Cascade Golfer Dec. 2025

•

• DeLille Cellars at U Village

• Tito’s Travels the

• Golf & biz with Pacific Seafood

• Duke’s Scholars and John Moscrip

• Northwest Golfers Playbook

• Corona Premier Property

•

LOOK INSIDE

•

•

•

• Cleveland CBZ wedges

• Evnroll Z putters

• Mizuno MX-1 iron sets

• Mizuno Pro T clubs

• Mizuno Pro S-1 irons

• Callaway complete sets

• Cobra Fly XL

Jim Hackenberg and the invention that changed golf practice forever

Fresh greens, fine dining and a first-class academy

Why Ka‘anapali is the perfect blend of challenge and chill

• Tony Dear’s Ryder Cup notebook

Photos by Dick Stephens

cascadegolfer.com

Cascade Golfer is published and owned by Varsity Communications, Inc. It’s mailed via USPS to 50,000 homes and e-mailed to 100,000 golfers in Puget Sound.

VARSITY COMMUNICATIONS, INC. varsitycommunications.com

EDITORIAL STAFF

PUBLISHERS

Dick Stephens & Kirk Tourtillotte

EDITOR

Tony Dear

ART DIRECTION & GRAPHIC DESIGN

Robert Becker

WRITERS & COPY EDITING

Bob Sherwin, Bart Potter, Steve Hamilton & Charles Beene

FOR EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS AND INQUIRIES:

Dick Stephens • Publisher stephens@varsitycommunications.com

FOR ACCOUNTING INQUIRIES: Kirk Tourtillotte • Publisher kirk@varsitycommunications.com

ADVERTISING & MARKETING STAFF

SALES/MARKETING MANAGER & TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR Simon Dubiel simon@cascadegolfer.com

COPYRIGHT 2025 Cascade Golfer. PRINTED IN THE USA.

All rights reserved. Articles, photos, advertising and/ or graphics may not be reprinted without the written permission of the publisher. Advertising and editorial contained herein does not constitute endorsement of Cascade Golfer or Varsity Communications, Inc. Publisher reserves the right to edit letters, photos and copy submitted and publish only excerpts. The publisher has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all material contained in this issue. However, as unpredictable changes and errors do occur, the publisher can assume no liability for errors, omissions or changes.

All photos are courtesy of the course or individual unless otherwise noted.

PRODUCER AND OWNER OF THE

Seattle Golf Show is now a three-day expo with a new venue and free parking March 13-15

Happy holidays to all our loyal readers and Cascade Golfer fans!

We hope y’all had an amazing 2025 season and enjoyed the sport here at home and anywhere you toted your sticks. We’re surely blessed to have so many dynamic places to play in this great state with layouts featuring links, seascapes, mountains, deserts, parklands and forests. We have it all.

All-new Seattle Golf Show venue, dates and free parking

We’re super excited to make this announcement related to our Seattle Golf Show, now March 13-15, which is an honor to produce every year.

For the first time in almost three decades the Golf Show will be moving from a two-day, downtown Seattle showcase to an exciting new three-day format — still in Puget Sound. Our new home is the fantastic expo hall at Puyallup’s Washington State Fairgrounds complex.

We’re grateful for the 200,000-plus golfers that have walked through the turnstile at the Seattle Convention Center and Lumen Field Event Center over the last 25 years. However, change is healthy, and this opportunity of moving Seattle Golf Show is giving us the chance to expand the programming into a three-day exhibition like we do in five other cities we do shows: Portland, Kansas City, St. Louis, Indy and Hartford, Conn. We now offer free parking and a larger facility — allowing us to grow and serve our incredible fan base.

There’s no increase in ticket prices and it’s easy access off the highway. Many other local expos have moved down to this location and seen great success. Follow us at seattlegolfshow.com and on Facebook for updates and news.

Happy 80th Anniversary Puetz Golf!

Co-publisher Kirk Tourtillotte and I recently had an amazing experience with Puetz leaders Mike Livingston and Dave Sanders during a little celebration of their 80th and our company’s 40th anniversaries down on the San Francisco Bay Peninsula.

Our “Toast Down the Coast” as we called it, took us to Half Moon Bay’s Ocean Course and the world-famous TPC Harding Park. It was a blast to just play golf and enjoy a few laughs with these dudes.

More importantly, the four of us — along with an amazing team featured in our staff box — have a healthy friendship spanning nearly 30 years, which keeps Cascade Golfer and Seattle Golf Show growing and glowing for you all. We thank the Puetz family, as well as Mike and Dave, for their commitment and guidance.

Season’s greetings and happy holidays — count your blessings with family and friends. AND, AS ALWAYS, TAKE IT EASY.

(Left to right) Livingston, Stephens, Sanders and Tourtillotte.

SHORT GAME

The Unicorn on the Snake: Kidd finds magic in Washington’s desert sands

We’ve been on Westport watch for a year or more, hoping to hear good news about progress through the courts of the David McLay Kidd-designed links course on the coast, two and a half hours southwest of Seattle. However, it seems that another Kidd design in Washington is going to beat Westport to the punch.

Actually, there’s no “seems” about it. While Westport waits for the green light, the other course is already under construction and, says Kidd, will be fully grassed by the end of next summer and in play by summer 2027.

The “other” course doesn’t have a name yet but is situated on an incredible 300 acres overlooking the Snake River about 15 miles northeast of Pasco. It is being developed by Ben Harris and Kennewick Councilman Brad Beauchamp, who began a housing project in Kennewick in 2023 and who are partnering with entrepreneurs Keith and Jordan Tiegs. Keith Tiegs is a Washington State Uni-

versity alum (horticulture), president of the Oregon Potato Company, and owner of KT Farms, which operated a produce-growing business this year on the site. Until recently, it was covered in cherry orchards and the Kamiak Vineyards, which belonged to the Gordon Brothers Winery. Because demand for Washington wine has dipped in recent years, the winery filed for bankruptcy in 2020, and the vineyards have been ripped out.

Harris and Beauchamp hope the golf course enables them to revitalize the adjoining Levey Park, where they spent many summer days in their youth. The park was closed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers earlier this year when federal budget cuts meant the park could no longer be staffed.

“You’ve got this beautiful, amazing waterfront park and it’s locked up,” Harris told the Tri-City Herald in September. “I grew up in nearby Burbank, and Levey was the

place to go back then. We just felt it was a shame and thought that, if we could help, it would be a major win for everyone.”

It may be a couple of years before the park’s fate is known, however. For now, though, and probably of more interest to readers of this magazine, the golf course is happening.

Though likely to be open to the public in part, it is not clear yet what the business model will be.

Kidd was first contacted with the proposal in October 2024. He was (and still is) a busy man. Scarecrow at Gamble Sands had just opened as had Loraloma in Texas. Plus, there is his design at Streamsong in Florida, which is now close to being complete. He told the Pasco developers he would only come and see the property if it was “a unicorn.”

“They asked me what a unicorn was,” says Kidd, “and I told them you know it when you see it. They persuaded me that what they had was pretty special, so I eventually got to go and see it in March. And, yes, it was a unicorn — sandy soil, views over the river, and a 12-month playing season.”

With Gamble Sands (x2), Bandon Dunes, Tetherow, Pasco and Westport (hopefully), Kidd is becoming the most prolific and successful course designer in Pacific Northwest history. And we are most certainly here for it.

GAME

From vineyard to village: DeLille Cellars brings its wine experience to Seattle’s U District

After taking a series of methodical and resolute steps to establish its brand, DeLille Cellars wine now has the state of Washington covered, from one end to the other.

The Woodinville-based winery – featuring grapes from highly regarded Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley and Red Mountain AVA – opened a wine-and-dine restaurant this fall at University Village, Seattle’s most fashionable outdoor mall. The DeLille En Ville tasting room/restaurant, a 6,700 square feet space in the southwest corner of U Village, opened in September.

“Our main goal was to bring DeLille wines to the main Seattle area as a tool for people to come out and try our wines,” said Britney Watson, DeLille’s marketing manager. “And to give our pre-existing customers another space to enjoy DeLille.”

DeLille’s biggest public splash came in 2019 with its unique 9,000-square-foot, three-story tasting rooms at the Old Redhook Brewery in wine-themed Woodinville. Two years later, the winery opened the adjacent 6,000-square-foot Restaurant at DeLille Cellars at the former Forecaster’s Public House.

“We don’t mess around,” joked Watson.

She added that with the success of their initial restaurant venture, “we were kind of looking for the right next step.” The U Village space became available – the former Amazon Book center – and DeLille moved on it.

“I think it was the right mutual spot,” Watson added. “For people at U Village, it’s a space to enjoy great wine. And for us, it’s a place that gets a lot of foot traffic, so it has that built-in opportunity to have people experience the magic of DeLille in Seattle.”

It’s been quite a journey from DeLille’s humble grapevines founded in 1992 by Chris Upchurch, Jay A. Soloff, Greg Lill, and his father Charles Lill. They understood that the vineyards of Eastern Washington are on the same latitude as the historic grape-growing regions in Bordeaux, France. The four founders' mission was to produce those kinds of red wines, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and blends.

DeLille, which early on partnered with or purchased Eastern Washington vineyards such as Harrison Hill and Red Willow, evolved into one of America’s premium Bordeaux-style producers. One of DeLille’s most honored brands is D2, as well as robust reds, which can be found at many upscale restaurants, country clubs and tasting rooms.

In December 2019, DeLille made its most consequential move, shifting its headquarters and production facilities from Eastern Washington to Woodinville and ultimately establishing its tasting room and initial restaurant.

Inspired by its French influences, the DeLille En Ville’s menu features such French dishes as steak tartare, duck liver pate and frites. The En Ville chef is Eric Anderson, who has worked at some of the finest eateries in France and on the East Coast. He was the Sous Chef for Tom Douglas’ Palace Kitchen and ran his own place, Samara.

Anderson said in a statement as En Ville opened, “we see the kitchen as we do the craft of winemaking – a celebration of our region where excellence is pursued, stories are told, and joy is created and shared. Whether it's a long lunch, celebratory dinner, or a casual glass of wine and small bites, our goal is to make every moment feel meaningful and memorable."

DeLille has released a limited-edition wine for the opening, a 2023 Red Blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Syrah.

There are more than 1,100 wineries in Washington and DeLille has become the second biggest wine producer. Their reach also goes beyond the state, establishing premium brands on the East Coast and California, among other places. It sends wines to 42 of the 50 states.

Watson added that there are no current plans for expansion, “but nothing is set in stone.”

“We’re always looking for that golden opportunity. It doesn’t mean this is the last,” she said. “Once we get our feet under us, perhaps we’ll look for that next golden egg.”

THERE’S OCEANFRONT GOLF, AND THEN...

There is Hōkūala, an Award Winning Jack Nicklaus Signature Course.

One signature hole after another. One picture postcard after another. Here, where the ocean meets the land, is as good as a golfer’s life gets. The Ocean Course at Hōkūala is the longest stretch of oceanfront golf in Hawaii and the recipient of several awards, making Hōkūala the premier golf resort on Kauai, Hawaii.

