1,204 39. Ryan Moore 1,202 40. Jerry Kelly 1,188 41. Spencer Levin 1,185 42. Brendan Steele 1,145 43. Chris Kirk 1,144 44. Robert Karlsson 1,137 45. Lucas Glover 1,118 46. Scott Stallings 1,080 47. Camilo Villegas 1,057 48. Ryan Palmer 1,057 49. D.A. Points 1,055 50. Jhonattan Vegas 1,046 51. Jimmy Walker 1,027 52. Carl Pettersson 1,021 53. Sergio Garcia 1,019 54. Tommy Gainey 999 55. John Senden 974 56. Sean O’Hair 942 57. Blake Adams 935 58. Chad Campbell 916 59. Andres Romero 869 60. Scott Piercy 857 61. George McNeill 854 62. Robert Allenby 849 63. Brandt Jobe 838 64. Brendon de Jonge 837 65. Marc Leishman 814
YTD money $5,301,043 $4,150,841 $3,970,142 $5,034,548 $3,336,895 $3,670,687 $4,614,229 $3,816,785 $1,904,267 $3,518,208 $3,047,016 $3,316,797 $2,740,034 $2,192,170 $3,808,024 $3,456,797 $2,957,232 $2,612,340 $3,432,200 $3,487,690 $2,190,556 $2,086,466 $2,298,725 $2,532,637 $2,607,582 $2,402,975 $2,577,358 $2,023,265 $2,589,460 $1,348,599 $2,499,089 $1,428,558 $1,261,609 $1,809,420 $1,373,246 $1,834,006 $2,062,761 $1,957,396 $1,826,906 $1,281,685 $1,980,929 $1,767,952 $1,831,227 $1,743,815 $1,712,927 $1,910,585 $953,918 $1,783,159 $2,006,463 $1,685,294 $1,268,111 $1,232,230 $1,362,091 $1,902,831 $1,263,914 $1,383,948 $1,032,349 $1,017,789 $1,295,053 $1,117,104 $1,412,693 $1,271,101 $1,352,380 $1,186,246 $866,088
66. Cameron Tringale 67. Johnson Wagner 68. Ernie Els 69. Geoff Ogilvy 70. Chris Stroud
814 802 792 789 788
$1,214,505 $1,194,636 $701,672 $1,162,594 $950,554
World Golf Ranking Through Sept. 11 1. Luke Donald 2. Lee Westwood 3. Rory McIlroy 4. Steve Stricker 5. Dustin Johnson 6. Martin Kaymer 7. Jason Day 8. Matt Kuchar 9. Phil Mickelson 10. Adam Scott 11. Nick Watney 12. Charl Schwartzel 13. Bubba Watson 14. Graeme McDowell 15. Webb Simpson 16. K.J. Choi 17. David Toms 18. Ian Poulter 19. Paul Casey 20. Robert Karlsson 21. Hunter Mahan 22. Kim Kyung-Tae 23. Jim Furyk 24. Brandt Snedeker 25. Anders Hansen 26. Francesco Molinari 27. Thomas Bjorn 28. Simon Dyson 29. Zach Johnson 30. Retief Goosen 31. Alvaro Quiros 32. Matteo Manassero 33. Martin Laird 34. Rickie Fowler 35. Keegan Bradley 36. Darren Clarke 37. Ernie Els 38. Bo Van Pelt 39. Miguel Angel Jimenez 40. Justin Rose 41. Gary Woodland 42. Jason Dufner 43. Y.E. Yang 44. Ryo Ishikawa 45. Ryan Moore 46. Tiger Woods 47. Bill Haas 48. Sergio Garcia 49. Jonathan Byrd 50. Geoff Ogilvy 51. Louis Oosthuizen 52. Peter Hanson 53. Edoardo Molinari 54. Tim Clark 55. Vijay Singh 56. Aaron Baddeley 57. Robert Allenby 58. Rory Sabbatini 59. Fredrik Jacobson 60. Ryan Palmer 61. Lucas Glover 62. Mark Wilson 63. Charley Hoffman 64. Sean O’Hair 65. Ben Crane 66. Scott Verplank 67. Yuta Ikeda 68. Ross Fisher 69. Alexander Noren 70. J.B. Holmes 71. Anthony Kim 72. Richard Green 73. Kevin Na 74. Charles Howell III 75. Steve Marino
Eng Eng NIr USA USA Ger Aus USA USA Aus USA SAf USA NIr USA Kor USA Eng Eng Swe USA Kor USA USA Den Ita Den Eng USA SAf Esp Ita Sco USA USA NIr SAf USA Esp Eng USA USA Kor Jpn USA USA USA Esp USA Aus SAf Swe Ita SAf Fji Aus Aus SAf Swe USA USA USA USA USA USA USA Jpn Eng Swe USA USA Aus USA USA USA
10.48 8.21 7.09 6.90 6.80 6.77 6.17 5.86 5.85 5.76 5.40 5.03 4.69 4.66 4.64 4.51 4.11 4.02 3.85 3.80 3.76 3.75 3.60 3.50 3.44 3.41 3.40 3.37 3.36 3.33 3.32 3.30 3.30 3.30 3.29 3.26 3.17 3.17 3.17 3.17 3.08 3.07 3.03 3.02 2.95 2.94 2.92 2.89 2.81 2.77 2.74 2.71 2.68 2.63 2.63 2.57 2.55 2.50 2.50 2.48 2.46 2.45 2.32 2.22 2.22 2.21 2.20 2.18 2.16 2.11 2.10 2.09 2.08 2.07 2.05
LPGA Tour Money Leaders Through Sept. 11 Trn 1. Yani Tseng 16 2. Cristie Kerr 16 3. Stacy Lewis 16 4. Suzann Pettersen 14 5. Brittany Lincicome 16 6. Ai Miyazato 14 7. Angela Stanford 16 8. Na Yeon Choi 15 9. Paula Creamer 16 10. Karrie Webb 16 11. I.K. Kim 14 12. Morgan Pressel 16 13. Amy Yang 16 14. Jiyai Shin 14 15. Michelle Wie 15 16. Maria Hjorth 14 17. Hee Kyung Seo 15 18. Mika Miyazato 15 19. Sandra Gal 14 20. Brittany Lang 16 21. Catriona Matthew 13 22. Sun Young Yoo 16 23. Sophie Gustafson 15 24. Anna Nordqvist 15 25. Inbee Park 12 26. Song-Hee Kim 16 27. Karen Stupples 16 28. Katie Futcher 14 29. Meena Lee 14 30. Hee Young Park 15 31. Se Ri Pak 14 32. Mindy Kim 13 33. Chella Choi 14 34. Candie Kung 15 35. Amy Hung 16
