Cronick, the 2002 Course Rater of the Year, is retiring after a stagger- ing 40 years of volunteering for the NCGA. Cronick, who
John Cronick Al Lewis
retired from his original job of running the family mattress business in 1995, has seen course rating become
much more complex, yet ef- fective over the years. When Cronick began in 1972, he would rate by guessing what a scratch handicap would shoot if he played a hole 10 times. Now, of course, the process
is much more detailed and accurate. The Del Paso CC member still plays twice a week, but he’ll miss rating and playing the mountain courses. While rating wasn’t all fun and games, playing gave Cronick valuable insight into how diffi cult a course’s greens played, which he could then factor into his calculations. Al Lewis is also retiring
from volunteering as a tourna- ment offi cial for 36 years, a career that spans the explosive growth of the NCGA tourna- ment program into the largest amateur tournament program in the nation. Lewis earned Tournament Offi cial of the Year honors in 1990.
Barbara Vandeweghe elected to San Jose CC Hall of Fame
Barbara Vandeweghe became the fi rst woman elected to the San Jose CC Hall of Fame, joining such past honorees as Ernie Pieper, Eddie Duino Sr., Roger Maltbie and course architect Tom Nichol, among others. Vandeweghe‘s outstanding amateur golf accomplishments make her a fi ne addition to this group. She won the North/ South Senior Championship in 1995 and 1996 and the Santa Clara County Champi- onship four times. She won 18 club champi- onships at San Jose CC and 12 at Cypress Point Club. She has played in nine U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championships and one US Mid-Amateur Championship. Vandeweghe is the wife of former
NCGA president and Distiguished Service Award winner Gary Vandeweghe.
Experience the Unforgettable
Play our two world-class golf courses, Firecliff and Mountain View. The Palm Desert Golf Academy offers PGA certifi ed professional instruction to elevate your game to the next level.
Firecliff v Mountain View
One Legendary Location... Two Unforgettable Courses
Award-Winning Golf • Golf Outings • Weddings • Banquets Scenic Dining • The Palm Desert Golf Academy • Business Meetings