Swing time Golfers can choose from a variety of scenic courses in and around the Methow
The Winthrop track plays as 18 holes, with different tees on each nine. It has wide fairways, small greens and a couple of hills — upward shots off the tee that might dismay all but the big hitters. But they are fun. There is only one sand bunker that is quite out of the line Bear Creek offers fabulous of fire on the No. 8/17 views. PHOTO COURTESY OF holes. The views are BOB SPIWAK By Bob Spiwak outstanding. On the downhill sixth tee you HERE are a handful of golf courses are virtually face-to-face with 8,000 in and around the Methow Valfoot Mount Gardner. ley. Golf devotees will find great As with all the courses, reserving tee scenery and course types ranging from times is advised. park land to sand hills. Alta Lake is a small resort with big The two courses in the valley are allowances for groups that stay in the nine-hole Bear Creek near Winthrop, greenside motel, which also boasts a and 18-hole Alta Lake resort at Pateros swimming pool. Adjacent is Alta Lake just off U.S. Highway 97. State Park.
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A refreshing approach to real estate services
The two nines are very distinctive, course, designed by David Kidd. It was like playing two separate courses. The conceived, says the course architect, first nine has very large greens, as it “ ... Just for the love of the game. No was once played twice around. It is homes, no hotel, no other development an easy walking course. On the back, in sight, just golf on sand as golf was you slowly climb to the highest point, truly meant to be.” overlooking the Columbia River to the The fescue fairways are wide, and northeast. The biggest challenge may the greens range from 6,000 to 16,000 be a short par 3 that square feet. There is perched on top of a are man-made and steep hill with fall-off natural bunkers on on three sides and a layout designed for brushy desert rough walking. Carts and on the other. caddies are available. From there it is Going east another about a 14-mile drive dozen miles to Lake to Gamble Sands, the Woods State Park, area’s newest course, you will find the Lake east of Brewster. It is Woods golf course. probably the only sand A nine-holer playing hill venue in central 18 different tees, this Washington, if not is the most park-like the state, and will of all the courses in be open for play on the area. Trees line Aug. 2. Located high almost every fairway. In the swing at Bear Creek. above the Columbia Rufus Woods Lake PHOTO COURTESY OF BOB SPIWAK runs along the 8th and River, it is a true links
The Merc Playhouse
Children’s Musical Theater production of
rlie & the e book Cha Based on th ald Dahl ctory by Ro Chocolate Fa
Missi
Words and M usic by Leslie Bric usse & Anthony N ewley Smith Adapted fo r th e Stage by Leslie Bricus se & Timothy A. McDonald
MAY 9 - 18 Fri, Sat 7pm Sun 2 pm
Adults $12, Youth 18 & Under $5 Tickets online or at the door 1/2 hour before showtime www.mercplayhouse.org
Directed by
blue sky real estate
the Valley’s #1 real estate company
www.MethowBlueSky.com Sherry Malotte, Owner Designated Broker Anne Eckmann, Owner Managing Broker Karen Reneau, Managing Broker Heather Marrone, Linda Van Valkenburgh, Rob Thorlakson, Brokers (509) 996-8084 ~ 141 Riverside ~ Winthrop, WA
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Methow Valley Summer
101 S. Glover St., Twisp, 509-997-7529 Presented through special arrangement with Music Theater International