Pod for the Course

Since 2013 Victoria has been the assistant coach for the women’s golf team at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash. Prior to that she played four years on the Gonzaga team, winning her very first collegiate tournament as a freshman, and becoming the first Gonzaga player to win the individual West Coast Conference championship, which she did as a junior in 2012. Since then she has won the Washington Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship three times (2017, 2018, 2020) and was named the Washington Golf Women’s Mid-Amateur Player of the Year three times (2017, 2018, 2020). She has qualified for three U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, two U.S. Women’s Amateurs, and two U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateurs. Victoria talks with us about her own journey from learning the game as an 8-year-old in Southern California, and how she works with her players in improving their games. She has recently made the decision to enter the PGA Professional program, giving up her amateur status as a player, with the goal of becoming a better coach to her players at Gonzaga.

Andrew Von Lossow is the kind of guy you would want in your Dream Foursome, or at least to have a beverage with at the 19th hole. He made national headlines on a big stage last year, when, as a 34-year-old, he defeated the No. 3-ranked amateur player in the world and pre-championship favorite, Michael Thorbjornsen, in the round of 64 at the U.S. Amateur. Andrew rocked a colorful shirt during the match, an outward symbol of the joy he feels when he plays the game.

Angela Zhang of Bellevue, who won her second consecutive Washington Women’s Amateur title this past June, talks about what it was like competing at the recent U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach. She was the youngest player in the field of the best women golfers on earth, and the 14-year-old phenom shares some wisdom beyond her years (with a few giggles thrown in).

It’s been a busy summer for Pono Yanagi. In late June, he shot rounds of 72-63-67 to run away from the field in winning the 102nd Washington Men’s Amateur, held at Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla. A couple weeks later he shot 65-65 at Palouse Ridge Golf Club and earned medalist honors in qualifying for the U.S. Amateur. Then, two weeks later competed in the Pacific Coast Amateur at Capilano G&CC in West Vancouver, B.C., being selected for the WA Golf team in that championship’s Morse Cup competition. Originally from Hilo on Hawaii’s Big Island, Pono will be a fifth-year senior at Washington State University, playing on the men’s golf team. Pono talks about how he made his way to Pullman from Hawaii, how he works on his game during the winters in Pullman, how he is preparing for the thin air in Colorado at the upcoming U.S. Amateur, and his plans for when his collegiate career is over.

Golf historian Mike Riste joins the podcast to explore the history of public golf in Washington and the influence of PNGA Hall-of-Famer Albert "Scotty" Campbell, a golfer from Seattle in the 1930s and 40s. Despite having no formal golf lessons, Campbell was a talented golfer, setting an amateur record for the 1936 Masters tournament and being selected for the 1936 Walker Cup team. The podcast also discusses the role of Jefferson Park Golf Course in promoting public golfers and fostering the development of successful golfers, including Bill Wright, the first black golfer to win the US Public Links in 1959. The hosts also delve into the history of the USGA Pub Links tournament and how Campbell's success helped raise its profile.

Mike Riste serves as the historian for the BC Golf Museum, and is the official historian for the PNGA. He assembled the initial research for “Washington Golf: 100 Years of Growing the Game,” the centennial history book of Washington Golf, published in 2022. Mike may claim he is not a writer, but his body of work is substantial. He co-authored the monumental “Championships & Friendships,” the centennial history book of the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA); and wrote “Just Call Me Mac,” the biography of noted Northwest course architect, A. Vernon Macan. He first became involved in golf in the spring of 1960 when Capilano Golf and Country Club (in West Vancouver, B.C.) advertised for caddies for their opening day tournament. Mike would later become the very first Evans Caddie Scholarship recipient from the Northwest. In 1986, when the University Golf Course clubhouse (in Vancouver, B.C.) came vacant, MIke assembled a group of volunteers to renovate the structure into a golf museum. Today, BC Golf House is in a building that is the oldest structure still used for golf in B.C., and the BC Golf Museum is the only provincial or state standalone golf museum in North America. In 2013, Mike received the Distinguished Service Award from the Northwest Golf Media Association.

