golf today northwest edition - july 2010

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4 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE NORTHWEST EDITION JULY 2010

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JULY 2010 GOLF TODAY MAGAZINE NORTHWEST EDITION 5

MARK O’MEARA LOREN ROBERTS FRED COUPLESFRED FUNK NICK PRICE TOM KITE COREY PAVIN

BENEFICIARY:

Junior Golf Performance: The Surprising Restriction That Really Holds Kids Back

by BOB DUNCAN

Th e number 1 restriction on perfor-mance is not the Juniors’ ability to make and repeat a good golf swing. Surprised? I would think so, with the overwhelming emphasis on the ‘proper’ golf swing in the media (are you watching golf instruction on TV?).

But, one fact remains: Even with a great swing, if you give a club to a Junior that he/she can’t hit they won’t progress.

In other words, in most cases it is the actual mis-fi t of the golf club that is pre-venting Juniors from not only advancing, but even getting the ball airborne.

Th e industry has perpetuated the myth that all you need is a great swing. Th e design might be fantastic but it’s useless without the proper fi t!

So, they need a piece of equipment that will support and enhance a great swing. If the club does not fi t properly then the player will alter the great movement, often causing ‘bad habits’. Th ese are called Equipment Induced Swing Compensations. The ‘bad habit’ is often CAUSED by the equipment!

How many great Junior players have we missed because they couldn’t hit the club given them?

Please take a look at the following im-pact illustration (not address or set-up), re-printed with permission from Henry-Griffi tts Golf Company:

Th is is called the Lie Angle chart, and the illustration on the left is by far the biggest problem for Juniors. Aside from directional problems, when the club is in this position at impact, as the center of the club is raised off the ground the ball is struck very low on the clubface, and often

does not get off the ground.In many cases, kids are given clubs that

either their parents no longer use or they borrow some clubs from others. And, in many cases, even clubs ‘designed’ for Ju-niors are not correctly fi tted to the player. In order to compensate for improperly

fi tted equipment, in many cases I’ve told kids that they should tee the ball up all the way around the golf course, even in the fairways. I’ve always believed that unless you give the kids the performance they’re looking for in some way, they may never experience it.

And if they don’t ever experi-ence it, how long are they going to keep trying?

We hear comments like “Well, a good swing can hit anything.” Or “It’s not the club’s fault.” But consider this: Tiger Woods can probably hit your Junior’s clubs to an eff ective degree, but your Junior probably can’t get Tiger’s clubs off the ground.

In fact, the less accomplished you are, the more the fi t of the club helps!

So, what can we do? In some cases the club can be altered, but in most cases it cannot be altered enough.

And, the better the clubs fi t, the less

continued on page 24


COMBINING A FEW ROUNDS OF

GOLF WITH A FEW GLASSES OF

WORLD-CLASS WASHINGTON

WINE MAKES FOR THE PERFECT

LONG WEEKEND.

An Associated Press article dated March 31st and which appeared in the Washington Post, LA Times, New York Times and on ABCnews.com describes how the Washington wine industry is no longer the cottage industry it was 20 years ago or the slighter larger niche industry it had grown into by the turn of the century. With over 650 licensed wineries, it is now a major player in the State’s economy, generating over $3 billion annually and ranking second only to California (in the US at least) in terms of size, output and, to a lesser degree, quality. Indeed,

Washington’s wines have been compet-ing very favorably with the best that the Golden State can produce for quite a while now. In Wine Spectator’s 2009 list of the world’s top 100 wines, Washington had eight entries compared with 15 from California.

It’s a similar story with the two States’ golf industries. At last count, there were somewhere between 900 and 950 courses in California while Washington possessed a little over 300. And while California al-ways boasts a dozen or more courses on the popular national magazines’ various

‘best of ’ lists – public, private, municipal, new, modern, classic, resort, etc – Wash-ington can rely on Chambers Bay, Gold Mountain, Semiahmoo, Palouse Ridge, Sahalee and now Wine Valley, which celebrated its fi rst birthday on June 6th, to ensure it attracts its share of national

and international attention.

Wine Valley, the Evergreen State’s n e w e s t g r e a t course, may be a 2009 vintage but it looks considerably older. It fits into the landscape like a glove and shares numerous char-acteristics with many of America’s classic courses. It’s very picturesque for one, but didn’t manufacture its good looks by re-sorting to the sadly clichéd ‘fl owers and fountains’ approach to beautification that so many golf

courses around the world have felt the need to adopt. Rather, it let Mother Nature toot her own consid-erable trumpet.

