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Keeping Score
State Amateur Changes Highlight 2007 Schedule
By Roger Val
Hopefully the start to the 2007 tournament season will be dryer than last year. The tournament committee and the board of directors are excited about this year’s schedule and programs being offered to the members. We have made a few adjustments with the purpose of providing our membership the very best experience when participating in an NCGA tournament.
I want to remind all tournament chairmen and players to read the tournament policies located in this magazine and mark your calendars for the closing dates of the events that you wish to enter. Our schedule has been published since last October, and with the online registration process there are no reasons to not participate.
The following events and procedures include the more significant changes for 2007.
California State Amateur Changes Direction
The 2007 California Golf Association Amateur Championship will be played at Monterey Peninsula Country Club. This championship, which started in 1912, has been played at Pebble Beach Golf Links all but two times since 1919. It is the intent of the CGA Board of Directors to rotate one of the oldest state amateur championships. The championship will be played in Southern California in 2008.
I want to thank the Pebble Beach Company for the support of this prestigious event. They have been instrumental in developing the rich tradition of the Amateur since 1919. However, because of the format changes and rising costs, the CGA Board felt it was time to go in a different direction. Now, players that qualify for the California State Amateur will have their practice round, stroke-play qualifying and all match play at the same venue.
The courses at MPCC (Dunes and Shore) provide a true test for players competing for the title of California Golf Association Amateur Champion. If you wish to participate and play at one of California’s finest private country clubs it is important you meet the eligibility requirements and have your entry submitted through the online registration process by March 21. Qualifying will be held on two Mondays ¾ April 23 and April 30. Register early and select the qualifying site of your choice.
Other Changes
California State Senior Championship – Now that Poppy Hills will no longer have stroke-play qualifying for the State Amateur, the Senior Championship will start on Wednesday and finish on Friday. Practice rounds will take place on Tuesday.
Women’s Championship – This two-year-old event will add a senior scratch division in 2007. The eligibility age for senior women is 50. Entry is on a first-come, first-serve basis as the number of entries has not reached the need to require qualifying. It is important that if you wish to participate you must be a member of the NCGA with an index of 7.4 or lower for both scratch events and 7.5 and higher for the net flights. It is important to enter early so you can be a part of this great championship at Poppy Hills.
Women’s Four-Ball Net – This tournament was introduced this past year and had a good start even though we did not have a full field. In 2007 we are going to expand the field size by inviting members of the Women’s Golf Association of Northern California and the Pacific Women’s Golf Association to participate as a joint championship. Therefore women belonging to any one of the three organizations will be able to enter. The tournament will not have a qualifier so entry will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.
NCGA Junior – Starting this year the Junior Championship will allow girls between the ages of 12 and 14 to participate. This championship does not require juniors to be members of the NCGA but it is highly recommended. Entry is through the NCGA online registration process and the event requires qualifying.
Master Division Four-Ball – The Master Division Four-Ball has not produced enough entries to require qualifying. Therefore entries will be on a first-come, first-serve basis for the first 56 teams. It is important that if the event is full that players still register and be placed on the waiting list. This will enable us to track interest and hopefully the event will once again require qualifying.
New Event
Northern California Junior Players Championship – The NCGA and the Junior Golf Association of Northern California are joining together to run the inaugural Northern California Junior Players Championship to be played at Ridgemark GCC July 5-6. Entry is on a first-come, first-serve basis and requires membership in the JGANC. Both organizations are excited about this new joint venture and it is the intent to make this tournament a prestigious and long-lasting championship. Entries will only be taken online and will close June 1.
Online Registration
Club Events - Last year we made online registration available for club events. Not many clubs took advantage of the process and still entered by the paper method. We are hoping that more clubs utilize the online procedure as it provides many benefits. One major advantage is that you can select your players’ qualifying sites if qualifying is required and have immediate confirmation. The entry deadline is extended from 5 p.m. at the lock box to midnight of the date of closing. In order to use the online procedure each club must submit up to two names of members or staff to the NCGA who will represent the club. This is important because the system is password protected. If you have not submitted your names by now it is important to do so right away to take advantage of the process.
This information, including a registration card for identifying your two club representatives, was sent with the Annual Fall Renewal Packets last October. If this is not available to you, simply call the Rules and Competitions Department and the staff will be glad to assist you.
Player Profile – If you have used the online registration procedure in the past year and have new personal information to update (i.e. address change, phone numbers, etc.) you can go into the online database and make your own changes. You are encouraged to do this prior to the start of our season so we are ensured of having the most up-to-date contact information.