“I think of Kauai as a laid-back tropical paradise. The 16th hole at the Ocean Course at Hōkūala is a standout. Be careful playing the drivable par-4. It challenges you to make the right club selection. If your tee ball travels down the slot, then you have a chance to drive it on the green and putt for an eagle. A tee shot miss and you have a tricky pitch to the green. The smart play is usually to hit a hybrid or a 3-iron, leaving you a little wedge down to the green.” – Jack Nicklaus.

Ocean Course at Hōkūala winds through mango and guava groves to dramatic seaside cliffs. It’s an experience you’ll never forget.

K Ā ’ANAPALI IS CALLING YOU.

A RICH HISTORY AND LOTS OF FUN AT KĀ‘ANAPALI GOLF COURSES

Kā‘anapali Beach Resort Maui, is ideally situated on the protected leeward coast of Maui, where residents and visitors enjoy paradise weather year-round, and the fit and fun lifestyle that comes with it. Around the world, when people think of Maui, it’s images of Kā‘anapali that come to mind.

The idyllic lifestyle is found in full force on the two resort-style 18-hole Kā‘anapali Golf Courses layouts, where championship golf has been played for decades. The Royal Kā‘anapali Course, designed by the renowned Robert Trent Jones Sr., opened in 1962, and was the first resort course on Maui. One of only two courses in Hawai‘i designed by Jones, Sr., the course has hosted the best players in the world over the ensuing decades, with luminaries such as Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus participating in tournaments.

General Manager Karl Reul comments, “Our Royal Kā’anapali Golf Course hugs the shoreline before winding its way to the West Maui Mountain foothills. While the greens are heavily bunkered and undulating, if you keep the ball below the hole and on the same level as the pin, you’ll be rewarded with a makeable birdie putt. Take the time to come play both our amazing Royal Kā’anapali Golf Course and Kā’anapali Kai here on the beautiful Island of Maui; you’ll be glad you did!”

It’s not only “where the world comes to play”, but “where Kā’anapali is calling you.”

TRAVEL THE NORTHWEST

No sun, no problem

Washington swings into the indoor golf craze

Seattle and Washington state are fully on-trend heading to 2026 with the burgeoning phenomenon of indoor golf emporiums.

Two of the latest multi-venue ventures in the indoor-golf space are Five Iron Golf (with locations in Kirkland and Seattle’s Capitol Hill) and the Flatstick Pub (with six locations, including Seattle-Pioneer Square, Seattle-South Lake Union, Kirkland, Redmond, Bellingham and Spokane).

FIVE IRON GOLF

The growing Five Iron Golf chain operates indoor golf/simulator venues nationwide, including two opened this decade in the Puget Sound region.

Five Iron is designed to appeal to golfers and non-golfers alike with its combination of highfidelity TrackMan simulators with built-in coaching, simulator leagues, and a full bar/restaurant under one roof — accessible year-round, rain or shine.

Five Iron’s location at Kirkland Urban (425 Urban Plaza, Suite 200), opened in September 2024 and houses a 4,500-square-foot facility with four TrackMan simulator bays and social amenities like duckpin bowling lanes, outdoor patio, lounge and full bar.

Kirkland offers lesson and introductory packages ($99 for a one-hour instructional intro) and, like the larger Five Iron network, uses dynamic (demand-based) simbay pricing.

At Five Iron on Capitol Hill, opened in March 2022 at 1525 11th Ave., Suite 100, simulator rentals run from $50 to $62.50 per hour per person during peak hours (4 p.m. or later).

Five Iron memberships help frequent users stretch their value by offering off-peak or walk-in hours. Five Iron memberships are available for $275 a month (no initia-

tion fee), and benefits include 90 free minutes per day, walk-in play, and discounts on food, beverages, leagues, and instruction.

Five Iron Golf runs multi-location indoor golf leagues and is taking reservations now for four-person teams for the Spring 2006 season, which launches April 14.

Tito’s Handmake Vodka is a featured pour at the Five Iron bars, with the 5i Bloody Mary a cocktail staple. But don’t fail to try the Tito’s Transfusion (Tito’s, grape juice, Q Ginger Beer, fresh lime juice and Filthy Black Chery Syrup) as a golf swing enhancer.

Happy hour at Five Iron (3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday) is a solid value, with $5 bottomless boneless wings, $5 beer and cocktail specials and half-off the price of pizzas.

Five Iron’s hours accommodate early birds and night owls, too: They’re open as early as 6 a.m. Monday through Friday and as late as 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday, with Sunday hours from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

FLATSTICK PUB

Since its founding in 2014, Flatstick Pub has grown from a stand-alone Kirkland minigolf pub into a small network of golf-themed entertainment hubs across the Puget Sound region, as far north as Bellingham, and as far east as Spokane.

Each location features a nine-hole mini-golf/putt-putt course as the central attraction, plus the signature Duffleboard hybrid golf/shuffleboard game and often additional local variants.

At each Flatstick location, standard pricing is $12 per person for a round of mini golf. The “unlimited option” (mini golf plus Duffleboard) is typically $15 per person. Hosting parties of all sizes for family, friends or work groups is what they do best (visit www.flatstickpub.com

for more information).

Flatstick also offers a membership/Players Club model (about $99) that grants perks like free access to games, discounts on food and drink, and priority booking. Every Monday, Flatstick shows its appreciation to Players Club members with 25 percent off food and drinks, all day.

Flatstick runs a League Night in many of its locations, pitting teams in weekly match play around the mini golf and Duffleboard courses. Leagues are expected to relaunch in early 2026 (visit flatstickpub.com to register.)

Food is an integral part of the Flatstick experience, with each location putting its own spin on the menu. Drink offerings at Flatstick focus on Washington-made craft beer, ciders, and local wines; they emphasize “drink local” in their branding. Happy hour is 3-5 p.m. weekdays.

SHORT GAME

Reeling in deals and birdies: How golf brings Pacific Seafood’s ‘fish guys’ together

Marc Sorensen was the Member-Guest Champion at Canterwood CC this year.

f there is a common thread between the fish business and playing golf, Marc Sorensen will find it. And he has a loyal band of self-described ‘golf nuts’ to help him with his search.

Sorensen is the retail manager for the Pacific Seafood facility in Mukilteo, Wash. It’s what he does when he’s not playing golf.

“I didn’t start playing again until I started working here with all these golf nuts,” said Sorensen, who has been with Pacific for eight years.

He said his core group is comprised of Dave Hewitt, Andy Martin, Reggie Roberson and Ray Easterbrook. “We’ll play Cedarcrest, Snohomish, Walter Hall. We’ll always have an office pool going for all the Majors. On a slow day, maybe we can sneak in (an afternoon) tee time.”

On so many Sundays, their off day, “We try to get the first tee times in the morning, on by 5:15 a.m., done by 8:30 a.m., and back home watching the Seahawks by kickoff.”

He added that golf, “is the prominent topic of conversation in the office, especially in the summer.” Unfortunately, summer is the busiest time of year in the fish biz.

Summer is when the wild species run, and fish are caught and auctioned off sometimes before dawn. It’s when servicing and providing products to restaurants and clients is the most intense.

“In the fish business, everything happens early in the morning,” Sorensen said. “Buying and trading happens at 5:30, 6 a.m. We got to be at work early. Maybe we can go out after work and get in a twilight round in the summer.”

And maybe they can’t. So, they find other ways.

“Our business is all about relationships, building and maintaining those relationships,” Sorensen said. “I tell my team, ‘People buy from whom they like.’ We're an extension of their business. We help them with their business, help them make money.”

In return, Sorensen and the ‘golf nuts’ will get occasional invitations to play some of the finer country clubs and courses in the area, such as Rainier CC, Broadmoor CC, Sand Point CC, Harbour Pointe, Newcastle and Semiahmoo.

I WIt’s part of the give-and-take business relationships. Treating folks like family. That

has been the hallmark of Pacific Seafood for more than 80 years, a family-run, family-owned business.

Pacific Seafood began amid humble circumstances in 1941 when Croatian immigrant Frank Dulcich and his son Dominic opened a small fish store on Powell Street in downtown Portland. Over the years, the company expanded exponentially, expanding further into the Northwest, across the country as well as internationally.

It was in 1995 that Pacific Seafood established a stake in Washington when it purchased Pacific Fish in Seattle and merged with Pacific Pride Seafood to become Pacific Seafood of Washington.

Pacific Seafood now has 3,000 team members across 41 facilities in 11 states. It has seven distribution facilities throughout the country, in Arizona, Texas, California, Oregon, Nevada, Idaho and Montana.

“We’re one of the bigger seafood companies in North America,” said Sorenson, adding that since the company controls so much of the process, the boats, processing facilities, the trucks, their products “never leave our chain of custody.”

And today, it’s still a family-run company as Frank Dulcich, grandson of the founder, is the president and CEO.

Sorensen works at the Mukilteo facility, which employs about 150 people and incorporates sales, deliveries, the warehouse and the filet cutting room.

He said that the love of golf among his co-workers “happened organically.” Sorensen realized that his love of

Dave Hewitt, active in the community, loves golf and is a PNW semi-pro football legend.

golf is also good for business. His company is a willing sponsor for several charity summer golf tournaments. The company throws its support to the USO Tournament at Newcastle, the Ivar’s Restaurants tournament at Harbour Pointe and the Point Casino at White Horse.

“It’s a great way for us to show our support and our partnership with our customers,” Sorensen said. “Great networking opportunity as well.”

Also, a great way to get an elusive summer tee time. “It’s always on workdays. ‘Sorry, boss, got a tee time today; can’t come into work,’” he mused. “Our GM is pretty cool.”

Sorensen will invite various department workers to occasionally play in the charity events. The sport has an intrinsic value for these ‘golf nuts’ so it’s only appropriate. “We like to share the wealth.”

Courtesy of Pacific Seafood

WHERE WINTER GOLF FINDS ITS SWEET SPOT

When winter closes in elsewhere, the desert opens up.

At Desert Willow Golf Resort in Palm Desert, California, crisp mornings and golden afternoons create ideal playing conditions, from the bold redesign of Firecliff to the tranquil flow of Mountain View. Every round reveals new rhythm, framed by native desert flora and the majestic Santa Rosa Mountains.

Dial in your swing at the Palm Desert Golf Academy, where expert instruction and cutting-edge technology help you connect with your personal best. Then linger at The Terrace Restaurant, where fresh California flavors and panoramic views round out your day.

This is where winter golf finds its sweet spot, in sunlight, in scenery, and in every unforgettable shot.

Book your sweet spot this season.

or

desertwillow.com to plan your winter golf escape.

Desert Willow Golf Resort

Cascade Golfer and Duke’s Seafood congratulate this year’s winners

COLBY ROBERGE Roosevelt High School

BRYSON CHANG

North Shore Christian Academy

Colby

Reberge

Rising stars shine bright: Colby Roberge and Bryson Chang named 2025 Duke’s Seafood

Junior Golf Scholarship winners

The two winners of the Duke’s Seafood Junior Golf Scholarship in 2025 certainly added to the award’s long list of deserving young golfers — a list that goes all the way back to 2016.

The last award of 2025 went to Roosevelt High School’s Colby Roberge in August. Colby became a junior at the start of the school year and had a tremendous fall season as co-captain of the Roosevelt girls’ team. Coach Max Rose has initiated a season-long competition called the TEDEX Cup (a reference to Teddy Roosevelt and a play on the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup — we love this) in which players are awarded points for how they do in matches, team practices, and their four majors.

