Wayne Clark This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. BendBulletin.com

   www.bendbulletin.com/news/stor - [Cached]

   Published on: 9/5/2002   Last Visited: 9/5/2002

   Aspen Lakes Golf Course in Sisters had a record summer, said Wayne Clark, head golf professional at Aspen Lakes. "We had a 15 to 20 percent increase in rounds compared to last year."
   
   Clark attributes some of the upswing in business to a recent mention of Aspen Lakes in a top 10 ranking by Golf Digest magazine for new public golf courses. "It came out at the end of last year and a lot of people who come out to Central Oregon added us to their vacation lists."

2. 2. BendBulletin.com

   www.bendbulletin.com/news/stor - [Cached]

   Published on: 4/11/2002   Last Visited: 4/11/2002

   "The bunkers are more of a factor than the water," said Wayne Clark, head professional at Aspen Lakes. "There are 60-some bunkers, and it's very rare to play this course without being in the red sand somewhere."
   
   Despite their tendency to frustrate golfers, the bunkers are part of what sets Aspen Lakes apart from other Central Oregon golf courses. Players would have to travel as far as Hawaii to see comparable red sand traps. The crushed red cinder is volcanic rock, and an a clear day, the red sand provides a unique contrast with the green, bent grass fairways, ponderosa pines, the snowy peaks of the Three Sisters, and the blue sky.
   
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   "There are a lot of trees, and some of the fairways are pretty narrow," Clark said. "The main key to this course is driving the ball straight."
   
   Not only straight, but also the right distance. On some holes, the smart play is to leave the driver in the bag, and lay the ball back to the wider part of the fairway. Aspen Lakes is plenty tough for the competitive golfer, but also remains a fun course for the occasional hacker.
   
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   "Because of its length and its narrowness, it's very challenging for a good player," Clark said, "but it's not real penalizing on the not-so-good player because there aren't any forced carries. That helps make it playable for all skill levels."
   
   Playable, yes - but not without a stretch that can bring even the best of golfers to their knees. Holes 14, 15 and 16 can make or break a golfer's round. The first four holes of the back nine, with the exception of 11, provide opportunities for a good player to make some birdies, according to Clark. But once a golfer gets to 14, everything changes.
   
   "Fourteen, 15 and 16 are three very good golf holes," Clark said. "So many times guys say, ‘All right, I got a good round going.' Then they get to those three holes, and it can just ruin their day."
   
   No. 14 is a long par 4 with a two-tiered fairway. The course offers five tee boxes on each hole, and 14 is 372 yards from the ladies (red) tees, and 479 yards from the black tees. The best a golfer can hope for is to have a 200-yard, downhill approach shot to the green. And there may not be much green to work with, depending on the pin placement.
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   No. 15 is far and away the most difficult par 3 at Aspen Lakes, says Clark. It goes 222 yards from the black tees, and 101 from the red. Water and bunkers front the green, with an environmentally sensitive area behind. The numerous bunkers can wreak havoc on golfers. The green is large, but pin placement may be difficult.
   
   No. 16, a dogleg-left, par-4, contains a pond that comes into play if a golfer pulls his or her drive left.
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   But foras of now, the focus is on constructing a big new clubhouse, which Clark said he hopes to be finished by next spring.
   
   The golf course also boasts an 11,000 square-foot putting green, and an large driving range featuring bi-level grass tees and six target greens.

3. 3. BendBulletin.com

   www.bendbulletin.com/news/stor - [Cached]

   Published on: 3/13/2002   Last Visited: 3/13/2002

   "Spring is usually fairly slow," said Wayne Clark, head professional at Aspen Lakes Golf Course in Sisters. "Full season gets going right about the first of May. But before then, it's not as crowded and the rates are lower. Most courses are like that.
   
   "For people living in the area, it's great to get on the golf course a lot easier with a less expensive rate."
   
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   "That's been a big boost for us," Clark said.
   
   But the course is still not overly crowded for the spring months, and the weather is often pleasant, though sometimes cool.
   
   "If you can tolerate the cooler weather, thanks to the advantage of the rates and the crowds, spring is a great time to get out there and play," Clark said. "Everything's usually nice and dry. I went out yesterday, and it's like playing in the middle of summer."
   
   Meadow Lakes Golf Course in Prineville, at a much lower elevation than Aspen Lakes, is open almost year-round. It was closed for 21 days in December and 14 days in January.
   
   Meadow Lakes is currently offering a winter special of $25 for unlimited golf all day through April 15.
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   Snow would probably have a detrimental effect on a golfer's grip, and grip is one thing that springtime golfers should be aware of, according to Clark.
   
   "Golfers should check their grips, especially after (the clubs have) been sitting in the trunk or the garage," Clark said. "It's kind of like driving a car with bald tires. Golfers should have their equipment checked or take a tuneup lesson from a local golf pro, especially somebody who hasn't played in a while. They should check out their swing early before they start with too many bad habits going into the season."
   
   Ian McLean, the new director of golf at Lost Tracks Golf Course in Bend, agrees with Clark.