| Sport | Amateur Golf |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | NCGA |
| Founded | 1901 |
| Regional affiliation | Northern California |
| Official website | |
| www | |
 | |
The Northern California Golf Association (NCGA) was established in 1901 by five clubs-Menlo Country Club, Oakland Golf Club (now Claremont Country Club), Presidio Golf Club, Linda Vista (now San Jose Country Club), and San Francisco Golf Club—with the purpose of participating in the Pacific Coast Amateur Championship. After over 100 years in existence, the association now has 400 regular clubs and more than 850 associate clubs. The mission of the NCGA is “To support and promote the game of golf in Northern California and to enhance the knowledge, enjoyment and participation of NCGA members.” [1] NCGA is an association consisting of 400 regular clubs and more than 850 associate clubs with a total membership approaching 180,000 members. Members spread from the Oregon border to central California and east into Nevada, making the NCGA one of the largest regional golf associations in the world.
The NCGA conducted its first championship in 1903 and now has the most extensive amateur tournament calendar in the U.S.A. offering more than 50 championships each year. An estimated 50,000 members attempt to qualify for NCGA team events at the club level while an additional 15,000 members participate in individual events. The NCGA also provides officials for the Northern California High School Championships, the Northern California Community College and California Community College Championships, as well as selected major college events.
The championships offered today are possible in great part because of the 50-year contract signed in 1965 with the Pebble Beach Company, which entitled the NCGA to the complete use of Spyglass Hill Golf Course for 30 days per year. In 1986, the NCGA opened its own members course, Poppy Hills Golf Course in Pebble Beach, which was the first course in the United States to be owned and operated by an amateur golf association. Poppy Hills has played host to several prominent tournaments, including the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, and is consistently ranked among the top courses throughout the United States. The association continued to grow with the addition of a second course, Poppy Ridge Golf Course in Livermore in 1996. Poppy Ridge is easily accessible to NCGA members as approximately 90,000 of the nearly 180,000 NCGA members live within a 65-mile radius of the course.
NCGA Member Services
editDiscounted Green Fees
NCGA members receive heavily discounted green fees at Poppy Hills in Pebble Beach and Poppy Ridge in Livermore. Member rates at Poppy Hills are nearly 75% less than the public green fee of $195 (which is already the lowest public green fee of any course in the Del Monte Forest). Poppy Ridge’s member green fees are 40% lower than the public rate. Both NCGA member-owned courses received four star or higher in the latest Golf Digest “Places to Play Guide.” Carts at both facilities include GPS. NCGA members also pay the discounted SCGA member rate at the SCGA Golf Course in Murrieta.
Pebble Beach Gate Fee Waived
NCGA members, on the day they play at Poppy Hills, can enter 17 Mile Drive and the Pebble Beach area free of charge.
Free Lessons
NCGA members can take advantage of group lessons with golf professionals for free. These lessons will take place at numerous facilities throughout the region including Poppy Hills, Poppy Ridge. San Jose Municipal, Callippe Preserve, Crystal Springs, Deep Cliff, Eureka, Foxtail, Los Lagos, Mather, Metropolitan, Napa, Rancho del Pueblo, Riverside, Valley Oaks and Pebble Beach.
Members-Only Outings at Private/Resort Golf Courses
Golf at courses not normally available to the public at a significant discount has become an added member benefit. Member outings at facilities such as Pasatiempo, Morgan Creek, Almaden, Granite Bay or El Macero are offered at a reasonable cost. One outing will be scheduled per month.
Discounted Merchandise
Members receive a 20% discount on all regularly-priced merchandise at the award-winning Poppy Hills and Poppy Ridge golf shops.
Free Club Fittings
Free club fittings, a $100 value, are offered through both Poppy Hills and Poppy Ridge’s golf shops. Fittings are calibrated through the use of a launch monitor and are performed by trained club fitters who evaluate the loft, lie, length, shaft and grip of a player’s clubs. Members also receive a 20% discount on all clubs purchased through the Poppy Hills and Poppy Ridge golf shops.
NCGA Golf Magazine
NCGA Golf, the official publication of the Northern California Golf Association, 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).
Inns by the Sea Discount
NCGA members enjoy tremendous savings at Inns by the Sea’s eight properties including: Candle Light Inn, Carriage House Inn, Dolphin Inn, Svendsgaard’s Inn and Wayside Inn in Carmel. Savings are also available at the Babbling Brook Inn in Santa Cruz, Inn at Depot Hill in Capitola, and Cypress Inn in Half Moon Bay. The discounts range from 25-40% September - June and from 15-30% through the summer months.
Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa Discount
NCGA members receive a discounted rate of 15% off of lowest prevailing rate.
Colonial Terrace - Carmel/Golf Package
NCGA members receive a discounted rate of 20% off Sunday-Thursday (May–October) and at any time the rest of the year.
Rules Seminars
Classroom rules seminars are offered for interested members throughout the summer. There is a series of on-course rules seminars offered throughout Northern California from April to October. Regular member clubs have access to a rules hotline to have questions answered or disputes resolved on weekends as well as a course marking service which will advise a club on proper marking under the Rules of Golf.
eClubhouse
This new member-club management tool offers everything needed to build a website or accompany an existing site. With its easy-to-use, built-in site management tools, a club website can be created and customized in minutes. In addition, each site can be listed in a searchable database where potential members can find a club and even join online. Members of the site have access to association and club news and events, the ability to search for another golfer to play with, statistical tools and online event sign up.
Hole-in-One Sweepstakes
All members who have made a hole-in-one which has been reported to the NCGA receive a free gift and are entered in a year-end prize drawing.
Handicapping
Following the USGA Handicap System that allows golfers of differing abilities to compete against one another, the NCGA utilizes a network which allows a golfer to post scores at thousands of golf courses across the country.
Tournaments
The most extensive and comprehensive amateur tournament schedule in the country provides tournaments for golfers of all ages and abilities. Included in the tournament schedule are USGA and CGA qualifying events.
NCGA Player Points Program
Began in 1970 as a method of selecting players to represent the NCGA in team competitions with other regional golf associations, this program has grown to become one of the largest and most competitive amateur player points programs in the country. The season runs from October 1 to September 30 of the following year, culminating with the Player of the Year awards bestowed to the regular and senior point leaders at the NCGA Annual Meeting.
Team Match Program
Member clubs participate in home-and-home matches culminating with the finals at Poppy Hills Golf Course, the original NCGA member course.
NCGA Foundation
[2]
The charitable arm of the NCGA seeks to promote life skills and values through the game of golf to deserving youth 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.
Course Rating
Utilizing the USGA’s course rating system, a committee of more than 80 raters creates a strong foundation for the Handicap System.
Course Measurement
The NCGA provides accurate hole measurements to courses in Northern California using a state-of-the-art GPS system.
California Alliance for Golf
The NCGA, through its Environmental & Water Resources Department, is a leading participant in the California Alliance for Golf, a statewide golf-advocacy group taking a proactive approach to protect the golf industry. Water resources serves as the focal point for this organization.
Golf Legislation
The NCGA monitors all legislation dealing with golf course management via a legislative advocate located in Sacramento.
Turfgrass Research
The NCGA serves 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.
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[3]
References
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Category:Golf associations Category:Golf clubs and courses in California