Ryan Brennecke / The Bulletin file photoA light layer of snow remains in the shaded areas as group of golfers play a round last winter at Juniper Golf Club in Redmond.

Pat Huffer wants to make it clear that every golfer — man, woman, ace or hack — is welcome in the Central Oregon Winter Series.

Those golfers just need an official handicap and some warm clothing.

“It really is designed for ALL golfers,” says Huffer, the head golf professional at Crooked River Ranch and creator of the Central Oregon Winter Series, an 11-tournament swing played through Central Oregon.

“It’s not just for those who are top-of-the-game players.”

Perhaps that is why the series has proven to be so popular in spite of Central Oregon’s typically less-than-hospitable winter golf weather.

The all-encompassing Winter Series tees off for a sixth season on Friday at Broken Top Club in Bend, and already interest has been high.

In the two days after Huffer posted details of the Broken Top tournament last week, 72 golfers registered for the event.

Such enthusiasm is right on par for the Winter Series, which consists of a schedule of 11 two-person team events from mid-October through early April. The series has grown from a series of events that would often attract 40 or so golfers to one that frequently hosts full fields of nearly 120 entries.

In all, 292 golfers played in at least one Winter Series event last year. The number of golfers was down a bit from the previous year, a decline that Huffer attributes to heavy snow in late November and again in February.

Still, the size of the Central Oregon Winter Series is more than Huffer could have ever expected when he first devised it.

“Six years ago we were getting anywhere between 40 and maybe 80 players, and look where it’s gone,” Huffer says. “Now,” he adds with a laugh, “it’s like I don’t even want to run one unless there are at least 80 players.”

Finding willing venues to serve as hosts has also not been difficult.

Each host facility gets about half of the $50-per-golfer entry fee, according to Huffer, who makes nothing for organizing the Winter Series. (Hosts this year include Bend-area courses Awbrey Glen, Broken Top, Lost Tracks, Pronghorn/Nicklaus and Widgi Creek, in addition to Eagle Crest/Ridge, Juniper in Redmond, Brasada Canyons in Powell Butte, Crooked River Ranch, Kah-Nee-Ta near Warm Springs, and Meadow Lakes in Prineville.)

“I think it is a great deal for the courses, especially in my case where I can make a few bucks in October,” says Jim Cubillas, the head pro at Broken Top. “It’s a great series and chance to extend the season as much as possible.”

What is the appeal to the golfers?

Zach Lampert, the head pro at Meadow Lakes and a frequent player in the Winter Series, says that the events are fun despite the generally wintry weather. And allowing golfers of all levels into the field gives the tournaments broad appeal.

Plus, Lampert notes, Central Oregonians have limited opportunities to play competitive golf once November rolls around.

“I believe that the success of the Winter Series shows that, for many Central Oregon residents, golf is a year-round sport,” says Lampert. “The Winter Series is also able to capitalize on less competition. … During the winter, there is far less to choose from, which helps to make the winter tournament series a huge success. Every competitive golfer in the area that plays during the winter wants to take part in the Winter Series events.”

The series has made some adjustments.

This year, every golfer in the field will play from the same tees. And the Winter Series will feature more better-ball tournaments this year than in years past, which will allow golfers more opportunity to play their own ball throughout the round.

But otherwise, the successful formula will remain the same — and for good reason.

Huffer says that there could be room to grow the series, which runs from mid-October through early April. But he is hesitant to stretch it any earlier or later on the calendar. “Otherwise,” he quips, “we would have to call it the Fall-Slash-Winter Series.”

Huffer says he does not want to water down the Winter Series with too many events. Besides, the event has already accomplished its main objective.

“I think it just helps keep golf in the forefront and in the minds of golfers,” Huffer says. “It’s just my small part to grow the game.”

— Reporter: 541-617-7868, zhall@bendbulletin.com.