Special Section of The Seattle Times, The Issaquah Press and Sammamish Review

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DatesJuly 26 to Aug. 1. First three

days are practice rounds.Tournament play beginsThursday.

Time

Gates open 30 minutes tofirst tee and close 30 minutesfollowing the final putt.

Place

Sahalee Country Club inSammamish

Course

Ted Robinson designed theSahalee course in 1969. ReesJones led a renovation in 1996.Sahalee has 27 holes, althoughonly 18 will be used for thetournament. The South Coursewill be used for the front nineand the North Course for theback nine.

Tickets

Prices start at $20 for a dailyticket to a practice round, to$250 for the 7-day pass TrophyClub. Children under 17 are freewith a ticketed adult. Go towww.2010ussenioropen.com.

ParkingOnly at Marymoor Park in

Redmond, with shuttle bus ser-vice to the course. No walk-upadmissions. Parking is free withticket.

Field

Professional and amateurgolfers at least 50 years old.Entries closed in June with156 golfers set to play, includ-ing modern legends FredCouples, Fred Funk, Tim Kite,Ben Crenshaw, Hale Irwin,Tom Watson and FuzzyZoeller.

Purse

At the 2009 U.S. SeniorOpen, the purse was $2.6 mil-lion. The winner received$470,000 and is automaticallyqualified to play in the SeniorOpen for 10 years.

Cover photo of Sahalee CountryClub by Christopher Huber.

By Tara Sackman

Golf fans will have morethan tournament play to viewduring the 2010 U.S. SeniorOpen at Sahalee this summer. AFounders Museum will high-light the rich golf history in theNorthwest, including the found-ing stories of the SahaleeCountry Club, the United StatesGolf Association, and the PacificNorthwest Golf Association.

The theme of the museum is“Golf is a Good Thing.” On viewwill be replicas of theWanamaker and Ouimet tro-phies — trophies for the PGAChampionship and the U.S.Senior Open, respectively.

The museum will be dis-played in an area near the 18thfairway in Sahalee Village. Themuseum will be open every dayof the tournament, with eachday featuring a different golf-related charity with a displaybooth set up to tell its story.

The charities include TheFirst Tee, Friends of AmericanLake Veterans Golf Course, TheFirst Green Foundation, EvanScholars, Special Olympics ofWashington and the PNGAFoundation.

Karen Armstead, ExecutiveDirector of the First GreenFoundation, is excited to get theopportunity to reach such alarge group of people.

The First Green providesenvironmental education to

teachers, schools and the com-munity. They teach plant iden-tification, water quality testing,soil sampling, and streambedrestoration.

“It’s a great honor to be ableto talk about what we do here atFirst Green,” Armstead said.“Golf courses are a huge learn-ing lab.”

Gene Lynn, one of eightfounders of the Sahalee CountryClub, sponsored and arrangedfor the Founders Museum to beon display throughout the tour-nament.

Wondering what to bring tothis years’ U.S. Senior Open? Theanswer would be better said withwhat not to bring.

In an age where many peopleare attached to their phones, theU.S. Senior Open staff asks thatspectators leave their cell phonesin their cars during the events,said Billy Rodgers, marketingdirector for the tournament.

“It’s just about respecting thegame of golf and the golfer,” hesaid. “This is what these guys dofor their living. It’s tough to havea cell phone go off in the midst oftheir backswing.”

Other items that will berestricted are cameras/cam-corders, chairs, signs, pets andfood and beverages.

Most of the rules will beenforced all week, but cameraswill be allowed during the prac-tice rounds, July 26-28.

Recommended items to bringinclude sunscreen, sunglasses,one sealed water bottle, a jacketin case the weather changes andwallets with cash or credit cards.There will be an ATM on site,Rodgers said.

For the full list of prohibiteditems and other spectator infor-mation go to www.2010usse-nioropen.com/spectator-informa-tion.php.

