Posts

Spring Aerification

We all know that aerification is a sensitive subject for golfers but, I feel with the proper information and education there can be a better understanding of why we do it and how it benefits the playing experience throughout the season.
This year, we tried something different at Gold Mountain.
In the past, we would punch a few small holes and then topdress the greens with a light layer of sand about a week later.
This season the whole process changed and we have seen great results.
We started with a heavy layer of sand, about as much as we typically use in the fall.
Followed then by punch the greens with 60 3/8″ solid tines, which is twice as many tines as normal.
After the punch, we waited for the sand to dry, which is a lot like watching paint dry.
It is essential to make sure the sand is completely dry, otherwise when we drag the greens the sand will seal off the holes and we won’t get sand into the profile.
Now is when the race begins.

First, we send a steel drag mat out to do an initial once over drag.
After that, we send our verticutting units set at 1/8″ to help work the sand into the profile.
Next, the brush drag mats make two or three laps around each green, which helps move even more sand into the profile.
Lastly, we take our heavy greens roller over them to smooth out any lumps or imperfections.
After this process is done the greens are ready for play.
They are not in mid-season form directly following this process, however they are in great shape considering everything we put them through over the day.

One day removed from aerification, I would say our greens are at least at 85% and should be back to 100% roughly seven to 10 days following.
This process is very important to producing the best possible playing conditions throughout the season.
It will allow us to provide fast, firm, fair, and true greens because it allows for gas exchange and water movement within our greens.
So, when you look back at the week following aerification when you are playing in July and the greens are perfect, remember to say thanks for punching them in May!

Patrick McKenzie
Superintendent
Gold Mountain Golf Club

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Love Is In the Air

Wedding season has arrived at Gold Mountain and love is in the air!

This year is shaping up to be our busiest wedding season ever, but we do still have a few dates available for those last-minute wedding shoppers and lots of room in our 2019 season.

We have two great events approaching that give that bride and groom-to-be an amazing opportunity to visit us.

The first being out Bridal Brunch on Sunday, April 29.

This brunch will give brides, and grooms, the opportunity to show off their venue to family and friends, wedding party, and photographers before their big day.

Andie Avery Photography

It is also a wonderful opportunity to tour the venue for the first time.

The food will be amazing, the venue will look spectacular, and we will be offering a golf discount so if your hubby-to-be and other men want to hit the course they can!

We have event information and ticket options available online, get yours before the event fills.

The second event coming up is the Kitsap Wedding Tour on Sunday, May 20 from 1pm to 5pm.

The Kitsap Wedding Tour is an amazing opportunity to tour multiple venues in the same day without an appointment.

There will be some of the best vendors of the region at each location, not to mention tasty treats along the way.

This is the best way to tour because all of the venues will be set up as a wedding, so you can really envision your special day.

Unique Moments Photography

Gold Mountain will also have appetizers, sparkling wine, and cake of course!

We can’t wait to see you!

Jesse McGee, Sales and Planning Manager
360.415.6894
jesse.mcgee@goldmt.com

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A Great Season for Junior Golf

Hi Everyone,

Travis Cary here, Assistant PGA Golf Professional at Gold Mountain Golf Club.

One of my primary responsibilities as Assistant Golf Professional is to teach and grow the game of golf.

The sun is starting to come out and summer time is right around the corner, which means Gold Mountain Junior Camps will be underway in the next few months.

There have never been more junior golf opportunities available at Gold Mountain, which makes it the perfect time to get your junior golfer started in golf.

PGA Junior League is an exciting program that we now have available at Gold Mountain beginning May 1 and will run through the month of June.

These juniors will get hands-on instruction from myself, and also get a fun and relaxing introduction to competitive golf.

The best part is, PGA Junior League is perfect for all skill levels!

The kids will receive numbered jerseys and other gear, all included in their entry fee.

In addition to PGA Junior League we will be hosting our annual Junior Camp in summer 2018!

The camp will be held at Gold Mountain Monday, July 9 through Friday, July 13, from 8am to 12pm Monday through Thursday and tee times beginning at 5pm on Friday, our Cascade Course, to allow the kids to take their new skills on the course.

