THE NEWSLETTER FOR THE WOMEN S GOLF ASSOCIATION OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SUMMER President, Penny Wright

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1 THE NEWSLETTER FOR THE WOMEN S GOLF ASSOCIATION OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA SUMMER 2015 President s Message Dear Ladies, It s hard to believe we re almost half way through Thankfully we re not nearly halfway through our tournament season! I hope you ve had the opportunity to play in one of your WGANC tournaments, and if not, that you have one picked out you re going to play. It s so fun to see everyone having such a good time and each event reminds me what a wonderful organization this is. One of the perks of being President is that I have the opportunity to meet and learn about so many of you. It s very President, Penny Wright apparent that our membership has a wonderful diversity, which is one of the WGANC s enduring and unique qualities. From highly competitive players pushing themselves to the next level to fun-loving ladies who enjoy swinging their sticks on a beautiful sunny day with friends, there is a special place in the WGANC for every lady. For those of you that thrive on the competition, Stroke Play is coming up in September at Del Rio, Turlock, and Spring Creek. And if you carry a little more than an average handicap, we have the Classic at Oakmont with its iconic prize, the Lady in the Skirt medallion. If there are some ladies who are new to your club or the WGANC, please let them know what a wonderful time we all have and get them out on the course! With tournaments, open days, invitationals, and just plain fun days golfing with friends, this is the busy season for us all. Despite our packed schedules, please try and help out our junior girls in Northern California. This aspect of our organization encourages young women to appreciate and enjoy our wonderful game of golf. It truly is a thrilling and enriching feeling (continued on page 4) Junior Girls Grant Program Cathy Stroh, Junior Girls Director, is processing applications for WGANC s Jr. Girls Grant Program. New this year, Junior Girls Golf Programs throughout Northern California submitted applications to potentially receive funds for their programs. Up to $1, may be granted to pay for golf clubs, uniforms, tournament or entry fees, or other needed items for Jr. Girls Golf programs. The application period closed at the end of June, however, it is not too soon to begin thinking ahead for next year. You may find the application on the WGANC website. IN THIS ISSUE President s Message Junior Girls Grant Program You Are a Member of WGANC Rules Seminars Upcoming Tournaments Junior Girls Rules Corner Contra Costa Country Club Turns 90 Survey Monkey Become a WGANC Director Upcoming Open Days Alta Sierra /14 Round Hill /14 Yolo Fliers /21 Claremont /23 Crazy Horse /23 Lake Wildwood /23 Cold Springs /03 Baywood /11 San Francisco (N-Z)... 8/12 Lincoln Hills /13 Napa Valley /19 Contra Costa /20 Pine Mountain /20 Fountain Grove /03

2 You are a member of WGANC What does that mean? That s a great question! We on the Board of WGANC and those who work in the office are happy that you asked, because we want everyone to know all about WGANC and the benefits of belonging. You play golf! You play golf at your club with your friends. You play golf at local private courses in Open Days, guest days, and invitationals. You play because you love the game. Open Days are unique to WGANC member clubs. No other golf organization in the world offers its members open play days at outstanding private courses, that s free of green fees. Our member clubs include some of the most prestigious clubs in Northern California as well as some amazing clubs in out-of-the-way cities that are true hidden gems. Participating in these Open Days often results in great new friendships. Clubs that are members of WGANC must maintain certain standards and must agree to host (waiving green fees) an Open Day each year, and a major tournament every 5 years. We also conduct major tournaments such as Team Challenge I and II. For those feeling their age, try an age related tournament like the Swingin Seniors. You can read more about upcoming tournaments on page 3, and peruse many pictures on our website at For the truly competitive player, there is Stroke Play, Match Play, and Champ of Champs. We also send a team of WGANC members to the North/South Matches, a competition between Northern and Southern California accomplished golfers, and the NorCal Cup Matches where WGANC players team up with PWGA players to compete against the NCPGA female pros. The gem and heart of the