Golf, may 31, 2013

I FRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013 I SPECIAL SECTION

GOLF WWW.SPOKESMAN.COM/GOLF

Eventful year From long-putter bans to Tiger Woods vs. Sergio Garcia, it’s been a contentious season on the PGA Tour.

COMMENTARY, PAGES 4-5

VISIT FOR THE LATEST LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL GOLF NEWS

Five roadside courses offer pit stop opportunities for your Interstate 90 trips west from Spokane

Driving corridor ON THE WEB: Check out a photo gallery from our tour of I-90 courses online at spokesman.com/photos

Page 2

The Spokesman-Review

Friday, May 31, 2013

GOLF 2013 – INTERSTATE 90

CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON Special to The Spokesman-Review

Heavy rough and foliage divides the holes at Moses Pointe Golf Resort, a versatile public course in Moses Lake that offers a challenge for golfers of all abilities.

Portal to a perfect pit stop Courses along I-90 provide respite to travelers

to a Mariners game, maybe set up a nineor 18-hole diversion to break up the five-hour drive.

I’d never played four of the five The thought passes. I’ll stop on the

By Jim Meehan jimm@spokesman.com, (208) 765-7131 courses and it had been five years since I next trip. toured The Links at Moses Pointe. We For The Spokesman-Review golf tab, played in chilly temperatures and brisk photographer Chris Anderson and I The signs pop up every hour or so winds that left a few courses nearly stopped – in Cle Elum, in Ellensburg, along Interstate 90 west toward empty. There were four cars in the twice in Moses Lake and in Ritzville.

Snoqualmie Pass. A brown recreation parking lot at one course and we played sign with a golf bag and clubs. An exit for Five courses, all close enough to I-90 at nine holes in 65 minutes. some point that you can see traffic Golf Course Road.

We let a Ford Explorer play through zipping by in the background while I’ve driven to Seattle too many times (we figure the driver was heading for a to count. I always gaze over at tree-lined lining up a putt. We left a few more maintenance shed accessed via a dirt fairways in Ritzville and Moses Lake and courses to sample on another trip.

Instead of stretching your legs at a rest road below an elevated tee box). We wonder why I haven’t taken the time to area with your family or buddies en route played a par 5 that measured 365 yards check out those courses.

and neither of us made par. We played a par 3 where the flagstick wasn’t visible from the tee box. We did a double-take at two greens separated by 8 feet. We experienced tiny, round bunkers that looked borrowed from a British Open and deep rough that had a U.S. Open feel.

We put roughly 765 miles on my car.

We played an alpine gem, an 18-hole layout with a challenging mix of hazards, a pair of traditional nine-hole tracks and an immaculately manicured private course with some tee times available to the public.

And I was left wondering why I hadn’t stopped sooner.

Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Friday, May 31, 2013

Page 3

GOLF 2013 - ELLENSBURG

Guarding its secrets Ellensburg’s wrinkles offer test There are two sets of tees, with the front nine measuring 2,988 yards and the back (if you opt to play (Ellensburg, 180 miles 18) spanning 3,220. It’s $18 from Spokane; 28 miles for 18 ($20 on holidays and from Sun Country) weekends) and a fairly easy walk. The course handles Take the Thorpe about 25,000 rounds Highway exit and drive annually. about four miles to find “We get very busy for 10 this rural, nine-hole course months of the year,” said bordered by the Yakima Frank Crimp, co-owner River, ranches and farmland. Built in 1931, the along with his brother Keith. Both are former course has a traditional, relatively flat layout with a couple of wrinkles.

See ELLENSBURG, K11

By Jim Meehan

jimm@spokesman.com

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Page 4

The Spokesman-Review

Friday, May 31, 2013

GOLF 2013

Contentious year in world of golf COMMENTARY

By Doug Ferguson Associated Press

DUBLIN, Ohio – Ernie Els flashed that easy smile when he saw a reporter walking toward the clubhouse at the TPC Sawgrass earlier this month.

“This must be great for you guys,” he said through his laughter. “Come out to the PGA Tour and every week they hand you another story.”

And he wasn’t talking about Adam Scott winning the Masters.

The debate over anchored strokes and long putters. Deer antler spray.

Rule 33-7. A player cleared of an anti-doping violation on a technicality, and then suing his own tour. Players hiring an attorney over a new rule related to the long putter.

And this was before the public spat between Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods took an ugly turn that brought overtures of racism back into golf.

“It’s been quite a controversial year for golf,” Lee Westwood said.

Woods already has won four times on the PGA Tour going into the Memorial, a tournament he already has won five times in his career.

So when someone asked

deer antler spray. Vijay Singh used deer antler spray. The tour proposed a six-month suspension.

Singh appealed. WADA said deer antler spray was no longer the same concern.

Singh was off the hook. And then Singh sued the tour.

The good news for PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem was the lawsuit was largely forgotten three days later. The bad news for the tour was why it was forgotten.

Singh vs. PGA Tour felt like an undercard compared with Garcia vs.

Woods.

The Spaniard threw a sucker punch during a rain delay by suggesting Woods was the cause of a Associated Press commotion in their final Sergio Garcia drew criticism for a barb at Tiger Woods containing a racial stereotype. group of the third round.