“For the second year in a row, Colby won our Masters Tournament at Green Lake Pitch ‘n Putt,” says Rose. “She also won our PGA Championship — a putt-putt tournament at Interbay GC.”

Since Roosevelt shares the course at Jackson Park with so many other teams, Coach Rose says he has to find other places and other ways to cultivate competition.

“We track pars, putts, birdies, and eagles, all for TEDEX Cup points. Colby led the team in pars this year and, by winning two of the four majors, she earned Roosevelt’s highest honor of Player of the Year.”

The season wrapped up at the Metro Championship in which the Riders finished fourth and qualified for the district tournament at Riverbend next May.

“Colby is a great player and an amazing role model for our younger players,” says Rose. “I’m excited to see what she does as captain of next year’s team.”

In June, Bryson Chang’s list of accomplishments really left us no choice about that month’s winner. To be honest, we’d been sitting on his nomination for a couple of issues but had winners for those editions lined up already. So, the North Shore Christian Academy student had to wait a few months, during which time his list of impressive finishes continued to grow.

Jin, Bryson’s father, had nominated him in early 2024 by which time the youngster had already finished ninth in the U.S. Kids’ Golf (USKG) World Championship and recorded 15 wins in Seattle, Tacoma, Tri-Cities, and Portland junior events.

When he won the scholarship, Bryson told us he’d probably put the money towards some new irons, an idea he followed through on shortly afterwards. He says his new iGen clubs are very good for “distance control with spin” — something we definitely weren’t considering as nine-year-old golfers. And he clearly put them to good use, continuing to add to his incredible resume.

In May, about the time we were writing his story for the June issue, Bryson won the U.S. Kids Golf Texas Open at Horseshoe Bay Resort where he shot two nines of 32 and 34 to finish six-under-par.

“The Texas regional event is one of the biggest in U.S. Kids Golf tournaments in the country,” says Jin.

Then in July, Bryson (now nine — he will graduate high school in 2034) won the Washington Junior Golf Association (WJGA) District 1 Championship, shooting 40, 42 at North Bellingham. It was his fourth win in six events in the Boys 8-11 section.

At Pinehurst, N.C. a few weeks later, he tied for 36th at the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship (Boys — 9) in a field of 130, shooting rounds of 75, 73, and 76 to finish eight-over.

We’re not sure which of Bryson’s 2025 performances is most remarkable but, whichever it is, we know it’s exceptional and Bryson Chang is definitely a name to follow in the future. We’ll definitely be keeping an eye on his progress and won’t be the least bit surprised if we see him some time on a Division 1 college roster and perhaps even TV.

“It would be great if Bryson can make it to the big stage,” says Jin. “And we will never forget his first ever scholarship, from Duke’s Seafood and Cascade Golfer.”

John Moscrip, the man behind the scholarship, says it’s always heartening to read about the winners.

“It means a lot to me to play even a small part in their development as golfers and people,” he adds. “The commitment they show to improving their golf games, doing well in school, and often contributing to their communities is so impressive. They are a credit to their families and schools, and I’m sure they will become great stewards of the game.”

Bryson Chang

SHORT GAME

Talking golf and Seattle icons with Duke’s John Moscrip

John Moscrip has been an important partner of ours for many years, donating tens of thousands of dollars to the game in the Seattle area through the Duke’s Seafood Junior Golf Scholarship. Growing up in Bellevue, Moscrip was a very accomplished junior golfer himself, played on a golf scholarship at UW, and dabbled as a professional for a few years, before finally becoming a restaurateur. Cascade Golfer readers probably know him more for his and his family’s delectable, award-winning chowders, and 100 percent sustainable seafood, such as halibut, salmon, Dungeness Crab, lobster, etc. than his golf. But he still has a profound love for the game, even if he doesn’t get many opportunities to play nowadays.

We thought it might be nice for him to think about golf and Seattle sport for a moment rather than place settings, personnel and payroll (and the upcoming holiday season which is always busy). So, we gave him 10 take his mind off the daily grind (which he loves, by the way, but you know…it’s work).

What's your favorite tournament to watch on TV?

Not even close — The Masters. I love everything about it, the tradition, the history, etc. My greatest memories are Jack Nicklaus winning in 1986 and Freddie (Couples) in ’92.

What was your highlight in 2025?

Well, I turned 50 this year, so there was a lot of fun family stuff, some travel. Golf-wise, my partner and I won our member/member at Snoqualmie Ridge for the fourth time. As for the pro game, I don’t get much chance to watch it these days, but I did catch the last day of the Ryder Cup. The U.S. made such an impressive comeback, and it was great to watch even if we did ultimately lose.

Who are your favorite golfers — past and present?

Nicklaus was always my favorite growing up, and today my favorite is probably Nick Taylor. He’s a fellow UW alum and just a great guy. He’s worked so hard for so long at the game and has had some great success in recent years.

What's your favorite course in the Puget Sound area/ PNW/USA/World?

Aldarra, locally — incredible course and great membership. Bandon Dunes in the Pacific Northwest — all the courses are great but I still love the original the best. Pebble Beach in the USA — it’s worth every penny and then some. And it’s easy to say the Old Course in St. Andrews internationally, but actually my favorite is probably Turnberry, where I played the 1996 British Amateur Championship.

Which course would you most like to play anywhere in the world?

Easy — Augusta National. Pine Valley a close second.

What's the greatest shot you ever played and saw?

The best shot I ever hit was probably my tee shot at the 16th at Cypress Point in 2021. It’s such a beautiful hole but was playing 230 yards dead into the wind. I nailed a 3-wood right on the pin and ended up right behind it. It was a great moment because I was playing with great buddies.

The greatest shot I ever witnessed was at Whitefish Lake in Montana about 10 years ago. I was tournament but hadn’t done well, so went out early in the final round. I was standing on the 15th heard a click from the 4th green close by. A good buddy and UW alum, Robb Bergeson, had flown the ball in the hole for an ace. I didn’t actually see the ball go in, but I was right there. Two days before, we’d spread his father’s ashes on that hole so you can imagine what a special mo ment and unforgettable memory that

Who's your favorite Seattle athlete?

The two players I enjoy watching the most are Kraken’s Jordan Eberle and Jaden Schwartz. Total studs!

What's your fondest sporting memory?

Going to Sonics games with my dad in the 1990s.

Which person would you most like to meet?

Hmm, that’s a tough one. Can I choose someone who’s no longer with us, sadly? Chris Cornell. I went to a few Soundgarden gigs back in the day and just loved that band. Cornell was a brilliant performer.

What one thing would you change about golf?

Another easy one — pace of play. We’ve got to find a way to speed this game up a bit.

You might see Moscrip at any one of Duke’s Seafood’s six locations — South Lake Union, Tacoma, Bellevue, Green lake, Kent, and Southcenter, or perhaps at the company’s wonderful outdoor event space at South Lake Union, which can accommodate everything from small meetings and gatherings with 30 or so attendees to large receptions and weddings with 325.

Duke (left) and John Moscrip (right)

Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell. The band was just inducted into the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame in 2025.

One of Moscrip's idols, Seattle’s Freddie Boom-Boom Couples, is a World Golf Hall of Famer.

SHORT GAME

Wine Valley

The Home Course

Suncadia

Sudden Valley

2026 NORTHWEST GOLFERS PLAYBOOK

With over 100 offers in the PNW, the Northwest Golfers Playbook helps keep your golf schedule full without emptying your wallet

The 2026 Northwest Golfers Playbook is here. Like previous versions, it’s jammed full of offers that will help you save some green. Whether you are strolling down the fairway at your favorite course or avoiding rainy days in an indoor, climate-controlled environment, the NWGPB has you covered.

With golf courses still busting at the seams, the NWGPB offers golf savings at a ton of spots, including some of the top courses in the state as well as your local favorites.

When you think of Washington’s best courses, The Home Course and Suncadia certainly come to mind. Well, with the Playbook, you’ll save a few coins at both. But they’re not the only great tracks where you’ll enjoy significant savings. Inside, you’ll also find Salish Cliffs, White Horse, Port Ludlow, Avalon and Apple Tree, along with plenty of other gems.

If you are trying to lower that handicap, or just trying to avoid losing so many golf balls, maybe some instruction is in your future. Save on golf lessons at multiple locations including Puetz Golf, GolfTec, Pacific Northwest Golfer Centers and Snohomish Valley Golf Center (SVGC). Puetz and SVGC have you covered on range balls, too, and also offer deals on golf equipment, apparel and loads of other items that will make the game more enjoyable.

Puetz Golf includes $10 in Puetz Bucks with the purchase of every Playbook in addition to their lesson, range and repair offers.

If you live north of Seattle, we have several tracks for you to hit up, including Avalon, Camaloch and Gleneagle, and even some great options for you in Whatcom County with North Bellingham, Loomis Trail, Lake Padden and others. Plus, we are super excited to add Shuksan to the mix this year. It has a very fun layout and one to put on your hit list in 2026.

For south-end folks, the deals are likewise plentiful, with several offers from great courses in and around Tacoma, DuPont and Puyallup. So, you’ll get great rates at Oakbrook, The Home Course, Eagle’s Pride, Meadow Park, The Classic, High Cedars and plenty more.

Those looking to save a few bucks while on vacation should bring their Playbook if headed to Central Washington, Suncadia, the Olympic Peninsula, Bellingham, Portland, Hood River, the Oregon Coast or Central Oregon. There are over 120 pages of deals, and you’ll just need to use a coupon or two to be in the black.

The book is sold online for $44.95. Readers can use the code SAVEBIGONGOLF to shave $5 off that, making a good deal even better. Pick one up at NWGolfersPlaybook.com and be sure to tell someone at the course you appreciate them being in the Playbook when you make your next tee time.

Hit ‘em straight! Cheers!

A new turn at Chambers Bay: The Landing tees off in style

t has been anticipated for years — perhaps dating back to 2007 when Chambers Bay first opened for play — but Pierce County’s world-class golf course finally has a permanent turnstand.

The Landing, a $4 million facility located in the middle of the course to service golfers — as well as hikers on the adjacent trail — opened in October. It provides food options and seating beyond the ‘temporary’ snack shop trailer that occupied the area for the previous 18 years.

Chambers General Manager Matt Cohen said the new building “allows us to enhance the service level … an upgrade for what we can offer. It’s a great place to grab a bite and rest for a while, either on the patio or indoor seating.”

The Landing has room for at least 20 folks inside and about double that on the outdoor patio. It’s not a full-service restaurant like the Chambers Bay Grill next to the pro shop at the top of the course but it does provide hot sandwiches, flatbreads, paninis and soups. It also has a full bar, featuring local beers and spirits.

The facility is situated between the first and 10th holes, faces southwest toward Puget Sound. It was designed by Seattle-based SHKS Architects with an angled roof to mirror the contours of the surrounding berms. Cohen said the design blends “seamlessly with the golf course.”

The public course, owned and operated by Pierce County and managed by KemperSports, has had the turnstand on its master plan for years but had been delayed over funding priorities. County officials finally requested bids in 2023.