Mike Riste serves as the historian for the BC Golf Museum, and is the official historian for the PNGA. He assembled the initial research for “Washington Golf: 100 Years of Growing the Game,” the centennial history book of Washington Golf, published in 2022. Mike may claim he is not a writer, but his body of work is substantial. He co-authored the monumental “Championships & Friendships,” the centennial history book of the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA); and wrote “Just Call Me Mac,” the biography of noted Northwest course architect, A. Vernon Macan. He first became involved in golf in the spring of 1960 when Capilano Golf and Country Club (in West Vancouver, B.C.) advertised for caddies for their opening day tournament. Mike would later become the very first Evans Caddie Scholarship recipient from the Northwest. In 1986, when the University Golf Course clubhouse (in Vancouver, B.C.) came vacant, MIke assembled a group of volunteers to renovate the structure into a golf museum. Today, BC Golf House is in a building that is the oldest structure still used for golf in B.C., and the BC Golf Museum is the only provincial or state standalone golf museum in North America. In 2013, Mike received the Distinguished Service Award from the Northwest Golf Media Association.

Mike Riste serves as the historian for the BC Golf Museum, and is the official historian for the PNGA. He assembled the initial research for “Washington Golf: 100 Years of Growing the Game,” the centennial history book of Washington Golf, published in 2022. Mike may claim he is not a writer, but his body of work is substantial. He co-authored the monumental “Championships & Friendships,” the centennial history book of the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA); and wrote “Just Call Me Mac,” the biography of noted Northwest course architect, A. Vernon Macan. He first became involved in golf in the spring of 1960 when Capilano Golf and Country Club (in West Vancouver, B.C.) advertised for caddies for their opening day tournament. Mike would later become the very first Evans Caddie Scholarship recipient from the Northwest. In 1986, when the University Golf Course clubhouse (in Vancouver, B.C.) came vacant, MIke assembled a group of volunteers to renovate the structure into a golf museum. Today, BC Golf House is in a building that is the oldest structure still used for golf in B.C., and the BC Golf Museum is the only provincial or state standalone golf museum in North America. In 2013, Mike received the Distinguished Service Award from the Northwest Golf Media Association.

Mike Riste serves as the historian for the BC Golf Museum, and is the official historian for the PNGA. He assembled the initial research for “Washington Golf: 100 Years of Growing the Game,” the centennial history book of Washington Golf, published in 2022. Mike may claim he is not a writer, but his body of work is substantial. He co-authored the monumental “Championships & Friendships,” the centennial history book of the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA); and wrote “Just Call Me Mac,” the biography of noted Northwest course architect, A. Vernon Macan. He first became involved in golf in the spring of 1960 when Capilano Golf and Country Club (in West Vancouver, B.C.) advertised for caddies for their opening day tournament. Mike would later become the very first Evans Caddie Scholarship recipient from the Northwest. In 1986, when the University Golf Course clubhouse (in Vancouver, B.C.) came vacant, MIke assembled a group of volunteers to renovate the structure into a golf museum. Today, BC Golf House is in a building that is the oldest structure still used for golf in B.C., and the BC Golf Museum is the only provincial or state standalone golf museum in North America. In 2013, Mike received the Distinguished Service Award from the Northwest Golf Media Association.

Mike Riste serves as the historian for the BC Golf Museum, and is the official historian for the PNGA. He assembled the initial research for “Washington Golf: 100 Years of Growing the Game,” the centennial history book of Washington Golf, published in 2022. Mike may claim he is not a writer, but his body of work is substantial. He co-authored the monumental “Championships & Friendships,” the centennial history book of the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA); and wrote “Just Call Me Mac,” the biography of noted Northwest course architect, A. Vernon Macan. He first became involved in golf in the spring of 1960 when Capilano Golf and Country Club (in West Vancouver, B.C.) advertised for caddies for their opening day tournament. Mike would later become the very first Evans Caddie Scholarship recipient from the Northwest. In 1986, when the University Golf Course clubhouse (in Vancouver, B.C.) came vacant, MIke assembled a group of volunteers to renovate the structure into a golf museum. Today, BC Golf House is in a building that is the oldest structure still used for golf in B.C., and the BC Golf Museum is the only provincial or state standalone golf museum in North America. In 2013, Mike received the Distinguished Service Award from the Northwest Golf Media Association.