Woods fired back by calling the tour for being cleared of out Garcia for his constant 33-7, which gave it Westwood on Tuesday if complaining, which led discretion to disregard the getting a drug violation,” there was a sense that the Garcia to say Woods wasn’t Padraig Harrington said. penalty of disqualification No. 1 player was on the the nicest guy on tour. And WADA warned against verge of going on a big run, for the incorrect scorecard.

That debate lost steam Westwood looked mildly when Vijay Singh sued the perplexed.

“I think he’s on one, isn’t tour the day before The he?” Westwood said. “How Players Championship began at TPC Sawgrass, many tournaments has he played this year? He’s won where the Fijian spent years honing a game that more than 50 percent.”

But any talk of Woods is brought him nearly $70 million in earnings and a sure to include the illegal drop he took at the Masters, spot in the World Golf Hall of Fame. Lawsuits against the two-shot penalty he the tour are rare, but the received the next day, the incorrect scorecard with his details of this one were signature on it and Augusta bizarre.

“Nobody has ever sued National invoking Rule

with no interest by either side in a truce, Garcia tried to make a joke about having Woods over for fried chicken, and he wound up with egg on his face.

Garcia threw out the racial stereotype the same day that the Royal & Ancient Golf Club and U.S. Golf Association introduced Rule 14-1b, effective in 2016, that would ban the anchored stroke used for long putters – like the one Scott used when he won the Masters, or the one Els used at the British Open, and Webb Simpson in the U.S. Open, and the ones used by Tim Clark and Carl Pettersson their entire pro careers.

At least three players, including Scott, have retained a lawyer as they wait to see whether the PGA Tour goes along with the new rule. The tour met See COMMENTARY, K5

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Friday, May 31, 2013

Page 5

GOLF 2013 having growing issues.

We’re learning how to handle doping issues, although nobody has learned to do that yet. I’m been reading about Lance Armstrong all day.�

It always seemed like some other sport’s problems, and now some of those problems belong to golf. “It’s been great on the golf course – fantastic, really,� Geoff Ogilvy said. “Tiger has won four times. The Masters was amazing again. Any time golf is in the newspaper, it’s a good thing for us.

Obviously, the Sergio-Tiger

COMMENTARY Continued from K4

with its Player Advisory Council on Tuesday at Muirfield Village, the first step toward figuring out which direction it will go.

According to one PAC member at the meeting, there was passion on both sides of the debate, which was not surprising. And there was no consensus, also not surprising. This was only a conversation, and from all indications, no one called anyone names.

So much for golf’s reputation as a genteel sport. “Is it bad for golf?� Nick Watney said Tuesday afternoon. “It depends on your theory of publicity. If you had the Kardashian feeling that any publicity is good publicity, then it’s good. If you’re a purist in terms of golf, then it’s bad.

The lawsuits, the rule change, the little feud going on. My view is that it’s bad.

This is supposed to be a gentleman’s game. We’re different from a lot of other

thing wasn’t good. But it has been a tumultuous year.�

And it’s not anything Finchem can make go away with a wave of his hand.

Considering that golf is a niche sport, maybe that’s not the worst thing. “Outside the ropes, golf is probably more interesting than it ever has been,�

Robert Garrigus said. “I don’t think it’s all that bad if it makes our sport more interesting. There might be a few more people come out to the U.S. Open.�

That would be good for golf. Maybe not so much for Garcia.

Pick Your Deal - $15.00 Associated Press

A new rule outlawed anchored putting stroke used by Masters champion Adam Scott.

pro sports.�

This isn’t the first time golf has gone way beyond birdies and bogeys.

There was the lawsuit involving Ping and the square grooves in the 1980s.

There was Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, leading the breakaway from the PGA of America to start what is now the PGA Tour at the end of the 1960s.

Imagine if Woods and Phil

Mickelson did something like that today. “It’s not a perfect game,�

Curtis Strange said. “Some people believe there’s no such thing as bad press, but it seems like we’re still

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Page 6

The Spokesman-Review

Friday, May 31, 2013

GOLF 2013 – MOSES LAKE GC

CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON Special to The Spokesman-Review

Iris and other flowering plants frame the No. 10 tee at the Moses Lake Golf Club, a private course that offers some tee times to the general public.

Private gem offers twist The course has some teeth – 6,632 yards from the blues – and the fairways are so lush there isn’t much rollout on drives. Moses Lake’s (Moses Lake, 109 miles from Spokane; 73 miles biggest defense is the greens, nearly all back-to-front slopes. They’re often small, from Ellensburg Golf Club) circular targets that demand precise approaches This 18-hole course within a lob wedge of I-90 and deft touch on chip shots.

Then the real work begins. Find yourself appears inviting from the driver’s seat and it doesn’t disappoint upon closer inspection. It’s in above the hole and you’ll wish your ball was equipped with brakes. The greens were running fabulous condition from tee to nearly 11.2 on the Stimpmeter and Eslick said they’re ball-mark-free greens.

