b'WPMA Scholarship Foundation 2020 State Report2021 OPEN GolfTournament Washington Wiregolf courseCome Join Us WAAssociation Life in theMidst of a Pandemicat Rio Secco Golf Club!After nearly 20 yearsas the Execu-A REES JONES DESIGN tive Director of WOMA, it feels as if my work life has been on repeat year after The Rees Jones-designedcompared to a manageable 6,081year with the same fun, meaningful, and at Rio Secco Golfyards from the two-up Yellowworkable routine. It looks something like Club unfolds over the rugged hightees; however, if thats not enough,this: WPMA in February, PMAA in May, desert foothills overlooking Lasit can tip-out at a remarkable 7,400WPMA & WOMA Convention in June, Vegas. The unique location andyards. Several holes, especially theState Executives Convention in August, exceptional design combine to par 3s, require carries over nativePMAA again in October, and Holiday deliver one of the finest golf desert canyons, but thanks to theParty in December. Each and every year, experiences in the game.renovation, five forward tee boxesits pleasingly the same. Until 2020. were added to soften carries and Initially opening for play in 1997,renew the clubs commitment to2020 was not on my Association Vision Jones was called on to enhance playability. (see riosecco.com) Board: The only travel outing that was nor-Rio Secco in 2017. mal this year was our WPMA Convention The course has matured substan- Take On The Challenge in Las Vegas, and I remember listeningtially in 20 years, said Jones. Rio Secco Golfto the news breaking in Seattle about an This renovation project gave usoutbreak of the Corona Virus. I did wonder the opportunity to reclaim andClub on Tuesday, to myself if it was safe to fly. We didnt know what it was, how much of an effect it enhance the features and shotFebruary 16 thwould have, or how our world would come options that made Rio Seccowith a shotgun start at to a screeching halt. But it certainly did. so special in the first place. We expanded the playability of the8:00 a.m. Fuel volumes dropped anywhere from golf course, while increasing theWe will play a scramble40-90% at our gas stations in Washington nuances to challenge the bestformat. The tournament isState, new social distancing protocols were players in the game. Golferslimited to the first 144 put into place in convenience stores, and will find Rio Secco to be an evenregistrants. Register online at travel ANYWHERE outside of your back-more memorable experience thatyard became a figment of our imagination. presents a different test with everywww.wpmaexpo.comround. Its a great place to play onwith your Governor Inslee locked the state down a daily basis. 2021 WPMAEXPO with his Stay Home, Stay Safe order, While Jones upgrades includeregistration. mandated how large of gatherings we could have, put the counties in Phases, then completely new greens, bunkers,If you do not have amade exceptions and modifications to the forward tee boxes and an expandedfoursome,we will assign onePhases, and ultimately mandated masks in practice facility, the core of hisfor you.public. Whether his actions were correct or original unforgettable design re- incorrect, his leadership has squashed the mains the same. Dont miss this economy in Washington Stateall in the The front nine is highlighted byname of science. While Walmarts, Home several holes routed through theamazing Depots, Lowes, and Targets remained packed, small businesses across the state clubs namesake, which meansGolf Experience! are suffocated with regulations, putting a Dry River in Portuguese, flankedhuge portion of mom and pops out of busi-by steep canyon walls. The backness. One station owner near the Canadian nine begins with a climb to aBorder saw a 90% reduction in volume, plateau featuring commandingforcing him to shut the doors on his store views of The Strip and the entireand leave the pumps running for his oc-Las Vegas valley below, and thecasional fuel customer. finishing holes amble up, down and along a series rocky desert ridges.As a result of the Phases, WOMA was The par-72 test measures 6,921forced to reschedule our Convention from yards from the back Blue tees,June to August, and then ultimately cancel the event all together. I was personally truly saddened to see us wave goodbye to 52 www.wpma.com / Autumn 2020'