Leave cellphones home,but bring thesunscreen

Photo courtesy USGATThhee FFrraanncciiss OOuuiimmeett TTrroopphhyy ispresented to the winner ofthe U.S. Senior Open. Areplica will be on display atthe Founder’s Museum.

Founders Museum highlightsNorthwest golf history, charities

U.S. SeniorOpen 2010quick facts

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Some might goto the U.S. SeniorOpen hoping to seetheir golfing heroesfrom decades pastand present, butthe tournament isnot just a trip downmemory lane. Thetop golfers in thePGA ChampionsTour, open to progolfers over 50, arecoming to Sahalee.

Local favoriteFred Couples, 50,is the tourna-ment’s honorary chairman andthe top ranked player on theChampions Tour. After turningpro in 1980, Couples earned$21.7 million. This is his firstyear on the Champions Tour. Intour events, he’s entered ninetournaments and earned $1.3million. He’s averaging 67.17strokes at Champions Tour

events and has finished in theTop 10 seven times and in theTop 25 in every tournament he’sentered.

Tom Lehman, 51, is rightbehind Couples at No. 2 in theChampions Tour. Lehman turnedpro in 1982, and earned a tadmore than $21 million. He start-ed on the Champions Tour last

year where he racked up another$1.4 million. This year, he’sentered seven Champions Tourtournaments where he’s averag-ing 68.5 strokes. He has finishedin the Top 10 six times and in theTop 25 six times.

South African Nick Price, 53, isranked No. 3 on the ChampionsTour. He turned pro in 1977 and

earned $20.5 million over hiscareer. He started on theChampions Tour in 2007 wherehe’s made $3.7 million more.This year, he’s averaged 69strokes in the 11 events he’sentered. He’s finished in the Top10 eight times and in the Top 2510 times.

Bernhard Langer, 52 of

Germany, is fourthon the ChampionsTour. Langerturned pro in 1972and earned $10.1million. He startedon the ChampionsTour in 2007,where he made$5.5 million. Thisyear he’s played in11 tournamentsaveraging 69.2. Hehas six Top 10 fin-ishes and 10 Top 25finishes.

Rounding outthe top five is Dan Forsman, 52.Forsman has been a pro golfersince 1982 and earned $8.7 mil-lion. He started on theChampions Tour in 2008 and hasmade $2.3 million there. Thisyear, he’s entered 13 events andhas finished in the Top 10 eighttimes and in the Top 25 all 13times.

The golfers to watch include Couples, Lehman, Price

Dan ForsmanFred Couples Bernhard LangerTom Lehman Nick Price

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By Christopher Huber

In preparing to host the 2010U.S. Senior Open golf tourna-ment, the folks at SahaleeCountry Club have been workinghard to live up to the course’sname, which means “high heav-enly ground.”

But if the weather cooperatesJuly 26-Aug. 1, Sahalee mightsimply speak for itself to theexpected approximately 125,000spectators who meander alongthe fast greens and narrow, tree-lined fairways.

“This golf course is exactlywhere we wanted it this year,”said Tom O’Toole, of the UnitedStates Golf Association.

Sahalee has been rated amongthe top 100 courses in the nationfor the past 34 years, event offi-cials said. Not only will it chal-lenge the 156 golfers, but it willwow spectators with its sweepingviews of the surrounding natureand up-close perspectives ofchampionship golf.

Located on Sahalee’s East 9course, between the first and18th holes of the championshipcourse, the majority of spectatoramenities are just a few stepsfrom the field of play.

“Eighteen is probably one ofthe best spots… because you canwatch every group comethrough,” said Billy Rodgers, theevent’s marketing director.

Visitors can hop over to take abreak at the merchandise andhospitality tents, the FoundersMuseum, Trophy Club or to makea phone call.

“You’re really close to the golf-ing action,” said Nick Sheldon,marketing coordinator. Not only

does Sahalee’s tight-knit courselayout make for easy navigation,it also offers dynamic views. Oneparticular spot visitors mightwant to stake out is the opengrass seating and grandstand areaat the 16th green, which allowsfans to peak through to the 17thtee. From the 17th green grand-stands, event-goers will enjoysweeping views looking uphill atthe lake and tiered tee box whilealso getting an intimate view ofthe 18th tee box.