Many of the holes are framed by natural waste typically kept at 12. A 20-foot uphill putt is areas, a mix of sand, leftover ash from Mount St. usually a better spot than a 10-foot downhiller.

The 18th green, almost perfectly round, is Helens’ 1980 eruption, high grass and perhaps table-top fast. the only weeds you’ll find on the course.

“Most of our greens are small and pushed up,” “It looks like this year ’round,” pro Mike Eslick said. “You’re in defense mode when you Eslick said. short-side yourself or you’re above the hole or Moses Lake is private, but tee times can be found on golfnow.com. It’s worth a Web search. over the green.”

By Jim Meehan

jimm@spokesman.com, (208) 659-3791

It took all of one swing to find a waste area, but it’s not difficult to find your ball. Houses line the perimeter of the course, but they’re situated well off the fairway. A few holes are tree-lined, but more often there are trees every 15-25 yards that permit recovery shots.

The par 3s range between 140-180 yards with greens protected by bunkers front left and front right. The par 4s have a nice blend of short – No. 1 is 314 yards and No. 2 is 324 from the tips – and long – four are 400-plus. The par 5s are reachable in two with an accurate, booming drive, but there’s sufficient punishment if you’re off target on either of your first two swings.

The signature hole is the 555-yard, par-5 17th adjacent to I-90. It used to be a par 4 but was extended 90 yards. The green sits less than 50 yards from the interstate with a sand trap, marshy area and a frontage road in between.

Moses Lake GC Blue tees Yardage: 6,632 Rating/Slope: 71.5/120 White tees Yardage: 6,375 Rating/Slope: Men 70.5/114, Women 75.8/124 Gold tees Yardage: 5,859 Rating/Slope: Men 68.1/109, Women 72.9/118 Red tees Yardage: 5,224 Rating/Slope: 69.7/113

Friday, May 31, 2013

Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Page 7

GOLF 2013 – THE LINKS AT MOSES POINTE

CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON Special to The Spokesman-Review

The ninth hole at Moses Pointe Golf Resort is protected by water in front and sand traps on the other sides.

Lakeside challenge

By Jim Meehan jimm@spokesman.com, (208) 659-3791

(Moses Lake, 113 miles from Spokane; 4.5 miles from Moses Lake Golf Club) This versatile course plays 5,787 yards from the reds all the way to 7,549 from the blacks (championship tees). There are plenty of bunkers, including a number of wisely placed fairway traps, elevation changes, thick rough and water.

It’s a challenging layout that hosted the 2005 and 2008 Washington State Amateur and the 2011 Pacific Northwest Public Links Championship.

“The shaper did an amazing job with the bunkers. We use Ravensdale tan-colored sand and it highlights the grasses,” said Bill Porter, director of golf.

“What’s unique about the greens is nothing is really super severe. There isn’t

a green complex where people say, ‘Gosh, what were they thinking?’ They’re large and have lots of pin locations.”

You’ll deal with length, fairway bunkers and green-side traps on the 455-yard par-4 4th. The par-5 sixth has the same features as well as a fairway that meanders left then back to the right.

The picturesque ninth is 458 yards with a trap awaiting drives right of the fairway. Hit the fairway and you encounter a downhill approach with a mid- to high-iron with little margin for error. Water and several bunkers gobble up errant shots.

The 11th is 561 yards, the last 175 or so uphill. The fairway is guarded by a water hazard left and club-grabbing rough and O.B. right. After your drive, seven traps catch your eye. The green is flanked by big bunkers left and right.

“It forces you to hit a good tee shot

because there’s not really a bailout with water left and the road to the right,” Porter said. “If you want to take off a little of the corner, you can get home in two and potentially make a three.”

No. 12 is par 3 over water to a large green with a spine in the back middle. It’s 173 yards from the whites and a whopping 234 from the tips.

The par-5 18th is a nice closing hole.

There are traps on each side of a narrow driving area and a huge bunker front left of the green.

“All of the par 5s are reachable maybe with the exception of No. 1,” Porter said.

“You have a line that you can take that’s a little more risk-reward and give yourself an opportunity to reach in two.”

Porter added that the thick rough, thanks to fertilizer and spring rains, would soon return to its normal, shorter length.

The Links at Moses Pointe Black tees Yardage: 7,549 Rating/Slope: 75.6/130 Blue tees Yardage: 6,965 Rating/Slope: 73.0/126 Copper tees Yardage: 6,720 Rating/Slope: 72.1/124 White tees Yardage: 6,323 Rating/Slope: Men 70.1/124, Women 76.4/132 Gold tees Yardage: 6,080 Rating/Slope: Men 69.1/121, Women 75.1/128 Red tees Yardage: 5,787 Rating/Slope: Men 67.8/119, Women 73.6/126

Page 8

Friday, May 31, 2013

The Spokesman-Review

GOLF 2013 - RITZVILLE

CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON Special to The Spokesman-Review

The nine-hole course at Ritzville is a great spot to stop and break up a trip to Seattle or the Tri-Cities with a little golf.

