Print
Email Story
WALLA WALLA -- What started as a simple conversation between John Thorsnes and Russ Byerley almost six years ago became a reality this past month when the Wine Valley Golf Club opened for business.
It's the newest public golf course in the Mid-Columbia, situated 7 miles west of Walla Walla about a mile north of Highway 12.
Byerley is a Walla Walla area farmer who makes artistic pieces in the winter. Thorsnes, a long-time golf professional at Walla Walla Country Club, bought some of Byerley's pieces, and the two became friends.
"I always thought I'd retire at the country club," Thorsnes said. "But Russ asked me what I wanted to do. I said I'd always wanted to build a golf course the right way."
Byerley offered Thorsnes three different pieces of land for his course, and the project was under way.
Thorsnes and his co-owner, Jim Pliska, hired golf course architect Dan Hixson, and the two had settled on a plat of land south of Walla Walla, with Hixson laying out the course.
"But then Russ took me to this piece of land (west of Walla Walla), and I called Dan, who lives in Portland, and said 'You better get back here. This is it,' " Thorsnes said.
It was a farm that looked out over the Walla Walla Valley and the Blue Mountains. It had rolling hills and valleys. It was, in a word, Hixson said, "Perfect."
Ground was broken for this course in March 2007, and it was completed -- in golf course terms -- pretty quickly.
"We didn't move a lot of dirt on this project," Hixson said. "It's a tribute to the land. A lot of projects take years to get done. We shaped a lot of the land to fit the greens."
Indeed, almost every green has various tiers and undulations. But it works, because the greens -- while fast -- roll true.
Architect Dan Proctor was brought in to massage the greens, and a golfer must study the contours closely before making his or her putt.
"We have a saying here already if you (badly) miss a putt," said Thorsnes. "We say 'You got Proctored.' "
The course is challenging with its length -- at 7,360 yards from the back (gold) tees -- and strategically placed bunkers in the fairways and around the greens.
But it's also easily playable for the weekend hackers, thanks to the wide, forgiving fairways and the flat spots near the backs of some greens.
"Strategically, the golf course leaves you ample room in the fairways," Hixson admitted. "But it also teases you with the bunkers."
A shot over some bunkers near the green can set you up near the pin on certain holes. But mishit the ball and you're deep in the sand.
Some of the course's highlights include:
--Three man-made lakes around the course;
-- Monster bunkers on the 390-yard, par-4 fourth hole, which have big walls and will make a golfer choose whether to lay up to those bunkers or go for it;
-- That's followed up with the course's toughest hole, the 475-yard par-4 No. 5, which has a dry washout riverbed that runs the length of the fairway;
-- An average size of greens at 9,000 square feet, including two of at least 11,000 square feet;
-- A great finishing hole -- a par-5, 565-yard hole that starts at the highest point of the course, overlooking the entire layout, the valley and the mountains.
For Thorsnes, the course's director of golf, finally opening the course "is like having a few babies, not just one. But I've got to tell you, it's nice being able to be a golf professional again."
May 8 begins the peak season, with greens fees Monday through Thursday at $60, and Fridays through Sundays, plus holidays, at $75. There are also special twilight rates and replay rates.
Thorsnes said a consulting firm visited the course last fall and recommended greens fees at no less than $100.
"But then the economy tanked, and I'd rather be comfortable with a full course at lower prices," he said.
Thorsnes believes there's a clientele from around the state that not only wants to come to Walla Walla to taste wine, but also to play golf. The course has a tie-in with the Marcus Whitman Hotel for a stay-and-play deal. Eventually, there may be 270 homes built around the course.
Right now, though, Thorsnes just wants to show his baby off.
"I'll be happy this year if the course is well-received," he said, "and the golfers have a good time."
How to get there
From the Tri-Cities, take Highway 12 east to Walla Walla.
When you get past Lowden, take a left at Frenchtown Road.
Travel three-quarters of a mile until you get to Wine Valley Road and take a left.
For tee times, call 877-333-9842 or go to www.winevalleygolfclub.com