association is growing junior golf. These young ladies are our future. Please see the article about Junior Girls Golf, Sally Tomlinson and Helen Lengfeld on page 4. One major benefit of WGANC that many of us take for granted is the establishment, maintenance and adjustment of handicaps. WGANC partners with GHIN to do this as part of your dues. All you need do is open your and check erevision which is sent to you twice a month (whether ya need it or not!). Rules: Rules are complex. Who can you trust to give a decision on a particular situation? You may the office, or better yet, ask the Rules Committee to come to your club and give a workshop which may be held on or off the course. These workshops are great fun and open to all, men included. The women teaching the rules are accomplished graduates of the grueling NCGA Rules schools. Course Rating: Our certified course raters provide course ratings every eight years, and whenever a major change occurs at your course. Bottom line is this: WGANC does a lot for individual members and their clubs. Much of this is due to an enormous number of volunteer hours. That said, what exactly does your $30.00 and your Club s $50.00 annual fee pay for? First, thirty-cents of your fees goes to the Junior Girls fund. The remainder goes to the General Fund. The General Fund covers: Office space rental, and staff salary. We have a modest office at Stoneridge Mall where Vicki Wilson, Sue Ilg and Eva Monisteri work to provide support to Directors, members and agencies such as USGA, PWGA and NCGA among others, with whom we partner. If you get a chance, stop 2 in and say Hi. They would love to meet you. Printing and mailing of the Green Book website maintenance uniforms, computers, paper and printers, equipment for tournaments (i.e., walkie talkies) Transportation to events. Junior Girls Golf. Hole-in-one awards (Bling) GHIN Handicapping services NCGA Training on Rules USGA training for Course Raters Expenses related to the on course Rules presentations Annual Meeting costs TPP training for directors Resource networking through the Ambassador Program and Survey- Monkey. This is just a partial list, but you get the point. With the entire Northern California region of 106 clubs, representing over 11,000 members, there s a lot going on. If ever there is truth to the saying that there is strength in numbers, WGANC is the proof. The more clubs we have the lower cost per club and member. For the past 10 years, dues have not increased which is an amazing feat in California economy. If you want to know specifics about the budget please contact Sue Fleck, Treasurer, or Eva Monisteri, Executive Director. Their contact information is in the Green Book. The BIG takeaway from this article is; WGANC is here to serve your needs and we love doing it. Show us your support by attending as many Open Days and Tournaments as you can. That s what we re talking about!

3 Rules Seminars Seated above are Ryan Farb, PGA-NCGA Manager of Rules Education, and Gail Rogers NCGA Board Member, and former WGANC President. A special benefit of being a WGANC affiliate is the ability to attend informal rules seminars conducted by a team of NCGA trained rules officials. Lincoln Hills Golf Club is one of the many clubs that have taken advantage of these highly educational seminars. Linda Anselmo, Lincoln Hills Ladies Club Rules Chair, created Lulu, a fictitious, unlucky player, hacking and thwacking her way around the Orchard course, and getting herself into one troublesome spot after another. To the rescue came WGANC rules officials Annette Reynolds (Peach Tree), and Pat Zimmerman (Catta Verdera), to explain Lulu s options so that she could correct her situation. Using a Power Point presentation staged by ladies club Captain, Liza Valencia, Lulu eventually completed her round. Those fortunate enough to attend this seminar enjoyed a luncheon prior to the workshop. They took away a lot off information about the rules, and left with a better understanding of how the rules apply on their own course. Since play is limited at some of our courses during the winter months, Lake of the Pines Country Club in Auburn, took advantage of the downtime. Member Carolyn Bechly contacted WGANC asking for clarification on some situations that recently occurred. Rules gurus Debbie Mackey, (Riverview), and Sharon Peterson (Auburn Country Club), happily responded by conducting a seminar on Pace of Play, Etiquette, Water Hazards, Nearest Point of Relief, and other pertinent rules. For those who have never played the course, Lake of the Pines offers some very interesting holes that can create a few rules conundrums. The seminar was