Cohen, who took over as the Chambers GM in June 2024, said the course is as popular as ever, particularly among international visitors. The number of Canadian golfers has declined this summer because of current trade issues, but he said Pacific Rim golfers, particularly from South Korea, as well as Europe, South America and Australia continue to rotate through, all of them seeking to play the course that hosted the 2015 U.S. Open.

Cohen remembers a visiting Scottish golfer paying his green fee on a particularly wet, dreary day.

“He was grinning from ear to ear,” Cohen added. “He said he couldn’t have picked a better day.”

Here are Cohen’s thoughts on our six-question Corona Premier Property feature.

A Bucket with GM • Matt Cohen

Toughest Tee Shot

No. 7 is a long uphill par-4 (467 yards) with deep and penal waste bunkering up the entire right side of the hole. While the fairway is generous in width, any tee shot that does not hug the very well-protected right side of the fairway leads to a very long second shot to an uphill, blind green that is well protected by bunkers and deep hollows on all sides.

Best Birdie Opportunity

No. 12 (295 yards) — a short risk/reward par-4 that allows longer players to drive the green and potentially two-putt for their birdie.

Best Par 3

No. 15 (171 yards) — the Lone Fir! Our signature hole, a shortish par-3 with the Puget Sound as your backdrop, and the iconic Lone Fir, the only tree on the entire golf course, standing sentinel behind the green.

Favorite Hole

No. 16 (396 yards) — Derailed. An amazing par-4, not terribly long, but has such wonderful design features. The tee shot is framed by the Puget Sound on the golfer’s right, and a deep and craggy waste area that runs almost the entire length of the hole. Large mounding on the left side frames the fairway, which slopes significantly from left to right, funneling tee shots toward the Sound and the large waste area. The green is extremely well protected by a deep bunker on the left, and a diabolical greenside bunker complex covering the entire right side of the green. The green itself is wider in the front, and increasingly narrows towards the back pin positions, making precise second shots absolutely critical. The entire green slopes from left to right, causing all shots to bounce and feed towards the right-side bunker.

Emergency Nine front or back?

Back nine — there are no bad holes at Chambers Bay, but holes No. 14 through No. 18 are absolutely stunning, and No. 10 through No. 12 are also excellent, strong golf holes.

Go-To Lunch Item on the Clubhouse Menu

Seasonally, the Ahi tuna nachos are scintillating — crispy wonton chips, layered with chunks of sushi-grade ahi tuna, mango salsa, seaweed salad, fresh avocado, pickled red onion, sesame seed, topped with cilantro and drizzled with a sublime Sriracha mayo.

Sand White Blue Black Teal

RISK vs. RE WARD

Auburn Golf Course

Hole No. 9 Par 5

482 yards (Blue Tees)

BY SIMON DUBIEL • SALES/MARKETING MANAGER & TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR

The Setup

This beautifully maintained track offers a few risk/reward holes, and the 9th, at only 482 from the blue tees, serves up exactly that. The length is not the star of the show at this closing hole of the inward nine. First, you must navigate the tee shot precisely, avoiding bunkers that sit in the go zone on both sides of the fairway. It gets tight. Conquer that and you should have an angle that allows you to avoid the massive maple tree 180 yards out. Here comes the main dish: an approach shot that must carry a pond that hugs the entire front of the green. Cheers!

The Risk

It’s a fine line to know when to play aggressive and when to play it safe. If you are pulling a head cover for your 2nd, you are putting bogey and double bogey into play. However, the layup shot is tricky and at some point, you do have to hit the green and not the pond. Add in the severe putting surface and you see why plenty of folks have made the turn down a golf ball and muttering four letter words to themselves.

The Reward

Without a doubt, taking dead aim with your second shot is downright diabolical. It’s doubling down on 10/7. You are committed. If you have the nerve to stripe your long iron/hybrid with confidence, put the chips in. Who wants to try to hit a layup punch shot past the maple tree anyway? Find the dance floor in two on this shallow green and you might have pulled off the shot of the day. Your reward is a circle on the scorecard, maybe even two.

Final Call

This hole gives you the chance to keep the momentum rolling, chase a previous loser, or crash and burn. The pond is a popular spot. You have to avoid it. Hitting wedge with your third vs. 3-wood with your second might be the right play. But the question you must ask yourself comes from Dirty Harry: ‘Do you feel lucky? Well, do you punk?’ It’s a game-time decision.

PRESENTED BY

Winter Wonderland in a glass

The Laura Palmer cocktail

BY

CCult

hit show, botanicals

of Hendrick’s and savvy bartending bring this to life

ustomers sipping on a Laura Palmer cocktail at Here Today Brewery and Kitchen might well ask, “Who is Laura Palmer?”

It’s okay if you don’t know. Just ask the bartender, especially if it’s Cuyler Harris. Get him talking, and he’ll tell you not only who Laura Palmer was but who killed her on TV and why he named a cocktail after her and chose Hendrick’s Gin as its spirit base.

‘Round about this time you might want to settle in and order another so you can hear from Harris, the operations and facilities manager at Here Today, all about David Lynch and the “Twin Peaks” universe and how the world’s most famous mocktail shares a last name and a couple ingredients with the Laura Palmer cocktail.

This article has a word limit and can’t include everything the 38-year-old Harris has to say about life, art and mixology, and how he came to be in Seattle crafting cocktails at a family-friendly waterfront brewery. You at the bar have all the time in the world, so order up another one (he can leave out the gin, if you need him to) and hang on.

This short version begins at the beginning: “Who killed Laura Palmer?” is the central mystery of “Twin Peaks,” the early-1990s surrealist television classic created by Lynch.

Harris, whose title at Here Today (2815 Elliott Ave., Suite 101) doesn’t do justice to all he does (bartender, menu creator and artistic vibe infuser), is a primo aficionado of all things David Lynch. He was stunned by “Twin

Peaks” — he didn’t know TV could be that good.

“He's like such a huge piece of my life,” Harris says of Lynch. “Massive. I went to film school when I was younger, and I was always trying to maybe be in that field. He was huge for me.”

The Laura Palmer is related to a Harris cocktail menu an iteration ago, not long after Lynch died in early 2025, for which the drinks on the “Choose Your Adventure” roster of spirit-free concoctions was named for Twin Peaks episodes, e.g., Cooper’s Dreams, Orchid’s Curse, Northwest Passage or Traces to Nowhere. He even had Blue Velvet gelatin shots on the menu, named after Lynch’s 1986 film.

Harris says, “If you know, you know.”

The Choose Your Adventure drinks (www.heretodayseattle.com) are tasty as mocktails (perfect for children, who are welcome in Here Today, and the customers least likely to know about Laura Palmer) but enhanced, if so inclined, by the addition of spirits.

For the Laura Palmer, the spirit is Hendrick’s Gin, made in Scotland and owned and distributed by William Grant and Sons, Inc. The Hendrick’s original expression is prequel to the brand’s expanding shelf of gin innovations in its Cabinet of Curiosities series (www.hendricksgin. com), such as Oasium, Midsummer Solstice, Neptunia and Orbium, all as eccentric in their mixtures and marketing as the original.

Harris chose the original Hendricks for the Laura Palmer for its cucumber-forward profile, pronounced enough that Harris lists “Hendrick’s cucumber gin” as its first ingredient. Add in Wild Thai black tea, salted lemon and aloe vera juice and you have a drink that lives near to the Arnold Palmer, the iced-tea-and-lemonade refresher named for and favored by (so the story goes) the legendary Arnold Palmer.

The Laura Palmer and the Choose Your Adventure offerings won’t be on the Here Today menu forever. But ask Cuyler. He’ll fix you up.

If you know, you know.

At Home Bar Mixology

The Laura Palmer By Cuyler Harris • Here Today Brewery and Kitchen • Seattle

INGREDIENTS

• 1.5 oz. Hendrick’s Gin

• 2 oz. Rishi Wild Thai Black Tea

• 2 oz. fresh lemon juice, sweetened to taste, with two large pinches of salt

• 2 oz. aloe vera drink

INSTRUCTIONS

• Pour ingredients into a Collins glass or equivalent

• Fill to the top with crushed ice

• Enjoy responsibly

Here Today Brewery and Kitchen

Cuyler Harris

Fire walk with gin: A Twin Peaks tribute at Here Today Brewery

BART POTTER • CG STAFF WRITER

IN THE BAG

PRODUCT

REVIEWS and equipment news you can use

Up your gift giving game with these gems Yuletide gear

IBY TONY DEAR • CG EDITOR

t’s not all that long ago that the holidays were a decidedly unhappy time for the golfer. While everyone else was receiving quality gifts that made them smile, the family golfer tended to get a bad golf joke book or two and an array of chintzy golf-themed nik-naks.

I still have a few but have managed to subtly discard a lot of it over the years. You wanted to say “Oh, because I play golf, you assumed I’d want a tacky bedside lamp featuring an out-of-shape figurine dressed in dreadful knickers and a tartan cap, and a book full of really lame jokes none of which I’ll ever tell or try to remember,” but instead you said “Thanks” with as much gusto as you could muster…which was virtually none.

Thankfully, the holidays don’t have to be about chintzy nik-naks anymore because purchasing quality golf equipment is so easy these days and there’s an awful lot of great stuff out there. If you are buying for a golfer, what could be easier or ultimately more enjoyable than going to puetzgolf.com, easily finding the item your loved one hopes to get, ordering it in the size, color, length, flex, weight, loft… they prefer and then seeing them light up when they open the gift on Christmas morning? My weird family insists on opening gifts on Christmas Eve, but I hold out every year.

We hope you get some great golf gear (anything from the list below would certainly be nice) but should you receive anything…um…questionable, try to be nice about it. The giver probably meant well.

S1hort irons/wedges have plenty of loft which means you don’t need extra assistance to get the ball airborne. If anything, you actually need to keep it down out of the wind. But a flatter trajectory makes it harder to stop the ball on the green. Modern wedges are designed to keep the ball’s trajectory flat but make it spin a lot once it lands. Clubmakers do this by adding weight to the upper part of the club to raise the center of gravity (CG) but create grooves that generate the spin necessary for the ball to stop — low launch, high spin. Callaway launched its attractive Opus wedge in 2024 and followed quickly with the Opus Platinum. Just a year later, however, it introduced a wedge it deemed even better. The company removed between 16.8 grams and 23.6 grams from the bottom section of the club (depending on the loft) in the Opus SP (which stands for “Spin Pocket”) to keep the ball down but added what it called Spin Gen 2.0 to create backspin/friction. The body is cast 8620, the face form-forged 1025, and there are five sole grinds each designed to perform a specific shot off a specific lie in specific conditions.

PUETZ GOLF PRICE

$199.99

2

IN THE BAG

ere's another example of a wedge designed to create low-launch and high-spin, producing the shots you see pros play and want to recreate — ball flying on a low-ish trajectory, then spinning to an almost immediate halt on the green. The MG5 is forged from soft carbon steel to give it great feel and aggressive SawMilled grooves give exceptional spin and control. The technology TaylorMade uses to create the spin is called “Spin Tread Technology” which the company likens to a car tire helping to keep your car connected to the road. The RAW finish (the clubface will rust and become rough) creates more friction at impact which also helps your ball to come to a stop on the green quicker. The grooves have ultra-tight tolerances, steeper walls and sharper radii which, the company says, helps generate more spin. Rory McIlroy switched to a 60-degree low bounce lob wedge MG5 that was bent to 61-degree and won his first tournament of the season at Pebble Beach. Then he won the Players Championship … and then the Masters, completing the career Grand Slam. Later in the year, he added the Irish Open to what he said was his greatest year on the golf course.

