Golfing News & Blog Articles

NCGA Mourns the Loss of Former President Robert Foster

May 28, 2021

Former NCGA President Robert “Bob” Maurice Foster died Sunday, May 23rd, 2021.

Bob’s life began on March 1st, 1935 in Oakdale, CA. He grew up with his loving parents, Maurice and Helen Foster, and his sisters Maurine and Judy. Along the way, he managed to accrue an ever-growing family, including Karen, his wife of 47 years, five children, Karen, Jim, Calvin, Courtney, & Kelly, as well as his many grand and great grandchildren.

Bob lived a very active life. He served his country in the United States Air Force between the ages of 18-22. He moved to Chico in 1969 to open his first supermarket, Shop ‘n Save, a store which he ultimately grew into a chain of five stores across Northern California.

Patriot Golf Day Moves to Memorial Day Weekend

May 26, 2021

For the first time in its 15-year history, Patriot Golf Days will be held over Memorial Day weekend (May 28-31) as a way to further honor our nation’s heroes.

PGA REACH, the 501(c)3 charitable foundation of the PGA of America, and Folds of Honor, a nonprofit that provides educational scholarships to spouses and children of fallen or disabled service members, will jointly host the nationwide annual fundraiser. This marks the second year the two organizations have come together to expand and grow fundraising efforts for both PGA HOPE and Folds of Honor through the game of golf.

PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) introduces golf to Veterans with disabilities to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. The program includes a six-to-eight-week developmental curriculum taught by PGA Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency. In 2019, PGA HOPE programming impacted 2,500 Veterans nationwide.

“We’re using golf as a form of dedicated rehabilitation and therapy for our Veterans, and we couldn’t be more proud of the vital work PGA HOPE does,” said Corp. (Ret.) Chris Nowak, PGA HOPE Military and Veteran Liaison. “Our partnership with Folds of Honor to expand the reach of Patriot Golf Days means we can impact more families of the men and women we serve. And to be able to have it during Memorial Day weekend is a perfect way to continue living our mission of supporting our nation’s heroes.”

Spectrum of NCGA Clubs—LPGA Amateur Golf Association

May 26, 2021

The LPGA Amateur Golf Association exists to connect women to learn, play and enjoy golf for business and for fun.  Since its inception in 1991, the LPGA Amateur Golf Association (formerly EWGA) has served as a portal to golf and touched the lives of thousands of women. LPGA Amateur Golf Association has Chapters throughout the United States, along with international Chapters in Canada, South Africa, Bermuda, Ireland and Italy.

The LPGA Amateur Golf Association Sacramento Chapter was established in 1993 and is your best place to get involved, get connected and to have fun with the game of golf.

The LPGA Amateur Golf Association Sacramento Chapter membership reflects a cross-section of working women in various industries in the Greater Sacramento area, including: financial services, legal, real estate, media and publishing, advertising, healthcare, information technology, accounting, retail, government and education. Many of our members are business owners, corporate executives, professionals, or entrepreneurs. And we do have a number of retired women as well!  However, all of us share a common link – GOLF.

Our Board is comprised of a diverse group of energetic women leaders including our President and Directors, and fantastic supporting Committee Chairs and enthusiastic committee volunteers.

LPGA MEDIHEAL Set for June 7-13 at Lake Merced GC

May 26, 2021

The Bay Area’s official LPGA Tour stop, the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship, returns to Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City, California June 7 – 13, 2021. The tournament will once again feature 144 of the world’s best female golfers competing for a $1.5 million purse. While the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship will not sell tickets to the general public for this year’s event, fans are encouraged to tune into Golf Channel for tournament coverage throughout the week. The #MEDIHEALChamp broadcast will air from 3:00 – 6:00PM PT on Thursday, June 10 and Friday, June 11 with the broadcast window shifting to 4:00 – 7:00PM PT for Saturday, June 12 and Sunday, June 13.

As the home of the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship, Lake Merced Golf Club has an extensive history of supporting amateur events and professional golf, including the #MEDIHEALChamp since its inception in 2018. Known for providing a challenging test of golf, Lake Merced Golf Club has produced a notable lineup of past winners, including 2020 Rolex Player of the Year, Sei Young Kim (2019), and 16-Time LPGA Champion, Lydia Ko (2018).

The 2021 LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship field will feature several competitors with ties to the Bay Area including three of the tournament’s Sponsor Exemptions:

Lucy Li, a Lake Merced Golf Club member, and Bay Area resident, had a distinguished amateur career, still holding the record as the youngest qualifier for both the U.S. Women’s Amateur (age 10) and the U.S Women’s Open (age 11). Li turned professional in 2019 and has competed on the Symetra Tour the past two years.