a hit. Over 70 members attended, coffee and snacks were provided, and the 18ers and 9ers enjoyed a nine-hole scramble/mixer after the presentation. Captain Diane Friedberg expressed her club s gratitude to Debbie and Sharon for a fun and informative morning. NCGA Rules Seminars In March, NCGA presented comprehensive Rules Schools at 5 locations throughout Northern California from Fresno to Sacramento. There were 212 participants, fifty-five were women, and many of those were WGANC Directors and Rules Officials. These Rules Seminars are extremely informative and open to all who are interested. Passing the exam is a real challenge and we are proud that our Rules Officials are certified. Upcoming Tournaments So far this year we have had fun competitions at Tierra Oaks, Riverview, Oakhurst, The Villages, Stanford and Corral de Tierra and Quail Lodge. All Beautiful venues. Plans have been finalized for the Team Challenge II, and the Match Play and Stroke Play championships. This year s Match Play event will be held at beautiful El Macero, centrally located in Sacramento. Match Play is a wonderful format where the player may have a really bad hole and the worst that can happen is she ll lose one hole; on to the next one. Team Challenge II, in October, will be at two gorgeous, and relatively flat courses, Kings Country Club, and Kings River Golf & Country Club. Don t let the location fool you. Those who play will be treated to great golf and delicious meals. (Take a few extra nickels in case you stay at the Tachi Casino, close to Kings CC.) Check out the WGANC website for results and pictures of all of the previous tournaments, and winners and competitors. Use the Shutterfly link for hundreds of pictures. Join us for the upcoming Match, Stroke Play and Team Challenge. Each tournament will provide a unique experience, camaraderie, good food and fun. We look forward to seeing you on the course. 3

4 Junior Girls Paula Creamer and Mina Harigae are LPGA professional golfers who once participated in junior golf programs in Northern California. Sally Tomlinson, long time USGA Junior Girls Committee member, has had the pleasure of watching those girls as they matured in the sport. She now has her sites on Kathleen Scavo (Benicia), Anna Zhou (attending Harvard), Yoonhee Kim (Danville), Aman and Kiran Sangha (San Mateo), and Yealimi Noh (Concord). Thirteen year old Yealimi, won the California State Girls Championship at age 12 and Kathleen won at age 12 and 13! Many clubs have conducted fund drives to benefit junior golf and it is so appreciated. Thirty cents of your WGANC dues go directly to Junior Girls. Your contributions and the additional funds provided by our Golden Donors (see the article in the Spring 2015 issue), play a vital role in ensuring that they have the ability to attend and compete in major events. Years ago WGANC and PWGA created a Travel Fund to provide airfare and related travel expenses for those who qualify for the prestigious USGA National Girls Junior Championship. The girls have a great time. Lincoln Hills Women s XVIII group had a very successful golf equipment drive and the Junior Girls golf team, the Center High Cougars, were the grateful recipients. Pictured with the bounty is Nancy Hastings, Lincoln Hills Club Captain. They giggle and swoon over the caddies at dinner and are serious, determined competitors the next day on the course. That is with good reason. The gallery has over 100 College Coaches scouting for talent, and many scholarships are awarded based on performance. The Helen Lengfeld Tournament to promote junior girls was so successful that it was decided a second Tournament would be conducted annually. (You can read more about the amazing Helen Lengfeld in the Spring 2014 issue of Through The Green). One is held in the Northern Region and one in the Bay Area. Young hopefuls have save the dates on their calendar for Rocklin, September 2nd and Poplar Creek, September 14th. Both tournaments are joint efforts of WGANC and PWGA, and will be the 2nd time in the Bay Area (San Mateo) and the 6th in Rocklin. WGANC is proud of the monies we collect that benefit Junior Girls programs and the girls, the coaches and their parents say Thank you. President s Message (cont.) watching these young ladies improve, grow, and revel in the joy we all experience on the links! The WGANC, along with PWGA, will be hosting two high school tournaments this summer in Rocklin and San Mateo. Please inquire with Cathy Stroh at or cathystroh4wganc@surewest.net to discover all the different ways you can help out. And as always, if you have any suggestions or questions, please call or send an to any of your directors or the WGANC office. Our door is always open. We truly love making sure our organization is running well, and is beneficial and fun for every member. With summer upon us, I wish you good times with family and friends and safe travels to wherever you vacation this season. All the very best, Penny Wright Pennywright.wganc@gmail.com WGANC is now on Facebook. Please like us at 4

