Rickens
The District 6 boys golf championship will not be held at its long time home of Scotch Valley Country Club this season, but the club insists the decision is not related to its feelings toward youth golf and that it was willing to host.
“(District 6 golf chairman) Chris Rickens opted to take it somewhere else,” Scotch Valley’s director of golf Steve Gearhart said. “I worked with (former District 6 golf chairman) Mike Hudak for 10-plus years. There was a changeover, and they decided to take it elsewhere. There’s no animosity. We have hosted several college practices here this year. We have no issues. Both the boys and girls Hollidaysburg golf team are here and play their matches here.”
Rickens, who is in his first year taking over for the retired Hudak, said the decision to move this year’s championship to Sinking Valley Country Club was driven, in part, by finances and cost.
“We went to each of the venues that we always go to for sectionals, for 2A and 3A, and our 2A and 3A girls District 6 finals at Windber, and we went to Scotch Valley for the boys District 6 finals.” Rickens said. “We went to them and talked about pricing and what we could do at each course. We got to Scotch Valley, and I talked to the contact there. He told me to hold off and went back and checked with the board or the powers that be or whatever and came back with a price that was double what last year’s price was. I just asked him if there was anything he could do about it. Then we as a committee made the decision to move to Sinking Valley for the district finals as well.”
Sinking Valley Country Club hosted the District 6 Class 3A sectionals last Tuesday and is also the home course for the Tyrone and Bellwood-Antis high school golf teams.
“When the opportunity came up, we figured we would take it,” Sinking Valley professional and golf course manager Troy Monahan said. “It’s a nice way to have the golf course represented, and it’s good for the local kids in the area too. There are a lot of good golfers, and it’s nice they will have the opportunity to play here.”
Monahan, who has a young son named Brycen that plays in the Ridge Runners Junior Golf circuit across the area, said hosting the area’s youth golfers is important for the sport.
“Getting younger golfers out is very important,” Monahan said. “It’s the future of the game. Our junior membership has gone up exponentially this year. It’s great to see all the kids out here.”
Scotch Valley Country Club continued to be the home course for Hollidaysburg this year, though the Tigers only had two home matches. Most of their schedule is dictated by the league they play in, the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference.
“They worked with me and have been very courteous with practice times,” Hollidaysburg boys golf coach Bryan James said. “I know there might be some financial stuff that the school or booster clubs have to deal with, but as far as my interactions walking onto Scotch Valley and my kids being there, we have not had a hard time at all. In fact, it has been another year status quo at Scotch Valley. The course is really nice. The kids are very lucky to get to play on that golf course. Some of the courses we played throughout the season due to the lack of rain were getting beat up, but Scotch Valley was in top-tier shape from August until now. I have no complaints. I appreciate that they let us play there.”
When asked if it was Scotch Valley’s intention to host Hollidaysburg again next season if the school and course agree to a contract, Gearhart said, “yes.”
“They increased our price a little bit but not enough to make it a big deal,” Hollidaysburg athletic director Homer DeLattre said. “We did a new one-year contract. We had been doing three-year contracts, but this year, Scotch Valley only did the one. So, it’s through this year, and then we’ll have to have another discussion with them probably in the winter.”
James said he’s been happy to have Scotch Valley be Hollidaysburg’s home course and hopes the relationship continues.
“We were able to practice as long as Scotch Valley’s golf course wasn’t busy with an event that they had or something that they were having for their members,” James said. “That is the same status as when I started this 15 years ago. The only difference I felt this year was unfortunately (former club manager) Barb Cottrill passed away, and we all miss her. Aside from that, my day-to-day dealings were status quo.”
Rickens said the district reached out to Sinking Valley after being unable to agree on a deal with Scotch Valley. Sinking Valley is USGA rated, a requirement to host districts.
“There wasn’t a bidding process,” Rickens said. “We just went to them, because we had confirmed sectionals there. We confirmed Ebensburg for sectionals in 2A. We confirmed 3A boys sectionals for Sinking Valley and girls for Windber. We were trying to confirm Scotch Valley for districts, and ultimately when the price doubled, we just went back to Sinking Valley and said — OK it is centrally located for the 2A schools as well, so let’s go ahead and see if Sinking Valley will work.”
When local courses host scholastic events they often must close to members and the public for the majority of the day, though Monahan said Sinking Valley allowed members to play before and after sectionals were held.
“We’re very appreciative,” Rickens said. “We always thank them for hosting and giving up the day. It’s a lot to ask of them and their members. They sacrifice an entire day to let the kids come and play, and we’re very appreciative.”
PHILIPSBURG — With 7:35 left in the game, Philipsburg-Osceola held a 17-point lead over Bellwood-Antis and faced …