Not picking up a golf club until the age of 30, Durel Billy found himself going all in on the game, determined to get better. And then he discovered hickory golf, causing him to delve deeper into the history of the game, inspired by his discovery of John Shippen being the first U.S.-born professional and also an African American. In 2013, Durel founded the Atlantic Pacific National Golf Club, providing an outlet for friends, old and new, to play regular events together. Durel then revived the Washington State Hickory Open, held in 2014 at The Home Course. Now serving on the Board of Directors of Washington Golf, he is also on the Centennial Committee as the association prepares for its 100th year since its founding. Very active on social media under the handle Billy Bogey, Durel has become one of the conduits into the game for others.

Austin Hurt shot 81 (this is not a misprint) in the first round of the 2009 Washington Men’s Amateur while suffering an eye allergy that sent him to the hospital after the round. The championship that year was held at his home course of Palouse Ridge Golf Club in Pullman, Wash. But he then shot 69 in the second round to make the cut. And although he shot another 69 in the third round, he still began the final round a mountainous nine strokes behind the leader. In that final round, Hurt shot a course record 7-under 65 to win the title by a shot. Now the PGA head professional at Wing Point Golf and Country Club on Bainbridge Island, Wash., this summer Hurt qualified to play in the PGA Championship, his first major on the PGA Tour. In this podcast, Hurt reminisces about his 2009 victory and his experience of playing a practice round this summer with Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson.

When Sharon Johnston started playing golf in 1975, she went all in, both on and off the course. A natural athlete, she began competing almost immediately. As a member of Fircrest Golf Club, she became involved with the Washington State Women’s Golf Association (WSWGA), and in 1984 served as its president. In 1998, she would win the WSWGA Championship, adding her name to a list of prominent champions. She competed in the inaugural Washington Women’s Amateur in 1994. She soon became involved with the WSGA (now WA Golf), first as a Club Representative, then as a member of the Board of Directors, and then as a member of the WSGA Executive Committee. She served as the chair of the WSGA Championship Committee from 1997-2007, and was instrumental in the expansion of WA Golf’s statewide championships. She had to step down from that role only because she became the first woman president of the WSGA in the fall of 2007, and would carry out those duties for two years. Her other volunteer roles include serving on the WA Golf Course Rating team, as well as the Rules committee.

Mike Riste serves as the historian for the BC Golf Museum, and is the official historian for the PNGA. He assembled the initial research for “Washington Golf: 100 Years of Growing the Game,” the centennial history book of Washington Golf, published in 2022. Mike may claim he is not a writer, but his body of work is substantial. He co-authored the monumental “Championships & Friendships,” the centennial history book of the Pacific Northwest Golf Association (PNGA); and wrote “Just Call Me Mac,” the biography of noted Northwest course architect, A. Vernon Macan. He first became involved in golf in the spring of 1960 when Capilano Golf and Country Club (in West Vancouver, B.C.) advertised for caddies for their opening day tournament. Mike would later become the very first Evans Caddie Scholarship recipient from the Northwest. In 1986, when the University Golf Course clubhouse (in Vancouver, B.C.) came vacant, MIke assembled a group of volunteers to renovate the structure into a golf museum. Today, BC Golf House is in a building that is the oldest structure still used for golf in B.C., and the BC Golf Museum is the only provincial or state standalone golf museum in North America. In 2013, Mike received the Distinguished Service Award from the Northwest Golf Media Association.

