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Summertime in Alaska and things are cooking! The fish are in the river -- few and far between -- the weather is fantastic and exciting -- afternoon thunder and lightning storms -- barbecues are sizzling and the golf course is abuzz with activity. What a week! What a great summer at Birch Ridge!

June 25 was the Birch Ridge Junior Golf Tournament. Jake Eubank shot an amazing round and was the overall 2009 Birch Ridge Golf Junior Champion. Congratulations, Jake! Other medal winners include: 9-year-old boys -- Trayton Bird (first place), Austen Erikssen (second place); 9-year-old girls -- Shelbi Bird (first place); 12-year-old boys -- Sterling Stasak (first place), Tommy Blada (second place); 13-year-old boys -- Jake Eubank (first place), Tyler Yamada (second place); 14-year-old girls -- Aubrianna Bright (first place).

I look forward to seeing the junior golfers out on the course and getting to know them better as they progress in the game.

If you were at the golf course on Sunday you knew that there was great medicine at work. The 2009 Fourth Annual Rally of the Cure tournament was the biggest and best to date with 22 teams participating -- 88 wonderful, talented, fervent women who want to help other women in their battle with breast cancer. To pull this off took a team and it was like the pit crew working the NASCAR -- finely tuned and well-oiled. Judy Keck-Walsh (Rally Ambassador), Elaine Anderson, Sharon Keating, Peggy Bowen, June Stuckey and Barb Winkler put on not only a golf tournament, but an event. Every hole on the golf course had an activity: Hole No. 1 -- team photos; Hole No. 2 -- closest drive to the pink line was captured by Patsy Bird; Hole No. 3 -- count the tees, which Kathy Herring accounted for nicely; Hole No. 4 -- Mary Parske took home honors with long drive; Hole No. 5 was the "Pink Patty Potty Pitch" (you had to be there); Hole No. 6 -- "KP" was Carolyn Schaefer; Hole No. 7 -- use the pros drive. Rally for the Cure was the overall winner as teams paid $10 to have the pro, Tom Walsh, hit the team drive; Hole No. 8 -- rally hole with Susan Jelsma almost garnering a hole-in-one; Hole No. 9 -- pink-ribbon hole where Margaret Stanley landed her drive in the bow. In addition to activities on each hole the teams also played poker, picking up a card on each hole. Can you believe two teams were able to pick up six-of-a-kind?

The Rally-for-the-Cure committee asked me to thank all the participants, hole sponsors, donors and the many volunteers as well as Pat and Myrna Cowan for letting us take over the course for most of the day. Special thanks to auctioneer Steve Horn on vocals, Melanie Lewis on computers, while behind the lens on camera were Dave Keating, Brittany Smith and Matt Smith. Dan Blankenship and Jim McWilliams rounded out this fantastic summer group, tapping out the beat on the barbecues. Completing the ensemble, Andrew Carmichael chimed in with tables and chairs and Tom Walsh choreographed the ladies with golf lessons. Thank you all for being part of the cure!

Monday once again brought out the seniors. From partly cloudy to bright, warm skies, there were 13 seniors who showed up on this last Monday in June. Steve Hammarstom was the man of the day with a net 30. John Tongen took honors at No. 6 and Ray Hamby had long putt at No. 9 plus honors at No. 8.

Tuesday morning the ladies were out in force to play and partake in the end-of-month potluck following a round of bingo, bango, bongo (BBB). On a gorgeous day, 16 ladies showed up to play, with Jane Tongen, Rita Geller, Jan Stenga and Nan Weaver taking home top honors, while Nan, Myrna Cowan and Louise Schadle put together the most BBB. Jana Query was close on No. 8 then topped it off with a birdie. Tanya Boedeker was also singing birdie. A two-person Stableford was the game of choice for 13 couples on Tuesday Couples Night. In a card-off, Sally and Steve Tachick took fourth place; Carol and Vic Hussey third; Shirley and David Johnsrud second; and Sue and George Stein again taking the coveted first place. In playing a Stableford, points are awarded for an eagle (four), birdie (two), par (two) and anything higher than par is worth zero.

It is getting tougher and tougher these days to find something free, useful and practical. Bill Engberg and Zac Cowan are offering all three -- free golf lessons. For those who show up to play Wednesday "Boy's Night," Bill and Zac will provide you with two holes of free golf lessons. At the members request, "Boy's Night" will now have two divisions -- Division I is for 13-to-17-year olds and Division II is for anyone 18 years or older. Come out and spend the evening with your son on Wednesday "Boy's Night."

On July 6, pros from around Alaska will be teeing it up in the Ninth Annual Pro-Am and 13th Annual All-Alaskan Pro Skins Game. One of Alaska's premier pro tournament events, this is a must. If you have not signed up to play with one of the pros, call the Birch Ridge pro shop today. After you are done playing and getting a few free golf tips from your pro golfer, stick around for the awards banquet, barbecue and the All-Alaskan Pro Skins Game.

In the Pro-Am event, team prizes will be awarded for low gross and low net. Individual amateur prizes will be awarded for low gross and low net.

Eight pros will be competing for $4,000. Hole Nos. 1, 2, and 3 pay out $250 each; hole Nos. 4, 5, and 6 pay $350 each; hole Nos. 7 and 8 pay $500 each; and hole No. 9 is worth $1,200. If you have not had the opportunity to watch, this is golf at its best.

I would encourage you to come out, participate in the Pro-Am, have dinner cooked for you and then watch Alaska's pros as they compete to take home the cash.

The Third Annual Phil Turkington Classic will be held at Birch Ridge on Saturday, Aug. 1. There are many "Turk" golf stories, but we will always remember his "Classic cart." I don't remember the model or whatever happened to the cart but it was definitely one-of-a-kind. Everyone has a story about that cart. Come out, play some golf, listen or share stories of Phil and/or the cart.

Phil also was a very strong supporter of junior golf and gave much encouragement along with verbal and financial support to the kids.

Soldotna Elks sent out invitation letters for the tournament and encourages everyone to RSVP.

Please contact Gary Brumley at 398-2847 to let him know you will be participating. If you haven't received your letter, give him a call to make sure he has your correct address.

Last week it was reported that the Peninsula Amateur would be July 11-12. Due to conflicts with the Alaska State Amateur Golf Tournament, the dates have been moved. The Peninsula Amateur will be held Aug. 8-9. I regret the error. The State Am will be July 9-12 in Anchorage.

Weekly Events (please check in at least 15 minutes prior to the time shown below):

* Monday's at 9 a.m. -- Senior League

* Tuesday's at 10 a.m. -- Tuesday Morning Ladies League

* Tuesday's at 6 p.m. -- Couple's Night

* Wednesday at 6 p.m. -- Boy's Night

* Thursday's at 6 p.m. -- Ladies Night

Upcoming Events:

* Monday -- Pro-Am Tournament with All-Alaska Pro's followed by All-Alaskan Pro Skins Game and barbecue

* Friday, July 17-18 -- 26th Annual Peninsula Seniors Championship

* Saturday, Aug. 1 -- Phil Turkington Classic -- Soldotna Elks Charity Tournament. Contact Gary Brumley at 398-2847 for further details.

* Saturday, Aug. 8-9 -- 35th Annual Peninsula Amateur Championship

* Saturday, Aug. 22 -- Bassackwards Tournament

Birch Ridge Golf Course can be reached by calling 907-262-5270 or by visiting the Web site at www.birchridgegolf.com.