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From the Editor Welcome to another year of NCGA membership.


A


nd what a year it will be. We’ve got the debut of a renewed Poppy Hills, a firmer, faster and more fun NCGA members’ course. The new Poppy unveils April 4, and if early reactions are any indication,


NCGA members will be the envy of the golf world. Access to the gem in Pebble Beach at a very healthy discount is a steal. As most know, Robert Trent Jones Jr. was at the helm of the renovation, and on page 28, the San Francisco Chronicle’s Ron Kroichick explores the architect’s evolution from Poppy’s original opening in 1986 to the philosophies that guide today’s reincarnation. One focus of the new


Poppy will be pace of play, as the renovated course’s rough-free setup and toned down greens should speed up the experience. Sports Illustrated ’s Alan Shipnuck takes a somewhat iconoclas-


tic view of the subject, placing the responsibility for pace on the course and its architecture, rather than solely on the golfer. Of all the issues the game faces, this one comes the


closest to home. I choose to play golf at odd times to avoid waiting, and I measure my enjoyment not just by score, but by how fast I am able to play. As a young assistant golf professional many years ago, I was able to play nine holes with a cart in a half hour or less. I’m certain there are many golfers who play equally quickly. I also realize that many golfers don’t look at the golf course as a place to be rushed. But I think we all can agree that when you find yourself waiting multiple times per round, your enjoyment of the game diminishes. It seems to me that pace issues revolve around


looking for lost balls and taking too much time on the putting green. I sometimes find it humorous to picture an anthropologist observing four golfers on a green, trying to figure out what they are doing. Golf generally moves briskly from tee to green, but can often grind to a halt while we clean our balls, mark one-footers instead of continuous putting, and spend more time reading the green than a filibuster. Signing pace pledges and catchy slogans only go so far


in addressing a widespread cultural problem. Hopefully you will find Shipnuck’s article as compelling as we do.


As you may remember from recent issues, we initi- ated an awareness campaign to promote the NCGA and the region’s rich history centered around its best play- ers and most memorable personalities. Nick Watney, Johnny Miller, Ken Venturi and Juli Inkster have already been highlighted. This edition features Natalie Gulbis. In our interview, the Sacramento native spoke proudly about the dominance Northern California women have exhibited over the years. She mentioned a photo taken at the Solheim Cup a few years ago in which many of the 12 women on the U.S. team had California logos on their bags—and all five were from Northern California. A portion of that photo is below. The winter edition of NCGA Golf continues two


traditions—spotlighting the home club of the NCGA president (in this case Brian Morse’s Merced Golf and Country Club)—and providing a comprehensive direc- tory of golf clubs in the region. One thing missing from the 2014 directory is individual maps of each course. We took the maps out because in the age of smart phones and GPS units in cars, they had outlived their usefulness. Instead, for the first time, we have printed the entire directory in full color and have included beautiful photos of courses from the NCGA Member Tee Time Portal, as well as private clubs that support Youth on Course. A Q &A with legend Gary Player, a travel log of the


West Coast PGA Tour venues provided by Stephanie Wei (her blog, Wei Under Par, is a must-read) and an expanded Shag Bag section, among other features, round out the issue. And don’t miss the NCGA member-exclu- sive coupon from Worldwide Golf Shops on page 17. I hope to see you at Poppy Hills beginning in April.


SCOTT SEWARD


12 / NCGA.ORG / WINTER 2014


PHOTO: AP


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