Right down the freeway 9-iron on the 157-yard second hole that and enjoyed several of the course’s was either swallowed up by the wall off unique features. No. 1 and No. 7, both 275 yards, share the same trees left or caught a piece tee box. From the tees, the of Bauman Road and was (Ritzville, 63 miles from Spokane; 52 holes essentially heading toward the, um, miles from Moses Lake) criss-cross early and nearly drive-thru. Either way, The last stop on our two-day odyssey missing right is preferable Red/blue tees reconnect at the greens. was this fun, often tree-lined and Yardage: 5,597 Trees and rough divide the to missing left. occasionally road-lined nine-holer Rating/Slope: seventh fairway to the left Ritzville is a par 35 that that’s roughly an hour’s drive from Men 66.8/116, from the first fairway to measures 2,812 yards. It’s Spokane. It opened with six holes in Women 72.5/124 the right. The two small, reasonable for nine holes 1938 and expanded to nine holes five round greens at the closest ($14 weekdays, $16 years later. point are maybe three weekends) or 18 ($20 and I can’t be positive, but it might be the $22). The small greens aren’t easy to strides apart. first time I’ve hit a shot that came to There’s another brief crossover. The hit, but they’re smooth and roll true. tee shot on No. 9 travels across perhaps We finished in less than 90 minutes rest in a Zip’s parking lot. I tugged a

By Jim Meehan

jimm@spokesman.com, (509) 659-3791

Ritzville

the last 30 yards of fairway on the eighth hole. The ninth is a worthy finishing hole at 363 yards with a tiny green. My approach was about 25 feet left of the pin, landed on a slope and bounced 25 yards from the putting surface.

The lone par 5 is the tree-lined 499-yard No. 3. The 139-yard par-3 fourth plays uphill and has trees with overhanging branches that redirect shots headed to the left edge of the green.

Nos. 5 and 6, which are separated by Division Street, are probably the toughest holes. Both are par 4s just less than 400 yards with narrow fairways.

Friday, May 31, 2013

Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Page 9

AREA COURSE DIRECTORY The following is a directory of area golf courses. For more information on the area golf courses go online at spokesman.com/golf

www.cdapublicgolf.com.

•Coeur d'Alene Resort (208) 667-4653.

18-hole greens fees: weekdays/weekends, April: $150 for day guests, twilight rate April daily $75, (after 2:00), May/October: $150-$175, twilight •Avondale GC (208) 772-5963. 18-hole $75-$90, June/September: $195, twilight $110; greens fees: weekends/weekdays, $58.75, except Mondays at $37. After 1 p.m., $40. 9-hole July/August: $220, twilight $135. Fees include cart, range balls and forecaddie, sports massage weekends/weekdays, $31. 18-hole cart fee: $30; and complimentary bag tag. Best values: Golf 9-hole: $15. Tee times: no deadlines. packages available, include lodging and golf. www.avondalegolfcourse.com.

•Bryden Canyon GC (208) 746-0863. 18-hole Spring starting at $99 per person based on double occupancy. Specials will be announced greens fees: weekends $26; weekdays, $22. throughout the year. Tee times: no deadline if 9-hole: daily, $17. 18-hole cart fee: $14 per seat; staying at hotel. Call for Good Neighbor specials 9-hole: $9 per seat. Tee times: no deadlines. starting at $75. www.cdaresort.com. www.brydencanyongolf.net.

•Colfax G&CC (509) 397-2122. Summer rates: •Chewelah G&CC (509) 935-6807. Until May 18-hole greens fees weekend/weekdays, $23.

15: 27 holes (includes cart), $50 on weekends, 9-hole: weekends/weekdays, $16. 18-hole cart $45 M-Th.; 18 holes $35/$30. May 16-Sept. 5: 27 holes $60/$55; 18 holes $50/$45. Sept. 6-season fee: $20; 9-hole: $14. Tee times: weekends, call one day in advance; weekdays, no deadlines. close: 27 holes $50/$45; 18 holes $35/$30.

•Dominion Meadows GC (509) 684-5508.

Seniors $5 discount M-Th.; juniors $5 discount 18-hole greens fees: weekends/weekdays on 9 holes, $10 on 18 or 27 holes M-Th. Walking rates all season: 9 holes $17, 18 holes $35/$30, 27 $26/23; Senior 18-hole: $23/$21. College $23/21, Junior $18 (no weekend rates), 9-hole fee: holes $40/$35. Tee times: no deadlines. weekends/weekdays $21/$19; Senior 9-hole: www.chewelahgolf.com. $18/$16. College $18/$16, Junior $12/$12. 18-hole •Circling Raven GC (800) 523-2464. 18-hole cart fee: $24; 9-hole: $12. Tee times: Call one day greens fees (with golf cart and use of practice range): Through May 16: Monday-Thursday: $65, in advance. dominionmeadowsgolf.com.

