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Chip Shots
» 'Chambers Bay' it is
» Pronghorn becoming highly touted
» BCGA unveils its two new logos
» Lepp leads B.C. award-winners
» Kealy's political efforts honored by GCSAA
» Join the USGA for just $10
» World's best seek Shaughnessy
» PNWPGA in its new offices
» Quite the lineup at Portland Golf Club
» Coaches honor Ihlanfeldt
'Chambers Bay' it is
An official name has been bestowed upon the high-end, championship golf course Pierce County is set to build overlooking Puget Sound.
Chambers Bay is expected to open in 2007 if construction starts later this year on the course designed by Robert Trent Jones II. Cost
estimates have reached as high as $20 million for the 18-hole project, and greens fees are expected to be in the neighborhood of $150 for
non-Pierce County residents.
County officials said Chambers Bay would stand alone in the name, and that there would be no "Golf Club," "Golf Course" or "Resort"
included.
The course will be part of Chambers Creek Properties, a 930-acre project that will include trails and recreational uses on the former
gravel mine near University Place and Lakewood in Pierce County in Western Washington.
Pronghorn becoming highly touted
Pronghorn and its Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course have been receiving impressive reviews and rankings by national golf magazines.
The new course, located near Bend, Ore., was ranked No. 2 on Golf Digest's list of new private courses for 2004. Travel + Leisure Golf included
Pronghorn among its group of the top 10 new private courses.
"We knew early on that our course was special, but to be ranked the second Best New Private Course in the country by Golf Digest is an
outstanding accolade," said Thomas Hix, managing partner of High Desert Development Company, the developer of Pronghorn. "Jack and his design
team did an outstanding job creating the course into the natural landscape, and we could not be more proud of this achievement."
The Nicklaus course stretches out to a 7,381-yard, par-72. The course is intertwined with lava rock outcroppings on the high desert terrain of
Central Oregon.
"We are very pleased with the response that Pronghorn has received and I think this recognition by Golf Digest is well-deserved," Nicklaus
said in a statement. "Pronghorn is in spectacular condition and is one of the best-maintained golf courses we've seen. Superintendent John
Anderson and his staff have done a tremendous job, and the conditions members play on only adds to the golf experience."
Next up for Pronghorn is the opening of the Tom Fazio Championship course, set for spring of 2006.
BCGA unveils its two new logos
The recent merger of the British Columbia Golf Association and the British Columbia Ladies Golf Association has resulted in two new logos for
the new BCGA.
One of the new logos (seen at right) will have a more traditional look, with a shield shape, and it will incorporate numerous elements
and colors of the British Columbia provincial flag.
The other logo is a more modern, stylish and informal insignia. Wording and colors easily can be changed to adapt the logo to use with various
championships or other association activities.
Lepp leads B.C. award-winners
British Columbia golfers and those closely associated with the game in the Canadian province received a multitude of honors recently.
Leading the way is James Lepp of Abbotsford, who for the second consecutive year was named the top male amateur golfer in the country by the
Royal Canadian Golf Association.
Last summer, Lepp won his third consecutive British Columbia Amateur and led the national Order of Merit. He is now a junior at the University
of Washington.
"Finishing at the top of the RCGA Order of Merit in consecutive years unquestionably shows that James is a very talented golfer," said Doug
Roxburgh, RCGA Director of Player Development. "We are proud to recognize his achievements, his skills, and commitment to golf."
Craig Doell of Victoria, winner of the PNGA Mid-Amateur last summer, was third on the Order of Merit.
The top junior golfer in the country also was from British Columbia with Rafael Lee of Burnaby winning the Junior Order of Merit. Lee won the
award by setting a record for the number of points earned.
His victories included the B.C. Junior Championship, the Future Links Western Championship, the Vancouver Men's Amateur and the RCGA Junior
Championship.
The runner-up was Darren Wallace of Langley, B.C., who at only 15 became the youngest winner of the RCGA Men's Amateur.
The RCGA also honored Arv Olsen of Courtenay, B.C., with its Distinguished Service Award for his many years of contributions to the game
through his writing and reporting on the sport.
"Over the past 40 years, Arv has made a tremendous contribution to the sport of golf in the province of British Columbia and especially on
Vancouver Island," said James Halliday, the president of the RCGA and a member at Victoria Golf Club. "As one of the province's most
respected golf writers, he has never hesitated to share his wealth of knowledge and support with the RCGA as we strive to grow the game
across Canada. We are proud to honor both his writing achievements and passion for the game of golf with this award."
Olsen worked for the Vancouver Sun for 38 years and also was associate editor of B.C. Golf magazine.