When it’s all said and done,Sheldon and other event officialsstressed that visitors will be ableto see a lot and move with rela-tive ease from hole to hole.

“Sixteen, 17 and 18, on theweekend, are critical holes,”Sheldon said.

The heavily tree-lined courseserves up a challenge for eventhe best players in the world,according to event organizers.

“It’ll create a really tight, fun-nel atmosphere,” Sheldon said.“You don’t see a lot of courseswith this many trees that play atthis caliber.”

Come Senior Open time,spectators are sure to appreciatespectacular views — and com-petitive golf. And once the play-ers get over the aesthetics andnatural ambiance, Sahalee issure to make them work for thetitle of 2010 U.S. Senior Openchamp.

“The scale of everything is justso big there,” said Fred Funk,2009 Senior Open champ, viaSkype at a May press conference.“Sahalee speaks for itself.Speaking for the players, we alllook forward to coming outthere.”

SSppeeccttaattoorrss ccaannwwaattcchh the longapproach tothe 16th greenfrom thegrassy openseating area.Those in thesmall grand-stand will alsobe able to seeplayers tee offat the 17th.

TThhee 1188tthh hhoollee is hometo 1,500 seats that sur-round the final green.

The winner will receivehis trophy at the 18th

green, as well.

EEvveenntt--ggooeerrss watching from the first-hole tee box area will have aclear view all the way to the pin.

FFrroomm tthhee 1177tthh ggrreeeenn grandstands, spectators will enjoy sweepingviews of the signature par 3, as well as the tee box and fairwayof the 18th hole.

SSeenniioorr OOppeenn vviissiittoorrss will even get to watch the pros warmup from the practice range bleachers.

Holes with seatingSouth 9◆ Hole 1 tee◆ Hole 5 green/Hole 6 tee◆ Hole 8 green/Hole 9 tee◆ Hole 9 green◆ Practice range tee area

North 9◆ Clubhouse/Hole 10 tee◆ Hole 11 green◆ Hole 13 green◆ Hole 14 green◆ Hole 15 green◆ Hole 16 green◆ Hole 17 green/

Hole 18 tee◆ Hole 18 green

Sahalee course is in tip-top shapeFast greens, narrow fairwayschallenge the world’s best Photos by

Christopher Huber

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By Paige Collins

Children are not only wel-come, but have free admittanceto this years’ U.S. Senior Open atthe Sahalee Country Club. TheUnited States Golf Association iswelcoming all children 17 andyounger when accompanied bya ticketed adult. Each ticketedadult may bring in up to ninechildren. And since childrenmight be a little shorter, thefront row of every section ofbleachers is reserved for people17 and under.

The main mission of theUSGA is to grow the game ofgolf, said Billy Rodgers, market-ing director.

“Making this a very family-oriented event is a great way todo that,” Rodgers said.

The children are welcomeevery day of the weeklongchampionship with no advance

registration necessary, but spe-cial junior events will be held onTuesday, July 27.

Beginning at 2 p.m., FredCouples will hold a junior exhi-bition for the young golfers.Here he will go over shots, talkabout his story and how hiscareer as a golfer developedfrom the same position the chil-dren are in, Rodgers said.

“Whether it’s a kid who hasgolfed a lot and is able to getnear their favorite pros, or onewho hasn’t, this would be a greatintroduction,” he said.

The First Tee, an organizationthat promotes character devel-opment and life-enhancing val-ues in children through thegame of golf, is planning tobring a busload of kids for thejunior exhibition. The organiza-tion’s facility is located atJefferson Park, home course ofFred Couples, in Seattle, so

meeting him will be a treat, saidKimberly Brown, assistant direc-tor of The First Tee of GreaterSeattle.

“Being able to see him in per-son and hear how he startedexactly where they were andhow he excelled is really excit-ing,” she said.

