Tuesday, Mar. 24, 2009

Isaacson set for 100 holes for First Tee

By Jeff Morrow, Herald sports editor

When some of you readers pick up this paper this morning, Chris Isaacson should have about 12-15 holes of golf played under his belt.

You'll go off to work, maybe have lunch, finish your day, and then head home.

And Isaacson will still be playing golf.

He's not nuts -- though some of us might think so. He's participating in a 100-hole golf marathon to raise money for The First Tee of the Columbia Basin's practice facility. People pledge money per hole or for a flat rate.

Isaacson, 49, is the head pro at Tri-City Country Club and a board member for The First Tee.

This is his sixth 100-hole marathon. The most holes he's ever played is 108. The previous five were fundraisers for junior golf, but this is his first marathon in eight years.

"My back is a little tender," he said.

Bring on the Advil.

What's it like to golf that many holes?

"It's one where you have to pace yourself and remind yourself to don't go at it too hard," he said. "We'll be in carts. Fatigue will be a factor. For 49 years, I'm still in pretty good shape. We'll find out (today)."

If Isaacson can average 5 minutes a hole and get his mega-round completed in 10 hours, he'll be happy. While it will take its physical toll, the mental part can be just as tough.

"You try to do a pre-shot routine," he said. "You don't want to establish bad habits. It's hard to get out of those bad habits."

Isaacson said 15 different players have done some fundraising for this event, and most of them will team together to play a combined 100 holes.

But only Isaacson, Brandon Reed -- the program director for First Tee -- and Conover Insurance's Jared Haff, a former Kennewick High standout who competed at Eastern Washington University, will attempt all 100 holes.

When the day is done, the group hopes it has raised $10,000 towards the cost of the $25,000 practice facility, which will be built at the far end of the Columbia Point driving range and will consist of a putting green, chipping area, driving range and a classroom where the kids can do their homework.

Isaacson said that early May is the target date of getting the putting green up and growing in.

Started in 2006, The First Tee of the Columbia Basin -- an organization which not only teaches kids golf but life skills -- already has 130 kids in the program, and this year it could be up to 150.

If you're driving by Columbia Point today, honk in support of the marathoners. Better yet, call the pro shop at Tri-City Country Club at 783-6131 and pledge your financial support.

NotesThe Central Washington Chapter of the PGA begins its tournament schedule April 6 at Tri-City Country Club. There are 24 dates on the schedule, which ends Sept. 28-29 at the Wildhorse in Pendleton. ... The Herald's annual golf schedule will run this coming Sunday. ... Through four events, Spokane's Alex Prugh leads the Nationwide Tour money list at $127,303. His caddy is Richland High graduate Zach Bixler. Prugh and Bixler were teammates together at the University of Washington.