b'QUICK NINEContinued from page 26into the rising suns glare, a shot as blind as youd find on most Scottish links. Fortunately, the 260-yard first hole presents a broad fairway, and I find my slightly wayward drive after a couple of minutes. Like its brethren to the north, Manzanita Links is a driver (or fairway wood)/wedge golf course where you can forget about your handicap and take advantage of the opportunity to practice those feel shots. At 205 yards, 195 yards, and 225 yards respectively, the third, seventh and ninth holes are nearly as lengthy as the five par 4s.Manzanita Links is technically a parkland-style design and seven of the remaining eight holes slip between stands of trees. Filtered light splashes across a few of the greens and fairways until the closing hole opens up again. Perhaps the most telltale sign of this sylvan nine comes when two black-tailed does step across the tee box as I set up to drive uphill on the 320-yard fourth. Reaching the fifth tee requires another ascent, where you arrive at an elevated tee box from which to launch a 3-wood to a green collared like an Elizabethan playwright by Douglas firs. I play Manzanita Links solo, finishing myManzanita Linkswalk in just under 90 minutes. After my round, I dip into the legendary Wandas Caf + Bakery in nearby Nehalem to collect pumpkin scones and a cup of tea. I return 30 minutes north to start my romantic day with a beach walk in Seaside. Come afternoon, I head a few miles north to play Highlands Golf Club with Patti, my partner, a newbie golfer.I would never discourage you from playing golf is second to I love you when spoken by your romantic partner. I know Pattis sentiments come, in part, from the casual exercise I get when I play, but she also comprehends how deeply I love this game. Given how much time she spends watching and listening to me talk about golf, playing the game herself was inevitable. For someone new to the game who appreciates a good walk, HIGHLANDS couldnt be more perfect. Hitting a 5-wood off the tee, moving forward and, sometimes, sideways with a 7-iron in hand followed by a pitching wedge and putter means the novice never feels out of control. Oddly, an exclusively par-3 pitch and putt presents much less room for error than the Highlands well-Continued on page 3028 PACIFIC NORTHWEST GOLFER|MAR 2025'