NORMAN CHEUK - PRESIDENT
KIM SHEK - VICE PRESIDENT
BRETT VANDENBERG - SECRETARY
TOM DIMECO - TREASURER
BILL BONNELL
MARYLE TRACY
PETER ZOBRIST
COLLIN CLARK BEN MINYARD
JASON HART - GOLF
MATT ADAMSON - GREENS
MATT KILMER - FINANCE
MARCIA MARTIN - HOUSE
JEFF HARRIS - MEMBERSHIP
JEANNE LINK - RULES AND HANDICAP
BEAU CLINE - JUNIOR GOLF
TYLER DION - CHAMPIONSHIP
SHARDUL KIRI - SOCIAL
LESLIE LUDLOW GENERAL MANAGER/COO LESLIE@SAHALEE.COM
CHARLIE SCHAUWECKER AGRONOMY DIRECTOR CHARLIE@SAHALEE COM
JEREMY WILSON CONTROLLER JEREMY@SAHALEE.COM
DEANN ANDERSON DIRECTOR MEMBERSHIP DEANN@SAHALEE.COM
CALEB KRAUS HEAD GOLF PROFESSIONAL CALEB@SAHALEE.COM
ZAKARY MESZAROS EXECUTIVE CHEF ZAKARY@SAHALEE.COM
CATHY WALKER FOOD AND BEVERAGE DIRECTOR CATHY@SAHALEE.COM
PAT OIEN SUPERINTENDENT PAT@SAHALEE.COM
SARAH FRANTZ DIRECTOR OF EVENTS & COMMUNICATIONS SARAH@SAHALEE.COM
VINCENT CUCINELLI DIRECTOR OF FACILITIES VINNY@SAHALEE COM
LAURIE COLEMAN ACCOUNTING ADMINISTRATOR LAURIE@SAHALEE.COM
Whataweektoremember!Theweekstartedwiththeunveilingofthe BrookeHendersonplaqueon9Northfairwaycommemoratingher2016 Women’sPGAChampionshipwin Andendedaschampagneshowered overAmyYangasshewonherfirstmajorchampionship.Inbetween, whatmadetheweekspecialwasseeingsomanySahaleemembers (asvolunteersorspectators)cometogetherandbeamwithprideas thecourseweallcallhomeshinedbrightlyongolf’sglobalstage.Like manyofyou,Ireceivedmessagesfromfriends,family,andcolleagues fromaroundthegloberavingabouthowgreatSahaleelookedonTV andhowtheywanttoplaythenexttimeintheNorthwest.
It’snotoftenaclubgetstohostamajorchampionship.Aswehostedourfourth,itwasgreattosee thatSahaleeisstillholdingtoourfounders’visionthattheClub“periodicallyhostmajorchampionship events”andcontinuestobeastrongchampionshiptestforthebestplayersintheworld.
Thankyoutoallthosethatcameouttowatchandespeciallytoallourmemberswhovolunteered. BoththePGAandKPMGwerethrilledwithhowtheeventwentatSahalee.Itisonlywithsuch outstandingmember,staff,andvolunteersupportthatthischampionshipcouldhappen
Thankyouagain,
NormanCheuk ClubPresident
DearSahaleeCountryClubMembersandTeam, WhatanincredibleweekinthehistoryofSahaleeCountryClubwiththe outstandingsuccessinhostingthe2024KPMGWomen'sPGAChampionship Theeventwasaremarkableshowcaseofdedication,hospitality,and exceptionalstandards
Firstly,IwanttoexpressmydeepgratitudetoeverymemberofSahalee.Yourunwaveringsupport,volunteerism, andwillingnesstoshareyourbeautifulcourseforthisprestigiouseventplayedacrucialroleinitssuccess.Your generosityandcommunityspiritaretrulycommendableanddidnotgounnoticedbytheplayers,fans,andall thatwereontheHighHeavenlyGroundduringtheincredibleweek.
TotheentireSahaleestaff,yourtirelesseffortsandboundlessenthusiasmthroughoutthechampionshipwas evidenteverydayandeverynightoneveryshift.Yourhardworkandcommitmentwereevidentineveryaspect oftheevent,ensuringaseamlessandmemorableexperienceforallinvolved.Thelongdaysandattentionto detailcontributedsignificantlytothesmoothrunningofthetournament.
