UK native Lee enjoys 'excellent time' in Whitefish, on the links

WHITEFISH ­— The annual Whitefish Lake Golf Club’s 4th of July Tournament is known partly for its return players, many of whom hail from the Flathead Valley or other parts of Montana and enjoy spending a week golfing in Whitefish.

Most of them have only a short drive to the two courses where the tournament is played.

Adam Lee had a bit farther to come to participate.

Lee, who made his first appearance at the 4th of July Tournament last week, hails from Rumney, a small community of just more than 8,000 people that is approximately a 14-hour flight away from Lee’s original destination on the West Coast.

Lee found himself in Whitefish thanks to his brother, Simon, who lives in Los Angeles and has played in the 4th of July Tournament for five consecutive years.

“It was vacation on vacation,” Adam Lee said with a thick Welsh accent.

“I was with him, and he was like, ‘Let’s go over here.’ It’s beautiful, absolutely beautiful.”

A resident of the United Kingdom for his entire life, the 38-year-old Lee arrived in Whitefish last Monday and left Sunday. In addition to playing both the North and South Courses at Whitefish Lake Golf Club, the first-time visitor visited the lake and saw the town over the course of the week.

“There’s no better place to be, it seems,” Lee said.

“It’s been a really nice time. I love it here.”

Playing in the men’s championship flight, Lee finished the tournament in a tie for 25th with a three-round total of 231.

He wasn’t particularly pleased with his score, but it wasn’t chief among his concerns.

“Golf’s not so good, but how could you not enjoy this?” Lee said, gesturing to the view of the mountains.

“If you could remove the alcohol out my system, it might be a different story.

“Golf aside, it doesn’t really matter, you know? It’s hard to complain about golf when you’re looking at this as your view. Excellent time. I loved it.”

Part of Lee’s struggles, he said, came on the green, where the speed of his putts differed from that he’s used to on the courses he typically plays in the United Kingdom.

“We’re not used to greens this fast,” Lee said.

“They just don’t get them this fast at home. The course is beautiful. I left rain at home to come to this.”

While this was Lee’s first time playing in the event, he was adamant it won’t be his last.

He hopes to return for next year’s 4th of July Tournament, but only if he can fend off his father, who also wants to find his way back to Whitefish after an appearance in the 2016 tournament.

“Can’t wait to be back,” Lee said.

“(I’ll return next year) if I can fight my dad, because my dad was here last year and someone had to stay. I’m sure he’s going to try to get his turn next year, but I’ll try and change that.”