X-Forged

X-Forged Max

4X-Forged & X-Forged MAX 3

GOLF PRICE Check PuetzGolf.com for pricing

he single-piece (1020 carbon steel), X-forged iron was originally made for Japanese golfers. Its design is Tour-inspired with a streamlined cavity back, compact profile, minimal offset, and a thin topline that better players appreciate. It also features a Tri-Level Sole with beveled leading and trailing edges to promote smooth turf interaction. The first X-Forged iron appeared in 2007 and was used by Phil Mickelson. Following Tour validation, it enjoyed some success at retail. But, after a few more iterations, it was finally replaced by the Apex TCB. X-Forged eventually resurfaced in Japan in 2023 and is now available to golfers on both sides of the Pacific. The X-Forged Max boasts a larger cavity back, more offset, and a "mid-compact profile" that makes it playable for mid-handicappers who will certainly appreciate the soft, forged feel but who are prone to making more off-center strikes and therefore need a club that is a touch more forgiving. A slightly wider sole helps lower the center of gravity to induce a higher launch angle, too. Having two sets enables you to mix and match to create a blended set with MAX long-irons for a little more forgiveness and standard shorter irons for more precision.

CLEVELAND CBZ wedges 4

While major manufacturers have been designing wedges for better players that promote lowlaunch and high-spin, Cleveland was keen not to forget the mid-higher-handicapper who still needs forgiveness even in their wedges. To create its new CBZ wedge, the company spent years researching material science to come up with a steel that met its requirements. The result is what it calls Z-Alloy described as both soft and light and one of the first metals developed purely for golf clubs. Cleveland says Z-Alloy is 25 percent softer than the steel it used for its CBX 4 wedge in 2024. But while a new softer, lighter material was all well and good, the club needed to benefit from some existing Cleveland technologies to make it a great wedge. Most notable among them, perhaps, is ZipCore which Cleveland introduced in 2020. A low-density material inserted in the hosel repositions the club’s CG putting it more in line with the hitting area which, Cleveland says, creates better feel. GelBack TPU inside the clubhead dampens the vibrations made at impact which, likewise, improves feel. The HydraZip face blast and sharp UltiZip grooves create plenty of spin to get your ball dancing round the pin.

IN THE BAG 8

EVNROLL

Z1, Z5 Black Putters 5

MIZUNO MX-1 iron sets 6

MIZUNO Pro T-1 Copper, T-3 Black Ion wedges 7

nless you’ve not been keeping up with the evolution of golf equipment, you’ll know about zero-torque putters. They’ve been around for two decades but it’s only in the last couple of years that their popularity has risen rapidly. Zero-torque putters place the club’s CG in line with the shaft axis preventing the face from wanting to rotate during the stroke. Fans say that helps them keep the clubface square to the clubhead path. Evnroll, founded by Guerin Rife in 2016, has a number of zero-torque models including the Z1, Z1cs and Z5 Hatchback. Most zero-torque putters are center-shafted, but the Zero Z1’s shaft is attached to the putterhed on the heel-side which is more traditional. The Z1cs features an adjustable pin hosel allowing for easy loft and lie customization and is milled from lightweight 6061 aluminum with tungsten and steel weights in the heel and toe to create a high MOI and very stable putter where poor strikes still perform well. Two white, parallel lines and a ball-sized “alignment hole” make it easy to align the putter to your target. The Z5 Hatchback is also available in traditional or center-shafted models and is an elegant, “winged” mallet with full-body alignment lines.

hen you think of Mizuno irons, you tend to think of refined blades that offer the Tour player or elite amateur much in the way of precision and control but not forgiveness. With its cavity back, wide sole, offset, and thick-ish top line, the MX-1 doesn’t look much like a Mizuno iron, but the finish and feel are all Mizuno. The new MX line features what Mizuno calls “Speed Metal.” The MX-1 has a seamless one-piece cupface geometry that wraps the face around the head's perimeter to increase flexibility and lower the center of gravity. Mizuno’s CORTECH design helps mid-high handicappers (yes, Mizuno makes a club for game-improvers, too) get the ball off the ground and generate good ballspeed, keeping speed and spin consistent across the face. Harmonic Impact Technology (HIT) with sound ribs across the topline and optimized head geometry ensure you get the feel, feedback and sound you associate with a Mizuno iron. The Nickel Chrome Plating not only looks good but is durable. The stock steel shaft is the KBS MAX 80, and the stock graphite shaft the KBS MAX Graphite Iron 65. But of course, Puetz can fit you with whichever shafts works best.

ith a compact teardrop shape, the Pro T-1 is a bladed wedge, forged from 1025 Carbon Steel using Mizuno’s legendary Grain Flow forging process which ensures the metal’s grain structure flows continuously throughout the head. That creates the amazing feel you associate with Mizuno. The wedges were designed to blend seamlessly with the company’s S-1 iron and feature a thin copper underlay (behind the clubface) that improves feel. The Pro T-1 benefits from Mizuno’s Quad Cut + Grooves which maximize spin rates with a tight groove configuration and Hydroflow Micro Grooves which channel away moisture and allow you to retain spin even in the wet. The Pro T-1 is available in four finishes — Blue Ion, Black Ion, Soft White Satin, and Copper. There is a total of six sole grinds giving this wedge amazing versatility — a grind for any type of turf and lie and for whatever type of shot you want to it. The T-3 has a shallow cavity to show you a little forgiveness but the Grain Flow forging, copper underlay, Quad Cut + grooves, and Hydroflow Micro grooves are here. The T-3 comes in two finishes (Black Ion and Soft White Satin) and three sole grinds.

PUETZ

MIZUNO Pro S-1 irons 7-piece 8

IN THE BAG

CALLAWAY

REVA, XR & Strata sets 9

COBRA FLY XL set 10

PUETZ GOLF PRICE

$1504.99 $215 per club

You have to hit a lot of different clubs — brands, metals, shapes, weights — to appreciate the feel of a Mizuno but when you flush one off the sweetspot, for the first time, it’s one of those moments in your life you may never forget. Mizuno has been forging its irons in its Hiroshima plant since 1968, and the Grain Flow Forging process is responsible for perhaps the best-feeling irons in the game. The Pro S-1 is forged from a single billet of 1025E Pure Select Mild Carbon Steel and delivers an unmistakably soft and responsive sensation. The innovative Channel Back design stabilizes the CG vertically which means your 4-iron feels as solid as a 9-iron, and the Tour-approved Triple Cut Sole with a flatter camber, sharpened leading edge and increased bounce angle provides smoother turf interaction. That helps to keep you from digging and hitting the ball fat. Mass taken from the toe area, the thin topline, minimal offset, and the shorter blade length create a club that your 20-handicap buddy might not find altogether accommodating but which the scratch player will get along with just fine. The sophisticated Satin (Nickel Chrome) finish is entirely appropriate for this exceptional-looking iron.

PUETZ GOLF PRICE

Check PuetzGolf.com for pricing

Complete sets barely merited a mention five or six years ago, but now manufacturers spend significant time and resources on configuring full sets for new golfers. Covid saw a lot of people take up a game they’d never considered playing and about which they knew very little. These people weren’t going to spend time thinking about ballspeeds and gapping, but they did want something of a certain quality from a reputable manufacturer. Of the major OEMs, Callaway devoted the most money and manpower to complete sets, and its inventory now comprises multiple versions of four main products — XR, Mavrik, Strata, and Reva. The focus is clubs that generate some distance and keep the ball on the golf course without breaking any banks. The flagship among the men’s sets is the XR, comprising a 460 cc, 10.5-degree Titanium Driver, a fairway-wood, two hybrids, 6-9 irons, PW, AW, and SW, Odyssey putter, and five headcovers. The top-ofthe-line set for women is the Reva, made up of a driver, a 3-wood, two hybrids, 7-9 irons, PW, SW, Odyssey putter, cart bag, and five headcovers. And the more affordable men’s set is the Strata — driver, fairway wood, hybrid, 6-9 irons, PW, SW, putter, stand bag and three headcovers.

PUETZ GOLF PRICE

$998.99 men’s & women’s

Cobra got in on the complete set scene too, building the Fly XL set made up of a driver, 3 wood, 5 wood, 4 hybrid, 5 hybrid, 6-9 irons, PW, SW, blade putter, cart bag, and four headcovers. Fly-XL was first introduced in 2015. Part of Cobra’s game-improver business, the Fly XL focused on lightweight components which help the new golfer and those losing a little clubhead speed to generate some power without busting a gut. Oversized clubheads also make the sweetspot a little larger, which means your strike needn’t be quite as precise as a Tour player’s. The women’s FLY XL complete set includes a driver, 3 wood, 5 wood, a 5 hybrid, 6-9 Irons, PW & SW, a mallet putter, and a cart bag, and is configured to -1 inch under standard length. The fairway woods and hybrids in both men’s and women’s set are low profile, which helps keep the CG under the ball’s equator which, in turn, makes it easier to get the ball up in the air. And they’re heel weighted, which helps you square the face coming into impact, thus preventing a big slice which can be destructive and is by far the most common shot among new golfers. Cobra's innovations and sharp new looks will surely be a hit in 2026 at Puetz Golf and the Seattle Golf Show in March.

High&Dry

Four of the best

wintertime courses in Puget Sound

OBY BART POTTER • CG STAFF WRITER

ur golf course superintendents, agronomic superstars though they are, can’t make the rain stop magically at the perimeter of the golf course. Not even the best of them, it seems, can manage the weather.

They know there is one thing, only one, the quality of which truly defines the best golf courses for wintertime play in the Cascade region.

When it’s good, you might not even think about it, even when it’s raining.

When it’s bad, your feet get wet.

That thing, sir or madam golfer, is drainage. In this oft-sodden part of the world, this time of year, you either have it or wish you did.

In this issue, we highlight four golf courses in western Washington that stand out among their peers for superior drainage that lends to the dryness of the golfing ground underfoot, in winter and year-round.

Whether by nature (a “sea of sand” beneath the topsoil) or nurture (lots of hard work), these courses have achieved a level of playability in the winter months that gives hope to cooped-up golfers venturing into the weather.

What makes a good winter course? Golf course professionals interviewed for this story found common ground: the course might be softer in winter, and a player might not get the same bounces and rolls of the ball as in summer, but the golf experience is still good in playing conditions that are not compromised by moisture.

And sometimes, it’s the off-course amenities on a golf property that give comfort on those days that go foul, no matter how suitably geared, garbed and shoed a player might be.

There’s something to be said for drying off around a cold beer in a warm bar.

Chambers Bay • University Place

Thurston County

Steve McNelly, general manager at Capitol City Golf Club in Lacey, remembers when he first knew for sure why his course drains as well in the winter as any course in the region.

McNelly thinks it was probably 2008, early in his tenure at Capitol City, when the contractor who dug the trenches for an irrigation project at his course said something revealing.

