designers in the quest that’s set the sales manager back thousands of dollars. Along the way he’s picked up some favorites, including his overall top three of Spyglass Hill, Mayacama and Martis Camp. Yet to be completed are some difficult courses to acquire tee times on like Sharon Heights, Burlin- game, Vineyard Knolls and Cypress Point. Throughout his pursuit
Narez has developed an ever-growing appreciation for all that Northern California has to offer the golf community. “I’ve played in a lot of
Rich Narez is on a quest to play every hole on every course listed in the NCGA Bluebook.
golf is always on my mind, especially as I get closer to completing this quest.” The El Dorado resident
doesn’t go it alone in his dedication to the mission. Serrano’s director of golf John Reuer often helps obtain tee times and arrange reciprocity on some courses. Narez’s wife Barbara sup- ports and encourages his pursuits to spend time with “his 12 boys” on courses far and wide and even joins him on some of shorter trips. Long-time Bluebook partner-in-crime Alan Nager accompanies Narez on a multitude of his golf adventures, which once saw the pair travel to the Alturas area to play 11 courses totaling 126 holes in about a 72-hour span. According to Narez’s
extensive organizational spreadsheet, there are 470 Bluebook courses, if you count facilities with more
than 18 holes as two. With 26 more courses to play, he estimates completion of play- ing every hole on every course—following the Rules of Golf along the way—by the fall of 2013. Well, except for one frenetic spin in the twilight around a nine-hole course in Lone Pine. After a trip through Death Valley complete with a blowout on the highway, Narez and Nager arrived at Mount Whitney GC to find no one in the office. Running hole to hole without a scorecard, Na- rez played from any open tee box he could find until he had completed the track, with moon- light illuminating the last hole. He’s played a total of 4,738 unique holes by more than 125 course
different states and there are so many varied courses here in California within driving distance,” Narez said. “I’ve met some nice people doing this, too. Nothing excites me more than meeting somebody who’s a member
of a local course and hearing his or her story.” While the scenery and
stories might change after these 26 remaining Blue- book courses are over, the quests will continue. Next up is playing every course on the Big Island of Hawaii, where Narez has already logged about a dozen tracks. Then comes the pursuit to play at least one course in every state, preferably on the top 100 list. He’s already halfway there with 25 states down. After that? Perhaps one on every continent, with Narez having already knocked off Australia, Eu- rope and North America. But with 25 states and
four continents to go, it looks like the chase might have to expand to every country to quench the golf- course thirst of Rich Narez. –Jessica Lantz