One wonders how diff erent this course would have looked had it been built in the 1980s or ‘90s. No doubt, a million gallons of water a day plus a gazillion tons of fertilizer, pesticide and whatever else the superintendent had knocking around the maintenance shed would have been used, getting it to look as green as possible. A good deal more earthwork would have been necessary in order to establish the fake mounds and faux-dunes that were

all the rage at the time; petunias and half a dozen other alien plant species would have been introduced to give the place a dash of much-needed color and a large lake would almost certainly have been dug in front of the 18th green, adding a little drama to what is now a very boring hole

(I’m joking, of course; it’s actually a rollicking good three-shotter).

Thankfully, with the game moving slowly out of its much maligned period of gratuitous over-con-sumption, Wine Val-ley could be designed to look and play like a fast-running inland links, making it infi -nitely more enjoyable than it would have been were it a softened target-style course that

required the imagination, strategy and guile of a clueless donkey to play.

Dan Hixson, a young(ish) designer from Portland, saw potential the mo-ment he set foot on site and determined

to make Wine Valley enjoyable for all – scratch men looking to beat its par of 72, 25 handicappers looking to beat 100, win a few dollars off their buddies and come home with roughly the same number of balls they started with, plus environmen-talists who, with some justifi cation, had grown weary of golf ’s huge appetite for environmentally-unsympathetic chemi-cals. “I was really dedicated to making something sustainable, environmentally-sound and which everyone could get around,” he said shortly after the course opened. “But I also wanted to keep it of high quality and design to stimulate excitement from great players to higher handicaps. John (Th orsnes, Director of Golf ) and I discussed at length what we felt were good and bad examples of courses that claimed to be for everyone, but really weren’t. It’s a fi ne line.”

Hixson remained conscious of that line all 225 days of the construction process, and did an excellent job of remaining on its more desirable side. He had very little experience to draw on having completed only one other solo project – Bandon

Pure Indulgence Northwest Wine Country Golfby TONY DEAR


Images courtesy of Walla Walla Tourism


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The Importance of Proper Ball Positionby NATHANIEL JOHNSON

It is no secret that golf requires a trained eye and strong analytical skills. It requires practice and concentration and it requires that you hit a small ball with a big club with accuracy. Just as important as bringing your clubs to the course is understanding ball position. With every student I instruct, this is the most misun-derstood concept. Having the proper ball position will ensure that you can make the correct contact and give you the best op-portunity to hit a better shot. With better shots, you can score better and make this great game much more enjoyable. You

can have a great swing, but without the correct ball position it’s very diffi cult to hit a great shot.

Placing the ball in the proper position in your stance is critical to arriving in the correct impact position. Impact is the mo-ment of truth in the golf swing. Th e ball’s fl ight is completely determined when the club strikes the ball and with the ball positioned correctly in your stance, you can consistently control the fl ight of the ball.

As the club approaches impact, the club should be descending into the ball. Th e club contacts the ball and continues down into the turf. Th e divot should be on the target side of the ball. Shorter irons are designed to strike the ball at a steeper angle (bigger divots) and longer clubs are designed to swing at a shallower angle (smaller divots).

Th e number one problem I see with my students is that they play the ball too far back in their stance (right of center for a right handed golfer). With this position, it’s very diffi cult to hit the ball straight and consistent. Th e ball will tend to go right because the club can’t square up to

the ball and the clubface is open at impact. As you keep hitting it right, students will try to manipulate the swing by using more hands and arms in the swing to close the clubface. All this does is create more prob-lems and more inconsistent golf shots.

Th e ball placement varies with the club

you select. To assure that the club head arrives at impact with the correct angle of approach, right-handed golfers should use the following ball positions:

Play your shorter irons (wedges, 9-iron and 8-iron) in the center of your stance. Th ese clubs have the most upright lie angles. Th is position encourages a steeper angle at impact, producing a divot on the target side of the ball.

Play your middle irons (7-iron, 6-iron

and 5-iron) one ball left of center. Th is position encourages a slightly shallower angle of approach with a slight divot on the target side of the ball.

