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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Variety Comes To The Fore Pine Acres Offers Par-3 Golf, Target Greens

John Miller Staff writer

In more than one way, Pine Acres Par 3 is something of an anomaly.

Built nearly 40 years ago, the 9-hole course and driving range is one of only about 100 “pitch and putt” golf courses left in America. Plus, its location on now heavily developed North Division renders it one of the few remaining redoubts of green encircled by an army of advancing concrete, strip malls and urban entanglement.

The 28-acre facility also occupies an ambiguous existence in the golf world - not quite a bona-fide golf course, it isn’t one of the new breed of target golf centers, either. Not surprisingly, golfers use the place as a little bit of both.

“We get a number of people who come out after work and play, and we also get a number of people using the driving range in the evening,” said Pine Acres’ Dick Smith.

He said it takes only about an hour to play nine holes, making it an ideal setting for folks working on their short games, those who don’t have much time, or people who simply don’t want to walk a longer course.

“We have a lot of elderly people,” Smith said. “They can carry just two or three clubs. We also see an awful lot of junior golfers. They can get on the course at 6, where on other courses they have to be older.”

Mid-summer, golfers can tee off at Pine Acres between 8 a.m. and 7:45 p.m. Two years ago, owner Jim Tucker widened the driving range from 18 stalls to 35 - 16 of those are covered - and added a couple of target greens. A second putting green was built as well, where golfers can practice both chipping and putting.

The pro shop, located at 11912 N. Division, remains open until Christmas, even after the golf season is done in late October or early November.

Nine holes here cost $6; for a second trip through, it’s just $3.

Golfers here are like golfers everywhere. Inside the pro shop on an early July Monday, Smith asked one woman preparing to head out for nine holes if she needed a score card.

“No,” she said. “I keep it in my head, and if I don’t like it, I erase it.”

, DataTimes