“He said, ‘Man, if you guys ever want to close this golf course down and sell sand, you've got a sea of sand underneath this turf. That's probably why it drains so well.’”

It made sense to McNelly.

“It really has to do with the ground,” he says.

Superintendent Steve Cox and his Cap City crew do regular aerification and mix in deep tine aerification, for which the longer, solid tines go deeper to penetrate the topsoil so water will go through the ground.

“The soil is very good here,” McNelly said. “I mean, there are no rocks in our soil. It's just black, beautiful earth, and then apparently there's just a lot of sand underneath it.”

McNelly said his staff takes pride in the greens and doing what it takes to maintain them through the winter.

“It's just love and care,” he said. “It obviously has to do with employees knowing what they're doing. The superintendent, the assistant superintendent, knowing agronomy as well as they do, not sparing any expense to make sure these greens are in great shape.”

Capitol City’s course conditions breed loyalty. McNelly thinks his Winter Tour, which features a tournament every two weeks November through February, might be the biggest in the region.

“It's amazing. Rain or shine, snow or sleet, 128 people every time. With a waiting list.”

1

Capitol City Golf Club

Pierce County 2 Chambers Bay

When Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place was under development in the early 2000s, it was blessed by its location on the sand-rich site of a former gravel mine.

Sandy soil, yes. Ready-made soil for planting golf course grass? No. That took a little work.

Matt Cohen, general manager at Chambers Bay for 18 months, was not around for its raw beginnings. He’s heard the stories.

“One of the things people might not be aware of is they literally had to take every bit of soil and refine it,” he says.

It was a process: Course builders dug up every inch of every fairway, every tee box, every green. Everywhere there is turf today was unearthed, tilled, transported to a sorting and screening area and then filtered to remove abundant rocks and gravel.

Only then was the soil returned to the golf course site to be the base on which turf was actually planted.

“If they had tried to just plant fairways and greens and tees on top of what was existing without disturbing it and screening it as they did, we'd have issues for sure,” Cohen says. “We'd have irrigation issues, we'd have people breaking clubs and wrists, we’d have rocks coming to the surface over time.”

Director of Agronomy Eric Johnson and his grounds staff are helped on the greens by the decision after the 2015 U.S. Open to replace the original fescue greens with poa annua, a cool-season grass.

Today, Chambers Bay has few competitors as a wintertime venue, Cohen says.

“Esthetically, we're greener this time of year than we are, really, in the summer months. But again, the golf experience is very similar, and you can do it at a very reduced rate.”

King County J Jackson 3 Park

ackson Park Golf Course in north Seattle takes a whole-facility approach to what constitutes a good day at the golf course on a rainy winter day.

General Manager Matt Lipe touts the expanded and refurbished practice range and the golf simulators that complement it, which offer a covered and heated (on the lower tier) alternative to green-grass golf.

Superintendent Jon Fulmer and crew have worked steadily at overseeding and top-dressing with sand. The results have shown up — Jackson is known as the driest course in the city.

“The fairways and greens are in the best condition they've been in since I've been here,” Lipe says.

Jackson, a City of Seattle muni managed by Premier Golf, has also addressed an antiquated irrigation system: putting in new lines and heads and getting rid of the old, which helps with moisture management on the course.

“Right now, we’re 100% computer-controlled — fairways, tee boxes and greens on every hole of the course, which has been great,” Lipe says.

All that good work around the course, and there’s winter weather and always will be.

“I mean, it's still Seattle golf, so no matter how good you think it is, there are still going to be wet spots out there,” Lipe says.

On “those” days, when you just must get out of the weather, you can still go hit balls at Jackson’s two-tier, 50-bay practice range, with a Top Tracer simulator in each bay.

You don’t need good weather to get involved with Jackson Park’s winter Top Tracer leagues that launched in November — the women’s a nine-hole scramble format, the men’s 18-hole individual stroke play.

And Jackson’s restaurant and bar … always welcoming.

“We’ve got a bunch of flat screens in there, and good food and good beer,” Lipe says. “So yeah, it's nice to get out of the rain.”

Mount Si

The soil that nurtured the 900-acre Snoqualmie Hop Farm, billed as the largest hop farm in the world in the late 1800s, is the same fertile ground that lay under Mount Si Golf Course when it opened in 1927 in Snoqualmie, Wash., after the market for hops dried up.

In 30-plus years of hanging his rain hat at Mount Si (he started as a cart boy), Scott Barter, now the course’s general manager, has appreciated the silty, sandy soil wrought by the natural floodplain of the Snoqualmie River valley.

“We naturally, being in the valley here, just have great soil and drain very well,” Barter said. “I mean, we can get inches of rain, and it really doesn't even puddle up out here, it just kind of rolls off.”

Superintendent Matt Pilger and crew also benefit from winds in the winter that the course doesn’t get in the summer.

“It can dry it out in a hurry,” Barter said, “because it's pretty commonplace to have a 10-mile-an-hour wind here in the winter.”

And while the water table is higher being near the river, and floods can happen, the playability of Mount Si isn’t much affected.

“In a high-water event, the river will overcome us where we can be unplayable a couple times a year just because the river flows through,” Barter said. “But it usually recedes within 24 to 48 hours and is kind of back to normal.”

That consistent playability helps Mount Si stay busy in the winter months and fill up tee sheets for the one or two full-field tournaments every winter month.

While the arrival of Prohibition in 1920 put a chill on the hops industry in the Snoqualmie Valley, the sprawling farm left behind a gift in the quick-draining soil that nourishes the grass at Mount Si Golf Course to this day.

THE OF RHYTHM GAME THE

BY TONY DEAR • CG EDITOR

A JIM HACKENBERG and the invention that changed golf practice forever

t a charity event in Southern California in 2019, Jim Hackenberg got to meet Geoff Ogilvy at last. The inventor of the incredibly popular Orange Whip Trainer had aways enjoyed watching the former PGA Tour star from Australia, whose eight wins included a memorable victory in the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot.

“Geoff told me he owned an Orange Whip,” says Hackenberg. “That was extremely gratifying as his sweet swing was partly responsible for its development.”

Hackenberg grew up in North Dakota and always wanted to play on the PGA Tour. The closest he got, however, was caddying for his buddy Patrick Moore in 2003. Moore, who had won three times on the Buy.com Tour (now Korn Ferry Tour) in 2002, suffered back and neck injuries that shortened his playing career, but he teed it up in enough events for his caddie to get a good look at some of the best golf swings in the world.

“Whenever we went out to the range, I’d try to set our bag next to a player whose

swing I admired,” says Hackenberg. “Don’t get me wrong. Patrick was obviously a very good player with an excellent swing, but I wanted the opportunity to observe the very best, and Ogilvy’s action was definitely one of them. I used to watch and marvel at how uncomplicated it seemed. It was so simple and balanced and easy looking, but it generated a lot of speed and power.”

Inspired by Ogilvy’s pleasing rhythm and consistent tempo, Hackenberg rigged up a device he thought would help golfers develop some good rhythm of their own.

“I was a teaching professional, too,” says Hackenberg. “I saw how a lot of my students struggled with timing.”

Their swings might have possessed some speed, Hackenberg notes, but it usually came at the wrong time — the start of the swing or in transition from backswing to downswing.

“I wanted to create something that helped them feel speed and energy building up during the swing and then unloading at the point of impact.”

The first few iterations used fishing rods, billiard balls, and doorknobs filled with lead and might have looked odd, but students loved them and asked Hackenberg if they could buy one.

“I sensed this could become quite popular, so I worked on the design, eventually finding the right combination of shaft flex, counterbalance at the butt end, and head weight,” he says.

Hackenberg introduced the Orange Whip Trainer publicly for the first time at the 2008 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, where it attracted a lot of attention. He got the name from a line in the “Blues Brothers” movie when parole officer Burton Mercer, played by John Candy, asks a bartender for three orange whips.

“I heard that line and instantly knew I had the name,” says Hackenberg. Because he had access to PGA Tour ranges, word of Hackenberg’s device also percolated among Tour players, many of whom showed an interest.

“I remember Jim Furyk telling me he’d heard about it and wanted to give it a try,” says Hackenberg. “And soon quite a few more were using it.”

Retief Goosen, Sergio Garcia, Matt Kuchar, Jeff Sluman, Tom Purtzer, Ben Crenshaw, Fred Funk, Scott McCarron, Fuzzy Zoeller, Padraig Harrington, Angel Cabrera, and Daniel Berger are some of the bigger names to have used an Orange Whip. But, says Hackenberg, the total number of Tour players who have benefitted from swinging it runs into the hundreds. Perhaps most notable among them is Phil Mickelson, who warmed up and practiced with an Orange Whip prior to winning the 2021 PGA Championship at age 51. Mickelson had been using his long and limber swing for decades prior to that historic win at Kiawah Island, but even he needed to stretch his golfing muscles and dial in his timing.

Hackenberg, still competing professionally, does too.

“I use mine twice a day, every day, even when I’m not playing,” he says. “I swing it for maybe ten minutes in my office or at the start of every range session. It keeps my body tuned to the pace and tempo of the golf swing and enables me to maintain my range of motion and clubhead speed.”

Over 800,000 Orange Whip Trainers have been sold since 2008 and Hackenberg, who now lives in South Carolina, says it completely changed his life. Get into the same habit of swinging it a couple of times a day, and it will more than likely change yours. too.

Following the success of the Orange Whip Trainer, Hackenberg investigated developing other training aids designed to make the game more enjoyable. In 2016, he teamed with former Tour pro and short game maestro Stan Utley to develop the Stan Utley Wedge, a counter-balanced 56-degree wedge with a very flexible shaft that, like the original Orange Whip Trainer, promotes great rhythm and timing. The Orange Whip Putter Blade, also introduced in 2016, likewise helps you build a smoother, more balanced and repeatable putting stroke, which will help you make more putts.

Last year, Hackenberg worked with Jody Vasquez, who shagged balls for Ben Hogan in the 1960s, to introduce the Putt Master.

“It’s Jody’s creation,” says Hackenberg. “We met at the PGA Show and talked about bringing it to market. It’s available on our website and will help you create the proper putting setup and a perfect pendulum stroke. It eliminates unwanted wrist movement during the stroke and, like the Putter Blade, will help you get the ball in the hole quicker.”

Hackenberg has also launched a form of the game aimed at introducing people to golf (soft launch so far with something much bigger planned for 2026).

Called ‘Chappie Golf’, it offers products designed to make learning the game fun and stress-free. The club is called the ‘Indigo-Bunter’, while the durable, compressed foam, baseball-sized ball is ‘The Yolk’.

“Consider it the 'pickleball' of golf,” says Hackenberg. “The ball flies a maximum of about 100 yards, and the club can be used by right or left-handers. Initially, I thought it would be for beginners, but I’ve recognized good players love it, too, because the Yolk is designed to curve so seasoned golfers can use it to work on fade and draw swings. You can play anywhere: the yard, a park, football field, the beach, even in the snow.”

Jim Hackenberg’s inventions have helped make the game easier and more enjoyable for millions of golfers, and if there was such a thing as a hall-of-fame for golf training aid inventors, he’d surely be voted in unanimously and among the first to be inducted.

