From the Editor

I think we can all agree that 2020 has been a weird, weird year. With COVID-19 turning our lives upside down and cancelling many of the things we would normally do during the summer, more people are turning to the golf course as a respite.

Not only has that resulted in more rounds played by casual golfers, it means more players are taking the time to play in state golf association tournaments hosted by groups like Washington Golf, the Oregon Golf Association, and others.

I fell into that category, trying my hand again at qualifying for events like the Oregon Amateur and Washington Amateur championships. Needless to say, I still have work to do.

Many of the players I spoke with during those qualifying tournaments (observing proper social distancing, of course) said this was the first time they’d played in a state event. That was especially true for some of the events with higher handicap ceilings. The reason, they said, was that more time to play and practice gave them more confidence to step outside their comfort zones.

I approve!

It’s a little late for 2020, but it’s never too early to think about dipping your toe in the competitive waters. Nearly all the state golf associations host Winter series events, typically one-day affairs that are laid back but give players a taste of the bigger events. Once you play in a few, you’ll be ready to take on new challenges when the 2021 season rolls around.

The estimated odds of two hole-in-ones happening in the same group are 17 million to 1. At Yakima County Club, Ron Hoffman and Mark Littleton beat the odds to put two aces on their scorecard. Allan Cottle - in the group directly in front of them - also recorded a hole-in-one.

Congratulations to Bryce Wortman, Lara Tennant and Amanda Jacobs who were crowned champions at the Oregon Amateur Championship at Columbia Edgewater Country Club. The event, despite some COVID-19 restrictions, was just as exciting as ever.

Grant Spaeth, who proudly served the USGA in a variety of volunteer roles, including as the Association’s president in 1990-91, and was also elected to the Northern California Golf Association Hall of Fame in 2011, died July 28 at the age of 88.

The Idaho Junior Tour was forced to cancel a portion of its Southwest District Championship when an Eagle, Idaho police officer was shot and wounded nearby. The IGA thanked local law enforcement for making sure all players, parents, and staff were evacuated quickly and safely.