‘It’s a dream come true’
Since he and his family purchased Painted Hills Golf Course last spring, 29-year-old golf pro Tim McElhinny feels he’s come full circle.
“My dad introduced me to the game here. It’s a dream come true,” said McElhinny, during a recent break between teaching and supervising the Spokane Valley golf course, which was opened in 1989 by then-owners Mike and Pam Senske.
Nestled among the pine-studded hills just off Dishman-Mica Road, the 98-acre enterprise encompasses a championship nine-hole golf course, adjacent par-3 course, lighted driving range, pro shop and small eatery.
“One of biggest misconception about this golf course here is that it’s an executive course, which is shorter and doesn’t have par 5s. But this is a nine-hole championship course designed by Mike Senske.
“And you can play 18,” McElhinny said. “There are five sets of tee boxes. You can play anywhere from 2,500 yards to just under 3,500 yards for nine holes and choose different sets of tee boxes to accommodate your ability or for a challenge.”
Four members of the McElhinny family formed McFore Inc., and bought the public golf course in March.
“Being in business with your family members couldn’t be better,” McElhinny said. “They’re the people you trust more than anybody else in the world.”
The division of labor works like this: Patriarch John McElhinny, a charter member at the course and an early riser, opens the place up at 5:30 a.m.; matriarch Linda oversees the pro shop, handles special events and lends a hand in the grill; Bonnie, Tim’s wife, keeps the books and does the payroll.
“We all get to do what we love best,” McElhinny said. “I have the golf background, so I’m pretty much the golf course manager, head superintendent and golf pro.”
With the ancillary duties covered by family, McElhinny can concentrate on big picture stuff.
“A lot of general managers have to divide their time and attention to those areas. It allows me to work on the vision of the golf course, where we want it to go, to do lessons, and play in tourneys to get our name out there,” he said.
He’d been working at a golf course in Tumwater, Wash. But with a second child on the way, he and his wife yearned to be nearer to family in Spokane.
And he’s achieving his dream of being head golf professional.
“I plan on being a PGA-certified Class A Instructor by the time we open again next year,” said McElhinny, now an apprentice in the program.
The McElhinnys agree they purchased a real gem.
“The true character of this golf course is a link-style golf course. We’re really proud of how good our greens are. Our standard is firm, fast conditions with fantastic greens,” McElhinny said.
This year, they have made a few changes to the course, planting 24 acres of three-foot tall grass on unplayable areas and changing the approaches to some of the greens.
McElhinny said the roughs help “etch the holes” a bit better. “Two greens are elevated and slope away from you. We took a page out of Pinehurst No. 2, where they held the U.S. Open. We mowed the approach area around the sides and back of those areas to collar length – it adds a little bit more playability to the way the holes were actually designed.”
On average, 25,000 rounds of golf are played at Painted Hills each year. McElhinny said he expects to meet and perhaps exceed that this year.
Among the regulars are 185 men’s club members and more than 100 women’s club members.
“We’ve got a lot of people who come out, tuck their ties in, grab something to eat and play a quick nine,” McElhinny said.
And this year, he’s added three one-week golf camps for children ages 6 to 17. The last one of the summer season tees off Monday. “It’s $100 for eight-and-a-half hours of instruction on every aspect of the game of golf,” McElhinny said.
Campers can show off their skills in a special juniors’ tournament to be held at Painted Hills before Labor Day.
In the upcoming months, the McElhinnys will begin planning for next year.
“We’re learning about our soil profile, our turf and our irrigation system. We want to make it the best golf course we can, through service, playing conditions and amenities.”
And he wants to market the golf course to avid players who live in and visit the Inland Northwest.