Interested individuals can call the Mayacama pro shop or visit mayacama.com to register. The cost has been reduced to $25 and includes a couple of shirts and a hat, plus an opportunity to play the Jack Nicklaus-designed course the following Tuesday for an appreciation day.

The California team includes recent U.S. Amateur medalist Jeff Wilson of Fairfield, State Amateur finalist Harry Rudolph of La Jolla and NCGA Player of the Year Randy Haag of Burlingame. The trio compete against similar teams from all 50 states in the biannual event that began in 1995. The stroke play tournament counts the low two of three scores per day toward the team’s total. Pennsylvania is the defending champion.

With the playing of the event, California joins Minnesota as the only states to host all 13 USGA national championships plus the Walker Cup, Curtis Cup and State Team Championships.

See some terrific amateur golf and play one of the best courses in California the Tuesday after the championship.

For every three NEW members an existing member brings in to the NCGA, the existing member will earn a complimentary foursome at either Poppy Hills or Poppy Ridge. A new member is anyone not active during the 2010 season.

The foursome must be played between November 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011; complimentary weekend and holiday play will occur after 12:00 p.m.

We hope this member referral program provides a nice incentive to help grow the game and enjoy championship golf for free at your member-owned golf courses, Poppy Hills and Poppy Ridge. Start recruiting members today. Visit ncga.org for more information or contact the membership department, (831) 625-4653.

Northern California Golf Association 3200 Lopez Road, Pebble Beach, CA 93953 Tel: (831) 625-4653 Web: www.ncga.org E-mail: ncgainfo@ncga.orgNCGA…the most important club in your bag keeps getting better.

Free clinics are presented

Free lunch is offered

The NCGA Membership Department travels to courses across the region in August and September  to present the NCGA’s wide range of member benefits, answer questions and promote the NCGA’s impact on your golf dollars in a series of road shows. The events take place on Saturdays and include free lunch, raffle drawings and clinics for NCGA members.

Dates and Locations

Saturday, September 11 — Haggin Oaks (Sacramento)

On the first tee you set up a game, determine course handicaps, negotiate terms and tee off. You play your usual game, maybe a little worse than what your handicap might indicate (as the handicap system actually predicts you should) but by the time the round is over you realize you’re going to have to take out a small loan to cover what you owe your opponent.

The golfer that defeated you was a crafty one. Draining all the putts that mattered yet developing yips when it didn’t. Striping it down the middle with a swing that looks like Ernie Els’ but then hitting it OB when his lead was secure. You know you’ve been victimized by a world-class sandbagger and the bad taste it leaves in your mouth could last a month.

But what can be done?  Together with the USGA, the NCGA has methodology in place to help clubs curb this nefarious practice:

1)      Peer Review – Yes, ensuring that the score your opponent just shot got accurately posted is the most important step. With the availability of online handicap lookup, this has never been easier.  Simply go to ncga.org’s homepage and in the green box, click “look up player by name.”  Then, after filling out the fields, you should be presented with that player’s scoring record – but be sure to click “recent scores” to determine whether a score has been posted. Without clicking “recent scores” you will only see the numbers that determined the current handicap and not those most recently posted.

2)      Skipping this step allows the bagger to escape once again. The most effective deterrent to sandbagging is a vigilant club.

3)       Posting important tournament scores with a “T.” Ask yourself this question – is this an event that will bring sandbaggers out from under the rock they live under? Is that $500 golf shop credit first prize going to inspire your club’s baggers to new creative heights? Then make sure you post those rounds with a “T.”

4)      Is your club observing the same player failing to post, not following the rules of equitable stroke control or taking other actions to manipulate scoring? There are tools available to handicap committees such as a posting a penalty score or in the most extreme cases, withdrawal of that player’s Handicap Index.

The NCGA’s comprehensive handicap certification program, now available online, outlines in complete detail the USGA Handicap System and  steps club officers can take to protect their members and others from the sickness that is sandbagging.

What do you think? What else can be done?

Wilson wrote the first draft of the constitution creating the phrase “We the People.” Calling that role “too important to ignore” Garrison has put in hours and hours of research and given talks and written a book on the historic figure.

“The ultimate goal is recognition of Mr. Wilson and what he did,” explained the San Francisco GC member. “It is gradually getting done. There have been a number of stories, law review articles and other printings by scholars who recognize Mr. Wilson and his contribution to the creation of America, which is profound. His proposal of a strong but divided central government controlled by the people through frequent elections was adopted.”

Garrison explained that James Madison was the only note taker during the constitutional convention. All delegates swore themselves to secrecy and it wasn’t for 50 years that Madison’s notes were revealed. “The facts of life are that the world hates a vacuum and a lot of skewed information regarding the creation of our constitution existed. Until Mr. Madison’s notes were revealed in 1840 no one knew what Mr. Wilson had done.”

Garrison and his wife Mary own a house one block from the Old Course in St. Andrews and he calls himself a “history buff” who has been captivated by Wilson’s story. The 84 year-old is retired from an illustrious 40-year career practicing law in San Francisco and deems golf an important part of his life.

The R&A member gives talks about Mr Wilson and spreads the word when he can. “American history is too important not to be correct. I invite everyone to review it, consider it, discuss it and analyze it and come up with a correct understanding of the creation of America.”

A Rules of Golf FAQ, golf course directory featuring point-to-point driving directions, tournament information and score posting are all available through the site. You can also access up-to-date handicap index information or tap a button to view the entire website.

To add an easy-access icon to your iPhone’s home screen, tap the “+” at the bottom of the display while on mobile.ncga.org, and then tap “Add to Home Screen.”  Note, you must visit mobile.ncga.org to add the special icon, not www.ncga.org.

View other recently-reviewed smartphone applications from the spring edition of NCGA Golf.