•Deer Park G&CC (509) 276-5912. 18-hole Friday-Sunday: $75; May 17-Sep. 29: greens fees: weekends $29 ($20 for sunset rate Monday-Thursday: $80, Friday-Sunday: $95. after 3 p.m., with $10 cart fee); weekdays Sep. 30-end of season: Monday-Thursday: $65, (Monday-Friday) $26 ($21 for seniors). 9-hole: Friday-Sunday $75. Tee times: 30 days in weekends after 3 p.m., $17.50 ($16 for seniors); advance. www.circlingraven.com. weekdays (Monday-Friday) $17.50 ($16 for •Coeur d'Alene GC (208) 765-0218. 18-hole seniors). 18-hole cart fee: $29; 9-hole: $14.50. greens fees: weekends/weekdays, $29, $24 for seniors. 9-hole: weekends/weekdays, $17, $15 for Tee times: weekends/ weekdays, call one week in advance. www.deerparkgolf.com. seniors. 18-hole cart fee: $27; 9-hole: $17. Single •Downriver GC (509) 327-5269. 18-hole person 18-hole cart fee: $17; 9-hole $10. Tee greens fees: weekends $31, weekdays times: Friday-Sunday and holidays, call prior (Monday-Thursday) $29, (with discount card the Tuesday; Mon-Thurs, prior Thursday.

BUY ONE GET ONE SMALL FREE Bucket of balls

weekends are $25, weekdays $21). 9-hole: weekends $31 ($21 after 3.p.m), weekdays $21 (with discount card weekends $17 after 3 p.m., weekdays $17). 18-hole cart fee: $28; 9-hole: $14.

Tee times: weekends, call previous Friday starting at 2 p.m.; weekdays, call two days in advance by 2 p.m. www.spokaneparks.org.

•Esmeralda GC (509) 487-6291. 18-hole greens fees: weekends $31, weekdays $29 (with discount card $21 during weekdays, $19 for seniors, $25 on weekends). 9-hole: weekends (only available after 2 p.m.) $21; weekdays (only available after 3 p.m.), $21 (with discount card $16). 18-hole cart fee: $28; 9-hole: $14. Tee times: weekends, call previous Friday starting at 2 p.m.; weekdays, call two days in advance by 2 p.m.. www.spokaneparks.org.

•The Fairways GC (509) 747-8418. 18-hole: Tuesday-Friday greens fees $24; Monday $19 (high school students $11, senior citizens $19, everyday); weekends $29. 9-hole: weekends/weekdays $17. Everyday after 4 p.m. $19. Tee times: weekends/weekday tee time opening varies, call clubhouse for availability. www.golfthefairways.com.

•Hangman Valley GC (509) 448-1212. 18-hole greens fees: weekdays (Monday-Thursday), $27, weekend $29; rate for pre-book $32; county discount card $22 M-Th, weekends $24; 9-hole: weekdays $21. Seniors rate with discount card M-Th $18.50. Juniors – 9 or 18-hole $15, 10.50 with junior discount card. 18-hole cart fee: $28; 9-hole: $14. Tee times: weekends, call the previous Saturday by 7 a.m.; weekdays, call on Tuesday at 7 a.m. Course does not allow fivesome parties.

•Harrington G&CC (509) 253-4308. 18-hole greens fees: Wednesday-Sunday $18, $16 for seniors; Monday-Tuesday $10 (except holidays).

9-hole: weekends/ weekdays $13, $11 for seniors.

Bucket of balls

BUY ONE GET ONE FREE

18-hole cart fee: $23; 9-hole: $13. Tee times: no deadlines.

•Highlands GC (208) 773-3673. 18-hole greens fees: weekends/weekdays $35; seniors weekdays/weekends after 1 p.m. $28; juniors, weekdays $15 and weekends $22 until 1 p.m. then back to $15; 9-hole: $22 weekdays/weekends after 1 p.m.; 18-hole cart fee: $14 per seat; 9-hole: $7 per seat. Tee times: weekends, call up to one week in advance; weekdays, up to one week in advance. Twilight time is after 3 p.m. and is $25 with cart, $20 without. www.thehighlandsgc.com.

•Idaho Club (208) 265-2345. 18-hole greens fees: $125 includes golf cart. Twilight rate (after 2 p.m.) $80. Tee times required.

•Indian Canyon GC (509) 747-5353. 18-hole greens fees: weekends $31, weekdays $29 (with discount card $21 during weekdays, $17 for seniors, $25 on weekends). 9-hole: weekends/weekdays (only available after 2 p.m.), $21 (with discount card $17). 18-hole cart fee: $28; 9-hole: $14. Tee times: weekends, call previous Friday starting at 2 p.m.; weekdays, call two days in advance by 2 p.m.. www.spokaneparks.org.

•Liberty Lake GC (509) 255-6233. 18-hole greens fees: weekday (Monday-Thursday) $28.24, $15.69 for juniors. With $30 discount card the rate is $23.01, $19.35 for seniors and $10.98 for juniors. Weekend $30.33 and $25.10 with discount card. Seniors after 3 p.m. is $19.35.

9-hole: weekday $21.97 and $17.78 with discount card. 18-hole cart fee: $28; 9-hole: $14. Tee times: weekends, call on Saturday one week in advance; weekdays, call the previous Tuesday morning.

See DIRECTORY, K12

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Page 10

Friday, May 31, 2013

The Spokesman-Review

GOLF 2013 – SUN COUNTRY, CLE ELUM

CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON Special to The Spokesman-Review

Many of the holes at Sun Country have water hazards lurking around the greens and force a lay-up-or-carry decision for your second shot.

