Wine Valley Golf Invitation MAY 16th

[Norbert P]

First, thank you Ran for the priviledge of using your fab website to "Rally the troops" for a new golf course

experience.  Mucho gracias.



Notice, to some of you previously contacted, that the play date has changed to allow more people to attend in

warmer weather and to allow the course some "adolescent" growth.




To all Golf Club Atlas registered members . . .   The Smashters Invitational

Wine Valley Golf Club invites you and one guest to play golf on Saturday, May 16, 2009. Wives, girlfriends, and

concubines are encouraged to attend and play, but I suggest that you don't bring them all at the same time.

 You are encouraged to arrive early for Q & A with Dan Hixson and a little walking about, with golf play

beginning at 1:30 PM.

Fee will be $20.00 for 18 holes - walking. Carts are available, weather permitting, at extra cost, but I

recommend the stroll for full effect and appreciation. The course is designed for walking.

Colder-than-normal weather conditions have slowed grow-in this Spring, and though the golf course is golfable,

and playing fast and firm in fairways and greens, it is still "Ground Under Repair (really construction)" in some

places.

www.winevalleygolfclub.com  has some pictures, maps, the club address, and some local info regarding lodging,

wineries, etc.

There is a thread about it here on Golf Club Atlas @  http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,37672.0.html

I realize this is a long day trip from the cities, but I assure you that the drives are interesting, if not

fascinating, from anywhere.

From Portland it is about a 4 hour drive.  The sun is also more prevalent - gets annual rainfall of about 10

inches. Winds? Yea, we got 'em, usually.  Clothing is recommended.

As the course will be fully open by May 16th, there may be imposed a limit to this invitation.


Please IM me of Intent To Play, if you are bringing a guest, and who you want in your group.


  No deposit is required.  Please include your email address on your IM.


 
  Thank you kindly for your time and I really hope that you,__________(your name here) my very favorite GCA agent, can make this event. If you like Chambers Bay and the Bandon courses, we feel you'll appreciate the golf that's in store for you at Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla. Though the bentgrass greens will be fast, alas, we don't have a tree, a train, or an ocean,            . . . yet.


  Your humble hack,  Slag

[PCCraig]

Slag-

Sounds like a fantastic offer and the course looks awesome! I would be there if it didn't require a 4-hour flight.

Best of luck with the grow in and full 18 hole open.

[Mike Sweeney]

Fee will be $20.00 for 18 holes - walking.

Mr. Moore may walk from Maine just to pay that rate. 

Slag,

Appreciate the offer, hopefully on a trip to Bandon someday.

[Rob Rigg]

edit - sorry - meant to IM

[Craig Sweet]

Pat, a 4 hour flight? Heck that's nothing!  It's a 6 hour drive from here!

[Garland Bayley]

Pat, a 4 hour flight? Heck that's nothing!  It's a 6 hour drive from here!

I guess that means you are in!

[Craig Sweet]

Golf...wine...Slag...wine...wine...I wouldn't miss it...

[Bill_McBride]

I wish I could, know it will be a great day and would to see the work of the Slagmeister.  All the best, Norbert.

[Peter_Herreid]

Fee will be $20.00 for 18 holes - walking.

Mr. Moore may walk from Maine just to pay that rate. 

Slag,

Appreciate the offer, hopefully on a trip to Bandon someday.

Ah yes, it's my favorite bi-coastal geographically challenged friend chiming in with a potential travel itinerary to the West Coast!

Washington, Oregon--why they're neighboring states! I'll just knock both off in one trip!

 

To include Walla Walla, WA and Bandon, OR on the same trip is the functional equivalent of including Manhattan and Raleigh, NC on the same golf trip!!!

I would gladly sign up to be your travel agent on that one, Mike!  I think you're better off heading back to Enniscrone...

Someday, maybe we'll get you out here to the West Coast, perhaps when OM opens up for good, but even DST and I wouldn't include Wine Valley GC and Bandon on the same trip!

[Bill_McBride]

Fee will be $20.00 for 18 holes - walking.

Mr. Moore may walk from Maine just to pay that rate. 

Slag,

Appreciate the offer, hopefully on a trip to Bandon someday.

Ah yes, it's my favorite bi-coastal geographically challenged friend chiming in with a potential travel itinerary to the West Coast!

Washington, Oregon--why they're neighboring states! I'll just knock both off in one trip!

 

To include Walla Walla, WA and Bandon, OR on the same trip is the functional equivalent of including Manhattan and Raleigh, NC on the same golf trip!!!

I would gladly sign up to be your travel agent on that one, Mike!  I think you're better off heading back to Enniscrone...

Someday, maybe we'll get you out here to the West Coast, perhaps when OM opens up for good, but even DST and I wouldn't include Wine Valley GC and Bandon on the same trip!

Unless you had a couple of extra weeks and the wanderlust!

[Norbert P]

It would be an interesting introduction to the Great Pacific Northwest to arrive in Spokane, rent a car, play ____________, and __________, then onto Palouse Ridge in Pullman, head down to Walla Walla to play Wine Valley. 
Then roll west down the Columbia Gorge and turn south through Bend on 395(?), play Tetherow or _________ (lots of choices).  Then head over through the Cascade Range and stop at Tokatee, and then head to the Pacific Coast to play the newly re-designed Crestview Hills in Waldport, down through Florence to look at Sandpines and play Ocean Dunes and then down to Bandon for the Resort courses and Crossings and the refurbished Old Bandon Golf Links ( Hickory Golf ! Option -  http://oldbandongolflinks.com/2201.html  ).  Then drive to Portland and make fun of the freaky deakys.
  The climates, geology, cultures, and the flora and fauna variations of that trip would definitely dispel any preconceived notions one may have about this region.

