Category: News

PGA Professional Mitch Runge, Head Professional, and Shane Prante, Assistant Professional from The Home Course in DuPont, WA, clinched victory in the PNW PGA Pro-Assistant Championship by a mere stroke. Their collective prowess culminated in an impressive 17-under par four-ball score over the two-day tournament, held on March 18-19, 2024.

Basking in spring sunshine and enjoying temperatures ranging from the high 50s to the lower 60s, players were treated to optimal conditions for a riveting competition at beautiful Tacoma Country & Golf Club.

Mitch Runge previously won the championship in 2022 alongside Assistant Professional John Cassidy. Shane Prante brings his own winning history to the table, having secured victory in the same event back in 2017, partnering with Head Professional Mike Fosnick.

The team hailing from Oswego Lake Country Club in Lake Oswego, OR, led by Director of Instruction Scott Erdmann and Assistant Professional Brady Sharp, secured second place honors.

This event wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of our esteemed sponsors. We extend our gratitude to Farmers Insurance – Jared Bouchey Agency, our title sponsor for the third consecutive year. Additionally, we warmly welcome back Sally Schmitz representing Bushnell Golf and Bryan Dickson of Sterling Cut Glass. We are proud to introduce Jake Sowby from Titleist and Jake Gordon, Zac Keener and Dathan Wong from Noteefy as our presenting sponsors. We are equally appreciative of the continued support from Matt Pollitt and Les Veres of PTE Golf, and Patrick Coughlin and Mitch Bourgault of GT Golf Supplies, serving as supporting sponsors.

The PNW PGA Pro-Assistant Championship is a testament to the camaraderie and skill displayed by golf professionals. This two-man team competition pairs a head golf professional with their assistant golf professional, engaging in a four-ball format that showcases their collective talent and strategic acumen on the course.

History of the Championship

In 1992, the Pacific Northwest Pro-Assistant Championship began with an exciting showdown between Progress Downs’ Jerry Minor and Ralph West and Royal Oaks’ Steve Bowen and Michael Wilkerson, stretching to an intense seven-hole sudden-death playoff at Tacoma Country and Golf Club. Despite both teams firing remarkable 14-under scores, the playoff remained deadlocked as birdie putts stubbornly refused to find the cup. Fast forward to 1995, where the dynamic duo of Scott Williams and Mike Barnett from Redwood Golf Center etched their names into history books, setting an enduring tournament record with a blistering 18-under 126 at McCormick Woods GC, securing victory by a commanding three-stroke margin.

Since its inception, this championship has become a beacon of camaraderie between Head Professionals and their Assistants, earning its place as one of the most cherished events in the Pacific Northwest Section PGA calendar. Notable moments continued to shape its legacy, such as in 2008 when Head PGA Professional Steve Prugh and his Assistant Corey Prugh etched their names in history as the first father-son duo to seize the coveted title, further cementing the tournament’s rich history and significance.

The Masters means so much to so many people. For some, it’s simply the first major tournament of the year (unless you count The Players Championship), For others, it marks the start of the golf season. For the rest, it’s an event steeped in tradition that they love to watch. Regardless of which category you fall into, a trip to Augusta, Georgia and a badge to get you into the tournament is likely a bucket list item that seems unattainable.

A group of golf industry workers from the Pacific Northwest found a unique way to get access to Augusta National and see the tournament from just about every angle.

In 2022 and 2023, Anthony Shipman and Nyk Pike – both managers at clubs in the Puget Sound area – attended The Masters as part of the volunteer security force. Hired by Securitas, the pair and several of their colleagues made their way to Augusta and were given tasks to keep the grounds safe for patrons and players.

“It was a pretty incredible experience,” said Pike, “not only because we could be on the grounds for as long as we wanted to be, but because once we got there, Securitas took care of the rest. They put us up in a hotel and even had a driver that made sure we could get to the course for the start of our 3:30am shifts.”

Pike said that, even after flying to Atlanta, driving to Augusta, and making a generous donation in the merchandise pavilion, he felt like he broke even when he received his check from Securitas.

When asked what they had to do during their shifts, Shipman said it was a pretty relaxed gig. “We would start the day making sure the employees got in without any contraband, and then we’d move over to start screening patrons. We really just had to make sure no one was bringing in phones or trying to use a fraudulent tournament badge (ticket).”

