Invitational may have seen last days
John Deardorf, one of the original four players of the Sunland Invitational, chats with founder and director Dick Brown (in cart) while waiting to tee up at hole No. 4.
Eddie Blanchett of the Seattle area fires at the pin on hole No. 2. He was a friend of a friend of friend of Sunland Invitational founder Dick Brown. Now he's Brown's friend too.
CRESCENT BAR - "Lots of memories," Dick Brown said as he toured Crescent Bar Golf Course during last Saturday's round of the Sunland Invitational Golf Tournament.
Yes, 37 years of memories.
And they may have just come to an end. That will depend on the disposition of a lawsuit in federal court regarding the Grant County PUD's order to residents to vacate the island after this year.
"If it goes, we go," Brown said.
Brown doesn't "know the politics" of the PUD, the county or the island's future. He only knows the best use for the land on which the golf course sits is a golf course.
Brown, 70, owns property at Sunland Estates, over the hill from the Gorge Amphitheatre. He bought it about 40 years ago because he could build a cabin there.
"This place was just camping back then," he said. "The condos were being advertised, but it was just camping."
Thirty-seven years ago, Brown and three brothers-in-law wanted to golf. They boated up to Crescent Bar, moored their launch, removed their gear and started playing.
"I said, 'Hey, this is fun. We ought to do it again.'"
The four returned later that year for the first Sunland Invitational. No one knew it but them.
"Then we decided to invite some friends," Brown said.
Brown noted that one of the players this year brought some pictures of the early years. Everybody was skinny, he said.
"I asked, 'Hey, who's that guy?' It was me 50 pounds ago," Brown said.
There were no entry rules for the Sunland. You didn't even have to be a golfer. You just needed to be willing. There were eight players the second year, 12 the third.
About 15 years ago, the player count hit 100. It wasn't difficult to notice there was a tournament going on. Course management agreed to shut down the course during the Sunland Invitational.
With good reason. The Sunland drops a couple thousand in green fees. It rents out every riding cart available both days. The players spend at the pro shop.
The Sunland also means a good amount of business at the Sandtrap Bar and Grill, including a Saturday buffet breakfast.
Nearly all of the players rent condos for the weekend. It's convenient and keeps them off the roads after they've had a few.
It's a good thing the course is closed. Casual players would never get through. There is an occasional foursome, but the game is played in groups as big as 10.
"There are no rules, well, except the rules of the game," Dick reiterated. "These guys are all good friends, and they want to play together."
The high point for participation was 155 players a few years ago. No way could Brown get them all on the nine-hole course in one day.
The tourney was split. Half of the field goes on Friday, the other half on Saturday. The second-day players have the advantage of knowing what they need to beat.
But it doesn't make a lot of difference. The Sunland is a boys'-weekend-out type of event, and the beer and food start flowing on Friday afternoon. The golf is secondary.
There are two barbecues in the condos' courtyard. The one on Friday is for welcoming the players. The one on Saturday is for handing out awards, including the now infamous Brown Jacket.
It was found at a thrift store and purchased by one of the players years ago and presented to Brown in honor of his name. After that it was given to the winner each year.
"He was supposed to do something to it and bring it back the next year," Brown said. "It has all kinds of patches. It's sort of an ugly thing, really."
However it looks, this year's winner may have to keep the Brown Jacket forever. Even if the residents go and the golf course stays, Brown may end the tournament. He doesn't want to deal with a new management.