LEARN MORE AT orangewhipgolf.com and chappiegolf.com and better understand these useful products.

DESERT WILLOW

FRESH FINE GREENS DINING FIRST-CLASS ACADEMY AND A KEEPS ON GIVING

SBY TONY DEAR • CG EDITOR

Several very complimentary articles about Desert Willow Golf Resort have appeared in these pages in recent years, and we wondered if we might have exhausted everything worth saying about one of our favorite golf destinations in the Coachella Valley.

Nope. There’s still a very significant part of the operation we’ve never touched on but which you should know about.

The Palm Desert Golf Academy opened with the courses in 1997 and, over the last 25-plus years, has earned a glowing reputation for providing quality instruction in a welcoming and friendly environment. There are currently nine PGA-certified teachers at the academy which provides a regular schedule of immersive, multi-day schools and daily clinics, all overseen by Director of Instruction Paul Bucy.

Desert Willow • Mountain View

Bucy is originally from Connecticut but has been at Desert Willow for 20 years, giving about 250 private lessons a year and directing schools that provide OnForm Video Analysis (OnForm is a coaching app designed to accelerate skill development), TrackMan4 data, Stick Mobility warm-ups, on-course coaching, personal practice plans, and even dining (you have lunch with your instructor on the clubhouse terrace every day).

“With an average student to instructor ratio of just 3 to 1, our students get personalized instruction,” says Bucy, who is quick to highlight the success of the academy is very much a team effort. “Our students love that they can enjoy top-tier instruction, lunch, and play our courses all on the same day.”

Bucy refers to “students”, but a handful have been to so many schools over the years they’ve really become friends as well as clients. In October, two of his longest-standing students met with Bucy and Desert Willow’s Head Golf Professional Jason Wilkinson for a weekend of golf and football in Seattle.

“We played Chambers Bay and then caught the game at Lumen Field against the Buccaneers,” says Bucy. “Unfortunately, the Seahawks lost but what a game! We’d talked about taking that trip for years and it was great to finally make it happen.”

One of Bucy’s students there that weekend was Scott Rumpel, a restaurant franchisee from Vancouver B.C, who has been going to Desert Willow’s schools for over 10 years and who says his game has benefitted enormously in that time.

“I’ve had the privilege of learning from both Paul and Jason,” Rumpel says. “Their instruction has not only improved my game but deepened my passion for the sport. Beyond the lessons, we’ve become good friends.”

The other student in Seattle was Derek Archer, likewise from Vancouver, who reiterated what a great weekend it was and how much he enjoys attending golf school at Desert Williow.

“It’s undoubtedly one of my favorite weeks of the year,” he says. “I’ve been coming to Desert Willow Golf Academy for 12 years with the same group of four buddies. In that time, my game has gone from a high handicap down to an eight. The courses are spectacular, and the coaching from Paul and Jason is fun, relaxed, and clearly effective.”

A small number of two and three-day schools were first offered in 2007. Their popularity increased rapidly, and in 2024, the academy recorded its best year, hosting a total of 59 schools attended by 189 students.

That a place like Desert Willow should be home to a golf school as highly regarded as the Palm Desert Golf Academy doesn’t come as a surprise when you consider how good the whole facility is. The City of Palm Desert clearly meant business when they built this place and hired Michael Hurdzan and Dana Fry to design the two courses — Firecliff and Mountain View.

This time last year, we spoke about the extensive renovation that had been completed on the Firecliff Course where the tees were levelled, a new tee was built at the long, Par-4 10th hole, and all 18 greens were restored to their original size and shapes. The greens were also resurfaced with MiniVerde, an ultra-dwarf Bermuda grass perfectly suited to the region’s climate, altitude, and the amount of cart and foot traffic the two courses saw.

Replacing the existing 328 Bermuda (which had done a good job for over two decades but was beginning to require excessive maintenance) had become necessary, and the transition has kept Desert Willow among the best-conditioned courses in the Valley. This year was the first full season for the new tees and greens, and the reports are pretty much as expected. The new tees were certainly appreciated but, not surprisingly, the greens attracted the lion’s share of attention.

“The feedback has been outstanding,” says Brian Simpson, Desert Willow’s Sales and Marketing Director. “We’ve enjoyed probably the best playing conditions in our 28-year history, and they’re only getting better.”

We also mentioned the new roof the clubhouse got in 2024, and the improvements continued this year with new carpets, a fresh coat of paint, and renovated restrooms and locker rooms. Visitors from Seattle will recognize the place this winter, but they’ll be pleasantly surprised by a facility that’s fresh, bright and clearly keen to prevent the dusty, dated look some Palm Springs-area courses can be guilty of.

Returning over the course’s peak season will be the extremely popular Music and Dining Under the Stars program with live music and themed dinners on select Thursday nights. Executive Chef Francois Gaertner and Sous Chef Gustavo Garcia, who catered for 750 guests at a Thanksgiving event in late November, have designed menus designed to pair with the evening’s music: island-inspired seafood to accompany steel drum melodies, classic Italian fare for a jazz-infused set, and steakhouse cuts that go just right with blues and rock.

Firecliff continues to rank among California’s top 25 public courses in nearly all golf publications. In a state that boasts the three layouts at the Pebble Beach Resort, plus PGA West, Pasatiempo, Torrey Pines, TPC Harding Park, and Pelican Hill, it’s in some pretty good company. Add the slightly less challenging and always enjoyable Mountain View Course and you have 36 terrific holes that will entertain you for the duration of your visit. You can learn how to score better on them at a golf academy with a team of professionals that make improving at golf not only likely but also very enjoyable. And you can enjoy top-class food and entertainment in the clubhouse and Terrace Restaurant.

Seattleites have known how special a winter trip to Desert Willow Golf Resort is for over 20 years. If you’ve been before, you’ll know what we’re talking about. If this year marks your first trip, we hope you enjoy a place we’re sure will become a quick favorite.

A small number of two and three-day schools were first offered in 2007. Their popularity increased rapidly, and in 2024, the academy recorded its best year, giving a total of 59 schools attended by 189 students.

Desert Willow • Firecliff

The

BY TONY DEAR • CG EDITOR

I Royal Treatment

In late October, the University of Oklahoma won its fourth straight Kã‘anapali Classic (and sixth since the tournament began in 2014) on the island of Maui, finishing with a record score of 789, -63. Ryder Cowan, a junior, won the individual title with a 54-hole total of 193, -20.

“We played difficult courses this fall where our guys couldn’t get birdies to drop,” said Ryan Hybl, Oklahoma’s coach. “Traveling to Hawai‘i provided a much-needed mental reset.”

OU and Cowan’s incredible scoring say a lot about where the college game is at, and also the Royal Ka’anapali Course that was designed by Robert Trent Jones and opened in 1962. The Sooners are currently ranked the 20th best college team in the nation. For them to go so low shows how good today’s Division 1 college players are and suggests the Royal is not going to beat you up with narrow fairways, hostile rough and rock-hard, glassy greens.

Hybl’s post-victory quote also says plenty about coming to Hawaii to play golf after a frustrating period. If you’re already having a hard time dealing with the gray skies and cold rain, can you imagine the mental reset a few days at Ka’anapali might provide?

Why Kã‘anapali is the perfect blend of challenge and chill

A few days at the Outrigger Ka’anapali Beach Resort, three or four rounds of golf, some sunshine, some temperatures in the 70s, some beach time, some good food, and some coconut/mocha beer, of course, could be just what the doctor ordered.

The thought of traveling to Maui and its northwest coast at this time of year fills one with dreamy, happy thoughts, and a few nights’ stay at the Outrigger Ka’anapali Resort, situated perfectly between the golf course and Ka’anapali Beach/Black Rock Beach Cove, would surely be the perfect tonic for anyone feeling the winter blues.

Outrigger supports the Ka’anapali Classic and supports a number of University of Hawaii athletics programs. It was founded by architect Roy Kelley and opened its first property — the Outrigger Waikiki On The Beach (now the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort) — in 1967. In 2016, an affiliate of KSL Capital Partners acquired the company, whose portfolio now includes 38 hotels and condominium/vacation resort properties which it either owns or manages.

The 432-room hotel originally opened in 1964 and has benefitted from major renovations over the last few years. Now often called “Maui’s Most Hawaiian Resort”, it offers all the beach activities and cultural experiences. One of which is the Lei kukui ceremony, where return guests can bring their lei kukui and receive a white kukui nut. If it’s relaxation you’re after rather than activity, just rent a Casabella cabana on the beach, leave your phone, laptop, or tablet in your room safe and drift off to the sound of the nalu (ocean waves).

And when you’re not napping, you’ll need to eat, of course, which you can do at Hele On (breakfast), Pau Hana Pool Shack should you go to the trouble of moving from beachside to poolside and, in the evening, the Maui Brewing Company (MBC), whose fantastic restaurant overlooks the beach and where you can eat on a gorgeous patio. The Maui Brewing Company is based in Kihei, 25 miles south on the Honoapi‘ilani Highway (Hwy 30), and has four locations on the Hawaiian Islands — two on Oahu, two on Maui.

At the Ka’anapali location, newest of the four (2023), you can get breakfast on weekends and lunch/dinner any day. Wash down a great burger, fish tacos, fish n’ chips, short ribs, macadamia nut-encrusted Mahi Mahi, or Kabayaki Butterfish with any of MBC’s award-winning beers. They have lagers, IPAs, a pineapple wheat bear, or the intriguingly named Coconut Hiwa Porter, which is described as “a robust dark ale with hand-toasted coconut & hints of mocha.” Charred, bitter beer with coconut and mocha

sounds like the Devil’s-own concoction, frankly, and you wonder how on earth people come up with such a mixture … until you try it and begin to wonder why anyone drinks anything other than dark beer with coconut and mocha.

Outstanding weather, a chance to decompress on the beach, Kukui nuts, cabanas, kabayaki butterfish, and discovering the delights of beer/coconut/mocha drinks at an oceanside restaurant are all well and good, but the reason you’re here, the real reason, is to play some golf.

As we alluded to above, the Royal Course is the perfect layout for someone who’s off the plane from SeaTac and who knows the game and appreciates a well-conditioned, historic layout but who’s on vacation and isn’t in the mood for something too taxing or strenuous. Really, it provides the perfect combination of challenge and respite. At 6,700 yards from the tips, you won’t need to bust a gut muscling the ball of the tee, and you probably won’t be needing a fairway-wood or hybrid for your second shot at the par-4s (well, maybe at the 6th or 10th). You can start with a birdie at the relatively short par-5 opening hole (no need to go anywhere near the water if you’re looking for a stress-free start, especially is the pin is back-left.) Do be careful, though, on the last two holes where the water probably will come into play, in particular at the 18th which Palmer regarded as one of the best closing holes he ever played.

You might be better off playing your opening round on the adjacent Kai Course, though. Originally designed by Jack Snyder in the mid-‘70s, it was remodeled by Robin Nelson in 2006 and, at just under 6,400 yards, is a slightly softer touch that its neighbor, leaning more towards respite than challenge. It’s just as well conditioned as the Royal, though, and the views of the West Maui mountains are splendid, so it might be the ideal place to start.

