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  Eric Degerman is SportsTriCities.com's managing editor. Eric is a longtime Tri-City Herald sportswriter who spent several years covering a variety of sports, including the Tri-City Americans and golf. Eric now produces a regular Web-based sportscast that focuses on Mid-Columbia sports. Have a question for Eric? Click here to e-mail him |
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Monday, Sep. 22, 2008
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Northwest Open unlikely to return
By Eric Degerman, sportstricities.com
As usual, the layout by Robert Muir Graves and the course preparations by superintendent Mark Dalton at Meadow Springs Country Club received praise from the field at last week's Northwest Open.
However, the prospect of the tournament ever returning to the Richland club -- or the Tri-Cities for that matter -- is remote.
"They only got a half-field for the pro-am," one professional told me. "That's a killer."
The Northwest section of the PGA, which operates the tournament, was worried about this months in advance. And a full field for the pro-am in these events is where the section makes its freight. It's certainly not from gate receipts.
Folks in the Tri-Cities often complain about the lack of entertainment choices. Well, here was a missed opportunity. In fact, I counted 20 players with a strong Mid-Columbia connection in the field of 130 professionals and amateurs, but very few folks bothered to follow any of the players. And Richland native Patrick Howard nearly won the 54-hole tournament, losing in a two-hole playoff.
Perhaps the lack of community support explains why section's news releases throughout the tournament used "RICHMOND, WA" as the dateline.
I did find it curious that Meadow Springs would miss an opportunity to showcase its tremendous food service program. Dining for players, at least on Monday, was not available in the clubhouse. I caddied for Oregon amateur Spencer Klapp and told him about the high quality of the food and Northwest wine list. A stacked club sandwich, a fresh garden salad, a glass of rosé and air conditioning were what we were shooting for on a 90-degree afternoon.
However, we walked into the bar after the round asking about lunch and were instructed that the only food available was the hot dogs and sandwiches served outside from the booth near the pool. Perhaps they opened the restaurant on Tuesday and Wednesday, but I didn't bother to ask again.
True, it is a private club, but it's not unheard of for clubs to open up their restaurant and provide full service to the tournament field.
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