Promoting the Game
Last July the board approved an updated strategic plan that will carry the Northern California Golf Association into the future with the intent to grow membership and to become more member intimate. The mission statement from the original plan is still the foundation of the NCGA: “Our Association seeks to support and promote the game of golf in Northern California and to enhance the knowledge, enjoyment and participation of NCGA members.” The NCGA’s promise is to “do everything we can to promote golf.”
The NCGA tournament program offers members the opportunity to participate in championship golf at all skill levels. However, through the direction of the strategic plan the Rules and Competitions Department and tournament committee will continuously evaluate our existing program in order to provide what is best for our members who wish to experience championship golf.
Part of the plan is to develop partnerships and further expand relationships with other golf associations to grow the game. The tournament program this year will include two additional events in conjunction with the Junior Golf Association of Northern California, the Women’s Golf Association of Northern California and the Pacific Women’s Golf Association.
With the JGANC, we will host the Northern California Junior Players’ Championship. The event will be played at Ridgemark Golf and Country Club July 5-6. The second event will be the Women’s Four-Ball Championship hosted by the NCGA, the WGANC and the PWGA September 6-7 at Poppy Ridge. We are very excited about working with these organizations to pool all resources in growing the game of golf through these inaugural events.
We have also been working for many years with the California Interscholastic Federation in administering the high school boys’ and girls’ Northern California High School Championships and their State Championships. Additionally, we provide assistance for the California Community Colleges for their Northern California Championship and their State Championship every other year.
Another element of the plan is to replace the 30 days at Spyglass Hill for our tournament program. Our 50-year contract for the use of these days expires March, 2016. A subcommittee will study this issue and make recommendations to the tournament committee as to what Poppy Hills and Poppy Ridge will absorb. In some cases our member clubs might be able to provide assistance as well. The 30 days at Spyglass Hill is a large reason our tournament program has been so successful over the years. It really allowed the NCGA to build a strong base for its existing program. The privilege of having our members play on what I think is one of the best competition courses in the country will be missed.
This new strategic plan provides direction and resources for the Rules and Competitions Department to provide our members who elect to participate in championship golf the best experience possible.
Gentlemen’s Gentleman
In January the NCGA and I lost a true friend, John Zoller. “Mr. Z” was the second executive director of the NCGA and the person who hired me 25 years ago. It was a privilege to have been associated with John. He provided me the opportunity for a career in amateur golf which I have cherished for all these years. His greatest influence on me was how to treat people and make them feel good about themselves; John was the best. He will be missed, especially on the Monterey Peninsula, and I will always be grateful for his support. He was truly a “Gentlemen’s Gentleman.”