NCGA-NCPGA Merge Junior Tours
Bryson Dechambeau
The Northern California Golf Association and the Northern California Section of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America have agreed to merge their respective junior tours into the Junior Tour of Northern California presented by the NCGA and NCPGA.
The merger presents an opportunity for the 4-year-old NCGA Junior Tour and the NCPGA Junior Tour, entering its second year, to continue their success in allowing young golfers to develop their skills against the top players in the region. The series of 18, two-round championships are scheduled at some of Northern California’s best courses and will be administered by top staff and rules-trained volunteers.
The tour kicks off with an event in Stockton at two of the finest private venues in the Central Valley: Brookside and Stockton Country Clubs. Other highlights on the schedule include Poppy Hills, which expects a full field plus a waiting list, Sharon Heights GCC in Menlo Park, San Jose CC as well as the season-ending Tour Championship at Stevinson Ranch. Scheduling encompasses all of Northern California from Hunter Ranch GC in Paso Robles to Haggin Oaks in Sacramento ensuring juniors throughout the region can participate.
“We are excited to join forces with the NCPGA,” said NCGA CEO/Executive Director Lyn Nelson. “The real winner is junior golf in our region. Contestants will enjoy top-notch venues, certified rules officials and championships for tremendous value. We take pride in offering juniors an unparalleled competitive environment.”
There will be a $40 membership fee to join the tour and each 36-hole tournament will cost $90. Utilizing a unique format, all tournaments are flighted by ability using the player’s handicaps rather than age. In testament to the quality of the championships, American Junior Golf Association performance-based exemptions are awarded to the boys and girls winners of every championship flight. Registration is available on ncga.org and ncpga.com.
“The merger between our associations is a great step forward for junior golf in Northern California,” said Chris Thomas, Executive Director/COO, NCPGA. “Both of our associations have independently managed our own tours in previous years, however with the experience and expertise that both associations possess, this new Tour is sure to provide junior players the best golf experience Northern California has to offer.”
2011 Schedule
| Spring | ||
| Date | Course | Location |
| March 12-13 | Brookside CC/Stockton CC | Stockton |
| March 19-20 | Sierra Meadows CC | Ahwahnee |
| March 26-27 | Diablo Grande GC | Patterson |
| April 9-10 | Hunter Ranch GC | Paso Robles |
| April 16-17 | Oakdale CC | Oakdale |
| April 30 – May 1 | Oakmont GC | Santa Rosa |
| Summer | ||
| Date | Course | Location |
| June 21-22 | Palo Alto Hills CC | Palo Alto |
| June 23-24 | Belmont CC | Fresno |
| July 18-19 | Metropolitan GL | Oakland |
| July 20-21 | Poppy Ridge GC | Livermore |
| August 1-2 | Poppy Hills GC | Pebble Beach |
| August 8-9 | San Jose CC | San Jose |
| Fall | ||
| Date | Course | Location |
| Sept 17-18 | Haggin Oaks GC | Sacramento |
| Sept 24-25 | Foxtail GC | Rohnert Park |
| October 8-9 | Greenhorn Creek GC | Angels Camp |
| October 15-16 | Poppy Ridge GC | Livermore |
| October 29-30 | Stevinson Ranch – Tour Championship | Stevinson |
About the Northern California Golf Association
Founded in 1901, the NCGA is the largest regional golf association in the country, with more than 160,000 individuals who belong to more than 1,250 members clubs throughout Northern California and into Nevada.
Among other services, the NCGA provides official handicap indexes, owns and operates two golf courses, Poppy Hills and Poppy Ridge, provides a vast array of discounts to members, conducts more than 50 championships annually, publishes NCGA Golf magazine and operates a Foundation to support deserving youth.
About the Northern California Section of the PGA (NCPGA)
Organized in 1920 to promote interest in the game of golf, the birth of this Association was heralded as an important step to the advancement of the game in this district. The Northern California Section is one out of 41 Sections of The PGA of America, the world’s largest working sports organization. With over 1,100 dedicated PGA Professionals and Apprentices at over 500 golf facilities throughout Northern California and Northwestern Nevada, the Association continues to have a positive impact on the game of golf and communities both regionally and nationally.