When David and Valerie Wagner first visited Mason County and Hood Canal three or four years ago, the couple fell in love with the area. Within two days, they had decided to buy a business headquartered in Union, Hood Canal Adventures, and move to Puget Sound.

Because they know first-hand that many visitors love the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas so much, they come back repeatedly, the Wagners have been looking for ways to make those visits even more enticing. Since buying the business — which offers kayak and boat rentals plus a variety of packages and tours — the pair have trying to offer new “out of the box” adventure ideas. read more »

Bill Drewry started fly fishing when he was a little boy, growing up in a family that traveled around the world to fish. The love for the sport — and art — of fly fishing has carried long into adulthood, so when a business catering to fly fishing enthusiasts came up for sale, Drewry didn’t have to think twice.

“It was a passion and a hobby that I turned read more »

Alderbrook Golf & Yacht Club

• 300 Country Club Drive, Union
• (360) 898-2560
• Course Pro: Justin Gravatt

Alderbrook is an 18-hole, par 72 course. It is 6,326 yards long and is assigned a course/slope rating of 70.5/115. Weekday green fees are $40 and $18 for Juniors. The weekend (Friday through Sunday) and holiday fee is $55 except for Juniors who pay $18. A $25 twilight rate is in effect after 3 p.m. on Monday through Thursday; and $35 on Friday through Sunday.

Club rentals are $15 for 18 holes or $10 for nine holes. Hand carts cost $5 for 18 holes, $3 for 9 and power carts are $14 per rider. read more »

For the past decade, the Kitsap Golf & Country Club has been getting all decked out with decorations once a year, with golfers showing up by the dozens dressed in pink. The private golf course, located in Bremerton, becomes the site of a big party complete with a golf tournament, bake sale and prizes.

The golfers are there to have a good time read more »

This July, visitors from all over the world will come to the Bremerton area for what may be Kitsap Peninsula’s top major sporting event ever. Gold Mountain Golf Club will host USGA’s U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, which will bring more than 150 top youth golf players from as many as a dozen countries, along with their families, about a hundred USGA officials, another hundred college coaches and an international press contingent (the event is also televised).

The championship, which will be free for spectators to watch, is estimated to bring an impact of about $1.3 million over one to two weeks to the local economy. read more »

Playing golf and getting married may not have much in common, but one Kitsap County business is perfect for both. McCormick Woods, in addition to being one of state’s premier public golf courses, offers a full-service restaurant called the Clubhouse at McCormick Woods (www.clubhousemw.com) that is also a busy event venue hosting everything from children’s birthdays and weddings to corporate retreats and business meetings.

With a dedicated event planning staff on hand, the Clubhouse not only provides space but also complete planning services — at no extra charge. The only thing that staff members don’t do is mail out invitations, so the inviting is left mostly to the clients, but even with this aspect the venue employees are to help by posting flyers around the facility and sending out email invites. read more »

Rock climbing enthusiasts on the Kitsap Peninsula don’t have to wait out the wet weather to get in a workout. At Vertical World climbing gym, beginners and experts alike can conquer heights all year long.

“Rock climbing is a very fun and challenging activity and indoors is a relatively safe environment — you can control a lot of factors that you can’t outside,” said Candace Edmonston, who oversees marketing and programs at Vertical World in Bremerton, one of five locations of Vertical World in Washington. read more »

Bremerton’s Gold Mountain Golf Course will host the NCAA Men’s Golf West Regional Championship on May 20-22 and the public is invited to watch. The golf course is one of six sites for regional events around the United States, and will host 15 of the top 90 teams in the country.

University of Washington is the organizer of the event with Gold Mountain Golf, and UW’s team will be part of the event. The team is currently ranked No. 3 in the country, so it has good chances of winning to advance read more »

Golf is a game of subtleties. A slight rotation during a swing of a degree or two can mean the difference between hitting the green and landing in the bunker. Those same subtleties are no more apparent than in a set of golf clubs.

With continued advancements in club technology, it is possible to see a difference in your game as a result of new clubs, whether you desire increased power, accuracy or forgiveness. But if there are flaws in your swing, new clubs will not make them disappear. Clubs can only improve on what’s already there. read more »