This camp is open to juniors ages six to 17, we have equipment available for your junior to use while in camp if necessary, and we want to welcome every level of golfer.

If you are interested in getting your junior golfer a set of clubs to take on the season US Kids Golf is a great company that designs clubs made specifically for kids.

Beginning in 2018, I am offering free club fittings for any junior looking for a new set of clubs at Gold Mountain.

Visit US Kids Golf to view all of their great products and contact me via email to set up an appointment.

Happy Golfing!

Travis Cary
Assistant PGA Golf Professional
Gold Mountain Golf Club

 

 

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Easter at Gold Mountain

Join us on Easter Sunday for our spectacular buffet at Gold Mountain.

Bring your family and friends to celebrate with you and make it a day with the whole family!

Upon your arrival, you will be greeted by the friendly staff and elegantly decorated tables, which festively showcase the Easter Holiday.

Start your meal with a craft brew, glass of premium wine, or mimosa and prepare for the delicious buffet to come!

Our buffet features traditional items inspired by everyone’s family favorites, and several dishes highlight spring flavors, fresh herbs, and masterful creations from our very own Executive Chef, Jon Forcier.

Our Sous Chef, Trevor Nelson, will feature a build your own station, including omelette’s and waffles with ingredients to make your mouth water!

Our dessert bar is stocked with a variety of cakes, pies, cookies, petite fours, and other goodies.

So you’ll definitely want to save some room for dessert!

Gluten-free desserts are also available, to ensure no one misses out on this beautiful spread.

Reservations are required, visit the restaurant or call 360.415.5432 to reserve your table.

Large parties are welcomed and separate checks are no problem!

Happy Easter!

Tiffany Schenk
Area Director of Food and Beverage

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Golf Season is Nearly Here

As we recover from a late winter wind and snow event, it is hard to believe that this year is off to a tremendous start when you consider that last year brought with it some of the worst possible weather for Northwest golfers.

It is true, a misty, mid-40’s February day doesn’t spark the intensity to hit the links and fire up the old golf game.

But for those that do venture out of their heated abodes, open tee times and fantastic playing conditions await on both of our golf courses, just don’t wait too long.

We are only three and a half weeks away from our first major tournament of the season, Mountain Madness, the two-day, two-player, scramble and best ball Event scheduled for March 17 and 18.

If you are interested in participating, you can register online.

Gold Mountain’s yearly spring tournament is our unofficial start of our golf season.

It marks a time when our team members begin to welcome back our afternoon leagues, prepare for our annual Demo Day event, open up or facility to our local high schools as their seasons ramp up, and of course start our preparation for the 2018 Mountain West Conference Championship.

Gold Mountain has the honor of hosting this Division I college tournament April 19 through April 22, as the best players in the Mountain West test their skills for the top spot in their conference and attempt to qualify for the NCAA National Championship.

If you are interested in volunteering for this tournament, please contact the Golf Shop at 360.415.5432 for more details.

After every national tournament we host, one of the first things that we receive praise for is the amazing and dedicated army of volunteers that we produce.

We would love to have you on our team for the Mountain West Conference Championship!

Before I end my ramblings, please allow me to give my sincerest thank you to our recently retired Superintendent, Ed Faulk.

I’d like to think that I am pretty good at my job, but let’s be honest, you don’t come to play golf at Gold Mountain to see me.

You come to Gold Mountain because it is a facility that is always in great shape whether it has been an exceptionally wet and soggy season, or on those rare years where it never rains and we are near drought conditions.

Ed worked tirelessly for 34 years at Gold Mountain Golf Club, never questioning a crazy idea about tee times from me or complaining about a freak windstorm that brought down hundreds of trees (both have occurred).

Ed took exceptional pride in Gold Mountain and there are many of us here who are thankful for the opportunity to thrive in our careers because of the stability he created with both of our fantastic golf courses.

Thank you, Ed, we will all miss you!

 

John Sitton
Golf Operations Manager
Gold Mountain Golf Club

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Pork Hero Sandwich

The Hero Sandwich has a lot of history in the United States.

The ultimate question is, where did the Hero Sandwich originate?