After getting patrons through the gates, the pair were free to go to different areas of the facility and relieve their fellow security guards for breaks. That gave them plenty of time to get a behind-the-scenes tour of things like the media tunnels and clubhouse.

“We came up with a scavenger hunt with things to find on the grounds,” said Pike. “We looked for things like the lone palm tree on the grounds – it’s on hole four – or turtles in the pond on 16. I feel like the only thing I still need to check off my list is the Crow’s Nest (where Amateur players stay during the event).”

While this may sound like something the average fan may never get to do, Shipman said it’s not. He added that, starting in September, Securitas will begin taking applications for security at The Masters. The force is pretty big, too, simply because it’s a week-long commitment of long days that some folks simply don’t make it all the way through. You can keep an eye out for more information at www.securitas.com.

Both Shipman and Pike were guests on the new Combo Tees Podcast, where you can hear more details on their time at Augusta. Click here for the episode or download it wherever you listen to podcasts.

Each year, the Pacific NW Section (PGA of America) recognizes the golf professionals throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana who are helping grow the game of golf by working with players of all abilities.

Special Award Winners

Roger Wallace, of Polson Bay Golf Course, is honored as the 2023 Golf Professional of the Year. This is Roger’s fourth time receiving this prestigious award.

Carrie De Gree, from Royal Oaks Country Club received two awards: Assistant Golf Professional of the Year and Professional Development Award for Education. 

Eugene Country Club’s Christopher Smith was named 2023 Teacher of the Year.

Chas Holmes, from Bear Creek Country Club, received the Bill Strausbaugh Award for Mentoring. Chas was recognized for his work to help mentees become better pros.

The 2023 Player Development Award went to Ryan Young. The Chambers Bay professional was honored with the same award in 2020 and 2016.

2023’s Youth Player Development Award was given to Sara Griffin, who was also awarded for her work with PGA Jr. League.

Perry Williams Awards (For Rules) 

Mike Miller, of Kent, WA was recognized for his unwavering dedication to the rules of golf. 

Merchandisers of the Year 

Running a golf shop means different things to different types of facilities. That’s why the section awards those high performing professionals from three different categories. 

Public Category 

Sean Arey, of Trysting Tree, is one of the few pros who own his golf shop. He’s excelled at highlighting college sports, thanks to his close proximity to Oregon State. 

Resort Category 

Kalispel Golf & Country Club’s Nick McCaslin snagged his third consecutive merchandiser award by always making his customers feel special in his shop. 

Private Category 

Trevor Fox, from the Golf Club at Black Rock, rose to the top for private club merchandisers. Creativity and commitment to service have contributed to his club’s success. 

Player of the Year

Liam Kendregen’s outstanding season was punctuated when the Sand Point CC professional finished tied for 3rd at the PNW PGA Professional Championships.

Senior Player of the Year

Semiahmoo’s Jeff Coston won the Senior Washington Open, and logged two more top three finishes in some of the section’s biggest events of 2023.

PGA Assistant Player of the Year

Shane Prante, of The Home Course, won the Pelzer Golf Oregon Open Invitational and finished second in the National Car Rental PNW PGA Assistant Championship. 

Patriot Award 

Bill Morach, of Eugene Country Club, earned the 2023 Patriot Award, emphasizing his dedicationto serving members and veterans of the US Armed Forces.

Deacon Palmer Award 

Ryan Cutter, born with leg deformities, was recognized for his resilience in the face of personal challenges. Ryan inspires through his PGA Hope program. 

 

Honma Golf, the leader in exquisitely crafted performance golf equipment, announces the new enhanced T//World W5 Wedge, an elite club design that showcases the ultimate in wedge innovation and craftsmanship.

The W5’s reimagined face design and sole options create exceptional play plus Honma’s legendary artistry and craftsmanship.

Honma engineers designed the T//World W5 wedges with a slightly larger head size and advanced high-spin performance by incorporating design characteristics that allow golfers of varying abilities to benefit from greater spin. The increased club head size improves forgiveness with a widened sweet spot for better aim and impact.

