Bellinghamgolfer.com

If you thought the Boeing Classic was the nearest world class golf would get to Bellingham this summer, you would in fact be mistaken. TPC Snoqualmie Ridge, venue for the Champions Tour event, is 106 miles away from City Hall according to Mapquest. Only 45 miles away, however, is the Vancouver Golf Club which will be hosting the CN Canadian Women's Open, an LPGA Tour event, for the third time (the first in 1988 was won by Sally Little, the second in 1991 by Nancy Scranton).
Yes, it's a little ironic the nearest top-class golf to us will be in a whole different country, but you can be there in a little under an hour provided you get through the border easily and Highway 1, the Trans-Canada Highway, isn't slow-going over the Port Mann Bridge.
What is slightly disappointing is that the Boeing Classic and Canadian Women's Open are being played the same week - August 20-26. But no worries, the Boeing Classic is played over three days while the Women's Open is a four day event, so hopefully you'll find time for both.
Players who have already committed to the tournament include world number one Yani Tseng, Michelle Wie, Suzann Pettersen, Cristie Kerr, and the defending champion Brittany Lincicome who beat Wie and Stacy Lewis by a single stroke at Hillsdale GCC in Mirabel, Que., last year to win her fifth LPGA title.
Vancouver GC, originally the British Columbia Golf Club, was founded in 1910 on a 200-acre sheep farm that, at the time, was a good distance from the city. The first nine holes opened in June 1911 and were designed and built by a Scottish engineer named H.T. Gardner. Alex Duthie, a pro from Carnoustie who was then working at the Jericho GCC much nearer the city, gave his assistance. Today, Vancouver GC is a beautiful course and typical of so many in the Pacific Northwest with huge firs and pine trees lining the superbly manicured fairways. Two of the short holes, the 3rd and 7th, have been rebuilt over the last few months (work overseen by Ted Locke who designed North Bellingham GC) and are now undoubtedly two of the most challenging on the course. They will be superb locations at which to watch the best women golfers in the world. Another fascinating hole will be the huge, downhill, 6th which might play as long as 620 yards. It will be interesting to see if Wie and Lincicome, two of the longest hitters on the LPGA Tour, can make it home in two.
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Congratulations to Shane Clarke who won the June Open at Lake Padden on Saturday. Clarke shot a one-under 71 to win by four shots. Phi Pham won the net prize with a 72.
Results here.
And well done to Craig Roth who won last week's Sudden Valley Open with a Gross 73. Nick Flacco won the Net prize with a 64.
Results here.