Golf course gets new members

COLFAX - Golfers will come across two new critters on the course, as an eagle and a bear become permanent members of the golf course and country club.

Golf Course Manager Craig Gronning said that the bear and eagle were carved from two trees they had to cut down. "They were a nuisance and we wanted something unique done to them, so we contacted a guy to do wood carvings in them," he said.

The new eagle and bear carvings are located off the number five green, Gronning said, and are done by Aaron Chavez of Chavez Carving, Carving, Concrete, Craftmanship located in Spokane.

Gronning said that they have another tree that they would like an owl carving done on. "We'd like to raise money for that," he said, adding that the new additions are a good conversation piece that everyone seems to like.

For carver Aaron Chavez and his son who helps him, it was their first time carving in Colfax. "This is actually the first golf course that we've done," he said, adding that they hope to do more golf courses.

"It makes it interesting as you're golfing, getting pictures around it," Chavez said, adding that the are hoping to come down to Colfax again to carve the big owl.

Chavez said that the carve was fun to do, and that the people at the course were welcoming and interested in what they were doing.

"People were interested in what we were doing and the process. We'd love to come back to the area and carve," he said, adding that anybody who is interested, has an old stump on their property or home can contact them.

Chavez and his son have done carving in the Tri-Cities area and have even done a giant owl for a man's 50th birthday.

"I love Colfax, driven through for years," Chavez said, "nice small little town."