Two elegant finishes are available in this wedge line with a system of bounce and grind variations to suit different shot characteristics and wedge-swing styles. The chrome finish model features Honma’s unique and proven-popular double milling pattern on the face which holds and controls the golf ball and “bites” even on short finesse shots for optimal spin performance. The sophisticated brushed copper finish contributes to improved feel, reduced glare, rust prevention, and a unique visual appeal. Prices start at $209 for chrome, and $229 for copper.

The brushed copper model features a protrusion-shaped RIB positioned between the score lines by precision milling. The Full Score Line design of these wedges’ face design allows skilled wedge players to open and close the face at will and achieve a broad array of scoring shots. With grooves spanning from the heel to the toe, it is easy for golfers to use the versatile face surface with forgiveness and confidence in a variety of shot situations.

Golfers experience even more spin and precision with Honma’s latest advancements in its three strategic sole options, the I, C, and S.

I Sole (Available in 48-, 50- and 52-degree lofts, each with 8 degrees of bounce; and 54-degree loft with 10 degrees of bounce): Features slight trailing-edge relief across the back for full sole performance with improved turf interaction on takeaway and impact.
C Sole (Available in 56-, 58- and 60-degree lofts, each with 12 degrees of bounce): Utilizes aggressive heel-to-toe trailing edge relief with a flat bounce design and an easy-to-open face for optimized shot-making versatility whether the face is open or closed.

S Sole (Available in 56-, 58- and 60-degree lofts, each with 8 degrees of bounce): With a wide sole for four-way relief, the S Sole delivers shot making with more forgiveness and reliable spin. This wide, full-sole design enables forgiveness and playability from a variety of sand and turf conditions.

The exclusively designed VIZARD IB Wedge Shaft comes standard in the T//W W-5 wedges for low launch angles and high spin and consistently faster dynamic face closure for consistent loft at impact. The low launch achieved by this design equals longer contact time between the ball and the face.

Learn more at HonmaGolf.com.

For those of us who live in climates that get cold, rainy, or snowy during the winter, it’s always nice to plan a golf vacation that gets you back into the warm sunshine for a few days. Places like Florida and Mexico are great, but if you want a west coast destination with plenty of flight options and all the golf you can handle, the Valley of the Sun is an excellent place to go.

The Phoenix metropolitan area is known for its year-round sun and pleasant temperatures October through April. While there are plenty of places to stay and play within Phoenix itself, the real gem is the city of Scottsdale, located northeast of Phoenix’s SkyHarbor Airport and settled at the base of Camelback Mountain.

For golfers, the first thing you think of when Scottsdale comes up is the Waste Management Phoenix Open, the wildest tournament on the PGA TOUR schedule. It turns out that Scottsdale is so much more than that!

A quick google search will reveal an endless list of places to stay and places to play in and around Scottsdale. With any size group, it can be a pain to know the best accommodations and the courses worth playing. On a trip earlier this year, I let the experts at Meridian CondoResorts put our itinerary together. 

Things could NOT have gone better.

Meridian, a locally owned and operated company, started in 1995 with the goal of delivering the ultimate Arizona vacation experience. Over nearly 30 years, the company has worked with thousands of clients to pair them with the perfect lodging options and golf courses.

With any size group, it’s hard to know if the accommodations you choose will be good or great. Meridian CondoResorts feature fully furnished, resort-style condos in the most desirable areas of Scottsdale. Each and every property is luxurious, offering pools and spas, fitness centers, outdoor living spaces, and more. It’s everything you’d want for a relaxing weekend with your significant other or a long weekend trip with your golf buddies.

Just tell the folks at Meridian what you’re looking for, what you’d like to have nearby, and they’ll find the perfect spot for your group.

It doesn’t stop there, though. While everyone at the company is great at what they do with lodging, what they really love is golf. There’s not a course in the area that they haven’t played. The company’s longevity means the courses know who they are and treat their clients like kings.

For reference, here’s a short list of some of the golf courses they can setup tee times and GREAT rates for (Flip to the back of this issue to read more about Estrella, TPC Scottsdale, and Talking Stick): 

• Boulders
• Eagle Mountain
• Golf Club at Estrella
• Gold Canyon
• Grayhawk
• Las Sendas
• Lookout Mountain
• Quintero
• Rancho Manana
• Southern Dunes
• Sunridge Canyon
• Talking Stick
• TPC Scottsdale
• Troon North
• Verrado
• We-Ko-Pa

“We have so many different options and we’re able to match people up with the best golf and lodging for them,” said founder Russell Brooks. “Because we have so many options, the clients that keep coming back year after year are able to have a unique experience each and every time.”

