Future duffers earn clubs in Goldendale
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
If you ask most weekend golfers if there is a shortage of golfers, not many would respond, “yes.” But, according to Brad Bellamy at the Goldendale Golf Club, there is indeed a shortage and more members are welcome.
That is one reason Bellamy and his mother, Jodi, have been giving lessons to kids, ages six through nine over the past three weeks. The other reason is an organization called Hook a Kid on Golf is working to tear down traditional barriers and get kids interested in the game at an early age.
Crystal Dodge, Police Athletic League coordinator with the Klickitat County Sheriff’s office, was successful with a grant request to Hook a Kid on Golf, with support from the Goldendale Golf Course and Washington State Patrol.
The sheriff’s office is coordinating clinics in Goldendale, plus two more, one for the Dallesport, Lyle, Wishram area, and the other targeting Bingen and White Salmon. Dates and locations for those two clinics have not been set.
The grant runs for two years, and rewards participants with their own set of golf clubs, a rule book, cap and shirt at the conclusion of each clinic.
Twenty boys and girls spent their Monday mornings at the Goldendale golf course for the past three weeks, learning golf’s basics, putting on the practice green and driving the ball off the chipping area.
Brad and Jodi Bellamy provided free instruction on behalf of the Goldendale Golf Club. Ericka Tremble, with the Washington State Patrol, also assisted with the clinic.
As for the golf course, current membership stands at 130. Most of those are family memberships, so actual numbers of members is much greater. The golf course is slowly rebounding from a peak of about 170 members just prior to the aluminum plant closure. Family membership is $700 per year. A fee-based clinic for ages 10-12 will begin next week in Goldendale. Coming up is the Sentry Open on Aug. 2-3, and the member guest tournament on Aug. 16-17.
Up the White Salmon River without a paddle
ANDREW CHRISTIANSEN
Reporter
It will probably be another two weeks before area rafting companies will dare run Husum Falls. The river is too high and too dangerous, they say.
That didn’t phase riverboarders last weekend, who grabbed hold of a two-foot by four-foot board and dove right into the White Salmon River with the big pay-off being the thrill of going over Husum Falls. The six-mile run, which ends just below the falls, was just one of four events for the boarders during last weekend’s Gorge Games.
The sport has been around about 30 years, attracting people who can’t get enough thrill from a raft or kayak ride down a raging river.
The equipment for the sport is still evolving, according to one of the older participants in boarding at Gorge Games. He was describing the hodgepodge of boards that 13 riverboarders used as they dove into a spot in the White Salmon River called Rattlesnake Rapids, during Sunday’s freestyle surfing competition.
The board that seemed to be working best on Sunday, was Levi Gallas’ board. Gallas, from the Denver area, tests boards made by his uncle’s company, Rocky Mountain Riverboards. The thick board with handles, allowed Gallas to pull of board spins and keep on the wave, eventually winning the event. It was Gallas’ first competitive event, although he has been boarding for more than four years.
“There aren’t that many events around,” said Gallas, “but it is picking up.”
His main competition came from Idaho, the home of several participants, including runner-up Morgan Donaldson. Most of the Idaho contingent used a thin, relatively flat board, geared more to smoother waves. At least two competitors fashioned their own boards out of thick styrofoam, incorporating hand-holds and various sealers.
Third place finisher was New Zealander, Rory Camm, who made this a truly international event. The competition included two women and a range in ages from late teens to greybeard.
Flippers and helmets were optional gear for the surfing event, which is less brutal than bouncing off rocks on a run down river. The goal is to ride a wave for the designated time, in this case 45 seconds. A panel of judges scores performances based on creative entry into the water and crowd reaction to tricks on the board.
Goldendale trio part of relay sweep in The Dalles
After qualifying for the 10-and-under State swim meet in Albany, Jade Smith and Hailey Bigbie weren’t able to make the trip. Instead, they swam in the eight and under relay with Goldendale teammate, Alyssa Merry, and The Dalles teammate Hannah Weeks at the Ted Walker Invitational in The Dalles, sweeping the relay on consecutive days.
It was a great meet for the Goldendale girls, led by Smith’s five individual first place finishes in the 50 and 100-meter freestyle, and 50-meter backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. Bigbie collected three firsts, including a state-qualifying time in the 50-meter breaststroke, and second place finishes in the backstroke and butterfly. Devon Shea was third in the 50-meter freestyle.
Other competitors from Goldendale were Melissa Sharp, Rachel Sharp, Stephen Sharp, and Cheyenne Smith.
Nadia Smith made the trip to Albany and had finishes of ninth, 10th and two 11th place finishes.
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