b'Inspiration came early, and unknowingly, from Marilyn Palmer OConnor IN THE LATE 1960S,my family moved next door to Club Green Meadows Golf Course in Vancouver, Wash. and my parents and siblings all caught the golfing bug. In the summer of 1970 I had the unique opportunity and pleasure to caddie for Marilyn Palmer in a rare LPGA-sponsored event played at Green Meadows and nearby Royal Oaks Country Club, the premier course in Southwest Washington at the time.I recall Ms. Palmer as a fit, slender athlete, with a serious but courteous demeanor. She possessed a smooth, silky, consistent swing that generated power andLeft: Marilyn Palmer and caddie Scott Cave during the first round of the accuracy. She played flawlessly on the first day, carding a three-under par 69 to claimLPGA-sponsored event in 1970 at Club Green Meadows in Vancouver, Medalist honors.Wash. Right: Love of the game has stayed with the Cave family, who have For me, her round was exhilarating; I had never witnessed anyone, male or female,conducted a family tournament, called the Icicle Open, for 45 years. break 70. She would go on to finish a respectable sixth place overall, and while that result may have been disappointing for her, it was not for this impressionable young player.Im happy to relay that like many other Northwest families, ours has continued to play(Editors note: Marilyn Palmer OConnor was inducted golf. Since the late 1970s, weve held an annual family winter tournament titled the Icicleinto the PNGA Hall of Fame in 2005, the Golf Hall Open. While its not everyones cup of tea to play golf in inclement weather, weve foundof Fame of BC in 2001, and the Canadian Golf Hall the challenge rewarding and, after 45 years, full of great memories.of Fame in 1999. The daughter of a club professional In retrospect, Id like to thank Ms. Palmer for the brief time we shared 50 years ago; itin Kamloops, B.C., Marilyn won the BC Womens was very rewarding to watch her shot selection and clockwork swing (as I described it toAmateur an astonishing nine times, as well as numerous others). Thanks Marilyn, for being an early golf mentorwhether you knew it or not!regional and national titles, including the 1973 PNGA Womens Amateur. In 1981, she was named CanadasScott Cave, DuPont, Wash.Outstanding Female Amateur Golfer.)Play two days in a row for onlyExperience Wine Valley$75 more!**Per Player. One round must be played after 12pm.Play Wine Valley Golf Club, one of the premier golf experiences in the Pacific34Northwest. Recently ranked the #Course You Can Play by GolfWeek, WineValley inspires your imagination. Book your next Stay & Play or checkout our Consecutive Day Specials and well see you on the course!WWW.WINEVALLEYGOLFCLUB.COM | 509-525-4653SEPT 2020 |PACIFIC NORTHWEST GOLFER11'