[Norbert P]

The par 3 8th under a foot of snow. 



Photo by Tyler Daniels

[David Botimer]

Slag,

   Its not a federal penitentiary, its the state penitentiary.  The old story goes that Walla Walla was given the choice between having the State Capital or the State Pen and they chose the latter.  Probably saw it as the lesser of two evils.

   Looks good, hopefully it will be open next May, as I will probably be in that neck of the woods around Memorial day.

   Walla Walla, they liked it so much they named it twice.

Craig,

Not to nitpick, but I believe the choice was the state school (now known as WSU of Pullman, WA), not capital.  It WAS the site of the state constitutional convention, and the building within which the constitution was written still stands, as do many old buildings in the downtown district widely known as a well preserved downtown district, now filled with outstanding restaurants and shopping to go with winery tasting rooms located downtown.

The area is one filled with history being essentially the birthplace of the northwest (Narcissa Whitman was the 1st European-American woman to cross the Rockies (1836) settled there with husband Marcus who proselytized the native Indians and paid the ultimate price with the Whitman massacre of 1847).

The Walla Walla Valley has enjoyed a remarkable rebirth in the past 25 years beginning with the founding of the local wine industry in the late 70's, receiving its AVA status in 1984.

With the growth in the wine industry leading to a thriving tourism business, it seems only fitting a new golf course could be built in Walla Walla and this one looks to be a good one.  I haven't seen it yet, but being a regular at Bandon Crossings and appreciating Dan Hixson's work there, I am looking forward to seeing this one completed and play it!!!

Check out wallawallawine.com to learn more about the local wine industry.

[David Botimer]

I think Spokane airport would be your best bet.

You could get there in 3 hours if you own a radar detector...otherwise closer to a 3.5 hour drive.  

Slag,

Will this course be private or public?

Kalen,

Actually, you have two better options than Spokane.  Walla Walla Regional Airport has 3 flights daily from Seattle on a Bombardier Q400, a very nice commuter plane.  Additionally, Pasco (only an hour away, not the 2.5 hours of Spokane) has flights to Seattle as well as points east (non-stop from Denver and Salt Lake City.

[Craig Van Egmond]

David,

     Next time I'll put a smiley face.  I did say it was an old story.

     My dad grew up in Clarkston, and  I still have lots of family in that corner of the state, which is one of my favorite places.

     Its great to see Walla Walla on the upswing. I hope to see the course soon.

[Garland Bayley]

  This is what you might see on the drive out there through the Columbia Gorge. 

  Basalt cliffs above Ram on hillside, taken a couple of days ago on Interstate 84.

That's a gorgeous picture Slag "Aidan" Bandoon. Unfortunately some of us have to go to work for a high speed connection to get to see it.

[Anthony Gray]

  How long is the drive from Tacoma to Walla Walla? It looks like a nice drive. I love the drive from Portland to Bandon it makes your feel your not in Kansas enymore.

  Anthony

[Kalen Braley]

Anthony,

Your looking at a solid 4 hours...and the drive isn't near as nice as it is from Portland to Bandon.

Best to fly into the tri-cities if you can afford it or fly into Spokane and drive down.

[Anthony Gray]

  Kalen,

 If I want to play Chambers Bay and Wine Valley what is to best way to do the trip? Is May a good time to go ?

  Anthony

[Kalen Braley]

Anthony,

Its really up to your personal budget.  If your only playing those two, then it may be best to just fly over there when you figure in time, car rental and gas to drive over and back

However if you have more time, you should fly into Spokane, and play a few courses on the drive down like Circling Raven and the new Harbottle course near WA state University.  Additionally if you have access, Black Rock and Gozzer Ranch are very likely worth a look, and both of those are only 1/2-3/4 hr or so from Spokane.

In terms of time of year, May will be good in that you'll have a lot of daylight and you shouldn't have to worry about cold temps.  However its still rainy season in Seattle so you may have to contend with that. In Eastern WA the weather should be fine.

[Bill_McBride]

Anthony,

Its really up to your personal budget.  If your only playing those two, then it may be best to just fly over there when you figure in time, car rental and gas to drive over and back

However if you have more time, you should fly into Spokane, and play a few courses on the drive down like Circling Raven and the new Harbottle course near WA state University.  Additionally if you have access, Black Rock and Gozzer Ranch are very likely worth a look, and both of those are only 1/2-3/4 hr or so from Spokane.

In terms of time of year, May will be good in that you'll have a lot of daylight and you shouldn't have to worry about cold temps.  However its still rainy season in Seattle so you may have to contend with that. In Eastern WA the weather should be fine.