AcrosstheweekthereweresomanyunforgettablemomentsfromcommemoratingBrookeinawaythatshe won’tsoonforget,theincrediblecrowdsfollowingLexi,theunthinkableeliminationofourWorld’snumberone, Pajaree’sholeinoneon13,theballinthewateron17onSundaybyoureventualchampion,AmyYang,that madeeveryoneholdtheircollectivebreathandthebestchampagnecelebrationeveron18 Whatisfuntothink aboutisthateverysingleteammember,patronandmemberwillhaveadifferentsetofhighlightreelsrunning throughtheirmindsastheylookbackonthe4thMajorChampionshipforSahalee Literally,hundredsof thousandsofmemoriesweremadethatwillbecherishedforyearstocome-howspecialisthat!
Idon’tthinkitwouldbeanoverreachtosaythatthehighlightoftheweekwasundoubtedlythepristine conditionofthecourse.ThisachievementisatestamenttotheexceptionalworkofDirectorofAgronomy, CharlieSchauwecker,Superintendent,PatOien,theagronomyteam,andtheselflessvolunteers.Yourexpertise anddedicationensuredthatthecoursewasinimpeccableshape,providingachallengingandbeautiful settingforthecompetition.Iamprobablyabitbiased,butIamnotsurethatIhaveeverseenacourseshine morespectacularlyonTVthandidSahalee.Itwasn’tjustincredibletolookat,italsoliveduptohavingtheteeth thataChampionshipcalibercourseataMajorshouldasevidencedbythescores.InthewordsofKyle McPhearson,“Shewasbeautiful,butmansheplayedlikeabeast”Welldone,team
Thankyouonceagainformakingthe2024Women'sPGAChampionshipanunforgettableevent Yourcollective effortshavenotonlyshowcasedSahaleeCountryClubasapremierChampionshipvenuebuthavealsolefta lastingimpressiononeveryonewhoattended
InGratitude,
LeslieLudlow GeneralManager/COO
Pride.Afeelingofdeepsatisfactionderivedfromtheachievementsofthosewhomoneiscloselyassociated,or fromqualitiesorpossessions(i.e.golfcourses)thatarewidelyadmired.
PrideisexactlywhatIfeltalllastweek.IsenseditineveryinteractionthroughouttheWPGAChampionship. Whetherviaahigh-fiveandasmile,endlesspositivecommentsonthenationalbroadcast,oratextofpraise fromacrossthecountry,thesenseofprideweallhaveinSahaleewaselevatedbecauseofthisevent. Thegolfcoursewasthestaroftheweek,andnobodyshinedbrighterthanCharlieSchauwecker,PatOienandthe Agronomyteam.Everyplayer,caddie,orcommentatorIspoketoabsolutelyravedaboutthequalityanddifficulty ofthegolfcourse.Thenumberofhourstheyputintothisweekareinnumerable;theireffortandcareareoffthe charts.I’veknownCharlieforalongtime,andI’mnotsureI’veeverseenhimsmilesoproudlyallweek.
Lesliedidmorethanyouwilleverknowforthischampionship.ShenavigatedtheHOA,negotiatedcontracts,and orchestratedalloftheteam’sefforts TheF&BteamdeliveredwithclassalongwiththePGA’scateringpartner Patina Vinnyhadtheclubhouselookingreadyforprimetime Bryan,Caleb,andtheProStaffwererelentlessin theirsupportandpreparation Bryanhasbuiltacultureofexcellence,andheledbyexample–evenknowingheis offtohisnextadventure Thefulllevelofcommitmentfromtheentirestaffwasoffthecharts Pleasejoinmein thankingallofthem
ThankstoSahaleememberswhosacrificedtheircourseandwerenearly30%ofthe1,050volunteersfortheweek That’ssubstantiallymorevs otherclubs,anditshowsthelevelofcommitmentwehaveatSahalee I’dliketo recognizethegroupof50whoservedasExecutiveCommittee,DivisionalChairsandCommitteeChairs Theyput countlesshoursofplanningleadinguptotheevent Mostputin12to14-hourdaysallweek,workinginsteadof watchingthechampionship.Yourselflessnessisincrediblyappreciated!
