As Northwest residents, we’re not usually ones to toot our own horn, preferring instead to keep our noses to the grindstone, work hard, and hope to do good work.
But that doesn’t mean it isn’t nice when someone else toots it for us.
This past weekend, Cascade Golfer swept the top two spots in the “Magazine Sports Reporting” category at the Northwest Excellence in Journalism Awards, an annual affair celebrating the best in media over the previous year in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. Journalists from every newspaper, magazine, TV and radio station across the Northwest can nominate their work, from which a panel of judges selects first-, second- and third-place winners in each category. This year’s contest was the most competitive in the event’s history, with over over 2,300 combined entries across 150 unique categories.
Editor Brian Beaky’s article on Chambers Bay designer Robert Trent Jones, Jr. (“Bobby’s Opus,” CG, April 2015) won first place overall, with judges calling it, “Masterful. Writer Brian Beaky composed an artistic sports report reminiscent of the analogy used by his subject — world famous gold course designer Bobby Jones — to describe his technique to golf course design, as a composer of a symphony. His use of detail was superb.”
Writer Craig Smith also claimed an award, with his feature on JoAnne Gunderson Carner (“Big Momma’s House,” CG, December 2015) taking second place. Third place went to Nicholas O’Connell of Alaska Airlines Magazine.
It was the third-straight year that CG has been in the top-three in sports reporting at the Awards Gala — making us the only magazine in the Northwest that can state that claim.
“From the start, we have always featured and showcased truly legitimate journalists in Cascade Golfer. That’s always been our commitment,” says founder and publisher Dick Stephens. “The news, views, opinions and features are the backbone of this title and the readers deserve to have that delivered from professionals in the field — and well-recognized writers, to boot. Our hats are off to Brian, Craig and our entire team that puts their time and love into this magazine. It’s an exciting time for Cascade Golfer.”