....and don't forget Indian Canyon in Spokane, an old classic.

[Kalen Braley]

Yes Bill,

Good mention on IC, and its literally no more than 5 minutes from the airport.

Another add-on could be Couer D' Alene resort with the floating green and the course conditioning is 2nd to none.

[Jordan Wall]

For all you really looking for fun check out Palouse Ridge, take a five hour nap, wake up at 12 and wander the streets of Pullman during early morning.

Surely that cannot dissapoint.

Garland has already asked if I would be interested in a round at the Palouse and while I certainly would I would think it to be even more enjoyable with the addition of other GCA'ers as well.

Cheers,
Jordan

p.s. I am referring to the day people are not playing Wine Valley.  Cheers!

[David Botimer]

Another option close by is Wildhorse Resort in Pendleton with a good golf course (Golf Digest's Top 40 casino courses), and casino, right on the way back to Portland (45 miles from Walla Walla).

[Bill_McBride]

Another option close by is Wildhorse Resort in Pendleton with a good golf course (Golf Digest's Top 40 casino courses), and casino, right on the way back to Portland (45 miles from Walla Walla).

Plus everybody needs to experience the Pendleton Roundup once in his or her life! 

[David Botimer]

Another option close by is Wildhorse Resort in Pendleton with a good golf course (Golf Digest's Top 40 casino courses), and casino, right on the way back to Portland (45 miles from Walla Walla).

Plus everybody needs to experience the Pendleton Roundup once in his or her life! 

Can you say "Let'er Buck?!"

[Norbert P]

 Let 'er Buck - A Story of the Passing of the Old West  by Charles Wellington Furlong in 1921

  (excerpt)

"Each year at Pendleton, Oregon, there occurs in the fall a great carnival which epitomizes the most dramatic phases of the pioneer days of the West—and its spirit. There the real, practical work of the trail, cow- camp and range is shown, through the sports of the pioneer; for the play of a people is usually but a normal outgrowth and expert expression of its work.

This great carnival is supported by the community spirit of Pendleton and the surrounding country. It is essentially an American pageant and typifies a phase of American life which will soon have passed forever below the horizon of time, but should be eternally engraved on the escutcheon of our history.

The Round-Up is an epitome of the end of The Great Migration on this continent and stands not only as typical of Pendleton, but of Oregon, of the West, of America. This panorama of the passing of the Old West is a page torn literally from the Book of our Nation . . . "
                       
                                             

  In the Spirit of Whitman, Lewis and Clark, and the thousands of pioneers who braved the Great Emigrant Trail, a good question might be . . . What is the golf trail for this region?

[Bill_McBride]

Let 'er Buck - A Story of the Passing of the Old West  by Charles Wellington Furlong in 1921

  (excerpt)

"Each year at Pendleton, Oregon, there occurs in the fall a great carnival which epitomizes the most dramatic phases of the pioneer days of the West—and its spirit. There the real, practical work of the trail, cow- camp and range is shown, through the sports of the pioneer; for the play of a people is usually but a normal outgrowth and expert expression of its work.

This great carnival is supported by the community spirit of Pendleton and the surrounding country. It is essentially an American pageant and typifies a phase of American life which will soon have passed forever below the horizon of time, but should be eternally engraved on the escutcheon of our history.

The Round-Up is an epitome of the end of The Great Migration on this continent and stands not only as typical of Pendleton, but of Oregon, of the West, of America. This panorama of the passing of the Old West is a page torn literally from the Book of our Nation . . . "
                       
                                             

  In the Spirit of Whitman, Lewis and Clark, and the thousands of pioneers who braved the Great Emigrant Trail, a good question might be . . . What is the golf trail for this region?

Norbert, I have pondered flying from Portland to Great Falls, Montana and driving back to Portland along the Lewis & Clark Trail.  What excellent golf courses would lie along that trail?

[Garland Bayley]

Bill,

Hard pressed to find great golf courses along that trail. Missoula has a new Curley and Schmidt, and a new Les Furber. Walla Walla must be close to the trail, which of course gives you Wine Valley. Either Fought or Cupp, (I forget which) is building a course on the Columbia River out by The Dalles that Ryan Farrow has worked on. I don't think it is open yet. There is Wild Horse outside of Pendleton that was mentioned earlier. I don't know what's going on with them. I call them once when I was going to travel through, and I have never talked to anyone that seemed less interested in my business in my life. They told me they were only interested in doing big groups.

