Sunny Skies and Good Times at the 2022 Joint Chamber Golf Classic 

Despite the threat of smoke from forest fires in Oregon and California, the 2022 Join Chamber Golf Classic opened last Friday to clear skies and fresh air. The OCCU-sponsored practice green filled up quickly, and more than 130 golfers were in attendance for opening addresses by President/CEOs Vonnie Mikkelsen and Brittany Quick-Warner of the Springfield and Eugene Chambers, respectively.

After opening remarks, golfers jumped into their carts en masse and headed out for the “shotgun start,” which consisted of teams beginning simultaneously at various tees on the 18-hole course at Pine Ridge Golf Club. Each hole was accompanied by a Tee and Green sponsor – a local business or organization offering games, prizes and refreshments – and also networking opportunities and information. 

The Tee and Green Sponsors, as usual, were exuberant and creative. Always enthusiastic, the four reps from Mereté Hotel Management showed up dressed as gherkins, serving dill chips and warning golfers to not get caught in a pickle. The amicable duo at Monster Security served some fantastic strawberry lemonade and featured a clever golf game where the player had to chip a golf ball through the company’s eye logo for a prize. 

In fact, there were creative golf challenges at many of the tees/greens. Bushnell University, at tee #9, introduced a game where the golfers had to put a wiffle ball into a hula hoop – which proved more challenging than it looked. OnPoint Community Credit Union, water sponsor for the event, featured a popular game called “Water Hazard,” where golfers attempted to chip a large bouncy ball into a bucket – over a pallet of bottled water.

And there was no shortage of cornhole boards, including tee #1 – attended by the tournament’s title sponsor, Heritage Bank – who also had beef jerky, trail mix, and some refreshing drinks for the golfers. Other refreshments of note: the Cucumber Mules artfully served on tee #12 by Even Hotels; pickled vodka lemonades by the costumed group from Mereté; and the highly coveted ceviche at McKenzie Willamette Medical Center’s tee #4.

Not to be overlooked, there was real golf – players of many different skill levels vying for prizes and/or bragging rights on a course with a demanding front-nine. Players were grouped into foursomes and their total scores were tallied to compete for prizes. At the end of the day, Moss Adams, with a winning score of 17 under par, were anointed 2022 Champions. 

Congratulations also to the winners of the ‘money ball’ raffle – Oregon Community Credit Union, the Women’s Long Drive – Jessica Redman with SELCO, Men’s Long Drive – Tristan Gillis with Parr Lumber, Women’s KP – Di LaCoste with WaFd, and Men’s KP – August Klingman with Tactics.

Many thanks to Pine Ridge Golf Club for hosting the 2022 event, our title sponsor, Heritage Bank, and all the golfers for a fun, successful and informative event!