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Fun is par for the course at Soap Lake's 'Sandblaster Open'

Augusta and Pebble Beach have nothing on The Dish's Lava Links.

Updated May 17, 2026

Fun is par for the course at Soap Lake's 'Sandblaster Open' — A merry band of linksters and volunteers posed for a group photo following the Sandblaster Open golf tournament held Saturday at the Lava Links course in Soap Lake. *Photo by John Carlson; other photos by Randy Bracht*

SOAP LAKE — They were having a blast on the World’s Worst Golf Course.

On Saturday, nearly three dozen players comprising seven teams pitched and putted their way around Soap Lake’s almost-famous rustic, par-three, nine-hole, executive Lava Links course during the fifth Soap Lake Sandblaster Open tournament.

Which is not a stop on the PGA Tour.

But if the Masters has a Green Jacket, then the Sandblaster has a Best Dressed award. California may have Pebble Beach, but Lava Links has basalt boulders. And waist-high sagebrush. Unfair fairways. And greens that double as sand traps.

And, said tourney director Nels Borg in his pre-match instructions, if any of the competitors – a loose term – hit specially marked signs with their tee shot, they would win a free wiener from Jimmy’s Hot Dogs, one of several local sponsors.

Talk about your target golf.

Entrants didn’t need much in the way of club selections: a pitching wedge and a putter sufficed. If they didn’t have their own gear, a bag of well-scarred, likely donated sticks, plus balls (some adorned with smiley faces), and tees were available for free use.

Margo Guenther of Soap Lake (left) pulled a putter from a bag of available clubs, while kilted tourney director Nels Borg (center) rounded up his field of golfers for pre-match instructions.

Cigar in hand, Chet Boldyn of Everett was a vision in his spike-studded magenta ballcap, neon orange shirt, diamond-patterned trousers, and green-and-purple footwear. Wife Karen was equally fetching in a Good & Plenty-hued blouse and ascot, pink lei, and straw hat festooned with a pink flamingo and purple garland. They were part of Team Nut House with friends Gary and Joyce Way of Whidbey Island, who also own property in Soap Lake.

“This is our third time (playing in the tournament),” said Chet. “We make a holiday out of it.”

Dressed to the nines: Chet and Karen Boldyn of Everett were taking part in their third Sandblaster event. "We make a holiday out of it," said Chet, the Best Dressed award winner.

Others traveled even further to take part. The Quilter Queens had a team member from Michigan.

Here, fun is the name of the game and par for the course.

Located on an undulating, undeveloped 5.2-acre lot across the street from Soap Lake City Hall, Lava Links was dredged out about two decades ago by local businessman and former mayor/councilman Dee Black, a non-golfer. Go figure.

Which way do we go? Golfers navigate the rustic, undulating nine-hole course.

And if Soap Lake’s formal motto is “Home of the Healing Waters,” it’s unofficial nickname is “The Dish,” as in soap dish.

So it’s only fitting that Saturday’s winning team was The Dish — the quartet of Wes McCrady, Tatum Dickinson, Addina Knudsen, and Logan Smythe prevailed in the Best Ball format with a four-under-par 23. Their prizes were also fitting: each was awarded their own personal Lava Lamp.

Tournament winners The Dish: Wes McCrady (left), Tatum Dickinson, Addina Knudsen, and Logan Smythe posted the lowest team score and took home Lava Lamps as prizes. *Photo by John Carlson*. Below, McCrady was named his team's MVP, due in part to shots like this on the third hole when he chipped in for a birdie. *Photo by Randy Bracht*

Borg expressed appreciation to all the sponsors, volunteers, and donors who supported the yearly event, organized by the Soap Lake Chamber of Commerce.

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