What sets Meridian apart from other travel companies in Phoenix? Brooks says “It’s a combination of our award winning service, luxury accommodations and we work with groups of any size. Other companies can’t put a big group in one location, they have to send them to different hotels. We have the ability to keep those big groups together, which provides a memorable vacation.”

Meridian also knows that sometimes you need to get away from the course and find something to do. The company offers a range of activities including guided hiking tours, spa treatments, adventure tours, and food and beverage experiences.

Talk to anyone from the Pacific Northwest who’s taken a group to Scottsdale, and it’s likely they’ve worked with Meridian CondoResorts. The company started running ads in newspapers across the region because it’s so easy to get there from places like Portland and Seattle.

For more information or a free trip quote, call 800-213-6446 or visit www.condoresorts.com.

Every year, more and more golf books are published. It can be hard to pick the books to read, especially when you’re trying to choose between biographies, histories, fiction, or player improvement options. While a lot has been made about Alan Shipnuck’s unauthorized biography on Phil Mickelson, a new book by Charles Meechum is one that shouldn’t be missed.

Mechem has had a varied and interesting career that didn’t start in the golf industry, but definitely led to it. After practicing law in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, Mechem spent three years in the United States Army before serving as CEO of the Taft Broadcasting Company before being appointed Commissioner of the Ladies Professional Golf Association in 1990. He kept that position for five years.

“The day I accepted that position, I said I’d run the LPGA for five years,” said Mechem, “I was 60-years-old and I still had a lot of things I wanted to do. We had a good run. If I hadn’t said I was going to leave after five years, I might have stayed a little longer.

With that experience, Mechem could probably write a book of stories about his time with the top female players in the world. However, his newest book – Arnie and Jack – focuses on his friendship with two of golf’s absolute legends: the late Arnold Palmer and the great Jack Nicklaus.

Mechem acted as personal business advisor to both Palmer and Nicklaus. More importantly, he was friends with both men.

“I’ve been blessed, really blessed and those friendships came about in totally different ways,” said Mechem. “I met Jack back in 1970 and we’ve been good friends ever since. Arnie I met when I was the LPGA Commissioner and we were very close for 25 or 30 years until he passed away. It’s no exaggeration to say that I’ve never known any two men I respected or cared more for.” 

Mechem’s book is a great read, full of stories that no one else has written before about either Palmer or Nicklaus. The book has a conversational style that’s easy to follow and really leaves you wishing there were more stories to enjoy. Mechem said that’s the only way he knows how to write.

“I’m glad my voice comes through that way in the book. I have an assistant back in Cincinnati who I would dictate to and she would transcribe it and send it back to me. People have said it reads like I’m talking to them, which they really like.”

Like any author, Mechem has some stories that are really special to him. When asked for a couple of his favorites, he said it was simply too hard. He did offer up one teaser that showed the difference between the two men. 

“Back when I was sharing an office with Arnie at Bay Hill – which I did for about 10 years – I told him I was gonna see Jack the next day. He said to tell him Arnie said hello. When I got to Jack’s office, I relayed that message and he asked if Arnie really played golf every day, which I said he did. He just shook his head and asked me to give Arnie his regards. When I got back to Bay Hill, Arnie asked if Jack was playing much golf and I told him he wasn’t. He just laughed and asked what the hell he did all day. To me, that was really the difference between the two. Arnie was no longer competitive but he loved to play, but Jack wanted to win and he didn’t enjoy it as much when he wasn’t as competitive.”

Arnie and Jack is full of stories that give readers a glimpse into the lives of both golf legends. More importantly, though, you get it all through the eyes of someone who was a true friend to both men and was able to see them through good times and bad.

“I’m really happy with the way the book turned out,” added Mechem. “I miss Arnie every day, but I’m so happy I still talk with Jack. I’m happy I have such a good memory and writing this book brought back a lot of great feelings.”

Arnie and Jack is being published by Mission Point Press and includes forewords by Jack Nicklaus and Doc Giffin, Arnold Palmer’s personal assistant for 50 years. It is 152 pages and is available in e-book and print versions at Amazon. For other retail locations, please visit www.charliemechem.com.