One of the corporate spon-sors of the event, CATechnologies, envisioned bring-ing children in as a chance togive back to the community,according to Margie Moore,director of marketing for thecompany.

CA Technologies donated allits tickets to the kids, and isworking with the Boys and GirlsClub of King County to bringabout 75 children to Sahalee.

“It’s a great opportunity,” shesaid. “Especially for kids whowant to see and get to meet thegreats of golf.”

Bring your children for freeMilitary personnel, both

retired and active duty, and theirfamilies will be admitted free tothe U.S. Senior Open at SahaleeJuly 26-28 for the tournament’spractice rounds.

Military families also enjoy a20 percent discount on tickets forthe rest of the tournament. Alldiscounts require proper militaryidentification.

Wednesday, July 28, will beMilitary Family Day. This willinclude a wounded warriors exhi-bition starting at 2 p.m., accord-ing to Billy Rodgers, marketingdirector.

At the exhibition, personnelwith war related injuries will beon the range with champions todemonstrate how they have reha-bilitated through the game ofgolf.

Throughout the week therewill also be honorary starters and

soldiers doing announcements ofplayers entering the course, aswell as presenting the colors.

The programs are part of aneffort to honor the importance ofthe U.S. Military.

Military families receive freeadmission for practice rounds

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By Paige Collins

U.S. Senior Open staff mem-bers have done their best to makeconcessions for this year’s eventboth family-friendly and con-scious of peoples’ needs.

Concession stands will beinterspersed throughout the golfcourse to allow for easy access torefreshments, said Billy Rodgers,championship marketing direc-tor. No outside food or beverageswill be allowed into the event.

Concessions will be providedby Prom Catering of Minnesota,which follows USGA eventsacross the country. The golf orga-nization pushes them to keepprices reasonable and familyfriendly, Rodgers said.

Spectators who have specificdietary requirements will betaken care of by the cateringcompany.

“We’re very conscious of thatand do have options for vegetari-

ans and others,” Rodgers said. While the general concession

food was described as “sportingevent type food” there will beupgrade options in SahaleeVillage, the main gathering area.The Trophy Club section is airconditioned with flat screen tele-visions and upscale food and bev-erages, Rodgers said.

“Rather than a burger and sodayou may be able to get a steaksandwich and a cocktail,” he said.Only Trophy Club ticket holdersare admitted.

Sahalee Village will alsoinclude a Merchandise Pavilion,Lexus Performance Drive,Founders Museum and CorporateHospitality Center.

The Merchandise Pavilion willinclude all types of golf memora-bilia with the U.S. Senior Openlogo, in children’s and adult sizes.There will be hats, golf shirts, T-shirts, sweaters, jackets, artwork,lapel pins, golf balls, divot repair

tools, ball markers, towels andmore.

No autographed merchandisewill be available, however auto-graphs are allowed outside of aplayer’s round.

An ATM will be included with-in the merchandise tent, but themerchandise venue will alsoaccept traveler’s checks,American Express, Discover,MasterCard and VISA. Personalchecks will not be accepted.

As Lexus is an official partnerof the USGA, the company willmake an appearance in theSahalee Village with its LexusPerformance Drive. Lexus willbring a car and big trophies forpeople to take pictures with,Rodgers said.

No chairs can be brought in tothe event, but bleachers will bepresent throughout the course forspectators to sit and watch play-ers come through during thetournament.

Family-friendly concessions keep hunger at bay while the golfers play

Photo courtesy USGA

TThhee TTrroopphhyy CClluubb will allow spectators a more upscale place tohave refreshments.

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By Caleb Heeringa

It’s not every day that FredCouples, Tom Kite and Tom Watsonare in your backyard.

Avid golfer Terry Axe, 64 ofBellevue, intends to take advantage byvolunteering at Sahalee during theU.S. Senior Open, working at will call.

“These are the guys from my gener-ation,” Axe said. “It’s really a thrill tosee them play up close.”

