Southern California's No. 1 Source for Golf
STROKE OF THE DAY |
"Although golf was originally restricted to wealthy, overweight Protestants, today it's open to anybody who owns hideous clothing" |
-Dave Barry |
SITE
SEARCH
GOLF
CALENDAR
NEWS
|
||||
|
For many Southland residents and business owners, the recovery process from the recent wildfires that devastated the region has just begun. In the golf community, several courses in San Diego County suffered damages as a result of the fires. Almost all facilities in that area were forced to close for a few days in late October as smoke and ash created unsafe air. However, the layouts and conditions of these courses were not severely altered, and regular play has resumed. The most common type of damage was falling trees, though those instances were almost always due to strong Santa Ana winds and not the fires. Some venues, like Poway’s Maderas Golf Club and Escondido’s Eagle Crest Golf Club, had small bridges burn. Significant damage occurred at Fallbrook’s Pala Mesa Resort, which lost its maintenance yard and accounting and engineering offices. “We were very lucky,” said head professional Mark Mittlehauser, who has worked at the resort for nine years. “It’s obviously a very tragic experience for people who lost a lot more than we did.” Pala Mesa was actually used as a command post for area firefighters. When they weren’t working to contain the flames, firefighters used resort facilities to rest and eat. Chula Vista’s Salt Creek Golf Club was utilized in a similar fashion when fires gained strength on neighboring Mount Miguel. “We’re all neighbors, and we need to get along and help each other out, especially in times like this,” said Salt Creek general manager Ron Gorski. That kind of cooperation allowed firefighters to do the most they could to keep the fires in check, and all those associated with area courses — from employees to patrons — said they were grateful for their effort. “These guys are just amazing in what they do,” Mittlehauser said. The smoky conditions led to the cancellation of the first stage of PGA Tour Qualifying School, which was to be held at Santee’s Carlton Oaks Country Club beginning on Tuesday, October 23. The event was relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona. But the fires did not prevent the playing of the Nationwide Tour Championship at Lakeside’s Barona Creek Golf Club, which began November 1. Fires came close to the casino property, but there was no structural damage and tour and county officials felt air quality would be suitable enough for the tournament to be held. Each time a birdie is recorded at the event, the PGA Tour and Nationwide will donate $100 apiece to the Red Cross Fire Relief Fund, part of their “Birdies for Relief” program. |
||||
RSS Subscribe
Digg This Article