For your long irons, hybrids and fair-way-woods play the ball two balls from center. Th is position places the ball at or

near the bottom of the swing for the shallowest angle one can achieve when the ball is on the turf. Th ere should be a very little divot.

For drivers, the head of the club should be ascend-ing slightly. To encourage an ascending hit, position the ball even with the inside of your left foot, at least three balls from center.

Understanding and using the correct ball position is important for hitting consistent shots and having con-sistent ball fl ight control. Practice and use these positions and your accuracy and ball striking will improve.

Nathanael Johnson is the Store Manager/Director of Instruction at GolfTEC South Lake Union. He can be reached at 206-357-6885 or email [email protected].

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No, it’s not likely the pig-tailed prom queen on the golf course beverage cart is going to be ditching her ice-chilled stock of beer for Australian Syrahs and Oregon Pinot Noirs any time soon. After all, golf and beer go together like cake and ice cream. But, thanks to wine regions like Napa, Niagara - and one you’ve rarely, if ever, heard about, Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valley – golf and wine are get-ting paired together more and more often. And, if you’re like me, the palate can defi -nitely make room for the combination.

With Victoria sprawling likes it’s never sprawled before, the Cowichan Valley, lo-cated a short 45-minute drive “up island” over the Malahat, is having an awakening,

of sorts. People are coming. People are buying property. People are fi nding out about the wines. And people are discover-ing that the fairways and greens here are some of the fi nest on the island.

Th e Cowichan Valley, or “Th e Warm Land,” as it means in the language of the local First Nations people, is a lush, farm-friendly region that has a surpris-ingly diff erent character than bustling Victoria. Th is tiny region (the popula-tion of the Cowichan Valley is just over 79,000) is home to quaint, by-the-sea fi shing villages, tucked-away towns that haven’t changed much in 75 years, and, of course, great golf courses and up and coming wineries – both of which march to their own beat.

In all, the tranquil Cowichan Valley is home to just 12 winer-ies – some well established and others just starting out. Visiting a winery and trying the fruits of the labour could be participat-ing in a regularly scheduled tour and tasting or a matter of driv-ing down a bumpy gravel road, wedging your vehicle between the vines, waving madly at the owner/winemaker (who’s busy trimming and inspecting his vines but will happily come talk to you) and having him unlock the door to the private tasting room to give a sample. Quite charming, really.

And certainly unpretentious. Unpretentious, too, is a good word

to describe the golf here. Duncan, the commercial hub of the Cowichan Val-ley, is home to the Duncan Meadows Golf Club. Arguably, it’s the best in the region. With two fairly distinct nines (the back nine is more in the woods), Dun-can Meadows is a championship-ready track that was recently named one of the most underrated courses in Canada by SCOREGolf Magazine.

Th e course starts out in the meadows with plenty of room to play (and spray). A great start for creaky swings that haven’t been properly lubricated. But then, drop-ping into low-lying parkland, things pro-gressively tighten up, the fi rs start coming

into the play, water-hazards start biting into the fairways, and you’ve got to have your sights on.

One of the best holes at Duncan Meadows is the par-5 17th. At 491 yards from the back tee, it’s certainly not a

long par-5, but throw in a nasty little bend through the towering fi rs, a ball-hungry creek, and a massive pond short of the green and you’ve got all the ingredients for a late-round disaster. Or, of course, an eagle for the ages. Regardless of what happens on 17 – or the other 17 – enjoying a drink or two (some of the local wines are avail-able in the restaurant) in the beautiful clubhouse would be the appropriate thing to do.

But on a golf/wine trip, wrapping up the day’s activities at the golf course is generally not the wisest thing to do. So on the short drive back to Duncan you’re best

advised to get off the Island Highway and spin through the back roads. It’s here where you’ll discover some of the “secrets” of why a visit to the Cowichan Valley is so rewarding. Besides the wineries, family-

Golf & Wine In Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valleyby ANDREW PENNER



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Idaho’s Priest Lake Golf Course and Hills Resort Off ers Aplentyby CAMERON HEALEY

When we featured Idaho’s Priest Lake Golf Course on our March cover earlier this year, I secretly began planning for a spring road trip to both play the course and stay at the charming and picturesque nearby Hills Resort. Yes, a trip to North Idaho was in the cards and when the opportunity made itself available in mid-May, I jumped at the chance to explore and play somewhere new. Yes, I was a bit like a kid at a candy store with an un-abashed sugar rush!