I’dliketorecognizeJayKirschenman,whohastakenKirschenmanCornertoawholenewlevel.Heproduced interviewswithme,Charlie,andkeystafftopromotetheevent.HisfirstvideowiththePGA’sKerryHaighwas incredible,givingusinsightsintohowhesawSahalee.ThePGAteameventoldme,“KerryNEVERdoesthose!”But whatdidKerrydo?HEaskedJayifhecoulddoafollow-upvideoafterthechampionship!ThisshowsthePGA recognizeshowmuchwecareaboutbeingagreatpartner.Thankyou,Jay,forworkingsohardbehindthescenes insupportoftheclub.YouareagreatexampleoftheculturewehaveatSahalee. Pleaseenjoythevideobelow. Twomomentsreallystoodouttome.OnSundayafternoon,IstoodinthebackoftheMemberPavilionasthefinal groupscamethrough.Watchingourspacefilledwithmembersandguests–allhavingagreattimetogetherand celebratinggolf,withthebestseatsinthehouse.Itwasaperfectmomentseeingeveryonecometogether. Second,asthecommitteesgatheredon18forthetrophypresentation,IstoodnexttomyMomandanabsolute tsunamiofgratitudehitme Itwasalong,16-monthjourneytogethere,butitwaswortheveryminute Itwasmyabsolutehonortoserveasyourchair,butthiswasnotmytournament Itwasours Wewillsharestats andfinancialsinthefuture Buttoday,bevery,veryproudofSahalee--wejustdidwhatveryfewclubsinthe worldcando Weabsolutelyshinedonthebiggeststageingolf
-TylerDion,GeneralChair
I’vehadtimetoreflectontheeventaswellastorefocusonthepathforward andsummergolfseasonahead LookingbackontheChampionship,never haveIbeensoproudofourteamandthegolfcoursetheyshowcasedtothe players,spectators,andgolfworld.Theweekhighlightednotonlythenatural beautyandchallengeofSahalee,butalsotheworld-classconditioningthat ourdedicatedprofessionalgroundsteamdeliveredthroughearlymornings andlatenightsspentpreparingthecourse(s).
Wecouldn’tdoitalonethough.50+turfgrassindustryprofessionalsservedas groundsvolunteersduringtheChampionshiprepresentinglocalcountryclubs andgolfcourses,suppliersandindustrypartners,andturfgrassmanagersfrom acrossthecountry(Oregon,California,Idaho,Colorado,Nebraska,Minnesota, andTexas).Newfriendshipsweremade,andoldonesrekindledaspast membersoftheSahaleeteamreturnedtosupporttheevent.Bothonandoff thegolfcourse,theChampionshipwasatestamenttothecamaraderieand communitywithinourindustry.
WithinfrastructurefromtheChampionshipnowbeingremoved,restorationofimpacted areasistoppriorityasweprepareforthesummergolfseasonahead.OntheSouthandNorth courses,whichreopenedforplaythispastweek,selectiveaerificationandoverseedingwillbe performedtorestoreturfareasthatwerecoveredbyhospitalitytentsandgrandstandsor damagedbyheavyfoottrafficduringtheevent.TheEastcourse,however,requiresmore extensiverepairfollowingtheroleitplayedduringtheChampionshipasparkingandstaging forcars,buses,officetrailers,andsemi-trucks RestorationoftheEastcourseishighly dependentontheprogressofdemobilizationofeventinfrastructurebutiscurrently anticipatedtobesufficientlycompletedforreopeningtheEastcourseforplayinmid-July. Thisprogresswillbemonitoredcloselyandcommunicatedthoroughlyoverthenextseveral weeks.
O N G R A T U L A T I O N S B R O O K E
Congratulations Amy Yang !
by Mark Ursino
Did you pick up your Trophy photo?
If not, come by the Sahalee Clubhouse Admin office
Tuesday - Sunday to pick it up
Thakn you again to Mark and Sue Ursino !
