Meehan: Seniors have golf home in IESGA

John Hanke has been an Inland Empire Senior’s Golf Association member for 19 years. His scores have run the gamut but he can recall only one round he didn’t enjoy.

That’s a lot of rounds – the IESGA circuit includes about 15 events each year – at numerous courses with a variety of playing partners.

“I’ve met an awful lot of people,” said the 74-year-old Hanke, IESGA secretary-treasurer. “There was only one round that I did not enjoy, which is pretty remarkable. To me, golf is exercise, getting outside, and it’s also social.”

Add in competitive, and that could pretty much stand as the IESGA’s mission statement.

The association boasts 265 members with handicaps ranging from near scratch to pushing 40. Most come from Spokane but other hometowns include St. Maries, Ritzville, Clarkston, Pullman, Priest River, Usk, Chattaroy, Wenatchee, Juliaetta and Sagle. Henderson, Nevada, and Las Vegas are also represented.

So is Spokane’s Jack Griffith, the oldest member at 86. He’s a longtime member of Esmeralda’s men’s club and he’s been in the IESGA for roughly 25 years. He tees it up with his buddy Dick Collins, who graduated from North Central High one year after Griffith.

“We always have a good time,” Griffith said. “It’s not real cutthroat, but you go by the rules, too.”

Griffith carded a 92 and won low net in his flight at Hangman Valley in June.

“I happened to be hitting the ball good and keeping it in play,” said Griffith, who has shot his age twice this year. “And I didn’t put any in the crick.”

Membership, open to ages 50 and up, has declined a bit in recent years, a common trend across golf at all levels. Participation numbers throughout the sport have been shrinking but some of the latest figures are promising. The number of regulars at IESGA tournaments has remained steady at 160-170.

The association works with regional courses to secure the lowest possible green fees. Events usually take place Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, depending on course schedules.

President Jeff Colliton cited three reasons for a small drop in membership: health or medical issues, slow play and a move several years ago that prevented players from lining up their own foursomes. Now, each player lists one other playing partner and they’re joined by a twosome.

“We instituted faster play so you’re on the clock,” Colliton said. “I think our slowest time at Indian Canyon was 4:40, with all the ups and down of those hills.”

Players recording the slowest times are assigned the last tee times at the next tournament.

The second half of the season is underway and the IESGA is on the lookout for new recruits. Details can be found at IESGA.com, complete with an application form that includes a picture of weathered mountain goat.

“I worked with a guy who was a member and I played with occasionally and he told me about the group and all the different courses they played,” said assistant treasurer Jack Lawson, a 15-year member. “I didn’t know any of them but the guy I worked with. Through him, I got to meet a lot of different guys and I’ve told some of my friends and they’ve joined.”

Sandbaggers need not apply. They get weeded out quickly because handicaps are based on the three best scores in the previous five IESGA tournaments.

“We want to eliminate the guys that post high rounds for their GHIN (Golf Handicap and Information Network) and then shoot 10 shots under what they should be shooting,” Lawson said.

Members look forward to each event.

“It offers some really good competition for anyone who plays fairly seriously, but there’s also the social part and we try to play a lot of different courses,” Hanke said. “We started at Wildhorse (in Pendleton in April) and end up at Lewiston Country Club (in September). I like having the option of playing different courses.

“We’re playing Downriver next Thursday. There’ll be a bunch of guys that go play it Tuesday just to warm up.”