If you are from the Northwest there is a very good chance that you are familiar with Priest Lake (Th e largest lake Trout caught in the United States was caught at Priest Lake, and weighed 57 lbs. 8 oz), its location, history, and legacy of the Hill family in Idaho. If not, Priest Lake is located in the northernmost part of the Idaho Panhandle with the northern end of the lake extending close to the Canadian border. As an expat-Kiwi, I’ll acknowledge that my familiarity with the area was modest, so I took much interest

in learning more about the story behind the Resort and the development of the Priest Lake Golf Course.

Patriarch George Hill founded Hills Resort located at the southern end of 18 mile long Priest Lake in Luby Bay in 1946. After returning to Spokane from naval service, he quickly realized that the city was not for him and spent every summer at his parent’s lake home at Priest

Lake. His love for Priest Lake encouraged him to purchase a small fi shing resort in 1946 and married Lois Montecucco, also a Spokane native, and together Hill’s

Resort became a reality. Today, the resort is truly a family aff air with second genera-tion Teri, Craig, Scott, and Lois all pitch-ing in to help run the resort, which is open year-round for lodging. According to the Hill family, New Year’s Eve is their busi-est night of the year; in fact, the area has become an ideal location for conferences and retreats.

Upon arriving at the not-so-small

Priest Lake after a short road trip via Spokane, WA, my immediate impression, as we rolled into the car park, was fi rst, “wow” and then, second, how incredibly

charming the lake side Resort was in-cluding its collection of rustic style cabins and chalet-style units befi tting the rugged outdoor wilderness. Each cabin was situ-ated either breath-takingly close to the lake shore (lake front suite with fi replace) or only a stone’s throw from the main Lodge where we were introduced to the much-vaunted restaurant offering stunning lake views. Local fare included their specialties such as Huckleberry Pan-cakes made with locally picked wild

huckleberries or the barbequed baby back ribs cooked on their open-view mesquite grill, but if mushrooms are your thing, the locally picked fresh wild Morel mush-rooms are a must-have. Just remember to bring your alpine-sized appetite as the breakfast portions literally kept me hunger-free through the entire 18 hole round later that morning.

Yes, after spending 20 minutes leisurely

exploring the secluded sandy beach, I had little choice but to promptly vanquish any work-related thoughts, turn off the cell phone and simply enjoy the moment.

Th row in some alpine golf and you’ve got the makings of a very memorable trip. Th at being said, with an 8 A.M. tee time sched-uled the next day at the Priest Lake Golf Course, I took it upon myself to review the course, its history and quickly learned that its beginnings were formed out of a farmer’s meadow that was for sale on Highway 57 in the 1960s. Th e fi rst nine holes were built from this meadow with the owners planning to eventually create a legitimate 18-hole golf course, that which became a reality in 2003. Gener-ally considered more diverse, the back nine is characterized by undulating fairways, dramatic rock outcrops, a lush forest, and natural wetlands. Priest Lake Golf Course off ers golfers an 18-hole, par 72 course over 6500 yards (not long) with a course and slope

rating of 70.8 and 128 from the blue tees and 67.3 and 119 from the ladies tees. Priest Lake off ers golfers of all abilities an opportunity to play a “Real McCoy” alpine golf course that is nestled amongst some of most beautiful natural settings I have played. Yes, Priest Lake reminds me a little of the John Steidel-designed Sun Country Golf Course in Cle Elum ,WA. Tight, tree lined fairways, blind approach shots into elevated greens, dog legs left and right, and natural scenery that is as close to pristine as you can get. Now, while the greens at Priest Lake failed to light the stimpmeter on fi re, the greens did roll true and are the result of sound course management and experience. Giv-en Priest Lake’s elevation of 2000+feet above sea level, Mother Nature can and will, on occasion, cool overnight temps to below freezing, which can result in frost damage to the greens and compromised putting surfaces. A little growth is a good thing and it didn’t take long before we became accustomed to the speed of the alpine putting surfaces. While Priest Lake does off er a number of holes that should pique your curiosity or provide ample challenge to the point where your com-posure dissolves in an instant, there were a few that are worth noting and are both equally delightful and diverse. On the



Mike Weir Takes Title At 2010 World Skins Game at Bear

Mountain Resortby ROBYN SCIUCHETTI

Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria, British Columbia was the site of the 2010 World Skins event. Each year the event is held in a diff erent Canadian province to raise money for a local charity. Five professional players from fi ve diff erent countries participated. Th is year’s par-ticipants were Mike Weir (Canada), Fred Couples (United States), Retief Goosen (South Africa), Ian Poulter (England) and Camilo Villegas (Columbia).

