|
Green Mountain Golf Course History
Sitting at the southern base of Green Mountain,
a dormant volcanic cinder cone, in SW Washington on the Vancouver/Camas border, this former dairy farm, one the original dairy
farms in Washington, this golf course, one of three public golf courses opened in Clark County from 1994 through 2000, is
just one piece of what is becoming a recreational oasis (two golf courses, water skiing, archery range, rifle range and community
sports fields) where Camas and Vancouver are melding together.
In the Beginning
Aside from general ground work, major projects involved in building
the course included realignment of Ingle Road to separate the course from natural wetland habitat and extending City of Camas
water line from Wafer Tech to the course to provide for irrigation and other potable water needs.
After three growing
seasons of work, nine holes were opened Thanksgiving Weekend 1999. Play was expanded to 13 holes on May 26th, 2000 and
the Grand Opening of the full course occurred on July 29th, 2000.
Grand Opening and Course Record Day
On that Grand Opening Day, after the inaugural foursome, including
course designer Gene “Bunny” Mason, PGA, Head Golf Professional Kevin D. Coombs, PGA and Clark County Commissioner
Judie Stanton, struck the first shots off the first tee, over 25 course records were set. Players were sent out in reverse
handicap order, highest to lowest, allowing everyone an opportunity to set a course record. Beginning with the first
person, Vern Peterson, to hole out on 18 with a 135 down to the last person, Pat Fitzgerald, with a 81. The course record
currently stands at 64 set by Corey Kastner in August of 2001.
Course Designed with Challenges for All Players
Mason designed the course to provide the most golfers a challenging
course without being so penal that errant shots increase the frustration level. Although the course is not long, 6,170 yards
at the most, it provides regular and occasional players a good chance to succeed while providing the better players the challenge
of many choices execution of which will lead to birdies and failure bogey or worse. See our Course Tour for more course
detail.
Amenities Added
After over a year in construction trailers, an interim clubhouse was
opened in September 2000 providing staff offices, indoor restrooms, golf shop merchandise and minor food and beverage service.
An outdoor patio was added in 2003.
A driving range was opened in December 2000 providing golfers
a place to warm up, instructors a place to teach and students a place to practice and improve. Unique to Green Mountain
Golf Course is that our range mats are placed on sand instead of cement. “Placing our mats on sand provides golfers
an extra element of shock absorption that no mat can provide when placed on cement or other hard surfaces,” stated General
Manager Kevin D. Coombs, PGA. “Players hitting many shots of mats placed on hard surfaces risk injury, particularly
to their elbows, and damage to their clubs as the constant impact with the mat will alter a club’s lie angle.”
New Course Maintenance
Building Compete
During the entire construction phase, grow-in phase, and five years
of maintenance, the Golf Course Superintendent, M. Scott Coogan, and his crew have worked out of the milk house and a barn
left from the dairy farm days. Occupancy of a new maintenance building occurred in March 2005.
This building, located
behind the 10th green, will provide a safe and clean equipment storage and maintenance area that will help keep the equipment
in better condition to do a better job at maintaining the golf course. Once the building is completed the course’s
irrigation system will be integrated with a weather station and computer program to direct water to the areas with the most
need, reduce water to wet areas and reduce the amount of time the irrigation system is operating in the summer preventing
early morning and late night golfers from surprise attacks from irrigation heads.
And lastly, the building will
provide the golfers restrooms as they make their way from the 10th green to the 11th tee. Yes, the loudest cheering
you hear is all of our lady golfers. This will also provide a shorter distance to the 11th tee.
Scott Blake, PGA Hired as Head Golf Professional
April 11, 2205 began a new era of leadership for GMGC with Scott Blake,
PGA starting his tenure as Head Golf Professional.
After 19 years teaching golf at Vanco Driving Range in Vancouver,
WA, Blake brought his expertise as "The Swing Doctor" to GMGC.
"His hiring brings GMGC another element to developing
the facility into more than just a place to play, but also a place to learn the game and all its traditions," said General
Manager Kevin D. Coombs, PGA. Blake provides instruction to all levels of golfers and is looking forward to developing
and junior golf club.
Blake's other role is to manage all tournament play at GMGC from club games to "outside" events.
One of his goals is to revive the Clark County Amateur Championship.
|