5 Rules Corner: Water Hazards By Suzanne Olsen, Certified Rules Official, WGANC, NCGA I can never remember the difference between Yellow and Red! And some water hazards are marked red in spots, and yellow in others, so what to do? The most imp ortant thing to determine is the spot where your ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard. This is your reference point for taking relief with a one-stroke penalty. Note that if there is a red or yellow line on the ground, that is the margin. If there are only red or yellow stakes, the margin is the natural boundary of the water hazard. Bear in mind that you may hit out of a water hazard without penalty. Not all water hazards have water in them after all. Even if you decide to hit out of a water hazard, and then fail get it out, or hit it OB or into an unplayable lie outside of the hazard, you may still proceed under the water hazard Rule using the spot where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard as the reference point for taking relief. Let s review the options that cost a one-stroke penalty: Yellow, Two Options 1. Hit from where you originally hit the ball (stroke and distance) 2. Keep the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard between you and the flagstick. Drop the ball on the imaginary line that keeps that point between you and the flagstick, as far back as you want to go. Red, Four Options 1 & 2 are the same as for Yellow. 3. Drop a ball within two club lengths of the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the lateral hazard, no closer to the hole. You may use any club in your bag to measure. 4. Find a point on the other side of the hazard that is the same distance from the hole as your reference point and drop a ball within two club lengths of the margin, no closer to the hole. You may use any club in your bag to measure. As with many Rules providing relief options, not all options are always available in a given situation. The 4th option is one that is often not available, and when it is available, it is often forgotten. Too bad, since that option often takes the hazard completely out of play! There is a nice illustration of this option in the Rules book: A Quick Guide to the Rules of Golf: Water Hazards (Rule 26). The concept of where the ball last crossed the margin or the hazard is as confusing as the difference between Yellow and Red, so let s review that! In each of the three illustrations below, where did the ball last cross the margin of the hazard? Illustration #1 Illustration #2 Illustration #3 Y Y Z V W X Y Z X X U T T T Answers: Illustration #1: X is the reference point. The ball did not cross the margin at Y! So Yellow options available. Illustration #2: Z is the reference point. The ball crossed the margin and then rolled back across it into the hazard. Yellow options available. Illustration #3: Ok, so this is hyperbole... but I have seen a ball cross multiple times when trees were around a hazard! Z is the reference point. Red options are available. 5

6 Contra Costa Country Club Turns 90 Contra Costa Country Club turns 90 this May. It has always been a beautiful, challenging and captivating golf course, but time had taken its toll and the membership voted for and approved a total renovation. Robert Trent Jones II was hired for the project. He and his team arrived at CCCC in November 2014 to begin the design work. Their design included enlarging the fairways, opening vistas and adding bunkers, which Women s Club Captain, Debbie Pelligrini describes as diabolical. Some areas were restored to native grass in order to conserve water, and mounds and trees were removed for visual impact and to provide additional shot opportunities. The twenty-three year old greens were replaced with bent grass formulated to tolerate the use of reclaimed water and the stress of summer heat, states General Manager, Len Dumas. The result of all of this is nothing short of stunning. The renovation included a 4.9-acre state-of-the-art practice facility with 20 grass teeing stalls, bunkers, and chipping and putting greens. The course closed May 2014, and the 73-member women s club had to find golf elsewhere. The Women s Club arranged travel adventures, and with the help of Golf Professional Jacque Vigil, partnered