PROFESSIONAL SPOTLIGHT Dan Ostrin - Widgi Creek Golf Club Todd Sickles - Quail Run Golf Course
	Quail Run Golf Course Todd Sickles – Head PGA Professional 1. How did you get started in the game/industry of golf? I started playing golf at the age of 13 with my dad. I played during my junior and senior years in high school. After high school I attended Butte College in Northern California and played on their golf team for two years. I then transferred to Chico State to pursue my degree in business at that time Chico State did not have a golf team. After graduating from Chico State, and working part time at Butte Creek CC in Chico, CA I was offered the Assistant Professional Job, and three years later became a PGA professional. 2. What’s your favorite golf course of all time? Why? My all time favorite golf course is Pebble Beach. Every hole on this course is unique and challenging and the views are spectacular. 3. Toughest golf course in Oregon? Toughest hole in Oregon? Most enjoyable golf course in Oregon to play (must play course)? Actually one of the toughest courses in Oregon I have played is Quail Run Golf Course. From the back tees it is rated 73.5 with a slope of 138 and is all you can handle. The toughest hole in Oregon I have played would probably be the 460 yard par 4 #5 at Crosswater with the carry off the tee and the length it will test your best shots. The most enjoyable golf would have to be Bandon Dunes, with its beautiful views and pure golf atmosphere. 4. Any fun golf stories you have for our readers? I was playing in the Northern CA PGA match play Qualifier at Almaden CC in San Jose. It was a rainy day that caused an hour delay after 12 holes. When we were sent back out, I found myself teeing up on the tough par 3 #13 188 yds over water. I hit a perfect 6 iron in the hole for an ace. Not realizing it when I turned around I noticed a brand new EZ go golf cart with all the trimmings for the hole in one. Between the golf cart and all the whole skins pot for the day, that shot was worth about $10,000.00 5. If you could invite any three people to join you for a round of golf (dead or alive), who would it be? And why? My foursome would be Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, and Bob Hope, Bob and I would take on Tiger and Jack. I think we would be in trouble, but I guarantee it would be a lot of fun. 6. If you could choose to be the best ball striker in the game or the best putter in the game what would it be? Any why? I would definitely take putting over ball striking. All my best rounds were great putting rounds, but not all of them were great ball striking rounds. Even when tiger wins you will notice his putter is outstanding, and not always his ball striking. 7. What are some common pitfalls the amateur golfer makes? Any tips for the reader? Most amateurs only practice their full shots. They need to spend more time on half and ¾ shots. When I was in high school I had a beginner set consisting only of the 3,5,7,9 irons. I had to learn quickly how to hit different shots and it helped my game develop. Amateurs also need to spend more time with golf course management. Making the proper club selection and thinking their way around a golf course can usually lower their scores dramatically. Would you rather tell your friends how far you hit the ball, or that you broke 80? Widgi Creek Golf Club Dan Ostrin 1. What do you love the most about your job and working in this industry? When I originally got in the golf business I was heavily involved with the teaching and instruction aspect of the game. So initially I would have to say that the satisfaction of watching players improve was immensely rewarding. Now that I spend more time at a desk, and am more involved with the managerial side of running a course, the happiness that our customers get from either the condition of the course, exemplary service, or just general happiness in their round is my reward. 2. What’s your favorite golf course of all time? My favorite course that I have ever played is Bandon Dunes. The reason would be that it is just so much different than any other course that you could play in our area. The weather plays such a critical role in what will happen from day to day. A shot that may be a pitching wedge one day, could be a 5-iron the next. My favorite course that I have ever been to would be Augusta National. As most golfers know the home of The Masters is sort of like the holy grail of golf, and most likely on the top of any players “if I could play anywhere list.” 3. Toughest golf course in Oregon? Toughest hole in Oregon? Most enjoyable golf course in Oregon to play (must play course)? Toughest course in Oregon would be Crosswater from all the way back. There is a set of tees at Crosswater that are rarely, if ever, put out, but from the tips Crosswater is about as challenging as you will find. Toughest hole in Oregon, I’m going to have to pick two, both of them at Pumpkin Ridge-Ghost Creek, either #9 or #18, depending on the wind. Both of these holes, in my opinion, are two of the hardest “finishing holes” in the game. Most enjoyable in Oregon. Bandon Dunes, simply because I think there is so much variety from day to day, as well as the design of the course, makes it enjoyable for players of all abilities. 4. Any fun golf stories you have for our readers? When people talk about rainy/bad weather (which can happen occasionally in Oregon) I’m always reminded of a tournament that I played in Japan back in the early 90’s. There was a typhoon heading straight for the golf course, but the organizers wanted to try and get 18 holes in before it hit land (supposedly that night). So instead of calling the tournament we played in 30-40 mph winds (with 75 mph gusts), and pouring down rain. On a par 3 hole with an approximate carry of 175 yards over a ravine, one player in our group had to hit about a dozen balls before finally bouncing one off of the bridge and carrying the ravine. While the score was disastrous, I think what was more penalizing was that at that time in Japan Titleist balls were selling for about $10 per BALL …so that hole cost him around $120 in golf balls alone. 5. If you could choose to be the best ball striker in the game or the best putter in the game what would it be? Any why? It’s putting, and it’s not even close…You can make a lot of mistakes in striking the ball, and a great putter can make up for it in one good stroke. However, it doesn’t matter how great you hit the ball, if you can’t get the flat stick to make it go in, then all of those “great shots” are for nothing. 6. What are some common pitfalls the amateur golfer makes? Any tips for the reader? I think one of the biggest pitfalls, not just for amateurs but for all of us, is that to much time is spent working on our long games, and not enough time is spent on the short game…Most players are going to use well over 50% of their shots from inside 100 yards when they are out on the course. However very few, if any, spend 50% of their time practicing those shots. So simply put, slip that driver back in your bag, and grab that putter and wedge the next time you hit the range.
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