Palouse Ridge Golf Club, home of the Washington State University Cougars’ golf team in Pullman, Wash., will host the inaugural John Harbottle III Pro-Am golf tournament July 26-28.
Palouse Ridge course architect John Harbottle III of Tacoma, Wash., was 53 years old when he died suddenly May 24, 2012 while working in California. Harbottle began his career with Pete Dye, with whom he collaborated on projects throughout the world. Washington State University’s Palouse Ridge Golf Club is one of Harbottle’s greatest courses, receiving numerous awards including No. 2 Best New Public Course (Golf Digest and Golfweek), and No. 2 Best College Course (Links Magazine) in America.
A slew of impressive hole-in-one prizes are available, like cash, a new car, golf clubs, and an EZ Go golf cart. Registration fees are $150 for professionals and $350 for amateurs. Total purse for the event is $25,000. Proceeds will benefit the Pullman Junior Golf Association. In addition, Friday practice rounds are available along with a prime rib dinner that evening at Banyan’s on the Ridge, a British Colonial-themed steak house.
There are lots of interesting and challenging holes on this par 72 championship course that measures 7,308 yards from the tips. The longest hole on the course is the par 5, 626-yard 10th hole, one of the grandest par fives anywhere. From the elevated tee boxes, take a moment to enjoy the glorious mountain views and skyscraper pines in adjacent Round Top Park. The hole plays downhill and downwind but is still a true three-shotter for all but the longest hitters. The wide, tumbling fairway gives way to a left-to-right dogleg.
The par 3 11th measures only 175 yards, but players must account for the prevailing crosswind, which will tend to push balls to the right, away from the safe bail-out area to the left. A subtle ridge bisects the wide, shallow green into distinct left and right sections. The lovely pond in the valley below the green does not come into play.
Harbottle’s favorite hole on the course was the par 4 No. 15 that measured a mere 369 yards. He often referred to No. 15 as his favorite short par 4 in all of golf. At Palouse Ridge Golf Club, hole 15 is now dedicated to John Harbottle III. WSU is forever grateful for his architectural visions that became a reality.
For more on the John Harbottle III Pro-Am golf tournament, visit http://www.palouseridge.com
Rick Stedman is an avid golfer, RVer, and writer who lives in Olympia, Washington. Rick writes a golf column, “The RV Golfer,” which is published every month in rvlife.com. He can be reached at rstedman@gmail.com.
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