with local courses to provide play dates. Mira Vista, The newly constructed 17th hole at Contra Costa, changed from a 4 par to a 5 par. Richmond, Sequoyah, Diablo, Oakhurst, Claremont, Moraga, Blackhawk, Green Valley, Castlewood, Orinda and Round Hill Country Clubs all pitched in with reciprocal play. The renovation, completed in November 2014, is in the final stages of growth. The driving range opened late February and play started on the front nine midmarch. By the middle of May the entire course was ready for play. Members all agreed that, although it s been a long wait, no play would take place prematurely. The golfing community reflects those sentiments as 59 new members joined during the renovation. We are so happy to have beautiful Contra Costa Country Club open again. Members, put this Open Day on your calendar, August 8, General Manager, Len Dumas with Ladies Club Captain, Debbie Pelligrini. We value your opinions! For that reason, WGANC has contracted with an online survey company, SurveyMonkey. You will periodically receive a short survey from us asking your opinions on various topics related to your golfing experiences and preferences. This is a great adjunctive tool to our Ambassador program and will help us understand your needs better. Each survey will be short and take no more then a few minutes to complete. We respect your concerns over being bombarded with s so they will be kept to a minimum, or you may easily opt out. 6

7 Become a WGANC Director We are seeking enthusiastic members to become directors in the Peninsula, South Bay and Monterey areas. Currently we are over 10,000 members strong. When WGANC began in 1907, women were very limited in where they could play and when. As with so many other things in life, women s movements were the only way change happened. Tenacious women who wanted more out of life banded together to attain some status. (Look at the club rosters as recent as Club champions and Officers were listed as Mrs. or Ms., not their first names!) One hundred years later we are still working to gain equal time on the course, entry into clubhouses, positioning of tee boxes appropriate to our games, and even placement of restrooms on the course. WGANC is constantly networking with other golfing organizations to improve playability and trying to develop best practices to be good stewards for our members. Through our efforts more young women are having the opportunity to develop their skills, possibly receive scholarships and hopefully join an enlarging LPGA. We need your talents, in business, writing and speaking skills, creative ideas, computer savvy and cheerful energy. Yes, a lot of dedication and work, but, oh, the rewards. Besides the camaraderie and sense of pride in promoting golf in the northern California area, Directors are given some very special privileges. Each year, a Director may select one major tournament they wish to play. That will guarantee them a spot in, for example, the Sassy Sixties. Every year we compete against the PWGA board in a fun tournament that is fully funded by the organization. You are encouraged to go to Rules School and the cost is defrayed. Open Days. Should you want to play a particular Open Day for which your club is eligible, you will go to the head of the class. Check out the pictures of the fabulous experience we had at Mayacama Country Club. The course, in the lush wine country, frequented by the likes of Michael Jordan and Payton Manning, hosted a caddies only golf experience for those lucky enough to be selected for participation in that Open Day. If you have questions about becoming a Director, please talk to your Regional Director. Her name and contact information is in the Green Book. Mayacama Country Club is located in the lush wine country, and has been frequented by the likes of Michael Jordan and Payton Manning. WGANC BOARD OF DIRECTORS Penny Wright President Theresa Grandi Vice President Sue Fleck Treasurer/Website Kim Algren Secretary/ Open Day Director Marti Lathrop Tournaments Mary Bull Assistant Junior Girls Janice Davis Assistant Tournament/ Newsletter Kelly Downey Assistant Tournament/ Rules Linda Nard Assistant Open Days/ Recruiting Frankie Spiva Membership/Marketing Cathy Stroh Junior Girls/Assistant Open Day Cindy Taylor Ambassador Barbara Lee Newsletter/ Susan Lyon Margaret McIntosh Sandi Zrnic Sharon Bradford Advisor WGANC STAFF Eva Monisteri Executive Director wganc@wganc.com Sue Ilg Office Assistant sue@wganc.com Through The Green is an official publication of the Women s Golf Association of Northern California Phone: (925) wganc@wganc.com Website: Vicki Wilson Office Assistant office@wganc.com