There seems to be one story that stands out from all the others, and it leads to the assumption that the sandwich originated in Italy from Italian immigrants who brought the idea to our East coast in the early 19th century.

The Italian’s combined fresh salami, pepperoni, prosciutto, and Mortadella cured meats as the heart of the sandwich, while traditionally adding lettuce, tomato cured meats, and Provolone cheese to round it out.

American’s typically enjoy mayonnaise on their sandwich, while Italian’s substituted oil and vinegar as their main condiments.

In Boston, the Hero is known as a sub sandwich, or a submarine sadnwich, because of the shape of the bread.

In New Orleans, it is known as a Po’boy and has many meat and seafood variations.

But here at Gold Mountain, our Hero Sandwich has slow cooked pork roast that is dry marinated in our house spice rub.

Then topped with thinly sliced black forest ham, grilled pineapple rings, house-made pickled peppers, and our sweet and spicy hero barbecue sauce.

Ingredients are piled high on a fresh brioche bun and served with our house-cut French fries.

Trust us when we say, you’ll be telling your friends about this!

So no matter where you are eating your Hero Sandwich it will probably be a little different than the place before, but we have a feeling Gold Mountain’s is the one you will always remember!

Jon Forcier,
Executive Chef

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Out with the Old and In with the New

It’s that time of year when everyone is saying, “Out with the old and in with the new!”

If you’re like me, you get excited about January because it is a time to clean out the old clutter, old thinking, and old bad habits to make room for new ideals, goals, and even products that will help you achieve them.

Maybe you’ve put away your golf clubs for a couple of months, but are now packing them up to head on vacation or are moving them around as you sort through the garage.

Either way, there are probably some old clubs, bags, carts, or shoes that you’ve still got hanging around from the past few years (or even decades)!

Wouldn’t it feel great to pass those on to someone or finally just give them one final “thanks for a great run,” and on to the new?

If you have golf gear in excellent condition that you’d like to donate to a junior program or give to a person who may not be able to afford them brand new, now is the time to donate.

Gold Mountain is a great place to donate your used gear and know that you are helping a new golfer experience the game of golf.

Make sure to join our e-club to stay up to date on when and where you can donate your used equipment and what perks we have for you.

Out with the old and stop in the Golf Shop for some of that new in 2018!

Suzanne Mehlert
Merchandiser, Gold Mountain Golf Club

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A Great Journey

Normally this time of year, I would talk about winter projects we are working on and what we are preparing and planning for the upcoming season.

Instead, we will look at the great 34-year career Ed Faulk, Superintendent, has had here at Gold Mountain Golf Club as he prepares for retirement in January 2018.

Ed was hired in March 1984, long before the Olympic Course was built.

He spent 13 years as the Assistant Superintendent on the Cascade Course and took over as the Superintendent of the property when the Olympic Course opened in 1996.

He will have held that title for nearly 22 years when he retires at the end of January 2018.

It is a testament to Ed’s knowledge, commitment, passion, and ability to have retained his title and position for such an extended period.

There are a number of highlights Ed has spoken of when reflecting on his career here at Gold Mountain, but there are a few that stand out more than others.

First, was the opportunity he was given to be the Superintendent.

When the position became available in 1996, the decision came down to two candidates; Ed and a well-established superintendent from within the gold community.

When Ed was awarded the position, he knew he would not let the City of Bremerton down and would work hard to always prove they made the right choice.

Second, Ed has reflected on what a special moment it was for him to open a championship golf course in the Olympic Course back in 1996.

Ed has hosted many national tournaments including NCAA regional qualifier and University of Washington Husky Invitationals, but the two that meant the most to Ed were the 2006 U.S. Amateur Pub Links Championship and the 2011 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.

Ed has had a big impact on more than just the property at Gold Mountain Golf Club.

He has had a great impact on the people that he not only worked with but also the guests that visit his golf courses.

Ed is on a first name basis with so many of our regular guests and always takes the time to ask them about how they are doing, and he takes a personal interest in their lives.

Ed is also highly respected by all fellow Gold Mountain team members.

Daryl Matheny, General Manager, spoke recently about Ed and what he has meant personally and professionally to the club.

