Bremerton Course Finds Spotlight

There’s no better way to promote a golf course than by hosting a major golf tournament. Just ask city officials and golf aficionados in Bremerton, Washington, where Gold Mountain Golf Club’s Olympic Course hosted the 81st annual U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship tournament.

Though Gold Mountain is well known throughout the Pacific Northwest, its five days in the golfing limelight in mid-July has enhanced its reputation on the national golf scene. Even before the tournament began, the Olympic Course had already compiled an impressive list of accolades in its 10 years of existence. Golfweek Magazine ranked it “The Best Public Course in Washington” four years in a row, from 2002-2005. Likewise, Golf Digest ranked it “The Best in Washington,” on two occasions. And, Golf Magazine has included the Olympic Course in its list of “Top 100 Courses You Can Play.”

To put this in perspective, Bethpage State Park in New York is the largest public golf facility in the world. It includes five golf courses, one of which hosted the 2003 U.S. Open and will host the U.S. Open again in 2009. Golf Digest rated Gold Mountain’s Olympic Course second only to Bethpage’s Black Course when it posted its national rankings for “best golf value.”

Thousands Enter
The U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship has been an unqualified success since its inception in 1922, giving exposure to many public-course players who otherwise might not have an opportunity to compete in a national championship. The inaugural event drew 140 entrants, with less than half wearing golf shoes. Today, the event attracts as many as 6,000 entries. While most of the field is composed of high school and college students, the event still attracts bus drivers, bartenders, firemen, waiters, riveters, engineers and college professors.

Past champions include PGA professionals Billy Mayfair, Tim Clark, Trevor Immelman and Ryan Moore, who won twice. This year’s winner was Casey Watabu, 22, of Kapaa, Hawaii, who defeated the No. 10 amateur in the country, Anthony Kim. In addition to a 10-year exemption from sectional qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, and an exemption from sectional qualifying for the 2006 U.S. Amateur, Watabu has an invitation to compete in the next Masters Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, provided he keeps his amateur standing.

Rave Reviews
So what about the course? What did this year’s participants in the Publinks Championship experience at Gold Mountain’s Olympic Course? Something just shy of spectacular would be an apt description. The attention to detail throughout the course, the challenging placement of ubiquitous sand traps, and the never-ending hills are ingredients for an enjoyable and memorable golfing experience. This 7,073-yard, par 72 course lived up to its reputation and won the respect of many.

Bill McCarthy, the U.S. Golf Association tournament director, had praise for Scott Alexander, Gold Mountain’s director of golf, and for the Bremerton area. “They certainly raised the bar as far as their organization, hospitality, atmosphere, amenities, volunteers and especially the golf course,” said McCarthy.

The City of Bremerton owns the Gold Mountain Golf Club, which includes two golf courses. In addition to the Olympic Course, there is the 18-hole, par 71 Cascade Course, a 6,707-yarder that opened in 1971. This is a very good track that just happens to be overshadowed by its sister course. Visitors will not be disappointed with the Cascade Course, or Tucker’s Restaurant for that matter. Tucker’s received numerous compliments for its scrumptious food items and excellent customer service throughout the tournament.

For more information about Gold Mountain Golf Club, visit www.goldmt.com, or call (360) 415-5432, (206) 464-1175 or (253) 627-8904.

The 19th Hole (and a few chip shots)
Earlier this year, the Nevada Commission on Tourism (NCOT) launched a new “mini” Web site devoted entirely to the more than 100 golf courses in Nevada. The “mini site” is contained within NCOT’s primary Web site at www.travelnevada.com.

The golf site enables visitors to search every golf course in the state, view color photos of many courses, link to booking sites and order the 2006 Nevada Golf Guide.

“Visitors to Nevada are often surprised by the variety and sophistication of golf courses in our state,” said Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt, NCOT chair. “With our range of high-caliber courses in addition to our hotels, world-class dining and entertainment, Nevada is the ideal destination for a golf vacation, and now travelers can more easily plan their trip before hitting the road.”

NCOT’s program is a collaborative effort of several regional golf Web sites and will promote golf year-round, focusing on Southern Nevada in the winter and Northern Nevada in the summer. There are more than 100 golf courses in Nevada, many designed by such golf heavyweights as Arnold Palmer and Peter Jacobsen.

Rick Stedman is an avid RVer, golfer and writer who lives in Yakima, Washington. He can be reached at rick.stedman@charter.net