Players play a traditional skins format where the low score on each hole wins the prize money for that hole. If there is a tie, the prize money carries over to the next hole until there is a winner. $360,000 was up for grabs; $15,000 for holes 1-6, $20,000 for holes 7-12 and $25,000 for holes 13-18. Retief Goosen looked like the early favorite after starting strong with 5 skins on Monday and earning $75,000. Ian Poulter earned one skin on Monday for $15,000. No other skins were captured on day one with $80,000 in carryover skins moved to Tuesday.

Fan favorites Fred Couples and Mike Weir were held skinless along with Camilo Villegas on the fi rst day of play. Th e PGA players, Goosen, Weir, Villegas and Poulter commented on the perfect

green conditions at the Bear Mountain – Mountain Course after a rugged U.S. Open the prior week. All were glad to be taking part in a relaxed format after the stressful U.S. Open.

On Tuesday, the prize money grew to $270,000 and 12 skins when birdies were hard to come by and no winners emerged on any of the 9 holes. To decide the win-ner, a chip-off was held on the 18th hole from 125 yards. Mike Weir edged out

Camilo Villegas by about eighteen inches much to the delight of the Canadian crowd.

For 2010, the event is supporting the dream of 16-year-old Jeneece Edroff who envisioned a “home away from home” for children’s families that need to travel to Victoria from other parts of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands for medical care in the same tradition as the Ronald McDonald House. Th e facility will be called “Jeneece Place”. She has raised over $1 million dollars with penny drives to support special needs children.

Over $925,000 was raised for Jeneece Place at the event. Telus offi cials later announced they would increase the dona-tion to an even $1 million.


STAFFPUBLISHER / EDITOR . . . . . . . Cameron Healey

[email protected] MANAGER. . . . Sydney Healey

[email protected] DIRECTOR . . . Kris Hansen

[email protected] EDITORS: . . . . . Kelly Handley

REGIONAL EDITORS . . . . . . . . Cliff ord Cowley Wayne Scottcliff @golftodaynw.com [email protected]

CONTRIBUTORS . . . . . . . . . . . Cliff ord Cowley, Tony Dear, Diana Del Garbino, Bob Duncan, Kelly Handley, Derek Mount, Rick Newell, Terry VanderHeiden, Dan Stark, Erin Szekely, Brett Wilkinson, Ina Zajac

Cameron Healey, Publisher/Editor • Golf Today Magazine Northwest Edition(425) 941-9946 phone • (425) 949-3090 fax

www.GolfTodayNW.com • [email protected]

Golf Today Magazine, The Best in the West for 22 Years, 12 issues per year, is published monthly. Golf Today Magazine Northwest Edition is published monthly anddistributed within Washington and Oregon State. Subscriptions are available at $29 per year, $39 for two years, or $49 for three years. Golf Today is protected underthe copyright law. Contents of this publication cannot be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. Unsolicited articles should be sent via e-mailand photos are welcome. Correspondence should be sent to Golf Today Magazine.

ISSN 1524-2854

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Nicklaus Conducts Clinic and Fundraiser for Wounded Veteransby CHERI BRENNAN

Shortly after Jack Nicklaus arrived at the Tacoma Country & Golf Club for a clinic and fundraiser for American Lake Veterans Golf Course, the clouds parted and the Golden Bear basked in the sun-shine and adoration of fans whose ages spanned several generations.

Between discussing his warm-up rou-tine (“so he won’t hurt himself ”) and demonstrating the nuances of gripping the club, ripping a drive and chipping the ball, the legendary golfer traded quips with his 1969 Ryder Cup team member, Ken Still. Tacoma native Still, the master of cer-emonies for the spe-cial event and a board member and volunteer for Friends of Ameri-can Lake Veterans Golf Course, had recruited his lifelong friend to help with the reno-vation and expansion plans at the unique facility near the VA Hospital in Lakewood, Wash.

