Golfers shoot it out in Sisters

It's a rite of spring in Sisters Country. Every April for the past 13 years, golfers brave iffy spring weather to unlimber the clubs and kick off the season at three Sisters Country golf courses.

This year, 316 golfers participated in the Central Oregon Shootout at Black Butte Ranch, Aspen Lakes, and Eagle Crest.

For the Ranch, this year was special. It was the first time golfers in the Shootout got to play the recently renovated Glaze Meadow course.

It was kind of nice for us to show off Glaze Meadow," said BBR head golf pro Tom Baker. "It came out of winter nice."

The verdict? Players "like the redesign - thought it was more playable," Baker said.

Baker noted wryly that some players thought it was hard - "but that depends on the day, I guess, with golf."

The staff at Aspen Lakes looks forward to the event each year.

"We really try to showcase the golf course, and we go a little extra on the food because we want to make a really good impression," said Pam Mitchell.

"We get to see old friends every year," said Aspen Lakes Director of Golf Rob Malone. "We've got people from as far away as Kansas."

Most, however, come from the Willamette Valley.

Bill Pickett and Steve Speckman call Santiam Golf Course home. The course contributed five two-man teams to the event, which covers three days with a different format each day.

"The three different formats, it's really challenging," Pickett said.

His partner Steve noted that there is an upside, however: "If you play one of them well, you're in the hunt."

The formats are Scramble, Best Ball, and "Chapman" (Player A plays Player B's drive, and vice-versa).

"I like the two-man team... I like how they change courses each day," said Pickett. "It's really, really competitive. I just love it."

The team loves it so much that they've played in the Shootout for the past 11 years.

"This is our 11th shootout season," Speckman said. "All 11 years and we're still talking to each other."

The camaraderie is an important part of the event - for players and for staff. Pickett appreciates the "nice fellas" they encounter at the Shootout.

"It's fun coming back year after year and seeing them again," he said.

The Aspen Lakes staff feels the same way. Malone and Mitchell note that they have a regular group from Tillamook who always have a special request: plenty of Three Creeks Brewing Co. Stonefly Rye beer.

"That's their beer. We make sure we stock up," Malone said.

Both Baker and Malone noted that they enjoy the fact that all three golf courses work well together in making the tournament run smoothly. Mitchell notes that many golf events tend to pull golfers toward Sunriver. The Central Oregon Shootout, she says, "keeps 'em on this side of the county."

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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