The Fairways To Be Site For Entire Lilac Open
Well, at least you’ll be able to book tee times at Downriver on July 8 and 9.
But The Fairways will be a bit crowded those days.
After a period of negotiation with the City of Spokane’s golf committee, the organizers of the Lilac Open have decided to conduct all four days of the tournament at The Fairways.
The last four years, the tournament has been split between The Fairways and Downriver - providing golfers with a range of challenges.
John Durgan of The Fairways, though, citing a long association with Qualchan pro Mark Gardner, attempted to coax the city into allowing the tournament to shift its final two days from Downriver to Qualchan.
“If we were going to share it, the one course was going to be Qualchan, so we couldn’t come to terms with the golf committee,” Durgan said.
The Lilac had been conducted exclusively at The Fairways from 1987 through 1990, but when Gardner became pro at Downriver, the tournament was split.
With Gardner moving to Qualchan, Durgan hoped the tournament could follow.
“Our thoughts on this were that the Lilac needs to stay at Downriver,” said Mike Stone, city golf director. “The city was not interested in having it move to Qualchan because of the history of the tournament and the impact it has on Downriver. We hate to see something of that magnitude leave that course.”
As it stands now, the historic Lilac will run for four days, starting July 6, at the course at West Terrace.
“We felt that Qualchan, with its finishing holes, would be a great way to end the tournament,” Durgan said. “It’s unfortunate the city won’t be in the loop now, but I’m not going to give up; hopefully, they’ll reconsider.
“Maybe we’re making the wrong decision, maybe we’re being stubborn and complete idiots, but we’re going to stick by our guns,” he said.
Hey, where’s Ezzy?
As it does annually, Golf Digest published its ranking of the nation’s top 100 courses, while also tabbing the top courses in each state.
One problem, though: In some western editions, the page containing the listing for the top five in Washington was somehow deleted.
So here’s the full account. Sahalee C.C. in Redmond drew the top rating, with Desert Canyon in Orondo standing second.
Others include: 3) Loomis Trail, Blaine; 4) Semi-ah-moo, Blaine; 5) Canterwood, Gig Harbor; 6) Classic, Spanaway; 7) Indian Canyon; 8) Seattle Golf Course; 9) Port Ludlow; 10) McCormick Woods, Port Orchard.
Only two Northwest courses, Eugene (Ore.) C.C. at 74 and Sahalee at 87 made the top 100.
The Coeur d’Alene Resort drew the top ranking in Idaho.
You can look it up
Look for a new monthly golf magazine appearing in the region this week.
Bud Green, publisher of Today’s Inland Northwest Golf Magazine, said distribution of the inaugural edition should be expected Monday.
“We’re circulating to an excess of 16,000 golfers, going into 100 golf courses in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho,” Green said.
Green said to expect features on personalities and golf development, along with results of tournaments and play in the various local associations.
Notes
After her first four appearances in LPGA Tour events, Rathdrum’s Tracy Hanson has shown impressive accuracy.
According to LPGA stats through the Nabisco Dinah Shore, Hanson was second on the tour in greens reached in regulation, landing on the green 69.2 percent of the time.
Pat Bradley leads at 71.2 percent.
Ed Price of the Coeur d’Alene Resort was recently named one of the 10 golf course superintendents in the country to receive the Environmental Steward Award. The award acknowledges efforts in environmentally safe and innovative maintenance practices.
Look for the resort to implement laser distance finders in May. Each forecaddie will be equipped with one to tell the distance from any point on the fairway to the pin.
Openings remain for the Rod Funseth Downriver Best-Ball April 29-30. Entry fee is $60 per two-man team, plus green fees. Call 327-5269.
Also, Downriver’s men’s twilight league (nine holes on Wednesday evenings) is looking for participants.