PRESORT STD SEPTEMBER U.S. Postage PAID 2019 ISSUE THE SOURCE FOR NORTHWEST GOLF NEWS Port Townsend, WA Permit 262 Northwest native Harrington earns his way to PGA Tour A family of deer may have crashed the party at the WinCo Foods Portland Open, but that didn’t stop the celebration for the top 25 players from the tournament, as they all earned their PGA Tour cards for the 2020 season, including NW native Scott Harrington. Pumpkin Ridge’s Witch Hollow again played host to the tournament. See inside for more on the tournament. Casey Martin: Northwest golf legend Berg battles the WHAT’S NEW wind and course to IN NW GOLF come from behind Black Butte, Eagle Crest and win NW Open PGA Professional Derek Berg of the Pacific team up for fall tourney Northwest Golf Academy (Issaquah, WA) claimed the Black Butte Ranch Resort and Eagle Crest Northwest Open Invitational title in windy conditions Resort in Central Oregon are joining forces for at 10 under par, with a hard fought 70 in the final round the inaugural Central Oregon Fall Shootout, at Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, Wash. which will be held Oct. 5-6 at both resorts. It was Berg’s first professional Northwest major The tournament will feature four-player teams after three wins as an amateur. Sixteen year old amateur with two different formats on both days. The first round will feature a 4-person Stableford format Alexander Yang of Aviara Golf Club took low amateur with the second day a 4-person Best Ball with honors at 210 and PGA Professionals Loren Jeglum of one gross and two nets. Clarkston CC and Brady Sharp of Wine Valley (Walla The Glaze Meadow Course at Black Butte Walla) shared the second spot at 8 under par. Ranch Resort (pictured below) and the Ridge Berg fired a final-round 70 to climb up the lead- Course at Eagle Crest will be the host courses. erboard and win the tournament by three shots over Entry fee for the tournament is $900 and includes Jeglum and Sharp. Former champion Shane Prante green fees, carts, practice balls, tee gift and of The Home Course tied for fourth with Alexander, continental breakfast and lunch. the lower amateur, at 6 under par, four shots behind For more information, call 541.595.1292 or 541.504.3877. Berg. Wine Valley has been the long-time host of the Northwest Open Invitational. Confederated Tribes of Umatilla expand by buying Pendleton CC The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian reservation not only owns and operates Wildhorse Resort and Casino in Pendleton, Ore. but now also owns the Pendleton Country Club. Pendleton Country Club has been around since 1928 but in recent years a dwindling membership has made it hard to stay afloat. While PCC operated successfully there since 1928, with the cost of maintenance exceed- ing income, PCC leadership made the decision to sell the property. The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) had an interest and approached the PCC leadership with a proposal. After months of From his days on the Stanford golf team to his winning on the PGA Tour to due diligence and deliberation, the two parties came current job as head coach of the University of Oregon men’s golf team, Casey to an agreement and the sale was finalized. Still looking for a tourney? Martin has seen just about everything there is to see in the world of golf. And Once again stewards of the Birch Creek Valley Look no further than these that doesn’t include his battle with the tour and the justice system on being land, the CTUIR will delegate operation of the golf able to ride in a cart because of his leg issues. For more on Northwest golf course and facilities to Wildhorse Resort & Casino. The 10th annual Twin Lakes Amateur is set Wildhorse currently operates an 18-hole golf course on for Oct. 5-6 at Twin Lakes Golf and Country Club legend Casey Martin, see inside this section of Inside Golf Newspaper. resort property as well as other recreational entities. in Federal Way, Wash. Entry fee is $140 for this two-day event. Call 253.200.6864 for info. • The Tukwila City Amateur is set for Sept. 7-8 at Foster Golf Links in Tukwila. The two-day Jobe comes from behind tournament entry fee is $140 and includes green fees and practice round. Call 425.242.4221 for more information. and tops Couples in last • The sixth annual Gig Harbor City Amateur will be held Sept. 28-29 at Madrona Links Golf round at Boeing Classic Course. The entry