Global golf
The rosters have been finalized for a series of Ryder Cup-style matches between teams from Scotland’s Royal Dornoch Golf Club and the host Circling Raven Golf Club.
David Christensen, Circling Raven’s director of golf, will captain the 13-member home team that is comprised, primarily, of members of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe. The 12-man team from Royal Dornoch, which was established in 1616 and is recognized as the third-oldest golf course in the world, will be captained by head professional Andrew Skinner and will feature two-plus handicappers and another golf professional.
The inaugural event, which will be played out next month in Worley, Idaho, is the brainchild of Bob Bostwick, Circling Raven’s director of public relations, who visited Royal Dornoch last summer and came away so impressed by the hospitality of its members that he convinced David Matheson, the chief executive officers of the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel and a member of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, to invite the Scots over for a friendly competition.
“We’re taking a bold step in establishing this competition,” Matheson said. “We’re very proud of the beauty and offerings here on the Coeur d’Alene Reservation. This is a step to share what we have and to present a north Idaho treasure to the rest of the world.”
Opening ceremonies are scheduled for Sept. 19 and will feature a Royal Dornoch team dressed in formal kilts. Spokane’s Scottish St. Andrew’s Society will provide a full pipe and drum band, and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe will present a traditional drum group, along with horses and riders dressed in traditional regalia.
The first of three days of competition will follow and continue on Sept. 20 and 22.
In addition, the event will correspond with the year-end conference of Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, which will be held at the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel. Leaders of 58 Northwest tribes are expected to be on hand.
Both the opening ceremonies and competition will be open to the public.
The Scottish team will arrive in Spokane on or about Sept. 17 and play a practice round at Circling Raven on Sunday, Sept. 18.
“The intention on picking the team was to focus on local lads whose family history was associated with Dornoch and the Highlands,” Skinner said. “It just so happens that we have a number of good quality golfers in the group, with two former club champions and the current club champion.”
The matches, however, will be more about the cultural change than the golf.
“I can promise you that members of our team were chosen not just for their golf, but for their personalities and character,” Skinner added. “They will be outstanding representatives of Scotland and the Highlands.”
The Royal Dornoch team will compete with an average handicap of seven. Circling Raven’s average handicap is 10.7.
Joining Christenson and Bostwick on the Circling Raven team are Coeur d’Alene tribal members Steve Lounsbury, Dallas Gowdy, Robert SiJohn, Matt Stensgar, Gary Hendrickx, Gary Dupree, Jr., Sam Eli, Wakai Pluff, James Samuels, Sr. and Lyle Meshell. Zeke Domebo, a member of the Nez Perce Tribe, completes the roster.
Ernie Stensgar, president of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, will serve as honorary captain.
With the exception of Hendrickz, who is a member of the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Council, all members of the Circling Raven team are employed at the golf course or the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel.
“Our own team will be pretty strong, but not as skilled or experienced, particularly in match play,” Christenson admitted. “The handicap system should even things, and we’ll have a little home course advantage.
“Of course, we want to present Circling Raven to the international golf world, along with the Idaho Golf Trail and this spectacular region. The cultural aspects of this will also be tremendous for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and for the Scots.”