Welcome To

~5~ WESTERN U.S. Country Club at Castle Pines 18th Hole On February 6, 1922, eight PGA professionals met in Seattle to form the Pacific Northwest Section of the PGA of America. Later in September, these same professionals organized the first Washington Open at the then nine-hole Yakima Country Club. Al Espinosa of Inglewood won the inaugural championship, besting the field at 282—for his effort, he took home the princely sum of $600. This early success led to the vibrant, professional association we see today. Since those early years, the Pacific Northwest Section has fulfilled its mission to grow the game, teach the game, and play the game. Thanks to world-class programs developed in conjunction with the PGA of America, PGA professionals in the Pacific Northwest are recognized as the experts in the game and business of golf. The Pacific Northwest Section encompasses Washington, Oregon, northern Idaho, western Montana, and Alaska, and represents 1,100 PGA professionals at the finest facilities in the region. The section conducts 225 events during the season, with the four major championships the most visible elements of the schedule. The Washington Open, Oregon Open, Northwest Open, and Rosauers Open feature the best players in the section and annually raise valuable resources for local charities. Total donations to these important organizations exceeded $650,000 in 2012 thanks to the efforts of the section and its sponsors. The golf courses featured in this volume are some of the finest courses anywhere in the world and represent the quality, challenge, and variety of facilities found throughout the section. Whether it's the tall trees of western Washington, the seaside links on the Oregon Coast, or the high desert of central Oregon, we hope you enjoy these facilities not only through this publication but through a personal visit in the near future. Our PGA professionals will be there to welcome you and make your experience an enjoyable one.

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