What happens when you bring the best high school boys golfers in Clark County to the most prestigious country club in the county?
Well, in terms of watching the golfers take on the 18 holes at the Royal Oaks Country Club in Vancouver, the course won.
The beautiful course can generate numerous twists and turns for the best high school golfers, let alone any experienced linksman.
Even if a golf shot looks easy and the round is incredible, the course fights back with the wise words of Coach Lee Corso: “Not so fast my friend.”
One tree limb could change the mindset and strategy of playing that golf hole entirely. The speed of the impeccably manicured greens can really alter the approach to putting for the golfer. In a tournament setting, nerves and adrenaline can take over right away with the shining moment with club in hand, stepping onto the first tee box surrounded by cameras, coaches, parents and fellow golfers.
The point of the tournament? Is it about the challenges a tough, incredible and locally historic golf course can bring to a high schooler.
Not at all.
The challenges and deep-thinking that the course creates is just a part of the fun for someone watching each group of high schoolers tackle Royal Oaks.
The actual purpose of the tournament is to create new friendships, build team camaraderie and highlight the achievements of Clark County’s best high school boys golfers. The idea for the Clark County Cup was created after tournament director Chris Harlow’s son, Christian, played in a national junior golf event, the tournament’s website states.
The high school tournament brought together 32 of the area’s best from around the county to Royal Oaks Country Club on Monday, Oct. 6.
The tournament began in 2024 and has given a tremendous opportunity for high school golfers to play Royal Oaks Country Club. Each golfer brings a caddy, usually a teammate on their school’s team. For the qualifying golfer and caddy, the in-person look at a beautifully maintained private golf course is an incredibly rare occasion.
Furthermore, the day-long golf endeavor connects rivals for 18 holes as the format is a two-man best-ball, match play tournament. Almost every pairing included a player from separate schools.
Some pairings consisted of league rivals such as Prairie and Evergreen, Battle Ground and Union, and Camas and Skyview.
High school golfers who usually go toe-to-toe in the regular season and try to outcompete one another for a postseason spot played for each other. The camaraderie on the course was followed with a dinner inside the clubhouse and to hear from keynote speaker Jason Allred, a former PGA professional.
The tournament offers quite the opportunity for a high schooler to play such an incredible course, but also creates memories and provides the setting to share passion and love for the game with a rival golfer as teammates for the day.