fee for this two-day tourna- ment is $150 with $750 for first place gross and Brandt Jobe spoiled Fred Couples homecoming net. Call 253.851.5193 for more info. with a final round of 63 and a three shot victory over Tom Pernice Jr. Couples posted a 63 on second round and started the final round with a five-shot lead but just couldn’t keep the stellar play up on final round, Rules Quiz ending with a 76, tied for third with Jerry Kelly, the 2017 champion. With your ball on the putting green you mark, lift and clean your golf ball. You then Jobe’s 18 under victory took the wind out of replace your golf ball in front of the mark. Sunday’s large crowd that thought they were going You make your putt but forget to remove the to witness a Couples win for the first time in his home ball mark. OK or not OK? Please see the town. The 54-year-old Jobe came from seven strokes answer on page 2 of this section of Inside back on Sunday, starting with seven birdies on the PHOTO BY SCOTT BISCH © PHOTO BY SCOTT BISCH © Golf Newspaper. front side and taking the lead on the back side. Brant Jobe Fred Couples • Page 2 • • InsIde Comments • • Inside Golf - September Issue 2019 • First time getting fit for clubs? I saw the ugly truth by the numbers with my swing I have been playing golf for so many years I have could do. Lying wasn’t going to help. I figured after lost count. And most of those years the golf hasn’t some swings and some more painful looks at the been too good. With the missed two-foot putts, the Trackman monitors I knew what I needed - new slice-a-rama tee shots, the missed greens, I have clubs and golf lessons. Otherwise it might be time seen my handicap go up and down like the stock to take up tennis and forget this golf stuff. Bob Marlatt market. As you might know, PXG clubs are a little more Publisher I decided one day that it might be the golf clubs expensive than most of the others, but there is a in my hands. Maybe those are the culprits for the up reason that many the pro tours are hitting them as Steve Turcotte and down golf scores and shots. I figured it couldn’t well as top amateurs and other players - the clubs Editor-Advertising always be operator error. Steve work. I knew the clubs worked. But they work for Or could it. players with better swings than mine. Kathy Marlatt When the new PXG golf studio invited me up Turcotte I was hoping that some PXG magic might work Operations Manager for a club fitting I figured I might get the answers in my hands. There was some magic but I needed I was looking for. Besides, I had never been fitted a lot of lies going around,” he said. “The computer more. I think I need a better swing and then maybe Contributing Writers for golf clubs before and this might be a win-win. doesn’t lie. It tells you everything about the way you those new clubs. Justin, I will give you a call when Jeff Coston, Russ Wing, Well, turns out a win-win was not in the cards are hitting the ball. No lies.” that happens. for me and my over-the-top golf swing. When Justin put PXG clubs in my hand, they Photography: Scott Bisch Walking into the PXG center in Bellevue, I knew felt good. The numbers went up some, but with a Steve Turcotte is editor of Inside Golf Newspaper. Cartoonist: Harold Bluestein I wasn’t in Kansas anymore. This is a place with bad over-the-top swing there wasn’t much more I He can be reached at [email protected]. pictures of the professionals who play the PXG Subscription rates: clubs, including a picture of Northwest PGA Tour $17-one year and $30-two years (U.S. star Ryan Moore on the outside window. There was funds). merchandise and behind the wall in the middle of the studio were two hitting stations that looked more Unsolicited articles and photos are wel- like an indoor driving range. come, however we will accept no liability And right behind the stations were a variety for their loss or damage, and will only of shafts, clubheads and everything else that our return them if prior arrangements have master fitter Justin Shepherd needed to put some been made with the publisher. golf clubs in your hands. As you may or may not know, Bob Parsons cre- Courier Address ated PXG Golf Clubs a few years ago because he 460 Dennis Blvd couldn’t find anything to fit his game. These clubs Port Townsend, WA 98368 have become so popular so fast that players on the professional tours are playing them - some without Mailing Address even getting paid.