Little did Still know how committed Nick-laus would become:

The interna-• tionally sought-after designer who can com-mand top dollar for his services is contribut-ing design ser-vices valued at $500,000 to create nine new holes at American Lake Veterans Golf Course. He agreed to serve as honorary • co-chair of the campaign to raise funds for building the new course and making other improvements at the existing nine holes so the golf experience becomes more accessible. He traveled to Palm Desert, Calif. • in November and now Tacoma, Wash. to conduct clinics and fundraisers for “Friends of Ameri-can Lake Veterans Golf Course.”And just for good measure, he • brought along a box of hybrid clubs from Nicklaus Golf Equip-ment, presenting one to each of the wounded veterans who took part in the clinic and donating

the remainder to ALVGC for the loaner sets at the golf course.

When his donation of services was announced, Nicklaus, the 2008 recipi-ent of the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship, remarked, “I was moved to see the amazing eff orts at American Lake Veterans Golf Course where our wounded warriors learn to play golf with the help of an incredible army of volunteers.”

At this week’s clinic he reiterated his

respect for those who have served and sacrifi ced by quietly stating, “Th is is done out of love.”

Mutual admiration was palpable throughout the clinic, which was spon-sored by “Bill McGovern & Friends” with generous support from the Tacoma Country & Golf Club.

For Vietnam veteran Jim Martinson, who lost both legs in 1968, one piece of advice from Nicklaus that resonated had to do with playing within your ca-pabilities. “If I can get to where I can do a bogey every hole at my time and where I’m in my life right now, that’ll be great. Someday, maybe I’ll move on to par, but be happy with where you’re at and enjoy the game,” said Martinson, a Paralympics Gold Medalist who took up golf last year. He plays from a SoloRider, an adaptive cart designed for golfers with physical

impairments. Also taking part in the Nicklaus

clinic was Lt. Col. Danny Dudek. While serving in Iraq in 2007, his feet were paralyzed from a roadside bomb. He also has limited mobility in his hips from the same incident. Dudek spent four months in rehabilitation, then worked as the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Warrior Transition Unit executive offi cer. A year ago he took command of its Warrior Transitional Battalion, the fi rst Wounded Warrior to

assume that position. He resumed playing golf last year and during the clinic wowed onlookers with his ball striking abilities.

Clinic participant Army Spc. Michael Ballard views golf as an important part of his rehabilitation. Shortly after being deployed to Afghanistan, Ballard, a medic in a Stryker brigade, sustained permanent damage to his right femur and left knee from an improvised explosive device (IED). Th e avid golfer also has an arti-fi cial right hip as a result of his injuries. Ballard makes daily visits to the gym, but says, “Golf can’t be duplicated in a gym.”

Following the clinic and demonstration with the veterans, Nicklaus, the winner of 18 professional major-championship titles, patiently posed for pictures and signed autographs before resuming his “offi cial” duties at a fund-raising recep-tion in the clubhouse. Fans retrieved balls

Nicklaus used during the clinic to present for autographs; one fan even scooped up divots, which he planned to transplant for his own fi eld of dreams.

After an overnight stay as guests of Emerald Queen Casino (a donation to “Friends of ALVGC”), Nicklaus and members of his design team visited American Lake Veterans Golf Course to scope out the site of the new nine holes and confer with veterans on ways to enhance the accessibility of the existing

nine holes. The timeline for

starting construction has not been final-ized. Harold “Pepper” Roberts, founder and president of Friends of American Lake Veter-ans Golf Course, the 501(c)3 tax-exempt fund-raising arm for the course, hopes to have two-thirds of the needed $3 million in the bank before break-ing ground.

Donations are wel-comed and may be made online at www.veterangolf.org or by mail to: Friends of American Lake Veter-ans Golf Course, PO Box 99608, Tacoma, WA 98496. More in-formation on the cam-paign, titled “A Course in Courage – Heal-

ing America’s Veterans through Golf ” is on the website.

American Lake Veterans Golf Course is the nation’s only course designed spe-cifi cally for the rehabilitation of wounded and disabled veterans. Th e existing facil-ity which completed an 8,400-square-foot Rehabilitation and Learning Center that opened earlier this year, is operated, maintained and managed by more than 160 volunteers.

When the next phase is completed, ALVGC could become a prototype that can be replicated across the country. Among its benefi ts, it provides a much-needed mental and physical rehabilitation and recreational outlet where the growing infl ux of wounded and disabled warriors can regain hope, strength and confi dence in a positive, therapeutic and accepting social environment.