A few days at the Outrigger Ka’anapali Beach Resort, three or four rounds of golf, some sunshine, some temperatures in the 70s, some beach time, some good food, and some coconut/mocha beer, of course, could be just what the doctor ordered. But who needs an order from a doctor to be tempted into a Ka’anapali trip?

Learn more at kaanapaligolfcourses.com.

Photos courtesy of Kã’anapali Golf Resort

SAVE SOME GREEN

The Links at Moses Pointe MOSES LAKE

The Links at Moses Pointe, a championship caliber golf course perched above the western shore of Moses Lake, is one of Central Washington’s premier public layouts.

Any golf road trip east of the Cascades will find Moses Pointe in easy reach of I-90. Once played, Moses Pointe’s routing through its distinctive topography will stick in a player’s brain — it might be a destination all by itself the next time.

Opened in 1999 and designed by Mike Moore and Dave Soushek (with a redesign by Dan Hixson in 2003), the par-72 course measures 7,412 yards from the tips, offering players of every skill level a fun day of golf and a reasonable chance to post a score near the picturesque Moses Lake.

Moses Pointe is known for its generous fairways, well-distributed bunkers, and fascinating greens and green surrounds.

Local players know No. 12, a visually appealing par 3 at 234 yards from the back tees, as the most difficult hole on the course. There’s no bailout here – there’s a bunker left of the green, but you don’t want to be right, either.

For many players here, the signature hole is No. 9, a visually striking par4. The tee shot must favor the left side of a mound in the fairway and water guards the approach to the green, rewarding precision over brute distance.

The par-4 No. 8, based on handicap, is Moses Pointe’s hardest hole. It’s long (462 from the black tees, 402 from the whites), and its crossing bunkers force a decision on a player: lay up short of the bunkers or power it leftish to set up your second shot.

Central Washington regulars are likely to name the par-4 No. 16 as one of their favorite holes. Its approach to an elevated green is doable, but it’s a good play to club up

to enhance your chances to reach it.

Moses Pointe's history as a competition venue includes hosting the Washington State Men’s Amateur Championship in 2005, 2008 and 2024, and co-hosting (with Moses Lake Golf Club) the 2023 Washington Junior Golf Association State Championship.

Moses Pointe’s value proposition is easy to appreciate: premium golf at a reasonable cost. Rates drop significantly this time of year (late fall into the winter), well under the peak-season rates of $65 on weekdays and $75 on weekends. Discounts or packages such as twilight or super-twilight are a popular in-season choice.

YARDAGE (PAR 72) 4,897-7,412 yards

RATES $36-$75

TEL (509) 764-2275

WEB mosespointe.com

* Check website for current rates

The Links at Moses Pointe • Moses Lake

Riverside Golf Club CHEHALIS 2

When out-of-towners come to Chehalis, Wash., and Riverside Golf Club, they end up talking about the greens.

Riverside is ideally situated between the Portland-Vancouver and Seattle-Tacoma markets. The Roy Goss and Glen Proctor design, opened in 1927, isn’t long at 6,155 yards from the back tees, but it offers challenges, nowhere more than on the greens.

“We’ve always been kind of famous for our greens,” head PGA professional Austin Abbott says.

He has high praise for the course superintendent, Beau Nixon.

“He’s taken us to the next level with the rest of the property,” Abbott says.

For instance, the bunkers are refurbished, a process that really started back in 2008 when Chehalis River floodwaters engulfed the course and washed all the sand out of the bunkers. The sand that replaced it was fine white silica, and after the recent reworking, Abbott says, “I’m really happy with our bunkers right now.”

The course’s signature hole, in Abbott’s eyes, is the par-3 11th, 175 yards from the back tees and featuring a topography that tends to roll the ball toward the hole virtually wherever it lands around the green complex.

“A lot of holes-in-one happen on this hole,” he says.

Case in point: At a recent charity tournament, a “beat the pro” promotion at 11 had Abbott hitting players’ tee shots for them if they wished. He aimed at the green 137 times – and made three aces.

The most difficult hole is considered by many to be No. 5, a 380-yard par 4. The tee shot is not super challenging, Abbott says, but the approach is uphill to a multi-tiered

Green fees here are reasonable, especially compared with bigger markets. The top rate here is $49 for a summertime weekend 18, with seasonal discounts in fall, winter and spring, and for senior and junior players.

For those interested in dining after their round, the on-site Roof Top Bar offers meals from a top local chef.

Abbott’s advice to traveling players unfamiliar with the course: you don’t need driver very often at Riverside. Select a 200- to 220-yard club for your tee ball and keep it in play. And before the round, prepare for the putting experience ahead — don’t fail to hit a few on the practice green.

YARDAGE (PAR 71) 2,834-6,155 yards

RATES $17-$49

TEL (360) 748-8182

WEB playriversidegolf.com

* Check website for current rates

Riverside Golf Club • Chehalis

green that might be over water if your tee ball lands on the right side of the fairway.

SAVE SOME GREEN

3

Gallery Golf Course WHIDBEY

ISLAND

Players at Gallery Golf Course at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Oak Harbor aren’t allowed to forget they’re at a military air base: The course lies under the flight path for F-18s, Prowler electronic jets and other aircraft.

It can be deafening for players at Gallery, which has long stood as a publicmilitary hybrid, and it remains a well-kept secret and a good golf deal.

The course opened in 1948 with six holes, and by the early 1950s had expanded to 18. It was built to serve Navy personnel while also allowing civilian rounds. Nonmilitary golfers can get on Gallery by booking ahead and following a set of simple protocols. (Call 360-257-2178 to learn about access and check-in to the course).

Sight lines are deep and distant from many points on the course — to the San Juan Islands and Vancouver Island in the west, to Port Townsend and Port Angeles to the south-southwest. Its location in the rain shadow of the Olympics gives it relatively dry conditions compared to wetter western Puget Sound courses.

Although the course is not long by championship standards, the treeprotected corridors, occasional water hazards, and smallish greens demand thoughtful play. The par-72 layout — with tree-lined fairways and modest elevation changes — plays about 6,351 yards from the back tees.

One of its signature holes, a popular hole with island locals, is the downhill par3 sixth, offering a scenic tee box view down to a small green.

No. 9 is a long par5 that tests both length and strategy through tree-lined corridors. Throughout the course, tee shots often thread between tall evergreens before opening

up toward greenside vistas.

What makes Gallery a solid value is its combination of scenic variety, militarylevel maintenance, coastal vistas, and public access without paying a premium price. Golfers enjoy wellkept greens and a full practice facility (grass range in summer, mats in winter, chipping and putting areas.)

Rates at Gallery begin at $15 for a super-twilight round for active-duty and retired military up to a top of $42 for a weekend 18 for civilians. Its affordability — especially at published public rates — makes it attractive to both locals and visitors seeking a quality Pacific Northwest round at a modest cost.

Players new to Gallery won’t mind being reminded to pause wherever they are on the course at 5 p.m., hand over heart, for the daily playing of the Star-Spangled Banner.

YARDAGE (PAR 72) 4,897-6,351 yards

RATES $15-$42

TEL (360) 257-2178

WEB navylifepnw.com

* Check website for current rates

Gallery Golf Course • Whidbey Island

Seve, Stats and solidarity: Europe’s winning combination

PBY TONY DEAR • CG EDITOR

aul Azinger has been known to say some controversial stuff, but occasionally he hits the nail on the head. Speaking with Drew Stolz on the Subpar podcast in the wake of this year’s Ryder Cup, the 1993 PGA Champion and current TV announcer explained why Europe has such a significant edge in foursomes and fourball play.

“Unfortunately, Europe generally has a one or two percent advantage on us because of how they are bonded by nationality and blood and in small groups,” he said. “Those guys do hang out, they love each other. You can tell from the way they react.”

Far be it from me to attempt deep psychological analysis of the Europeans’ mindset (I am European myself, though, so perhaps it’s not altogether useless) but the “togetherness” Azinger speaks of is hugely significant.

He is wrong about some things, though. We (Europeans) are not “bonded by nationality.” Yes, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Tyrell Hatton share an English upbringing, but they grew up at a time when xenophobia between European nations was a great deal stronger than it is now. In unenlightened times before the internet, a Dane, Norwegian, Swede, or Austrian felt every bit as alien to a Brit as Mongolians do now. International soccer certainly had a lot to do with that, but differences in language, food, clothing, music, etc., were just as significant and raised barriers to neighborliness and cordiality.

What European golfers did have, though, was Seve Ballesteros. It’s hard to over-emphasize the Spaniard’s impact.

In the 1970s and ‘80s, Ballesteros was dominant on a tour whose star players rarely got invited to the American majors, a situation that would continue through the ‘90s and even up to the time of Ballesteros’s death in 2011. That bred a certain resentment among European players who, spurred on by Ballesteros, liked nothing better than beating their better-paid counterparts from across the Atlantic.

The Ballesteros-inspired bond between Europe’s Ryder Cup players created the solidarity they have called upon to lift their games at the Ryder Cup so often. The more experienced players on Team Europe — Rose, McIlroy, Lowry, as well as Captain Luke Donald — and Seve’s countryman Jon Rahm, remember the man and the passion he bought to the event, and it has definitely rubbed off on them. You’ll remember Donald made a big effort to invoke the same sort of passion in his players at Rome in 2023, having a huge tifo (flag or banner) with Ballesteros’s face unfurled in the first tee grandstands.

I shouldn’t make too big a deal of Ballesteros’s influence, because this is an entirely new era of players and the relationship between the two teams is very different to what it was 30-40 years ago. But I sense the Europeans somehow plug into that “us vs. them” mentality and use it as a source of motivation.

The Seve Factor doesn’t guarantee success, of course. The U.S. has won nine times since Continental Europeans first played. And just four years ago, the Red, White, and Blue routed their opponents 19-9 at Whistling Straits.

What other factors might have played a part at Bethpage Black? Vice-Captain Eduardo Molinari’s analytical skills certainly helped. During Covid, the Italian built a data platform called StatisticGolf (now Arccos Pro Insight) which gives players useful trends and insights and can recommend strategy on everything from practice routines to tournament schedules. The tool proved pivotal in suggesting what pairings might work best together in New York, clearly giving Europe an advantage over the Americans in the data war (U.S. Captain Keegan Bradley paired Collin Morikawa and Harris English together twice despite reputable analytics service DataGolf revealing they were statistically the U.S.’s worst possible pairing).

Donald’s no-stone-left-unturned approach was also invaluable, ensuring players had everything they could possibly need, from virtual reality headsets giving them an idea of what to expect from the galleries to specific types of bed sheets, to $47 shampoo, to video messages former Team Europe members and other sporting stars.

That combination of unity (Rose called it playing for “the badge and the boys”), Molinari’s superior data, and Donald’s willingness to do anything for his team, gave Europe an edge.

But, as the final result (15-13) indicates, it wasn’t a huge edge. Thanks to an impressive Sunday comeback from the U.S., the result was much closer than it might have been.

As Paul Azinger said, the Europeans are hard to beat when paired together but, on their own, “they are vulnerable.”

The format has been altered several times in the event’s 98-year history. If I was the American captain, I might be pushing to have the event start with the singles, so more red appears on the scoreboard early. Just a thought.

Euro Captain Luke Donald burnished his legacy with the win at Bethpage Black.