Mountain vista: High Cedars stays the course

Orting Valley legend John Benedetti and his club are Rainier bedrock

After 25 years running the operations at High Cedars Golf Club in Orting, 81-year-old John Benedetti understands the intricacies of course management.

There are times when you take advantage of favorable conditions and go for the green. Then there are other times when you play it safe, just to stay in the game. At this point in time, when it comes to managing his course, Benedetti is trying to maintain even par.

“With what’s going on in the world today,” he said, “we’re just going to hunker down and take care of what we have.”

The game is enjoying a resurgence with full tee sheets and a new generation of folks picking up the game. But Benedetti is taking a cautious posture again. He sees potential dark clouds on the horizon.

“We’ll see how everybody responds to the economy,” said Benedetti, the course’s general manager for 25 years. “If everything shakes out and returns to some kind of normalcy, next year we’ll do a couple projects. Right now, we’ll take really good care of what we got.”

It is renowned for breathtaking views of Mt. Rainier and the Orting Valley for virtually the entire front nine on the 18-hole course. The 220acre property among the high cedars also features a nine-hole executive course.

Benedetti is not fully hunkered down. A year ago, he decided to fill a little-used 6,000-square foot banquet room with Trackman indoor golf simulators. Golfers can simulate travel around the world, playing on such prestigious courses as Muirfield Village, Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill, and the Old Course at St. Andrews.

“It’s wonderful. We’re really happy with them,” he said. “We bought a third one. We’re going to get a fourth one this fall. People are responding to them. We’re happy and they are too.”

Benedetti said the course’s outdoor practice range, which he calls, “the eighth wonder of the world,” continues to be populated. It has 36 hitting bays, 18 under cover … all of them with that gorgeous view of the mountain.

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High Cedars Golf Club

14604 149th St. Ct. E. • Orting, WA 98360

(360) 893-3171 • highcedars.com

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A Bucket with Head Pro • John Benedetti

Toughest Tee Shot 14th hole

I would imagine No. 14 (par-4, 360 yards back tees). It’s a short par 4 but surrounded by trees. You either play short and have an opening to the green or you can try to go over the top of the trees. It’s a risk/reward, that’s exactly what it is. It’s only 330 (yards from the gold tees) for most players, but it can be difficult.

Best Birdie Opportunity — 13th hole

No. 13 (par-3, 171 yards back tees). It’s a short par-3. The green is slanted toward the tee box. You can stick it right in there.

Best Par 3 8th hole

No. 8 (178 yards back tees). It’s an elevated tee box. Depending on the pin placement, it can be over water. It’s surrounded by sand traps. It’s a good hole.

Favorite Hole 18th hole

I like No. 18 (par 5, 539 yards back tees). You (big hitters) can reach in two. You usually have a birdie shot. It’s over water. We have a big fountain spray between the pond and the flag. Again, it’s a risk/reward hole. Nice hole. It fits my eye. Depending on where we have the hole that day, it can be pretty difficult. It’s a challenge.

Emergency Nine front or back?

Well, the back is a bit more challenging. For the front nine, you’re looking at Mt. Rainier the whole way, so it’s beautiful. It’s right there. It looks like you could walk to Mt. Rainier. But when we have the Senior (Champions) Tour in here for qualifying, they either win it or lose it on the back nine. It’s not long but you got to hit it straight. If you want beauty, I think the front nine is as beautiful as any golf course. But for whatever reason, the back nine is more difficult to score.

Go-To Lunch Item on the Clubhouse Menu

The clubhouse sandwich, by far the best in the world. Triple decker. It’s more than one person can eat. It’s beef, bacon, cheese, lettuce. It’s a big deal.

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