[Garland Bayley]

Crestview Hills in Waldport? Is there a new star rising on the Oregon Coast. My what secrets you keep Slagbert.

[Craig Sweet]

Slag....that's an excellent road trip idea!

Drive to Spokane...play Indian Canyon...shoot down to Worley and play Circling Raven...then on to Pullman for Palouse Ridge and the opportunity to hang with Jordan and some sweet sorority girls....over to Wine Valley, and then follow your route through Oregon....two weeks later come back home and find I no longer have a job, and my dog is dead....

[Norbert P]

  Jobs are a bad habit.  You can bring Fido if he's a friendly.  Tyler's got a couple of pooches (Border Collies) and Dan's got a Chernobyl Corgi showdog that like new friends. 

                                             

Don't worry - there's a 5 kibble limit.

[Craig Sweet]

Slag...Boomer usually won't miss an opportunity for a little gambling, but he does not feel up for the travel...he's having a lot of difficulty getting in and out of the pickup these days...but he has given me permission to attend so long as I hook him up with a cute babysitter.

Is there anything else worth playing while out that way or should I focus on hitting something on the way back up in Idaho or Spokane?

[Norbert P]

Craig, bring Boomer AND the cute babysitter to Walla Walla.  Dilemma solved.

I wish I could give you more advice beyond the new Palouse Ridge.  I hear good things about Indian Canyon.  Perhaps others will chime in.

[Norbert P]

 A bump-up to those that may have been too drunk to notice this notice during the King's Putter. 


============================

Columbia River railroad track
Go to Walla Walla get my baby back.
Get me a motorcycle take off tomorrow
If it don't run I'll get me a car
Fill that car with gasoline
Do anything just to see her again

Walking down the highway
Thumbing down the road
Got to get there
How I don't know

Uphill, downhill, just around the bend
Got to go to Wine Valley see my baby again

Get me a ticket fly on a cloud
Airplane, airplane help me out
Columbia River railroad track
Gotta get to Walla Walla
Get my golf jones back.

("Mississippi River" - adjusted)
   JJ Cale   

[Kalen Braley]

Craig, bring Boomer AND the cute babysitter to Walla Walla.  Dilemma solved.

I wish I could give you more advice beyond the new Palouse Ridge.  I hear good things about Indian Canyon.  Perhaps others will chime in.

My buddy just played Indian Canyon yesterday and said the greens are running nice.  Its a really good course with a fantastic set of greens.

And to boot, its right next to the airport.

[Pete_Pittock]

Slag,
   I played there this morning. Whoever shows up on May 16th will have a blast and I don't want to give anything away except to say #13 is a dogleg right. The green to the left of the left bunker is not your goal. I have a conflict and cannot make it.
   How long is the waste bunker bordering 5, 12, 14? It has to be in contention for the longest waste bunker in the world.
   Imagine my shock when I showed up at Comfort Inn and H I Express and
their overnite rate was in excess on $175. It should be back down as Wine Taste weekend will be over.

[RJ_Daley]

Slag, unfortunately my maximum day trip range is 14 hours which oddly enough puts me right in downtown Gothenburg.   The Walla Walla trip may be a bit too much for this old dog at this time.  But, if I can re-establish my long time friendship and association with Hammy Hearst, I might be able to bum a jet ride with him and make it there someday. 

Good luck on the grand opening and introduction tour, and break a leg or par, whichever seems most appealing.

[Norbert P]

Peter, glad you had fun and curious how your bump and run game went.  Sorry about the 13th, hadn't heard that happen before. The wastebunker/wash length is . . . oh, . . . 3000 feet?   Maybe we should call Guinness?

Dick, heartbroken you can't make it, can Joanne? Tell her The Gorge amphitheater is just up the road for an outdoor concert. Dave Matthews plays there a lot.

We had a media day a week ago and the reports have been, well, . . . flattering. And, as an aside, we  had a few foursomes of ladies walk/play the course. We asked how the walk was and all said it was pleasant and not too strenuous and they really enjoyed the golf.  So gentlemen, bring yer wimmen. If they don't golf they can go wine sippin'.

I finally got to play all 18 last week -  and it was a hoot.  I have much to learn on putting these undulating greens and many shots, if not most, should be played to short of the greens, as the greens are firm.  I was fortunate and honored to play with Tom Farrell Sr. for one round.  A classy gent of the highest calibre and his son?  Junior is quite the charmer and he took the giant trophy for the inaugeral Wine Valley Wobbly Knee Exposition and Putting World Championship - while holding a rich glass of local Cabernet.   Thanks to all for the great times.


Back to the Invite on May 16th . . . one weeek away.  Dan Hixson is eager to answer your intrepid golf design questions and take your savvy comments.

Please IM me to reconfirm your intentions of coming out and if you're bringing a guest, so I can get a final tally for the clubhouse.  The weather is shaping up - Beltane has arrived, and the grape leaves are poppin'.

[Pete_Pittock]

Slag,
The bump and run was alright, being it was a light rain day. The OGA has scheduled Wine Valley into its Oregon Golf Tour tournament series, probably Aug or Sept. I pictured plain amoeba bunker designs and it is still a very good course.

[Norbert P]

Peter, sorry, we just missed you as we left from Wine Valley on Saturday for Portland. Big rains that day. Did you get some good pictures? 

  I hadn't heard that OGA was putting it on the tour rota. Good news, thanks.



Some fine shaping just left of #5.

[Michael Dugger]

That's one fuzzy picture there slaggy my boy...

[Jeff Doerr]

I'll be out there next Saturday! REALLY looking forward to it!

I love the vistas, but wonder what it will be like when the houses are built.

I should have some pics and a good report next week.