Daryl said some of the things he will miss when Ed retires are his work ethic, he is a jack of all trades, the way he always stepped up to make sure whatever needed to get done was accomplished, but most importantly the ownership Ed took in his work.

Daryl always felt Ed put out the best possible product and made sure whatever he was assigned was handled in a professional and meticulous manner.

Daryl also shared that his favorite memory at Gold Mountain with Ed was preparing for, and hosting, the 2006 Amateur Pub Links Championship.

Daryl said Ed had the course in perfect condition and the USGA was extremely pleased with the way the tournament went.

For me personally, Ed will be greatly missed.

He has been an incredible mentor in developing my skills and preparing me to take the next step in my career.

I will be forever grateful to Ed for giving me an opportunity to be his assistant.

He had done a great job of sharing his knowledge and experiences with me while allowing me the freedom to figure everything out my own way.

Ed has helped guide me in the right direction, but from a distance, which has allowed me to learn from my own experiences.

Gold Mountain Golf Club, as well as all the people who have worked with Ed, will truly miss him.

We wish him all the best as he enters this next chapter of his life.

Thank you Ed!

Patrick McKenzie
Assistant Superintendent
Gold Mountain Golf Club

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Winter Projects

It is starting to look a lot like winter here at Gold Mountain Golf Club.

Our maintenance staff is starting to move into winter projects due to frost delays and rainy weather, but have no fear, there are plenty of jobs to keep our team busy.

Our mechanics are ramping up to service our fleet of 127 golf carts, as well as sharpening and servicing our equipment for the spring.

Our equipment team spends countless hours servicing our equipment so we can provide a clean and professional look for the upcoming season.

We are grateful for their hard work to keep us going through the season.

As for our grounds maintenance staff, they are out and about on these cold winter days rebuilding our bunkers so our guests have as enjoyable of an experience one can have when they hit it into a bunker.

Between cleaning up edges, removing weeds and debris, to hauling in more sand for the proper playing depth our team continues to make Gold Mountain Golf Club one of the best championship courses in the region.

Also getting some TLC this time of year are our tee stones and benches, because we all need to rest after the eight strokes we may have taken on the last hole.

So, as you come out during the winter months just remember to dress warm and take in the beautiful views and hard work that goes into maintaining our facilities.

We can’t wait to see you all out at Gold Mountain!

Andrew Goodell
Equipment Manager

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Happy Holidays from Gold Mountain

Tis’ the season to celebrate the holidays, spend time with family and friends, and find joy in the beauty of the Pacific Northwest winter.

At Gold Mountain Golf Club, we’re keeping the golf course, restaurant, and Golf Shop ready for our guests to enjoy all of the season’s offerings.

When it comes to gift giving, the Golf Shop is stocked with quality gear and clothing that will definitely bring joy to any golfer!

Many items are even on sale right now with golf bags 20% off, Nike clothing and shoes 25% off, and University of Washington and Washington State University accessories 20% off.

Another great gift for the golfer in your life who likes to walk the course is a new Clickgear cart with a cart seat and cart mitt as perfect add-ons.

All you need to do is choose from all the great colors we have available!

Golf balls make great quick gifts for a distant relative, school teacher, or even an employee this holiday season.

We have everything from Titleist and Callaway, to the Volvik extreme colored golf balls.

Looking for something that is perfect for the golf course or a casual night out?

We have hundreds of quality and fashionable layering jackets and pullovers available for both men and women, perfect for anyone on your list.

Maybe you know someone that has been eyeing that special sand wedge all year?

In that case, gift certificates are a great way to help them get a personal fitting and order their dream club.

You can even order gift certificates online and have them mailed directly to you!

What many people don’t realize is that Gold Mountain Golf Club has countless items that a non-golfer would love too!

Rain jackets and hats are great gifts for family that take walks year-round.

Warm layering jackets and pullovers, beanies, and accessories are all ideal for off-course fun as well.

Come visit us at Gold Mountain Golf Club or shop online for all of your holiday needs this year.

Happy Holidays!
Suzanne Mehlert
Gold Mountain Merchandiser

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