Sparkling stretch run at Sun boxes. The views are you’re a nine-hole.’ outstanding in every This is the fourth direction, even on a season on 18 holes.” dreary morning. The For late May, Sun (Cle Elum, 206 miles from Spokane) Yellow tees hole is 396 yards, Country was in great Yardage: 5,507 straight downhill.

Rating/Slope: Men 67.3/117, condition, particularly We pulled into the parking lot to see No. 7 comes back the Women 72.3/131 the greens.

14 R.V. spots, a cart/maintenance barn other direction and No. Green tees The opening hole is marked with “GOLF” in large, white 8 is 339 yards with a Yardage: 5,266 a 410-yard par 5 that letters and a nifty, narrow putting small pond to the left, a Rating/Slope: Men 65.3/115, doglegs left. The green. This affordable course ($30 narrow rock creek in Women 70.9/128 weekdays) doesn’t overwhelm with second (or third) shot front of the green and a Red tees distance – 5,507 yards from the tips – is steeply uphill to the larger pond to the right.

Yardage: 4,711 but it requires accuracy, placement and green. Another par 5, “That stretch that Rating/Slope: Men No. 11, measures just the ability to negotiate numerous parallels the freeway is 63.3/103, Women 68.2/119 365 from the back elevated greens. probably three of the “I do a booth at the Seattle Golf Show tees, but it’s a double prettiest holes out dogleg and there’s a and what I hear is, ‘I always see Golf here,” Colson said. “It’s all tree-lined Course Road and I figure I should stop pond on the left hidden from view. and then you come out to those three Both nines have a stretch of great sometime,’ ” general manager and holes. On the front, it begins with No. 6 and it’s wide open.” course superintendent Jamie Colson The back side closes with a bang. The and a major climb to the elevated tee said. “Or I hear, ‘I played 15 years ago,

By Jim Meehan

jimm@spokesman.com, (208) 659-3791

Sun Country

par-3 15th plays from 142 to 164 yards, dropping 125 feet in elevation to a crowned green with hazards circling the back half. And your view of the pin might be obstructed. Do not miss long, which happens frequently because picking the right club might require degrees in math, physics and geometry.

The 16th is a reachable par 5 with a pair of long, straight shots. No. 17 is a 431-yard par 4 with O.B. left and right.

The par-3 18th is nearly 200 yards from the back tee. Look over to the right and one homeowner has crafted a small putting green in his backyard.

“Those last three or four holes, you can have something special going and by the time you get through there you’re thinking, ‘Get me off the course,’ or, ‘I survived,’ ” Colson said. “We’re looking for a good name for that stretch.”

Friday, May 31, 2013

Spokane, Wash. / Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

GOLF 2013 – ELLENSBURG

ELLENSBURG

Continued from K3 Central Washington University golfers.

The first hole, 354 yards with a right-to-left sloped fairway, is your first introduction to numerous small, circular bunkers framed with high, tangled rough.

There is one bunker left and one right for wayward tee shots, not to mention an irrigation channel 15 yards from the left edge of the fairway.

No. 2, an arrow-straight 338-yard par-4, has a few more of those bunkers, sections CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON Special to The S-R of high, nasty rough left and an irrigation channel right.

Tee markers at the Ellensburg Golf “My brother plays a lot of amateur golf Course show the wear and tear of the well-used track. around the northwest and he incorporated those pot along the right bunker features discourage a throughout the direct-line shot. There course,” Frank said. are a couple of bunkers “At one time we maybe White/red tees and trees for drives had 10 bunkers. Now Yardage: 6,208 that miss left. The we have 40, and they Rating/Slope: Men 70.0/124 small green is certainly come into Blue/yellow tees protected in back by a play.”

Yardage: 5,678 grove of aspens, by a The third and sixth Rating/Slope: Women 73.1/122 bunker short right and holes are probably the beyond that the toughest. No. 3 is 429 yards and doglegs to the right. The sixth is Yakima River. Wind turbines can be seen 435 yards with a hazard on the right. The in the background.

“You get a little northwest wind going par-3 fifth is 166 yards, but probably played closer to 195 into a stout headwind. and it’s plenty tough,” Crimp said.

Reecer Creek, a nine-hole course in The signature hole is the par-4 fourth.

Ellensburg visible from I-90, closed five It’s just 295 yards and reachable for long years ago. hitters with a gentle fade, but large trees

Ellensburg GC

VIC MEYERS CLASSIC AT SUN LAKES Coulee City, WA 99115 | 509.632.5738

COLOCKUM RIDGE GOLF COURSE Quincy WA 98848 • 509.787.3244

BANKS LAKE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB Electric City, WA 99123 • 509.633.0163