Craig Sweet is the guy for Montana Courses. Rock Creek Cattle Company and Old Works may be on the trail. I forgot that Lewis and Clark did not take the direct route to Missoula from Helen, but instead went on down to Three Forks. When they turned west they may have gone near Butte/Anaconda/Deer Lodge.

[Bill_McBride]

Bill,

Hard pressed to find great golf courses along that trail. Missoula has a new Curley and Schmidt, and a new Les Furber. Walla Walla must be close to the trail, which of course gives you Wine Valley. Either Fought or Cupp, (I forget which) is building a course on the Columbia River out by The Dalles that Ryan Farrow has worked on. I don't think it is open yet. There is Wild Horse outside of Pendleton that was mentioned earlier. I don't know what's going on with them. I call them once when I was going to travel through, and I have never talked to anyone that seemed less interested in my business in my life. They told me they were only interested in doing big groups.

Craig Sweet is the guy for Montana Courses. Rock Creek Cattle Company and Old Works may be on the trail. I forgot that Lewis and Clark did not take the direct route to Missoula from Helen, but instead went on down to Three Forks. When they turned west they may have gone near Butte/Anaconda/Deer Lodge.

Sounds like the sightseeing might be better than the golfing.  I really enjoyed a visit to Astoria last summer, with L & C on both sides of the Columbia there.  Wish I'd had a chance to play Astoria CC but I was nursing blisters from Dornoch. 

[Garland Bayley]

Bill,

The best combination of sight seeing and golf out of Great Falls would probably be to head North to US 2 and pass by Glacier Park, and golf around Whitefish, MT. Craig says the JN course up there is better than Old Works, and the whole area has some of the best golfing in MT. US 2 will take you to Spkane which puts you near Coeur d'Alene and the courses there (mostly private). But then, I guess your ealier post tells me you know Spokane.

I tried to head up that way last summer, but hit a deer south of Great Falls and turned the nearly totaled car for home instead of sight seeing.

[Craig Sweet]

Lewis and Clark probably traveled every mile of Montana and Idaho...you'd be hard pressed to find a tree they DID NOT pee on between Great Falls and the Oregon coast...

I suppose you could play around at the Meadowlark Country Club in Great Falls...head south on I-15 to Butte and then over I-90 to Anaconda and Old Works....back on I-90 to Deer Lodge and RCCC...then on to Missoula and Canyon River a nice Schmidt/Curley course....from Missoula continue on I-90 to Idaho....there's lots of golf with 45 minutes of Couer d' Laine.....then it's south to Palouse Ridge...and then west ward ho to Wine Valley....

Lewis and Clark would be envious.

[Craig Sweet]

Garland...actually, I think the JN course in Big Fork is terrible....there are beter courses up that way.

[Bill_McBride]

Bill,

The best combination of sight seeing and golf out of Great Falls would probably be to head North to US 2 and pass by Glacier Park, and golf around Whitefish, MT. Craig says the JN course up there is better than Old Works, and the whole area has some of the best golfing in MT. US 2 will take you to Spkane which puts you near Coeur d'Alene and the courses there (mostly private). But then, I guess your ealier post tells me you know Spokane.

I tried to head up that way last summer, but hit a deer south of Great Falls and turned the nearly totaled car for home instead of sight seeing.

Ouch.    I have always been worried about that happening, those little buggers come out of nowhere.  We get them all the time here in NW Florida as they escape hunters everywhere!

[Bill_McBride]

Lewis and Clark probably traveled every mile of Montana and Idaho...you'd be hard pressed to find a tree they DID NOT pee on between Great Falls and the Oregon coast...

I suppose you could play around at the Meadowlark Country Club in Great Falls...head south on I-15 to Butte and then over I-90 to Anaconda and Old Works....back on I-90 to Deer Lodge and RCCC...then on to Missoula and Canyon River a nice Schmidt/Curley course....from Missoula continue on I-90 to Idaho....there's lots of golf with 45 minutes of Couer d' Laine.....then it's south to Palouse Ridge...and then west ward ho to Wine Valley....

Lewis and Clark would be envious.

But we probably wouldn't get to eat any dogs! 

[Garland Bayley]

Craig,

Seems you changed you mind on the other JN course. Maybe you were only relaying what you had heard before.

If you are sticking to Lewis and Clark, I-90 leaves their route at Missoula.

Thinking about it made me think about The Stock Farm at Hamilton. Lewis and Clark went by there in there attempts to go west before they had to back track and then head over Lolo Pass north of there.

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