GOLF:

Buying a present for my father has always proved difficult, but no holiday more so than Father’s Day.

He is retired so he doesn’t want a tie and really anything he needs he tends to just buy himself. That leaves me to my imagination, which is never a good thing.

Last Christmas I got him a laser range finder.

It seemed like a great gift. He plays golf occasionally and never knows how far from the flag he is, so this would be perfect. Point the laser at the flag, push the button, get the distance, no problem, right?

You would have thought I bought him a weapons defense system. The phone call was immediate. “How do you work this thing?” Twenty minutes of explaining didn’t help and my technologically-challenged father was happier with the subscription to Golf Digest I gave him.

That is why I think what Pelican Hill Golf Club is doing this Father’s Day is so smart.

The course is offering a golf package for $250 that combines playing and watching golf, plus other enticements. The amount of golf-related gift items is astounding.

There are training aids, gag gifts, equipment, books, videos, instruction DVDs.

It really is quite maddening when you see the barrage of gift-related items.

The Pelican Hill golf package though is pretty unique. It isn’t the usual gift and most dads I know, would rather play golf than read about it or practice it.

The U.S. Open starts today at Torrey Pines and concludes on Sunday and the course is thought of a way to combine the two. They are going to host golfers who want to play in the morning and then catch the final round of the tournament.

The idea was devised by Steve Friedlander, general manager of golf at Pelican Hill.

“With the U.S. Open in San Diego finishing live around 6 pm, I thought it would be a fantastic way to celebrate Father’s Day with family and friends,” Friedlander said. “Golfers can combine great golf on Ocean North or Ocean South followed by a great meal in Pelican Grill lounge while watching the excitement of the tournament’s final round unfold on our 18 large HD TV’s.”

This is what Friedlander envisioned with the promotion.

Golfers show up in the morning or early afternoon at the course. They are going to play either the Ocean South or Ocean North.

The golfers have their choice of a three-course lunch or dinner at Pelican Grill. I would recommend getting something small before you tee off and then enjoying the big dinner after you play.

Because this is Pelican Hill, they are throwing in some pretty nice gifts with the golf. The first is an engraved bag tag and the second is a $25 coupon good for purchases totaling $75 or more in the golf shop.

The last thing is a cigar that can be smoked on the course or on the balcony of the Pelican Grill.

The golf includes a cart with a laser link range finder and use of the practice facility, which features Nike Platinum practice balls.

The courses are both in great shape right now and being the middle of June the temperature will probably be ideal.

Of course it is after the round that I think is the best deal. Included in the price is a special father’s day three-course menu.

The first course is a salad or prawn cocktail. The entrees include a 14-ounce rib eye, or Alaskan Halibut, Organic free range chicken breast. To end the dinner you can have German chocolate cake or berry cobbler with vanilla gelato.

This all while watching the final round of the U.S. Open on a television screen that is larger than the one in your house.

“If that isn’t a perfect Father’s Day, I don’t know what is,” Friedlander said.

I would have to agree with him.

JOHN REGER’S golf column appears Thursdays.