CRESCENT BAR GOLF COURSE Quincy, WA 98848 • 509.787.1511

OASIS PARK GOLF COURSE Ephrata, WA 98823 • 509.754.5102

SUNSERRA AT CRESCENT BAR Quincy, WA 98848 • 509.787.4156

DESERT AIRE GOLF COURSE Mattawa, WA 99349 • 509.932.4439

ROYAL GOLF COURSE Royal City, WA 99357 • 509.346.2052

HIGHLANDER GREENS GOLF & PRACTICE CENTRE Moses Lake, WA 98837 • 509.766.1228

LAKE VIEW GOLF COURSE & COUNTRY CLUB Soap Lake, WA 98851 • 509.246.0336

MOSES LAKE GOLF CLUB Moses Lake, WA 98837 • 509.765.5049

LAVA LINKS DESERT GOLF Soap Lake, WA 98851

MOSES POINTE GOLF RESORT Moses Lake, WA 98837 • 509.764.2275

SAGE HILLS GOLF CLUB Warden, WA 98857 • 509.349.2603

LEGACY GOLF RESORT AT FRENCHMAN HILLS Othello, WA 99344 • 509.346.9491

Golf Grant County, Washington For more information, please contact: Grant County Tourism Commission P.O. Box 37, Ephrata, WA 98823 509.765.7888 • 800.992.6234 TourGrantCounty.com

2013

Page 11

Page 12

Friday, May 31, 2013

The Spokesman-Review

AREA COURSE DIRECTORY

DIRECTORY Continued from K9

•The Links GC, Post Falls (208) 777-7611. 18-hole greens fees (all prices include tax): Through April 14, $20 any time. Friday, Saturday, Sunday $36; Monday, Wednesday, Thursday $31; 9-hole Friday, Saturday, Sunday $26; Monday, Wednesday, Thursday $21; Tight-Wad-Tuesday: 18-hole: $21; 9-hole: $14. Seniors 60+: $26 for 18 holes, $16 for 9 holes. Juniors: $17 for 18 holes, $12 for 9 holes. 18-hole cart fee: $30; 9-hole: $15. Tee times: no deadlines.

•MeadowWood GC (509) 255-9539. 18-hole greens fees: weekday (Monday-Thursday) $28.24, $15.69 for juniors. With $30 discount card the rate is $23.01, $19.35 for seniors and $10.98 for juniors. Weekend $30.33 and $25.10 with discount card. Seniors after 3 p.m. is $19.35. 9-hole: weekday $21.97 and $17.78 with discount card. 18-hole cart fee: $14 per person; 9-hole: $7 per person. Tee times: for weekends, call on Saturday one week in advance; weekdays, call the previous Tuesday morning. www.meadowwoodgolf.com.

•Mirror Lake Municipal Golf Course, Bonners Ferry, Idaho (208) 267-5314. 9-hole greens fees: $16, weekends and holidays $18, juniors $9. 18-hole: $23, weekends and holidays $25, juniors $13. Cart trail fee: $5.

•Palouse Ridge GC (509) 335-4342. 18-hole greens fees for residents (live within 40-mile radius): $50. Non-residents: $99.

Seniors (60+)/Faculty and Staff: $40. Students: $40 (Monday-Thursday $30). Juniors (17-): $20. Twilight: $30. 9-hole greens fees: $40 before 8 a.m. and after 3 p.m.. Cart fees: all rates include a cart. www.palouseridge.com.

•Pine Acres (509) 466-9984. 18-hole greens fees: weekends/weekdays $13; seniors/juniors (weekdays only) $12.

9-hole: weekends/weekdays $9; seniors/juniors (weekdays only) $8.

Pull carts $1. Tee times: none. Range bucket prices: 135 balls for $11, 90 balls for $8, 60 balls for $7. Club Rentals: $0.50 a club.

•Pinehurst GC, Pinehurst, Idaho (208) 682-2013. 18-hole greens fees: weekday and weekend $22, 9-hole $15. Play Monday or Thursday for $15 all day fee. 18-cart fees: $14 per seat; 9-cart fees: $7 per seat.

•Pomeroy GC (509) 843-1197. 18-hole greens fees: weekends/weekdays $18. 9-hole: $12. 18-hole cart fee: $20, 9-hole: $10. Off-course cart fee: $3. Tee times: none.

•Ponderosa Springs (208) 664-1101. 9-hole: weekends/weekdays $12, $6 to play again. Weekdays: seniors (55 and over) $10, juniors (17 and under) $10. Ten-play passes: $90. Pull carts only: $2. Club rentals: $3 for a bag. Tee times: none. No dress code.

•Prairie Falls GC, Post Falls (208) 457-0210. 18-hole greens fees: $25. 9-hole: $15. 18-hole cart fee: $15 per seat; 9-hole: $8 per seat. Tee times: one week in advance. www.prairiefallsgolf.com.

•Priest Lake GC (208) 443-2525. 18-hole greens fees: weekends/weekdays high season (June 18-Sept. 11) $55; 9-hole: weekends and high season $29; off-season $29 for 18, $15 for 9.

18-cart fee: $15 per seat, 9-cart fee: $12 per seat. Tee times: no deadline, but time availability varies. www.priestlakegolfcourse.com.

•Quail Ridge GC (509) 758-8501. 18-hole greens fees: weekdays (Monday-Thursday) $25; weekends $28. 9-hole greens fees: weekends/weekdays $17. 18-hole cart fee: $28, $14 per seat; 9-hole: $16, $8 per seat. Tee times: one week in advance.

