Mike Riste – region’s foremost golf historian talks about the rise of major golf events in the Northwest in the 1930s through the 1950s

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,…

Durel Billy (aka: “Billy Bogey”) – Board member, knicker-wearing hickory lover, golf dreamer

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…

Austin Hurt – 2009 Washington Men’s Amateur champion and PGA Championship participant

Austin Hurt holds the Washington Men’s Amateur trophy after his win in 2009 at Palouse Ridge Golf Club. Austin Hurt shot 81 (this is not a misprint) in the first round of the 2009 Washington Men’s Amateur while suffering an…

Doubleheader: Evan Otte wins two state high school titles, credits Youth on Course

by Tom Cade, Editor In a span of four days in May, Evan Otte helped his Mercer Island High School golf team win the WIAA 3A High School State golf championship, and was the winning pitcher in Mercer Island’s championship…

Sharon Johnston – Past president of WA Golf and the WSWGA talks about her journey from the sideline to the headline

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…

Ann Swanson – Hall of famer, golf historian, and champion talks history of the game in Washington

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…