Thursday, Mar. 20, 2008

Mid-Columbia makes headlines at Seattle Golf Show (w/ video)

By Eric Degerman, Herald staff writer

It had been three years since I attended the Seattle Golf Show.

So what did I do on my birthday, a paid holiday for those at the Herald?

I covered the golf show.

And I've included video of my interviews with Bill Porter Jr., director of golf at The Links at Moses Pointe, Kathy Blasdel with the Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau, and Doug Gullikson of the Pacific Northwest Section PGA.

Gullikson was promoting the 2008 Northwest Open Invitational, set for Sept. 13-17 at Meadow Springs Country Club in Richland. Bellingham's Jeff Coston, a former PGA Tour member, is expected to defend his title against a field of 136 professionals and 32 amateurs. And Gullikson was quick to note the help he has received from Janice Heitschmidt, sports sales manager for the TCVCB.

Blasdel and the TCVCB booth are welcomed fixtures at the golf show. She told me how golfers in the Puget Sound continue to be attracted by the climate and the great courses those of us in the Mid-Columbia appreciate. That combination, as well as the world-class wines, helps our area to become known for more than North America's largest Superfund site.

While at the show, Gullikson showed off the trophy of the Washington Open, which Meadow Springs played host to in 1988-1990. Among the names of past champions the camera scrolls over are Porter, Michael Combs, Steve Stull and the late Rod Marcum.

Porter pointed out that the Washington State Amateur -- won in 2006 by Richland's Zach Bixler -- will be played June 24-27 at Moses Pointe. Clarkston grad Joel Dahmen, a University of Washington player, won the state am last year at Gold Mountain in Bremerton.

My two-hour experience at the show began with the season-opening meeting of the Northwest Golf Media Association -- which helps the PNGA produce Pacific Northwest Golfer Magazine -- where I learned the following:

Bixler, in his senior season at the University of Washington, has been sidelined by a troublesome right shoulder.

"It has limited him to chipping and putting," said UW golf coach Matt Thurmond.

Bixler tied an NCAA record by carding a 60 (11-under-par) last fall for the Huskies.

So far, Thurmond said he views this spring a disappointment, but he's hopeful the Huskies can get back on a roll in time for the NCAA West Regional. Stanford is the defending team champ, and USC's Jamie Lovemark is the defending medalist.

The top 10 teams and top two individuals not on an advancing team qualify for the NCAA Championships, held May 28-31 at West Lafayette, Ind.

The Huskies are the host university for the event, which is being staged May 15-17 at Gold Mountain. Attendance for that tournament is free to the public.

It's an event well-worth watching because the list of past champions includes Ryan Moore (2004), Charles Howell (2000), Luke Donald (1999), Tiger Woods (1996), Justin Leonard (1994), Phil Mickelson (1992, 1900, 1989), Scott Verplank (1986), Scott Simpson (1977, 1976), Jay Haas (1975), Curtis Strange (1974), Ben Crenshaw (1973, 1972, 1971), Tom Kite (1972), John Mahaffey (1970), Hale Irwin (1967), Kermit Zarley (1962) and Jack Nicklaus (1961).

There was plenty of WSU talk, too.

Palouse Ridge Golf Club at Washington State University -- that's the official name -- is scheduled to open to the public in early August, although VIP play will begin in June and July.

Green fees are par for the course in this day and age. Monday through Thursday it costs a resident $45.50. Faculty is $39. A student is $26. Non-resident? It's $58.50. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, it's steep. For a non-resident, it's $91. Students pay $39 if there's "space available."

The scorecards have been printed, and there are five sets of tees. The greens are 5,113 yards. From the "crimson" tee blocks, the course gets stretched to 7,335 yards.

Course superintendent Todd Lupkes said of the goals for this course is to someday play host to the NCAA Championships, and he later joked that Palouse Ridge's restaurant would be the first in Pullman to use tablecloth.

One WSU alum, a member of the NWGMA, exclaimed, "We have arrived."

NOTES: The LPGA Safeway Classic will be moved in 2009 to Pumpkin Ridge in the Portland suburb of North Plains. This marks final year of the event's association with Columbia-Edgewater and Riverside Country Club. ... The debut of the course at Zillah Lakes, a nine-hole layout, reportedly has been delayed until spring 2009.

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