Left to Right: Jim Martinson, Ken Still, Jack Nicklaus


You’ve heard of the Jewel of the Nile and the Crown Jewels, but have you heard of the Jewel of West Medford? Southern Oregon is known for its par three courses. In previous issues, I have written about Laurel Hill Golf Course and Quail Point--two little nine hole gems, in Southern Oregon, you can play in an hour and a half without maxing out your debit card. Let me share another nine hole gem that is truly a jewel, Stewart Meadows Golf Course.

Lay-up, laminate, cut up and ship. For years, Jerry Lausman made sure those words rang true in his plywood operation, off South Pacifi c Highway, in Medford, Oregon. His business savvy kept him and his employees in paychecks for many years. In the early 1990’s, Jerry decided he’d had a good run in the valley, and he wanted to give something back to the community. So, next to the mill, on an old orchard, adjacent to Stewart Avenue, he built an executive par three course.

Head Pro, Dan Coughlin, calls Stewart Meadows a jewel not only because of its manicured fairways and greens, but also because of its location. “Stewart Meadows has a strong appeal to juniors and the golfer of modest ability, but it is perfect for the senior traveler,” says Dan. “Th e course is relatively fl at and easy to walk. Perfect for the morning or afternoon ex-ercises.” Carts are also available. “It’s also conveniently located near shopping and overnight facilities,” he adds.

Th e course itself is like a walk in the

park with a reason to stroll. You half expect to see swing sets and slides. As a matter of fact, #9 parallels the playground of Jeff erson Elementary next door, and Fichtner-Manwaring Park is across the street. Amenities include a state of the art prac-tice facility featuring a driving range with real grass tees, a chipping and putting area, and practice putting greens at the

driving range and in front of the club house.

Opened in 1994, the course plays com-fortably from the white and red tees, at 2658 and 2466 yards respectively, while the tips, at 2910 yards, provide a formi-dable challenge to the avid golfer. Every hole has a sand trap strategically placed, thirty-nine in all. Th ere are four large ponds, over 800 trees, and at least four holes are guarded by a creek that bisects the sixty-two acre layout.

Th e course provides ample opportunity to use all your clubs. Except for the par threes, you can choose to use a driver on every hole. When I played the course, I played with my wife and niece. My favor-ite was #4. At 324 yards, I could easily lay up to the 150 marker and then get on in two with my seven or eight iron. But, I like trying to hit my drive between the two large trees just beyond the 150. Who lays up, right? My niece’s favorite was the 176 yard, #5 hole because she could use her driver to the green. At 195 yards

from the tips, it rivals any par three on the PGA tour. Th e fi nishing holes provide risk and reward for any golfer. Both have OB fences on the left and trees can get in your way on the right. Number 8 has a narrow, sweet spot, landing area on the drive, but an easy chip onto the green if you hit it just right. Number 9, the only par 5, at 450 yards, can be reached in two. If you got the guts, take the shot, but an errant second shot to the green can leave you in the sand, behind some trees, or with a diffi cult chip to a two-tiered green. Some decide to lay-up to

the sand traps and chip on in three. Yeah, right.

When you are done with your round, you’ll want to stop by for a hamburger and your favorite beverage at the Tee Time Cafe. For more information or to

From Plywood to Three Wood/Nine Hole Gem is a Jewel

Places to StayTh ere are several overnight accommodations available within a short mile or two of the golf course. Deciding to spend the night in Medford and take in the several golf courses in the area is an easy decision.

Best Western Horizon Inn1154 E. Barnett Rd

541-779-5085

Holiday Inn Express1501 S. Pacifi c Hwy

541-732-1400

Howard Johnson1015 S. Pacifi c Hwy

541-773-8266

Rates9 Holes $16.00 18 Holes $25.00

Carts9 Holes $14.00 18 Holes $22.00Senior Days 55+ (Monday and Th ursdays)

9 Holes $13.00 18 Holes $20.00Junior Rates 17 or younger (7 days a week)

9 Holes $7.00 18 Holes $13.00

How To Get There

On I-5

Take Exit 27 to Belknap Road

Turn right on Hwy. 99 N.

Left on Stewart Ave.

Left on Holly.

Th e course is on the left.


book a tee time, please visit www.stew- artmeadows.com.

by CLIFFORD COWLEY

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golf today northwest edition - july 2010

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