Money $2,116,051 $1,348,216 $1,171,422 $1,137,148 $1,003,705 $898,454 $838,689 $738,546 $733,423 $716,475 $692,894 $667,743 $656,943 $609,415 $533,846 $511,037 $508,177 $491,497 $457,558 $429,120 $376,594 $375,082 $357,820 $343,818 $331,018 $303,691 $265,519 $256,134 $240,085 $237,164 $233,895 $219,786 $212,261 $205,059 $201,167
Summer Continued from D1 “It was obviously a slow start,” says Whitcomb. “The weather got better at the first part of July, and it really seemed to be a pretty good season, all in all. Nothing like the old (pre-recession) days, of course. But better than last year.” Lost Tracks is not alone, as many of the region’s courses are reporting a relatively brisk July and August, typically the two busiest months for most area golf facilities. Eagle Crest Resort, too, saw an uptick in play at times during the heart of summer, says Ron Buerger, Eagle Crest’s director of golf. That, according to Buerger, is somewhat of a surprise, considering the Redmond resort is renovating its hotel and has a reduced number of rooms, therefore limiting the amount of prospective guest players. “We had a very good middle of the summer,” Buerger says. “July was really, in particular, a good month for us.” Good course conditions and relatively mild summer weather have led to a considerable amount of local play and an increase in tourist play at Sunriver Resort, says Scott Ellender, director of resort operations. That modest surge has helped offset a slow spring, despite the fact that corporate and group business is still well off from 2007, Ellender says. “We more than overcame the sluggish spring, with the weather being poor in April and May,” says Ellender. “June, July and August — all three of those months — were very strong and outperformed last year.” Sunriver also saw a jump in rounds played with rental clubs, likely a result of golfers avoiding baggage fees charged by airlines, Ellender theorizes. Ellender adds that the number of rounds played during discounted afternoon times is also on the rise, a sign that golfers are still searching for bargains. Local golfers have become more difficult to predict, says Lost Tracks’ Whitcomb. They have become pickier with regard to a course’s condition, and fewer golfers are making advance tee times, he says. “A lot more walk-on play has been happening,” Whitcomb says. “It’s been hard to staff. You look at the (tee) sheet and it says you have 80 players for the day, and all of a sudden you end up with 150.” Tetherow Golf Club in Bend — which relies heavily on rounds played by golfers traveling to Central Oregon from around the Pacific Northwest — this summer has seen its appeal stretch even beyond the region, says Caleb Anderson, Tetherow’s head pro. “We are starting to see more and more groups that are coming in from Chicago, New York, Boston and Florida,” says Anderson. That is an encouraging sign for golf’s future in Central Oregon. The inclusion earlier this year of three area courses — Crosswater Club in Sunriver and first-timers Tetherow and Pronghorn Club’s Nicklaus Course — on Golf Digest’s list of America’s 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses has helped, Anderson says. “What excites me in a big way for the future of golf in Central Oregon is that I think we are finally not just on the regional map, but more on the national map,” Anderson adds. While the optimism might be warranted, gains have been incremental for a golf industry still struggling to recover from the national recession that took hold in 2008. Most area courses remain in a slump since the region’s golf boom ended in 2007. But a strong finish to the current golf season, which can be expected to last well into October, could signal a recovery of sorts. “The good news is that we have leveled off and maybe picked up a little bit,” Eagle Crest’s Buerger says. “There is still a lot of concern out there with the economy, and people are stretching their dollar a little further than they used to. “Until things get a little bit more stable, I would suspect that it’ll continue to be a little bit of a challenge. But at least from where we are sitting, it looks like we are starting to take off again.” Zack Hall can be reached at 541-617-7868 or zhall@ bendbulletin.com.