Golf • Olympic Peninsula • Shelton • What To Do • October 28, 2011

New Shelton Golf Course get national award

by Mike Mostyn, CRS

Shelton’s Salish Cliffs Golf Club

Shelton’s brand-new Salish Cliffs Golf Club at Little Creek Casino Resort is the nation’s top course to open in 2011, and No. 8 overall, according to “Golfweek’s Best 2011: Best New Courses” ranking, released today.

Salish Cliffs, a Gene Bates design that opened to the public on Sept. 16, was chosen by Golfweek’s nationwide team of course raters. The elite ranking is reserved for courses that debuted in 2010 or 2011. Not only was Salish Cliffs the top-ranked layout to open this year, but it was just one of two Pacific Northwest courses on the list, along with Old Macdonald in Bandon, Ore., which earned the No. 1 spot.

“We have known all along Salish Cliffs is a special course, one we hope golfers will rate among North America’s finest,” said Head Professional David Kass, PGA. “It’s a great honor that, less than six weeks after opening to the public, we’ve already received national recognition from Golfweek.”

Shelton’s Salish Cliffs has received national acclaim for its stunning beauty and clever design since opening. It has also received praise for its reasonable rates and was included on Forbes.com’s list of the “12 Best Value Courses in the U.S.”

The par-72, 7,269-yard championship course provides an intimate setting with 16 of 18 holes encircled by lush forestry. The course is friendly to players of all levels thanks to five sets of tees and offers stunning scenery with 360-degree views of Olympic Peninsula’s Kamilche Valley. The black “tips” received a rating/slope of 75.4/137 from the USGA while the 5,313-yard forward tees come in with a 70.7 rating and 125 slope.

Shelton Golf has Reasonable Rates

Public rates through Oct. 31 are $69 (Monday-Thursday) and $79 (Friday-Sunday) for 18 holes and $40 and $50, respectively, for nine, including green fees and cart (but not applicable tax). MVP Player’s Card Holders will pay $64 (Monday-Thursday) and $74 (Friday-Sunday). Twilight rates, which begin at 3 p.m., are $40 (Monday-Thursday) and $50 (Friday-Sunday).

Tee times can be booked with a major credit card up to 10 days in advance at www.salish-cliffs.com. Advanced tee-time booking up to 60 days in advance is available for those with confirmed Little Creek Casino Resort hotel reservations by calling the golf shop at 360.462.3673.

Olympic Peninsula • What To Do • October 13, 2011

There is now more Olympic Discovery Trail

by Mike Mostyn, CRS

For hikers, bikers and other non-motorized adventurers, there is news from the Olympic Discovery Trail. Another mile west of Port Angeles has been completed. 18 volunteers helped turn more former railroad rails into smooth grade between 10^th and 18^th as they continue to Lower Elwha Road to meet the section being built by the Lower Elwha Tribe. So far, 40 of the 128 mile trail is be complete.

Currently the trail runs from Ediz Hook in Port Angeles to the Blyn just east of Sequim. The final goal of this ambitious project is the development of a non-motorized multi-use trail that will connect Port Townsend on the East, through Sequim, Port Angeles to Forks on the West coast.

Portions of the trail are located on the trail bed of a former train route that ran between Port Angeles and Port Townsend. Funding, design and construction of the first phase of the trail was received from the National Scenic Byway Program, the Washington State Department of Transportation, a Federal STEA program and the County. Private property owners also made generous donations of easements to extend the trail through their properties.

To download maps of the Olympic Discovery Trail, use this link for the eastern portion through Sequim: http://www.olympicbikeadventure.com/ODBA%20map%20east.pdf

Here is the link to the western portion through Port Angeles: http://www.olympicbikeadventure.com/ODBA%20map%20west.pdf

Hood Canal • News • October 11, 2011

Remembering Albert Rosellini

by Mike Mostyn, CRS

Click here to zoom... Ex-Governor Rosellini

The former governor of the State of Washington and friend of the Olympic Peninsula has died at his home at 101.

Rosellini was chairman of the Toll Bridge Authority in the 1950s and as governor was a proponent of a floating bridge across the saltwater Hood Canal. This bridge was perhaps the single piece of infrastructure that changed the face of the Olympic Peninsula forever, giving millions easy access to the undeveloped beauty that is our home.

The Hood Canal Floating Bridge was a concept engineers worried would not only be susceptible to salt corrosion but to tidal motions that raise and lower the bridge up to 16 feet. There were problems with the pontoons that required more funding buy in August 1961, motor vehicles could reach Jefferson and Clallam counties without having to drive from Olympia, Shelton or Aberdeen.

Governor Rosellini will also be remembered as the chief executive during the Seattle World’s Fair in 1962. This blogger still remembers him standing under the Space Needle with Elvis Presley, signing autographs as if he was a rock star. Governor Rosellini will always be remembered to have the vision and drive to open the State of Washington and the Olympic Peninsula to millions of Americans vacationers.