Spirit of the Game: Collin Morikawa—Coming Up Big

May 17, 2021

When it mattered the most, being short proved a great advantage for Cal alum Collin Morikawa.

This is not about his diminutive stature but rather his length off the tee. TPC Harding Park was a bombers’ paradise until the critical moment of the final round of last year’s PGA Championship on the short par-4 16th.

With the hole playing at 294-yards it was inviting players to have a crack, particularly as nine of them had been part of the lead during a frantic final round. Someone had to step up. Problem was, in these modern times of big hitters, for most of them, 294 yards is too short to wail away with driver.

Bryson DeChambeau hits his drives over 350 yards, so to Tony Finau. Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Jason Day, Matthew Wolff, Cameron Champ … the list of long hitters in contention was long.

Youth on Course Awards 20 Members With Scholarships

May 11, 2021

Youth on Course – the non-profit organization dedicated to opening doors, supporting dreams and transforming the lives of young people – has announced its 2021 scholarship awards granting $296,000 to 20 deserving high school graduates, continuing its commitment to providing youth with access to life-changing opportunities on and off the course.

Since the inception of the scholarship program in 2008, nearly 300 Youth on Course members have been awarded with financial support totaling $2 million. The graduation rate among all alumni and current recipients is 93 percent.

The class of 2021 will be attending the country’s most prestigious universities including Dartmouth College, University of California – Berkeley and the United States Naval Academy, among others. The average GPA of this year’s winners is 4.39 and six of the recipients will be playing college golf with five others possibly joining their collegiate team.

“Pursuing higher education, much like the game of golf, shouldn’t hinge on the financial burdens it places on young people,” says Michael Lowe, vice president of programs for Youth on Course. “These 20 students are among the brightest in the country and we, along with our scholarship donors, are proud to help them continue to work towards their dreams on and off the golf course.”

The Spectrum of NCGA Clubs: Happy 25th to Fore Women Golf Association!

May 10, 2021

Welcome to the Neighborhood!

May 6, 2021

By Dianna Stein 

Longtime NCGA/WGANC Rules official KC Cote assumed she was always going to live in her town of Novato, although she does have an adventurous streak, having served our country during the Vietnam War as an Air Force Nurse and becoming a Lieutenant Colonel.

On a less adventurous note, but as a revered volunteer, KC became a passionate golfer and helped found the WGANC Rules Committee in 1997, and has long served as a Rules official for NCGA, USGA and other countless tournaments.

Course Records Shot at Blue Rock Springs

May 5, 2021

Vallejo resident Jared Stone closed out 2020 with a couple of bangs. Within a time frame of six weeks, the St. Patrick High alum, who’s now a junior at University of Redlands, set the scoring record for both courses at Blue Rock Springs GC in Vallejo.

On Nov. 13,, 2020 Stone, who once worked at Blue Rock Springs, posted an 11-under 60 on the 5,987-yard, par-71 West Course. The previous record had been a 67, shot by former University of Oregon standout Kathleen Scavo.

NCGA Mourns the Loss of Past President Russ Bigelow

May 3, 2021

Nancy Lopez: Overcoming Obstacles

May 3, 2021

Nancy Lopez, who grew up in Roswell, New Mexico, began playing golf at the age of eight, with her father, Domingo Lopez, an avid golfer, as her coach.

Four years later, when she was 12, she won the New Mexico Women’s Amateur tournament. Lopez later told Richard Lemon in People Weekly, “I was so scared I always threw up. I carried a trash can with me. My dad told me, ‘If you’re going to play golf, you’ve got to get over being sick.’ I didn’t want to quit, so I decided to get over it.”

Lopez also faced other obstacles to her progress. Because her family was of Mexican descent, her parents were not allowed to join the Roswell Country Club and she had to play in Albuquerque, 200 miles away. A writer for Latino Sports Legends commented that her intense competitive drive and “the fact that she was a Mexican-American winning so many tournaments did not sit well with others, but that didn’t discourage her.”

Rule of the Month: Making a Stroke

May 1, 2021

Topic Overview:

To help encourage prompt pace of play, the Rules now suggest making a stroke in no more than 40 seconds, and even quicker than that for most shots. In making a stroke, it must be free flowing, not anchored, and the ball must be struck with the head of the club. You may use a distance-measuring device to measure distance only, but it must not measure slope or other conditions that may assist you.

During a round, you must not ask for or give advice to anyone (except for your partner or caddie). You are also allowed to listen to music but should be considerate of other players on the course.