An estimated 2,800 people, many ofthem local residents, are signed up tovolunteer at the event, handlingeverything from taking tickets at theentrance to updating scoreboards tosecurity on the course, VolunteerManager Sally Shonk said.

The volunteers range from adoles-cent to elderly and come from 32states and four different countries,including China, England and Canada.Shonk estimates that 90 percent of thevolunteers are from Washington andclose to 95 percent of those are fromthe Seattle area.

“They run the spectrum from peo-

ple dedicated to supporting a commu-nity event to avid golfers to retiredseniors – even people who know noth-ing about golf,” Shonk said.

Organizers began recruiting volun-teers in early 2009 and closed recruit-ment in early July. Volunteers had topay $125 for their official U.S. SeniorOpen shirt and hat, but receive ticketsfor every day of the event and freefood in exchange for 16 to 20 hours ofwork, Shonk said.

Axe said he hoped the event wouldhelp put the area on the map when itcomes to golf tournaments in thefuture.

“It’s nice that they’re bringingattention to Seattle,” Axe said. “Thereare so many great courses, it’s kind ofa jewel. I tell as many people as I canabout it, but at the same time I don’twant to tell too many people.”

Axe said he’ll be pulling for Watson,a fellow Kansas City native. He saidhe is excited to enjoy some world-classcompetition in one of his favoritesports.

“It’s a great game when you’re play-ing well and it’s a great walk in thepark when you’re not,” Axe said.

Volunteers help keep tournament running behind the scenes

Photo courtesy USGA

AA vvoolluunntteeeerr at the 2009 U.S. Senior open helps afan with her bracelet.

Photo courtesy USGA

AA vvoolluunntteeeerr at last year’s U.S.Senior Open carried a small score-board along with golf legend GregNorman.

Golf, like pretty much every sport, has a lan-guage all its own. Here are some of the mostcommon and some not-so-common terms.

Ace — Scoring a one on a hole. Anotherterm for a hole-in-one.

Birdie — Finishing a hole one under par.

Bogey — Finishing a hole one over par.

Caddie — The person who carries thegolfer’s clubs.

Chip Shot — A shot from close to the greenwhere the golfer pops the ball up into the airand tries to land it close to the hole.

Divot — A piece of ground dislodged by agolf club during a swing. Golf etiquette callsfor the player to replace his divots.

Dogleg — A sharp bend on the fairway.

Double Bogey — Finishing a hole two overpar.

Double Eagle — The very rare feat of scor-ing three under par on a hole.

Drive — The first stroke on a hole, playedfrom the tee.

Eagle — A score of two under par.

Fairway — The area between the tee andgreen where the grass is manicured.

Fore — If you hear this, duck. “Fore” iscalled by a player whose shot has strayedtoward another person.

Fringe — An area round the green where

the grass is not as short as on the green, butshorter than the other grass nearby.

Green — The area around the hole wherethe grass is cut very short.

Hook — When the ball is hit to the right andthen curves around to the left. For a left-handed golfer, this is reversed.

Par — The number of strokes in which agolfer is expected to finish the hole. Par fora hole can be three, four or five, dependingon the difficulty of the fairway and the dis-tance from the tee to the hole.

Putt — Hitting the ball along the ground onthe green.

Rough — The area off the fairway with highgrass and other obstructions. It is difficult tohit the ball out of the rough very well.

Sand Trap — A pit filled in with sand.Hitting the ball out of a sand trap is difficult.

Scratch golfer — A golfer who hits par orbetter.

Slice — When, after hitting the ball, it fliesto the left and then curves around to theright. For a left-handed golfer, this isreversed.

Stroke — A swing that is meant to hit theball, even if it doesn’t.

Water Hazard — A body of water such asa lake or stream. If the ball goes into it, theplayer is assessed a penalty stroke andpermitted to place a new ball near theedge of it.

Learn the lingo of the links

AA vvoolluunntteeeerr atthe 2009 U.S.Senior Openhelps directfans aroundthe course.

Photo courtesy USGA