Membership Options: The NCGA offers several ways to join.
Clubs Seeking Members: Some NCGA member clubs are actively seeking members.
NCGA Foundation: The charitable arm of the NCGA seeks to promote life skills and values through the game of golf to deserving youths in communities across Northern California. This includes the Youth on Course initiative which strives to offer the youth of Northern California access to golf courses by subsidizing discounted green fees so a child pays no more than $5.
NCGA Golf Magazine: The official publication of the Northern California Golf Association, NCGA Golf is the largest regional golf association magazine in the United States. The quarterly publication is mailed to all of the approximately 180,000 NCGA members, and regularly features stories on golf courses, travel, instruction, the Rules of Golf and other issues. The Bluebook, which is mailed in January, is the most comprehensive directory of golf in Northern California and includes listings for member clubs, public and private courses (including detailed maps). Advertising Information.
Associate Clubs: This classification of NCGA membership provides a golf organization that is not associated with a golf course facility—and is organized primarily to pursue the game of golf—an opportunity to join and enjoy the services provided by the NCGA.
Course Rating: Utilizing the USGA’s course rating system, a committee of 85 raters creates a strong foundation for the Handicap System. The NCGA provides accurate hole measurements to courses in Northern California using a state-of-the-art GPS system.
Members-Only Outings: The NCGA Members-Only Outing program was a new addition in 2007 to the ever-growing list of NCGA member benefits. The goal of the outings is to offer NCGA members more access, at a discounted rate, to a variety of private and resort golf courses. The cost of each outing will typically cover green fees, range balls, prize fund, cart, box lunch and tee prizes.
eClubs: The NCGA launched eClubs in eight areas in 2006, expanding membership opportunities while becoming one of the first golf associations in the world to offer Internet-based membership. The eight eClubs provide easy and affordable membership access to golfers across Northern California while reaching out to the golfers who previously had never found a club to join. To that end, the NCGA will not actively recruit members from existing regular or associate clubs. The intention is to make joining an NCGA Member Club as easy as possible.
Rules: During the spring and summer, 2 ½-day rules seminars are offered for interested members. Registration is online at www.ncga.org. There will be a series of on-course rules seminars offered throughout Northern California from April to October. Also, NCGA members can have their rules questions answered by e-mailing grogers@ncga.org.
Education: This department coordinates a variety of “Seminars to Go” for our members. Topics include: handicapping, course rating, the Rules of Golf, tournament administration, the NCGA Foundation, and golf course issues such as water, pesticides, and new grasses. Other events planned through the education department include the 2006 Women’s Golf Summit, and leadership focus groups for associate clubs, golf course general managers, and boards of directors.
Golf Legislation: NCGA monitors all legislation dealing with golf course management via a legislative advocate located in Sacramento.
Environmental and Water Resources: Acts as an information resource on turfgrass and water issues for all NCGA member clubs and golf course superintendents. Also provides educational programs to golf course personnel with helpful information on timely subject matters. To further stress key topics there is a Quarterly Bulletin - a four-page color brochure that highlights new turf research findings, quick hitting topics that track interesting industry trends, and turfgrass pathology updates.
The California Alliance for Golf: The major components of California’s golf industry formed the California Alliance for Golf to represent the positive interests of the game in the state. Numerous high-profile organizations, such as the NCGA, the Southern California Golf Association, the Northern California PGA of America, the Southern California PGA of America, the California Club Manager’s Association, the California Golf Course Superintendents’ Association and American Golf Corporation, were brought together to form this alliance. The initial founders represent more than 300,000 individual golfers and more than 900 golf courses throughout the state.
Seminars: The NCGA regularly schedules seminars on a variety of topics.
Intern Program: A highly competitive program, sponsored by the NCGA, the intern program provides on-the-job training to prepare individuals for a career in golf course management.
USGA P.J. Boatwright Internship: The NCGA offers a twelve-month internship in cooperation with the USGA, which is designed as a comprehensive introduction and extensive training experience to a qualified person in preparation for a career in golf administration.