•The Creek at Qualchan GC (509) 448-9317. 18-hole greens fees: weekends $31, weekdays $29 (with discount card $21 during weekdays, $19 for seniors, $25 on weekends). 9-hole: weekends/weekdays (only available after 3 p.m.), $21 (with discount card $17). 18-hole cart fee: $28; 9-hole: $14. Tee times: weekends, call previous Friday starting at 2 p.m.; weekdays, call two days in advance by 2 p.m. www.spokaneparks.org.

•Ranch Club Golf Course (208) 448-1731. 18-hole greens fees: weekends/weekdays $22. 9-hole: weekends/weekdays $17. 18-hole cart fee: $20; 9-hole: $15. Golf all day (April, May, October, November): $15. Tee times: on weekends reservations are needed a couple of days in advance.

•Ritzville GC (509) 659-9868. 18-hole greens fees: weekends $22; weekdays $20; senior (Monday-Thursday) $17. 9-hole: weekends $16; weekdays $14, senior (Monday-Thursday) $12. High School students and below can play unlimited rounds for $5 (Monday-Thursday). Trail fee: $5. Tee times: no deadlines. Subject to change because of city council.

•Sandpoint Elks GC (208) 263-4321. 18-hole greens fees: weekends/weekdays $25.50. 9-hole: weekends/weekdays $16.50.

18-hole cart fee: $23; 9-hole: $16.50. Pull cart (unlimited): $5. Tee times: none.

•Shoshone G&TC (208) 784-0161. 18-hole greens fees: weekends/weekdays $26, senior $22, junior $18 (under 18 years).

9-hole: weekends/weekdays $16, senior $14, junior $9. Monday except holidays, all day $20. 18-hole cart fee: $26; 9-hole: $13. Tee times: no deadlines.

•St. John G&CC (509) 648-3259. All-day greens fees: weekends/weekdays $15. 9-hole: weekdays $10.

•St. Maries GC (208) 245-3842. 18-hole greens fees: weekends $24; weekdays $20 (weekdays juniors, $8). 9-hole: weekends $15; weekdays $13 (juniors, $8). 18-hole cart fee: $26; 9-hole: $13. Tee times: no deadline.

•Stoneridge GC (208) 437-GOLF. 18-hole greens fees: Through April, $44 includes 18-holes, cart and lunch. May-Sept weekdays $32; weekends $35; weekdays twilight $22, weekends twilight $25; April and October $26 any time, twilight $18; Cart-$14 per seat. Large bag range balls-$6. Tee times: call 14 days in advance. www.stoneridgeidaho.com.

•Sun Dance GC (509) 466-4040. 18-hole greens fees: weekends/weekdays $26; weekends before 8 a.m. and Tuesday-Thursday between Noon and 3 p.m. $15; juniors $13.50; seniors $23. 9-hole: weekdays/weekends, all 18-hole rates apply until 3 p.m. 18-hole cart fee: $28; 9-hole: $14. Twilight (After 3 p.m.): $13.

Tee times: call one week in advance. www.sundancegc.com.

•Tekoa GC (509) 284-5607. 9-hole greens fees: weekdays $12. weekends/holidays $15. 9-hole: $9. Tee times: none.

•Twin Lakes Village GC (208) 687-1311. All rates through May: 18-hole greens fees: all week $30; seniors (Monday-Friday) $25.

9-hole: Monday-Friday and weekends after 3 p.m. and before 8 a.m. $22; Monday-Friday 18-hole for juniors is $18, 9-hole is $12; twilight rate $28 after 3 p.m. 18-hole cart fee: $14 per seat; 9-hole: $7 per seat.

Tee times: call one week in advance. www.golftwinlakes.com.

•University of Idaho GC (208) 885-6171. 18-hole greens fees: Weekends $28. Weekdays $25, students $17, seniors $22, juniors $15.

9-hole weekends: $17 after 2 p.m.; 9-hole weekdays: students $12, juniors $10, seniors $16. June-September twilight (weekdays after 3:30 p.m.) $21. 18-hole cart fee: $13 per seat; 9-hole: $9 per seat. Tee times: accepted one week in advance. www.webs.uidaho.edu/golf.

•Trailhead GC (formerly Valley View GC) (509) 928-3484.

9-hole: $15 every day, $10 juniors, $12 seniors; second 9: $8 adults, $6 juniors, $7 seniors; Pull cart $4. Club rental $10. Power cart: 9-hole: $7 per seat, 18-hole: $14 per seat. Every day after 5 p.m., unlimited play $11 (with cart $16).

•Wandermere GC (509) 466-8023. 18-hole greens fees: weekends $29; weekdays $25, seniors $21, junior $18 flat rate (regardless of 9-hole or 18-hole, after 3 p.m. on weekends). 9-hole: weekdays $19, seniors $16. 18-hole cart fee: $28; 9-hole: $14. Tee times: weekends, call one week in advance; weekdays, call one day in advance. www.wandermere.com.

Ranked as one of the top Resort courses in the he country and nestled nestle amid a stunning blend of unique terrain, Circling Raven Golf Club at the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort offers everything you could want and more.

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