And Kris Jonasson, the executive director of the British Columbia Golf Association, recently was elected vice-president of the International
Association of Golf Administrators.
Kealy's political efforts honored by GCSAA
Steve Kealy, the superintendent at Glendale Country Club in Bellevue, Wash., was just one of four members of the Golf Course Superintendents
Association of America to be honored with the 2004 Excellence in Government Relations Awards.
Kealy was presented with the award for outstanding efforts in advocacy in dealing with compliance situations with government agencies at the
GCSAA Education Conference in Orlando, Fla., in February.
Playing a key role in increasing public and lawmakers' understanding of the issue, Kealy was instrumental in convincing the state legislature
to pass legislation exempting golf courses from paying sales tax on donated greens fees last year.
Join the USGA for just $10
An opportunity is available through various the state golf associations in the Northwest to become a member of the United States Golf
Association for just $10.
Through the web sites of the Idaho Golf Association, Oregon Golf Association and Washington State Golf Association, players in the Northwest
can help the national governing body of the sport.
Among the benefits of becoming a USGA member is a copy of The Rules of Golf, personalized bag tag, special member discounts as well
as the USGA Championship annual publication.
A member also earns first priority to purchase tickets to the U.S. Open, plus a free copy of the U.S. Open program, as well as the USGA's
newest publication, Inside the USGA.
More information is available on the web sites of the various state associations:
www.IdahoGolfAssn.org for the IGA, www.OGA.org for the OGA, and
www.thewsga.org for the WSGA.
World's best seek Shaughnessy
For the first time since 1966, the Canadian Open is back in Vancouver, returning once again to Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club.
Vijay Singh will be the defending champion for the PGA Tour stop Sept. 8-11. With the PGA Championship pulling out of Sahalee in 2010, this
tournament now is the only scheduled event in the Northwest that will draw the world's best players.
The tournament will be held on the 7,010-yard, par-72 course that opened in 1960. Don Massengale won the tournament in 1966 while Lou Graham
set the competitive course record, a 66, which still stands today.
The Canadian Open was held at Shaughnessy Heights Golf Course, the predecessor to Shaughnessy G&CC, in 1948 with Tacoma pro Chuck Congdon
winning the crown. The club has been in existence since 1911.
Tickets are on sale and available through the Royal Canadian Golf Association web site at
www.rcga.org, or through the club's web site at www.Shaughnessy.org. Weekly
ground passes are available for $145 (CDN) and juniors 15 and under will be allowed in free when accompanied by an adult. Champions Club
passes also are on sale.
PNWPGA in its new offices
The Pacific Northwest Section PGA has moved into its new offices in Tumwater, Wash.
The association representing club professionals in the Northwest now is housed in a 3,000 square-foot building at 6989 Littlerock Road S.W.
in Tumwater. There are eight offices in the new building. The association's offices previously were in Olympia.
The big benefit for the PNWPGA in the new building is the ability to house its tournament trailer when it's not in use at a competition.
While the offices did move, the PNWPGA was able to retain its phone numbers, including its toll free number, 1-800-688-4653.
Quite the lineup at Portland Golf Club
With the PGA of America naming Tom Lehman as its next Ryder Cup captain, it reminded us of the last (and only time) this event was played in
the Pacific Northwest. Above is a photo of that 1947 squad that played at Portland Golf Club. Ben Hogan (center) was the captain and his team
featured Sam Snead (left) and Byron Nelson (third from right).
Coaches honor Ihlanfeldt
Edean Ihlanfeldt, the former women's golf coach at the University of Washington and one of the greatest amateur players in Northwest history,
was presented the Gladys Palmer Meritorious Service Award by the National Collegiate Golf Coaches Association at its banquet in January in
New Orleans.
Ihlanfeldt started the women's golf program at UW in 1974 and coached the team for seven years. She had three teams and five individuals
qualify for the national championships in those seven years, and was the only Northwest team to make nationals. Ihlanfeldt did not accept a
salary as the UW coach, instead using any money to boost the program.
Her presenter at the banquet was Mary Lou Mulflur, the current UW coach who played for Ihlanfeldt. The award is given for outstanding service
in promoting the game of golf at any level.
As a player, Ihlanfeldt had few equals. She has won eight PNGA championships. Nationally, she won the 1982 U.S. Senior Amateur. She was
inducted into the PNGA Hall of Fame in 1985.
Besides playing, she has also served on numerous USGA committees and has helped stage national tournaments in Seattle.
Past winners of this award include Patty Berg, Peggy Kirk Bell and Linda Vollstedt.
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