Getting To Know: Wine Valley Golf Club By Brian Weis

Getting To Know: Wine Valley Golf Club

An Insightful Interview With John Thorsnes, Director of Golf at the Wine Valley Golf Club, Director of Golf

By Brian Weis

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with John Thorsnes, Director of Golf at the Wine Valley Golf Club who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property The landscape is gently rolling farmland, designed as a links-style course with huge, wide open fairways and large, undulating greens. There is not a single tree on the course.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
This is a true links-style course with large firm and fast greens. Plus, it is rated as one of the top 100 modern (built after 1960) courses you can play by Golf Week Magazine.

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
Make sure you use your imagination - the beauty of links golf is there is almost always several ways to get the ball to the hole. My second tip is to use your putter from slightly off the green. Unless you are an exceptional chipper the putter is the way to go from just off the green.

Any recent changes to the golf course? Or any upcoming changes?
No recent or upcoming changes.

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
We are proud that all ability levels can enjoy Wine Valley, from the relative beginner to the most accomplished golfers.

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
The most featured and photographed hole is #5, which is a par 4 playing up to 515 yards from the back tees. It is the first time the golfer is exposed to the wash that wanders through 3 holes on the course. It also has the largest green on the course at more than 11,000 square feet.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It?
My favorite hole is 18, a beautiful downhill par 5. It is a great finishing hole, full of risk and rewards and also a beautiful view of almost the entire course.

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
After a round of golf, The Vineyard Lounge at The Marcus Whitman Hotel is the perfect place to unwind. Featuring a tapas-style menu, plus wines from local vintners large and small and specialty cocktails prepared with freshly squeezed juices and local spirits, The Vineyard Lounge is not to be missed. We recommend the Poke Butter Lettuce Wraps or the Duroc Bone-In Pork Chop. Plus, when you book the Golf package at The Marcus Whitman Hotel, a complimentary well drink at The Vineyard Lounge and round of golf is included with your stay.

Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score?
The competitive course record is held by golf professional Darren Black at 61.

Back Tee Stats
Par: 72
Yardage: Measuring up to 7,600 yards
Slope: 133
Rating: 76.4

More Information
Wine Valley Golf Club
176 Wine Valley Road
Walla Walla, WA 99362
(509) 525-4653

www.winevalleygolfclub.com/

Revised: 02/12/2018 - Article Viewed 15,421 Times - View Course Profile

About: Brian Weis

Brian Weis is the Publisher of GolfTrips.com, a network of golf travel and directory sites including GolfWisconsin.com, GolfMichigan.com, ArizonaGolfer.com, GolfAlabama.com, etc. Professionally, Brian is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA), International Network of Golf (ING), Golf Travel Writers of America (GTWA), International Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA) and The Society of Hickory Golfers (SoHG). In 2016, Brian won The Shaheen Cup, an award given to a golf travel writer by his peers.

All of his life, Brian has been around the game of golf. As a youngster, Brian competed at all levels in junior and high school golf. Brian had a zero chance for a college golf scholarship, so he worked on the grounds crew at West Bend Country Club to pay for his University of Wisconsin education. In his adult years, his passion for the game collided with his entrepreneurial spirit and in 2004 launched GolfWisconsin.com. In 2007, the idea for a network of local golf directory sites formed and GolfTrips.com was born. Today, the network consists of a site in all 50 states supported by national sites like GolfTrips.com, GolfGuide.com and GolfPackages.com. It is an understatement to say, Brian is passionate about promoting golf and golf travel on a local, regional, national and international level.

On the golf course, Brian is known as a fierce weekend warrior that fluctuates between a 5-9 handicap. With a soft fade, known as "The Weis Slice", and booming 300+ drives, he can blast it out of bounds with the best of them.