PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as a Congressional press secretary in Washington, D.C., an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.

I had the privilege over the last few days to serve as the starter for the annual Oregon Senior Men’s Amateur, which was hosted by Illahe Hills Golf and Country Club where I have been a member for more than 30 years.

There were nearly 100 senior players in the tournament, which eventually was won, in the Champions Bracket, by Portland golfer Randy Mahar. I have known Randy for many years, including when I caddied for my son, Eric, when he played Randy in tournaments.

Randy is a consummate gentleman, which was illustrated at the winners’ ceremony at the end of the tournament. He came across as humble, saying that he felt fortunate to win against so many good players.

That included Illahe’s own Ken Forster, who has been a solid golfer for many years. In the tournament, Ken won medalist honors in the first day of stroke play, posting a 67, which is seven strokes under his age. I am still trying to shoot my age, but it make take at least a few more years, not to mention good luck.

In a great match, Mahar beat Forster 1-up, by winning the 18^th hole.  Ken gave Randy credit for playing better than he did in a great final match.

In one of the lower flight matches, Illahe’s own Jon Carey, retired athletic director at Western Oregon University, beat his opponent 1 up. He led all the way, but in one earlier match, he was down three holes with four to play. And he won all four to prevail 1 up. Illahe members Mike Whitnack and Mark Cruise also played and survived one round of match play.

Many of us, me included, feel fortunate to play a great course, Illahe Hills, every day. So it was gratifying to hear so many positive comments as I greeted players on the first tee. They were particularly positive about the fairways and greens, which, if you think about it for a moment, is complimenting almost the entire course because, as a golfer, you like to avoid hazards such as bunkers – which, I add, are new and play well if you happen to get into them.

It is noteworthy for a private club like Illahe to devote its course to a tournament for nearly all of one week. The good news is that members were not frozen out of playing during the week. Good work by the Illahe pro shop staff – head pro Steve Bowen, first assistant BJ Lewis, and second assistant Blake Bowen – enabled members to play without disrupting the tournament.

The organization that ran the tournament — the Oregon Golf Association (I am a volunteer for the association) — is a great non-profit. It organizes hundreds of tournaments every year for players of all ages. It is a very well-run organization, a credit to the game of golf in our region.

Finally, I add that the only problem with the tournament this past week was when my wife, as she saw me in required get-up – hat, sport coat and tie – said I looked a lot like Donald Trump.

Hearing that, given my antipathy for Trump, I almost retired from my volunteer job!