Crab (and steak) Feed set for Saturday in Royal City

ROYAL CITY — The Royal Golf Association will have its annual Crab (and steak) Feed on Saturday, March 4, at 6 p.m. at Keeley’s Barn.

According to Crab Feed organizer and golf course superintendent Shawn Vetterick, the Menu will include steak or crab, potato, salad, and roll. Adult beverages will be available as well as soft drinks and water.

The Crab Feed will feature a live auction and a silent auction this year. Bob Murphy was charged with rounding up donations, and Vetterick said he came through.

“We have numerous auction items, including a grill, gun safe, and rounds to Gamble Sands Golf Course,” Vetterick said. “We have over 20 auction and raffle items available.”

Well known auctioneer Chuck Yarbro will do the live auction. Also planned are games, including the balloon pop.

“Last year we had record attendance, and I believe we can surpass that mark,” Vetterick said.

Vetterick added there will be new games for the guests to enjoy. Guests will be handed a games itinerary at the door. They will be played at different times during the evening.

“It should be fun and exciting,” Vetterick said.

The reason for the fund-raiser is that the Royal Golf Course is so out of the way that player green fees alone can’t support it. And that’s unfortunate, if you ask retired Seattle Times sports columnist Blaine Newnham.

Newnham made a three-course golf tour on the road from Seattle to Pullman recently. The courses included the Othello Country Club and the Royal Golf Course.

“On the way back, play the nine the farmers built in Royal City, where the driving range balls were scooped up from a bathtub,” he wrote.

“This course, especially when the wind blows, is as tough and demanding as those who built it. We played it and wondered what if they held a U.S. Open qualifier there.”

After last year’s fundraising drive and Crab Feed the course was able to purchase a used rough mower, a tee mower and a Cushman trickster with spray rig and box.

This year, the RGA has purchased a used verticutting machine to help thin the greens and resolve a thatch issue. That will ultimately lead to a more consistent and smoother playing surface.