Mission Mountain Golf Course hosts Pioneer Days golf scramble

Avid golfer Mike Irvine had a lot to look forward to when he participated with his friend Dan Lipscomb and Dan’s wife Alicia during the Pioneer Days golf scramble Friday at the Mission Mountain Golf Course.

“It’s really good and different than any other scramble,” Irvine said. “The pace (of the scramble) is quick. It’s really good for the course and helps people kind of start prepping for Pioneer Days.”

Irvine, who was celebrating his 30th class reunion from Ronan High School, said he really “anticipated the event.”

“This is just one of my favorite events,” Irvine said. “I am from Ronan and Pioneer Days is an awesome event.”

Last year, Irvine tied for first at the event, and this year he said he was participating at the event just to have a “good time.”

“Last year we tied for first, and this year we had a good time and enjoyed it,” Irvine said. “I wish more people would come to the golf facility. The atmosphere (at the golf course) is just awesome. There is no pressure and everyone has a smile on their face.”

“The golf was different than any other scramble,” Dan Lipscomb said. “The pace is really quick, Its a really good course and gets people out here. The scramble also gets a lot of revenue for the course and helps people to start prepping for what is coming for Pioneer Days.”

General manager Joey Esh said the number of participants the last couple of years at the scramble remain “stagnant.”

“The number of participants has stayed about the same,” Esh said. “Our old course has gotten better and there are some very positive comments from people from out of town.”

Esh, who is part of the new management of the Ronan golf course, said it also gives the course a chance to show off its new look.

“We have had new ownership,” Esh said. “They’ve done a great job and put a lot of their own money into the golf course to get it in better shape. This is the best condition the course has been in in ten years.”

Esh said the Pioneer Day golf scramble showcases the new regime of the course.

“When we get to host more tournaments, we get to show that we are way different than we used to be,” Esh said.

Walt Pahl, a golfer from Bigfork and Canada, said he enjoys the atmosphere of Pioneer Days.

“I have to say it is a part of Pioneer Days,” Pahl said. “I am from Bigfork and Canada and played at numerous courses. I’ve always enjoyed it being hospitable here and fun to play in. Sometimes I come to this course maybe twice a year.”

Currie Myron, who was also a member of the team that captured first in the golf scramble with Pahl, said he was “quite pleased” with the course.

“I didn’t even think I was in contention most of the way but we held our own on the front nine,” Myron said. “On the back 9, we I had two birdies in a row and the heat started to get to us but I liked (golfing here). It is a nice little course.”

Golfer Tom Mercer, who was a member of the four-person team that captured the scramble, admitted he is an avid golfer.

Mercer said he has golfed at many courses in the area and stated he really likes the layout of the Mission Mountain Golf Course because of the challenge the course presents to golfers in the area.

“I am not much of a competitor,” Mercer admitted. “I only golf about once a week. I consider this course very challenging and it is probably different than many other courses in the Flathead and Mission Valley.”