8 days until Pumpkin Ridge for the LPGA

For most, the ladies are having a bit of a break between the last LPGA event The Ricoh Women's British Open and the upcoming Safeway Classic presented by Coca Cola. The Safeway Classic will be played August 19th-21st in North Plains Oregon. Located just a mere 20 miles from downtown Portland, and boasting two great courses. The Safeway Classic is a 54 hole format and will be played on the Ghost Creek Course. Ghost Creek is known as one of the nation's premier semi-private courses. It is a Robert Cupp design (as is Witch Hollow) with rolling terrain. Let's not forget about the creek that will appear throughout the course! This course also hosted The Nike Tour Championships in '93 & '94. Sister course at Pumpkin Ridge is the Witch Hollow, which remains as a "members only" course.

Played at the infamous Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, the course is as picturesque as a postcard. Every hole offers a spectacular view. One of my favorites, is hole #5. While it is only a par 3, the green is so wide that it is not unheard of to have a 100 + yd putt!

I encourage you to take a tour of each hole via the tourney website or click on here; The Course, hole by hole.
The Safeway Classic has a host of charities that will again benefit from the tourney, as has been their main focus in the past. I urge you to visit the website and learn about the charities and causes that benefit from this great tournament.

Ai Miyazato is the defending Champion. Ai beat out Na Yeon Choi and Crisite Kerr by 2 strokes to finish at 11 under in 2010. Choi & Kerr finished in a tie for 2nd at 9 under, and Pettersen and Song Hee Kim in a tie for 4th at -8.

A big change to Hole #9; which has been changed back to a par 4. Unless you're a long hitter, this could prove to be a challenge. Most will not make their 2nd shot to the green for fear of putting it in the water. There is a pond on the left and the creek on the right. Previously part of a 3 hole stretch of par 5's, it went back to the par 4 which is what it is for public play. And the fact that it was originally designed to be a par 4. As many of you might realize, this can create a lag in play and a lot of wait time. Such as the case with Juli Inkster's disqualification last year. Inkster had a 30 min wait before she could tee off on hole #10. She put a weight on her club and took some swings to stay warmed up. Well, such to the dismay that was a shadow over several tourneys in 2010; a tv viewer saw this via the Golf Channel and called in to report the rule violation. Juli was dumbfounded as were many. She would have went into the final round in a tie for 2nd place without that disqualification.

Now whether it is right or wrong, I don't believe in the couch referees. I believe that the game of Golf is played with a professionalism and whether you're a guy or a gal, must rely on your knowledge of the games rules. It wasn't like Juli did so knowing it was a violation. She merely put a weight on the 'ol 9 iron to stay loose, to which I don't blame her at all. After all, a 30 minute wait....come on! There's something seriously wrong when there is that long of a wait between holes; unless, it's a John Daly flub and he cards 13 strokes for one hole. [no offense to Big John, I've always been a fan].

Another course change is the #8 hole that plays downhill. This has changed from a 507 yd hole to a 566 yd one. This will in turn make it a 3 stroke play for most to get onto the green. Another benefit to those long hitters such as Brittany Lincicome and Yani Tseng, that could make it in 2. The perfect shot would be to have your ball lie near the bunker for a clear shot to the green and then pitch close enough for a 1 putt. The course is said to be playing 6,512 yards this year with the changes instituted.

Talk about achievement, Ashlee Pickerall is receiving a sponsor exemption into this years event. Ashlee, who is a senior at West Salem High won the Amateur Open at Langdon Farms with an even par of 71. She has placed in the top 10 of the 6A High School Tournament every year, with a 2nd place in 2011. Additionally, some amateurs gaining entry into Monday's qualifier were Erynne Lee and Tiffany Schoning. Two will qualify after an 18 hole stroke play event on Monday. I will be anxious to see if these two talented young ladies are the ones.

Coverage for the Safeway Classic presented by Coca Cola will be via the Golf Channel. Times listed are ET; Aug 19th 6:30-8:30 PM, Aug 20th 6:30-9:30 PM and Aug 21st 7:00-9:30 PM. To me, why make the final round the shortest of coverage? I am a firm believer in that there needs to be more televised exposure for the LPGA and the LET. They are role models for many of our female youth of today and I simply feel that the ladies in the LPGA today deserve more AIR TIME!

I will recommend to you, a good read by fellow Twitter friend @Ray_Matthew . The read is from his posting on Friday, August 5th and you can read it by clicking on this link; Golf Jim but not as we know it .

Now, Go Hit Some Balls.............