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 to 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 my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as 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 could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

I write this headline because my wife and I are up here in Oliver, British Columbia, to watch the 2023 version of the Girls Junior America’s Cup golf tournament.

And the site is a First Nation (that’s how you say Native American in Canada) golf course, which goes by this name – Nk’Mip.

So, pronunciation matters — and we have learned that it is “Inca-Meep.”

While here, you must pronounce names right just as you do if you are in Oregon – it’s not Ory-Gun, and, in the Willamette Valley, it’s not Will-a-Mette.

As for girls junior golf here, there have been two rounds so far, with one to go.  Oregon’s junior girls team stands in 9^th place after Wednesday, not bad out of 18 teams from the Western states, Canada, and Mexico.

And, the good news so far after round one:  Oregon’s Natalie Yen shot a great round – 69, three-under par – to share the individual lead after the first day.  She followed that up with an even par 72 and stands atop the leaderboard by three strokes.  Plus, each of Oregon’s other three players beat their first round scores.

We came here to watch how the tournament is run because it is Oregon’s turn to serve as host in 2026 and I also am glad to say that my home course, Illahe Hills Golf and Country Club, has agreed to serve as host course.

It will be great fun to showcase Illahe to the world in 2026 – or, at least, to part of the world.

Speaking of the world, this annual tournament involves teams from 16 Western states (including multiple teams from California), and two countries – Canada and Mexico.  So, in all, there are about 75 players, along with captains and co-captains for each team.

Here’s a quick summary of the history of the event off the Girls Junior America’s website.  It dates to 1978.

“In addition to founding the Washington Junior Golf Association in 1977, Joan Teats also founded the Girls Junior Americas Cup (GJAC) in 1978.  The boys enjoyed a version of this tournament for many years, and being “all about the girls,” Joan decided it was time to create a similar tournament where girls could showcase their team talents for college coaches.  

“Charter members of the GJAC tournament:  Northern California, San Diego, British Columbia, Southern California, Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Southern Nevada, Idaho, Alberta, and Northern Nevada.  GJAC has grown since then to 18 teams, all located in the Western part of the US, Canada and Mexico.”

Some impressions of this year’s event at Nk’Mip so far:

• The tournament itself appears to be well run, with only one deficit I have seen so far – the on-line information is sketchy at best, not to mention hard to find, so I may ask my grandchildren for help.

• On-line access is an issue for family members of the girls who are playing since families rarely travel to tournament sites.  They will have to scramble to find overall results.

• I also learned something new – families are encouraged not, yes NOT, to attend the tournament.  That is so, I was told, to enable the players to focus on golf, not relating to families in the gallery.

• Still, at this event, there are family members on-site, including a number who have flown to Canada.

• The event, overall, is treated a bit like the Ryder Cup, though that comparison is a stretch.  There is a procession to open the event as teams march in while introductions, name-by-name, are announced. Then, the teams listen to welcoming speeches, which, mercifully, were brief this time around.

• Because the event this year is on a First Nation golf course, there was an early emphasis on singing and dancing by First Nation representatives – and I thought it was exactly appropriate as a way to herald First Nation heritage here in Canada.

• As you drive into the course, you see flags from all states and provinces displayed on the road.  The captain from the State of Washington – this, she said, is the only tournament at which she volunteers all year – said the entry always sparks emotion for her.  Just seeing all the flags will do that to anyone who cares.

• The local head golf pro here made a solid set of remarks in the opening ceremony.  My paraphrase takeaway  – “Remember these days, players.  This could very well be a highlight for you during your life as you recall good golf and solid friendships.”

Good points.  The emphasis on creating something memorable goes for all of us.