In 2010, Ann Swanson knew she was in line to become president of the Washington State Women’s Golf Association (WSWGA) in 2012. So in preparation, she went all-in by writing and publishing a book about the 90-year history of the WSWGA. Founded in 1922, the WSWGA is celebrating its centennial in 2022, along with WA Golf’s centennial in 2022. Ann twice won the Washington Senior Women’s Amateur (2000-2001), won the WSWGA Championship nine times (and was runner-up nine times), and won the Seattle Women’s Golf Association (SWGA) title seven times. Ann also wrote and published a history book about the SWGA. She has several other titles to her credit, all of which led to her being inducted into the Pacific Northwest Golf Hall of Fame in 2007. In this podcast, Ann talks about the beginnings of golf in the state, which led to the founding of the WSWGA (and WSGA, now WA Golf).

Jeff Wallach has published his new novel, Everyone Here is From Somewhere Else, the follow-up to his novel Mr. Wizard, and continues to chronicle the journey of two brothers who discover they have Irish heritage and set off in search of links golf, Guinness, and themselves. Wallach, who lives in Portland, Ore., is the author of five non-fiction books and two novels, as well as nearly 1,000 articles, essays, reviews, and columns in The New York Times, The Oregonian, Sports Illustrated, and many other national publications. He wrote the history book of Eugene (Ore.) Country Club. His new novel will launch on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2022. The book can be purchased at Open Books or at JeffWallach.com, and on Amazon.

WA Golf is celebrating its centennial history in 2022, and among the year’s festivities is the publication of a history book, which is authored by Dan Raley. In this podcast, Raley talks about the people he interviewed, the unknown facts he discovered, and the final thoughts he came to, during his 18 months in writing the book.

Sean Kato went wire-to-wire in winning last year’s Washington Men’s Amateur and returns this year to defend his title in the 100th Washington Men’s Amateur, to be held July 6-8 on the Olympic Course at Gold Mountain GC in Bremerton, Wash. Sean is entering his fourth year on the men’s golf team at Oregon State University, but because of a shoulder injury and the 2020 season canceled due to COVID-19, he still has two years of eligibility remaining. Prior to enrolling at Oregon State, Sean won the 2017 Washington State Junior Championship, and led his Redmond High School squad to the 2017 4A State Championship. He was selected for Team Washington in the Junior America’s Cup for three years, leading the team to the title in 2016. He qualified for and played in the 2021 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, held in May at Chambers Bay and The Home Course. Because his partner, Oregon State teammate Jackson Lake, withdrew to compete with the OSU team in the NCAA Championship (Kato was not eligible because of lost time due to a shoulder injury), Sean had the unusual experience of having to play solo in the Four-Ball.

The first Washington Women’s Amateur Championship was held in 1994 at Twin Lakes Golf and Country Club in Federal Way. Caroline Speigelberg (now Matelski), who at the time was playing on the University of Washington women’s golf team, had set a goal of having her name be the first one engraved on the new trophy – and she came away with a two-shot victory. After college, she played professionally for a couple years, but soon regained her amateur status and, admittedly burned out, eventually stopped playing altogether. In February of this year, she picked up the game again as a way of spending time with her daughter, who was showing interest in the game. Caroline is all-in again, playing in the 2021 Washington Women’s Mid-Amateur along with several other tournaments, all with a new attitude and enjoyment for the game.

Cathy Kim was recently named one of Golf Digest’s “Best Young Teachers” for 2021-22. She is a dual member of the PGA of America and the LPGA. She attended Skyline High School in Sammamish, Wash. and then received a full-ride scholarship to attend Western Washington University, where she played four years on the women’s golf team (2005-2008). During her collegiate years, she played in two Washington Women’s Amateurs. She has worked as an instructor at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish and TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas, and is currently at the 1757 Golf Club in Dulles, Virginia. In 2018, she was named a “Top 50 Teacher” by U.S. Kids Golf. Visit CathyKimGolf.com for more information.