Kenai course enjoys green-up

Kenai Golf Course is in full swing. The range is open, the carts are out and all 18 greens are in play. The crew has been busy seeding, fertilizing and getting everything up for another year of golfing. The greens and fairways are looking great and will only get better with each day.

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This is a favorite time of year for golfers as we anticipate our season. What an exciting time for anyone who spends time chasing those little balls around on the fairways and greens.

Mixed Doubles

Mixed doubles gets started at 6:20 p.m. each Monday evening. Any gal and guy are welcome to join in on the relaxing evening of golf. Call your tee time in ahead of time or just show up to play in the weekly event. The format varies some depending on the players. I enjoy calling this an event of very little or no pressure. Who cares how many strokes one takes from tee to green? They could end up winners with the most taken!

Ladies Night

Ladies golf will be on Tuesdays, with tee times starting at 6 p.m. Any lady of any skill level with a bag of clubs is invited to join the event. Just show up and play with the other ladies. This event also is just for enjoyment and getting out for some walking, talking and putting with other ladies.

Kenai Cup

Kenai Cup is still taking applications. Sign up with the Kenai Golf Association, find a partner, fill in a Kenai Cup application and get some practicing in before the start of the event in early June.

The format is great. Match play is playing one hole at a time. Whoever wins more holes in the nine-hole event wins the match.

The best thing about match play is a player could have a blowout hole with a 10 or more and still win the match. How many times have we wanted to throw out a high score? This format sort of allows players to do that and stay in the competition.

Men's Night

Each Thursday evening the men head out to the tees at 6 p.m. All skill levels are welcome.

Sign up in the clubhouse or call ahead of time to get your name on the list for the team drawing.

Junior Golf

The juniors will have a busy summer with junior golf lessons and tournaments and daily open play.

The first junior session starts June 1. The signup sheet is in the clubhouse. All juniors 8 to 17 are invited to join the events. Juniors that sign up for the sessions do not have to own their own clubs. The junior sessions are a great time to see if juniors will enjoy the game before purchasing equipment.

Each session has 10 parts to it. Range balls, clubs and greens fees are all included, along with instructions by pro Bill Engberg. Cost for each junior is $50 for the 10 days, range balls, clubs and greens fees on the playing days.

Upcoming events

A partners tournament is scheduled for May 29 with a 9 a.m. start. Get your partner and sign up. A sum of $20 per golfer and golfer takes care of the greens fees. Premium pass holders pay no greens fee. Entry deadline is on May 28. This tournament has a great format.

A Birdie Told Me

May 13 was a very happy day for Gary Peikert, who shot his best nine-hole score ever. It is always a thrill for golfers to beat their own scores. Kenai Golf Course is a challenge as we all well know. Congratulations Gary!

Cliff Heus was the winner of the "Early Bird" Kenai Golf Association membership drawing. All Cliff had to do was be sure Kathy (Mrs. Heus) had sent in their KGA membership by April 28. Congratulations, Cliff!

Closing Thoughts

Over the weekend in Seward I experienced the IdidaRide Sled Dog Tour. If you haven't experienced the thrill of being pulled by a pack of eager, well-trained dogs, I would suggest you look into it. Eleven energetic dogs pulled seven of us in a 400-pound cart through the scenic woods and along the creek of the Seavey homestead.

I ran into a golfer at Ray's Waterfront and mentioned the great condition of Kenai Golf Course. No matter where I go on the peninsula, I run into golfers I have had the pleasure of meeting at the Kenai Golf Course.

See you in the clubhouse.