By Bob Spiwak
It’s the day of the Super Bowl and snowing, maybe about 3 new inches on the ground. The forecast is for varying varieties of falling wet stuff through Thursday at least. This is being written today because of conflicts with the usual Monday waltz with the computer, and because something may happen at the Super Bowl of local interest. We got wind of a rumor that Carla Sandine was going to win an award at halftime at the game. She is the daughter of Jeff and Dora Sandine, former owners of the Mazama Store who built in West Boesel when they moved here from Seattle. Carla was then a student at Liberty Bell High School.
I checked with Jeff on his way to Death Valley and he said the rumor was not true, but added that she had gotten an award at the Phoenix Suns basketball game last week. Carla has lived in Phoenix for a number of years, and Jeff gave no indication what the award was for and if it was done at halftime. She is the founder and president of an organization called Highway 20 and is a leader in marketing and technology for nonprofits and socially conscious organizations.
There is more information on the Google entry if you’re interested, and suffice it to say she is involved with “equality, public health, immigration” and other social issues.
It’s true: Bear Creek Golf Course will reopen in the spring after some tense times about its future. Linda Court had a very serious medical situation and is still recuperating. She and her husband, Ash, decided to put the course up for sale or lease, and if neither occurred, to shut the links down and let it grow fallow. The couple never salaried themselves and estimate that last year they “donated” 45,000 hours. Ash’s dad Herman built the course over 50 years ago and from that beginning, they expanded it to the only 18-hole course in the area.
A couple of part-time residents — Terry and Debbie Evans — were talking with Ash and the subject came up. When they heard of the potential closure and that the course could be leased, the wheels began to turn and they ultimately signed a one-year renewable lease. While home has been in Snohomish, they have a second home near the course and have known the Courts for years.
An additional connection is that Debbie’s family have a history there as well — several generations of grandparents lived there and Debbie used to visit. “Winthrop is a part of who we are,” she said in an interview, adding that the couple wanted to keep the course alive. “The Courts,” noted Terry, “made it easy for us.”
What are their plans for the place aside from the obvious? For one thing, a driving range, something missing from the course for half a century, and which would delight the golfers. It is tentatively to be located somewhere west of the 18th fairway. Also, they envision a “foot golf” course where the holes are huge and the game is played like golf but by kicking a soccer ball. The holes would be about half the length of regular golf.
Terry noted that there are now 11 such courses in Washington in what he portrays as a fast-rising sport. “I’d like to focus on a new clientele, like where parents could play with their kids,” he said.
As now envisioned, Debbie will be in charge of the pro shop during the week and Terry will come over from his job in Snohomish and relieve her there. Nathanial Hartsock and last year’s ground crew will be returning.