FAQs:

The Spectrum of NCGA Membership–Sacramento Chinese Women’s Golf Club

April 29, 2021

The Sacramento Chinese Golf Club was established in 1952 at the opening of the Bing Maloney Golf Course in Sacramento.  While the Sacramento Chinese GC was a Co-Ed club and women were actively engaged in the events and tournaments, the women decided they’d like to form their own autonomous club.  So, in 1989 they began the process of formalizing the club.  Initially, they had some problems having their club recognized, but with support from Ken Morton Sr. of Haggin Oaks GC, they received their charter and formed the Sacramento Chinese WGC.  Learn more about that here.

Ken continues to be an avid supporter of this club and still receives a special invitation to the Christmas luncheon each year.  The newly formed club joined the Pacific Women’s Golf Association, so members could play and compete with other women throughout the region. The Sacramento Chinese WGC members continue to rack up awards and recognition in Play Days and Tournaments.

The post Ernie Pieper Santa Clara County Championship appeared first on Northern California Golf Association.

U.S. Women’s Open Qualifying–Half Moon Bay GL

April 27, 2021

Former University of Oregon standout Kathleen Scavo, former NCGA Women’s Player of the Year Lucy Li and Canadian Kelly Tan all punched their tickets to the upcoming U.S. Women’s Open after advancing through a 36-hole Sectional qualifier held Monday on the par-71 Ocean Course at Half Moon Bay Golf Links.

Now a member of the Symetra Tour, Scavo was medalist with a score of 1-over 143 after rounds of 71-72. A former two-time winner of the California Junior Girls’ State Championship, Scavo posted six birdies on the day.

Li, who also made her rookie debut on the Symetra Tour in 2020, moved on with a third-place score of 3-over 145 (73-72). Still only 18, in 2014 Li became the youngest (age 11) to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open, surpassing a mark that had been set by Lexi Thompson at the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open.

NCGA Opposition to AB 672

April 23, 2021

The NCGA recently filed an electonic letter in opposition of proposed California Assembly Bill 672

To Read the Letter, Please Click Here 

Limited Number of Fans For U.S. Women’s Open at The Olympic Club

April 19, 2021

The USGA announced today that the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open and U.S. Open Championships will be played with a limited number of fans in attendance. The 76th U.S. Women’s Open will be held at The Olympic Club (Lake Course) in San Francisco from June 3-6, and the 121st U.S. Open will be held at Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course), in San Diego from June 17-20.

“Last year, we missed the energy that fans bring to our U.S. Open championships,” said John Bodenhamer, senior managing director, Championships. “We are grateful to our local and state health and safety officials in California to be in a position to welcome some fans back this year to witness the greatest players in the world contending for these prestigious championships, while working to maintain the health and safety of all involved.”

Those who have already purchased tickets to the U.S. Open will receive a direct communication from the USGA with additional details.

Information on tickets for each championship is available on uswomensopen.com and usopen.com.

1.3 : 1 Or It’s Tough To Grow A Game Without Places To Grow It

April 19, 2021

Article provided by Craig Kesser, SCGA

One and one-third human beings is what a maxed-out golf course puts on one acre of open space under current COVID restrictions, a 1.3 to 1 ratio that has been the game’s ticket to spectacular success during the pandemic.  It’s the unshakable fact about the game that persuaded public policy makers that golf is among the safest forms of outdoor recreation; indeed, the safest when one considers that unlike other outdoor recreational activities, the business model of golf involves strict control over ingress and egress.

To be 100% accurate, golf doesn’t place 1.3 persons all by themselves on that 1 acre.  Four persons share a hole, which does put them in proximity on tees and greens, but if there is an easier place to guarantee 6 feet of separation than a tee or a green, we’d like to know.

Steph Curry and Lee Elder Look to Inspire Future Minority Golfers

April 14, 2021

Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry has already made efforts to bring golf more to the Black community, including supporting the re-establishment of the Howard men’s and women’s golf programs in Washington, D.C..

Back in 1975, Lee Elder became the first Black player to compete in the Masters. In recognizing Elder, at this year’s recent Masters he’d join Hall of Famers Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player as an honorary starter for the championship.

Now, Curry and Elder are teaming up as part of a national outreach to minorities to hopefully get them more involved with the game.

Remembering Ida Pieracci

April 14, 2021

As we begin heading into the heart of the 2021 golf season, we thought we’d pause and look back at the inspirational story of the late Ida Pieracci.

Pieracci, who died in 2018 at the age of 107, was an icon at San Jose Country Club. Even at the age of 102, she still had played regularly four to five times a week. Coincidentally, she also held the record for most hole-in-ones at SJCC with an amazing 11.

In 2015, filmmaker Dustin Cohen caught up with Pieracci for a feature. The result was the short film, Golfing With Ida (below).

The film quickly won accolades from around the world and the golf world. To date more than nearly 2 million views have been registered.