Golfing News & Blog Articles

Rule of the Month: The Ball

Oct. 1, 2021

Generally, you will hole out with the same ball you play from the teeing area. You can always use a new ball when starting a hole. You can also substitute a different ball any time you are taking relief, including both free and penalty relief. Unless the one-ball Local Rule is in effect, the substituted ball could be any brand. On the putting green however, when you mark and lift your ball, you must replace that same ball to finish out the hole.

When your ball is lifted, you can almost always clean it (except for a few specific circumstances). If you happen to run out of balls, you can borrow one from any other player, including a practice or X-Out ball (which are generally conforming balls).

If you play a wrong ball, you lose the hole in match play or get a two-stroke penalty in stroke play. In stroke play, you must correct your mistake by playing the right ball or otherwise playing under the Rules (for example, by playing under stroke and distance if your ball is lost).

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Pairings/Results 

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Asterisk Talley, Jaden Dumdumaya of JTNC Headed for Augusta

Sept. 27, 2021

Eight area golfers, including Junior Tour of Northern California regulars Asterisk Talley and Jaden Dumdumaya, were crowned as National Finalists and earned an invitation to compete in the eighth Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals on Sunday, April 3, 2022, prior to the start of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club.

Conducted in partnership with the USGA, Masters Tournament and PGA of America, Drive, Chip and Putt is a free, nationwide youth golf development program open to boys and girls, ages 7-15, in four age divisions. The three-pronged competition tests the skills essential to playing the game – accuracy in driving, chipping and putting.

The regional competition held at Pebble Beach Golf Links – site of 13 USGA championships, including six U.S. Opens; the future site of the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open and 2027 U.S. Open; and host of the 1977 PGA Championship – on Sunday, Sept. 26, was one of 10 qualifying events across the United States to determine the field of 80 young golfers who will advance to the National Finals.

Tens of thousands seized the opportunity to participate in Drive, Chip and Putt this year, which began with local qualifying at hundreds of courses throughout the country this summer. These qualifiers are open each year to young golfers of all skill and experience levels. The top finishers from each local qualifier advanced to subregionals in August followed by regional competitions in September and October.

2021 NCGA Hall of Fame Ceremony

Sept. 24, 2021

After a year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, golf in the Northern California region was celebrated Thursday, Sept. 23 at Poppy Hills Golf Course as the NCGA inducted its 10th Hall of Fame Class with a ceremony at Porter’s in the Forest.

Joining Distinguished Service Award honoree Paul Morton were Hall of Fame inductees Gary Vanier, Marianne Towersey and Lawson Little (left to right, above), who was represented by his grandson, Chris Little.

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Spirit of the Game: William Wright

Sept. 15, 2021

Note: This piece first appeared on usga.org on February 20, 2012

Not long after receiving the trophy for his historic U.S. Amateur Public Links triumph in 1959, William Wright received a phone call at the Wellshire Golf Course in Denver from a Seattle reporter.

The first question asked of Wright was, “How does it feel to be the first black to win a national tournament?”

Angered that the first inquiry involved race, not his performance, Wright immediately slammed down the phone and walked away.

Faces of the NCGA: Coming Together for Team Play

Sept. 3, 2021

Team Play Qualifying was held at Cherry Island GC for the Sacramento Region on July 19.  Turkey Creek LGC competed in the field of 24 area teams/clubs.  They played well and qualified, with nine teams moving on to the PWGA Legacy Team Play event that will be held at Foxtail North GC in Rohnert Park on September 14-15, 2021 with a field of 32 teams.

These ladies came up with a great tournament to support their trip.  Club members could purchase unlimited “Fireball” Mulligans and Magic Putts on their play day, August 24.  The format was a four-member team with 2-net best ball scores.  One player’s score was predetermined for each hole, with the second player being determined after holing out and reading the Fireball sign at the greenside.  Mulligans could be used from Tee to Green, Magic Putts declared once you were on the green for a one putt.

With generous support from the Ladies Club they raised $1,050 toward expenses to compete in the PWGA Legacy Team Play. “Fireball” Mulligans and Magic Putts combined with friends made golf a very fun day!  Wishing you the best of luck at the tournament!

NCGA Golf Magazine Going Digital

Sept. 3, 2021 

We Heard You

NCGA Golf Magazine is Going Digital Only

In line with feedback from our members and further efforts to reduce our environmental footprint, while also enhancing our communications with bonus content, the NCGA will begin delivering the award-winning NCGA Golf Magazine via email and our website only unless we hear from you otherwise. To continue receiving a printed version of the magazine please Click Here
Visit our website at NCGA.org, where the magazine can always be found on the homepage (see Featured Box) and at NCGA Golf Magazine under the News tab drop-down.

Spirit of the Game: Judy Bell

Sept. 2, 2021

This article first appeared in 2016 By USGA

The United States Golf Association will bestow its highest honor, the Bob Jones Award, to Judy Bell, of Colorado Springs, Colo., at an award ceremony on June 14, 2016, during the week of the 116th U.S. Open Championship at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club.

Presented annually since 1955, the Bob Jones Award recognizes an individual who demonstrates the spirit, personal character and respect for the game exhibited by Jones, winner of nine USGA championships.

Rule of the Month: Match Play

Sept. 1, 2021

Match play is a form of play where a player (or players) plays directly against an opponent (or opponents) in a head-to-head match. You win a hole by completing it in the fewest number of strokes, and you win a match when you are winning by more holes than remain to be played. You (or your opponent) may concede a stroke, a hole, or even the match to each other. If your next stroke has been conceded, you are permitted to putt out, unless this will help your partner (for example, by showing them the line for their putt).

If you are unsure how to proceed, you and your opponent can agree on a course of action even if it is against the Rules, but you are not allowed to waive a Rule. If you and your opponent don’t agree on how to proceed, you should do what you think is correct. Your opponent can then make a request for a ruling, which will later be decided by the Committee. In match play, you are not required to keep a scorecard – scorecards are only required in stroke play.

FAQs:

August 30, 2021

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NCGA Embraces Diversity and Celebrates Inclusiveness

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Youth on Course gives youth life-changing opportunities through golf

In keeping with our innovative approach to promoting the game of golf, the NCGA created Youth on Course in 2006 as the NCGA Foundation. The Youth on Course program provides youth with affordable access to golf for $5 or less at hundreds of courses, as well as access to paid summer jobs and college scholarship opportunities. Youth on Course has changed the landscape of golf in Northern California and has grown into a nationwide initiative expanding to 26 states.

Visit YouthOnCourse.org

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Poppy Hills GC & Poppy Ridge GC

One of the most unique aspects of the NCGA is that we own two premier golf courses. Only a handful of golf associations go this far to provide such great value, we were the first!

At Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach and Poppy Ridge Golf Course in Livermore, we provide privileges for NCGA members including special rates on greens fees and discounts in the golf shops and dining rooms.

The Robert Trent Jones-designed Poppy Hills was the first course to be owned and operated by an amateur golf association in the United States – a great example of the innovative approach to member offerings the NCGA has always strived to maintain. It is both a PGA Tour and USGA Championship venue, as well as a ‘Top 100’ in Golf Digest’s Greatest Public Courses.

Our sister course, Poppy Ridge in scenic Livermore wine country, is a unique Rees Jones 27-hole design with 3 nines: Chardonnay, Merlot and Zinfandel.

Both courses are host to dozens of NCGA Championships each year.

It’s our mission to support and promote the game of golf in Northern California

To support the game of golf, we administer course ratings, maintain our members’ USGA Handicap Indexes and teach the Rules of Golf.

To promote the game of golf, we continually enhance our programs to better meet our members’ needs.

To help our members enjoy golf even more, we offer exclusive discounts for golf rounds, apparel, equipment, travel and more.

Through our dedicated staff and volunteer corps, we deliver outstanding tournaments and events for players of all ages and abilities —championships, single day events and social golf.

NCGA has long been an innovation leader among golf associations by expanding what we do to grow the game of golf.

Golf Since 1901

The NCGA’s roots date back to April 5, 1901 when five clubs banded together with the sole purpose of participating in the prestigious Pacific Coast Amateur Championship.

In 1966, the NCGA, originally headquartered in ‘The City by the Bay’, moved to a new home – Spyglass Hilll Golf Course in Pebble Beach.

With the opening of Poppy Hills Golf Course in 1986, the NCGA became the first golf association to own and operate its own golf course – providing a tournament facility and unique benefits for NCGA members.

In 1996, the NCGA added a second course, Poppy Ridge Golf Course located in the Livermore Wine Country.

In 2020, The NCGA completed a unification with the Women’s Golf Association of Northern California (WGANC) and the Pacific Women’s Golf Association (PWGA) to better leverage efforts to support and promote women’s golf.