Golfing News & Blog Articles

Faces of the NCGA: Melissa Spenser and Her Self-Designed Golf Outfits

August 26, 2021

We know there are many of our players who have talents beyond their golf ability, but Melissa Spenser stands out from the crowd with her self-designed and crafted golf outfits.   We caught up with Melissa at a recent tournament where she was wearing a golf outfit that she designed and sewed herself.

What inspired you to create your own golf outfits? I started sewing during COVID, first it was sewing masks for my family, my doctor and nurse friends. Then some drapes for my bedroom. One day I was looking online and thought I’d try to make a shirt, and that started me down the rabbit hole. I made that shirt and then started looking for other patterns. A year and a half later I have 4 new machines (2 sewing machines, including a beautiful vintage 1966 Singer, a serger and an overstitch machine), a ton of fabric and lots of patterns. Once I started golfing again during the pandemic I would look at other ladies’ cute outfits and think that I could make that myself. I would also go to pro shops or golf stores for ideas and then turn those ideas into outfits for myself. I haven’t bought any clothing in over two years.

When did you start to design your own clothing? Most of the clothes that I make are from patterns that I buy or download online. I have taken a golf shirt that I liked and fit well and made a pattern from it by tracing the shirt to get the size, and then just figured out how to sew it together. I have also taken someone else’s pattern and hacked it to be like an outfit that I have seen and wanted to duplicate.

NCGA Golf Magazine Going Digital

August 25, 2021 

We Heard You

NCGA Golf Magazine is Going Digital Only

In line with feedback from our members and further efforts to reduce our environmental footprint, while also enhancing our communications with bonus content, the NCGA will begin delivering the award-winning NCGA Golf Magazine via email and our website only unless we hear from you otherwise. To continue receiving a printed version of the magazine please Click Here
Visit our website at NCGA.org, where the magazine can always be found on the homepage (see Featured Box) and at NCGA Golf Magazine under the News tab drop-down.

 

 

How Golf Courses Can Manage Drought

August 24, 2021

 

 

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Spirit of the Game: Lee Trevino

August 19, 2021

All golfers are self-made, but the man who made the most out of what he started with has to be Lee Trevino.

Trevino rose from a three-room shack with no plumbing in east Dallas to become arguably the most consistent shotmaker the game has ever seen. Through an agile mind, a tremendous work ethic and a sense of moment that belongs to the natural performer, Trevino carved a way to the top that is unlike any other in golf history.

Starting as a caddy and coming up through the ranks of driving ranges, military golf and hustling, Trevino first burst into big-time professional golf full blown. He was a squat 5-foot-7, 180-pound ball of fire whose rapid wit made players and galleries laugh, but whose game commanded their respect

Faces of the NCGA: Architect Tom Doak

August 17, 2021

 

Although he’s a student of the late golf course design legend Pete Dye, Tom Doak’s biggest influence has always been NCGA Hall of Fame architect Alister MacKenzie, whose portfolio includes Northern California gems Cypress Point Club and Pasatiempo GC.

In 2007, Doak helped restore Pasatiempo, which is located in Santa Cruz. Among his most famous designs include Pacific Dunes in Oregon, Ballyneal in Colorado and Cape Kidnappers in New Zealand.

As per his love for MacKenzie, in 2001 Doak penned the book, ‘The Life and Work of Dr. Alister MacKenzie.’  His latest book, ‘The Making of Pacific Dunes’ is now available.

NCGA Fitness: Remember to Hydrate

August 17, 2021

Dehydration is bad for your health and for your golf game!

These five tips are some simple ways to stay healthy and hydrated.

DRINK – Hydrate before you get to the course. Start your day with a glass or two of water and give your body a jump start.   Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink.   When you are thirsty you are already starting to feel the effects of dehydration.FLAVOR – Watch out for Sports Drinks as they may contain excessive amounts of sugar. Energy drinks contain sugar and caffeine.  Water is always your best option for maximum hydration.  If plain water is too boring boost the flavor by adding fruit, cucumber, mint etc.EAT – Eating hydrating fruits and vegetables during your round will help you stay hydrated. They are also packed with important electrolytes, replacing energy, and giving you even more hydrating power.ALCOHOL – Alcohol not only increases your risk of dehydration, but also impairs play. Alcohol can impact your game as it decreases concentration, agility, motor skills, balance, and strategic decision-making. Save the alcohol for the 19th hole!HABIT – Create a hydrating habit. Maybe you take a drink every other hole or before each tee shot. Try and stick with that throughout your round. Use your water breaks to relax and calm your nerves out on the course.

Finally – Rehydrate with water and eat some food after a round before you unwind with a cocktail. Staying properly hydrated will improve your performance and maybe even lower your score!

Cheers!

 

Spirit of the Game: Renee Powell

August 3, 2021

From Clearview Golf Club

Renee Powell is one of the most resilient and persevering athletes of our time.

Raised on an East Canton, Ohio golf course built by her father, William “Bill” Powell, during times of racial adversity and segregation, Renee learned early on what it meant to excel against the odds. By the age of three she was swinging a golf club for the first time, and early into her teenage years she had won more than 30 tournaments.

Rule of the Month: Order of Play/Ready Golf

August 2, 2021

When starting a hole, generally the player with the lowest score on the previous hole plays first. After starting a hole, the ball farthest from the hole is usually played first. However, the Rules encourage “ready golf” to help improve pace of play as long as it is done in a safe and responsible manner.

In four-ball play, you and your partner can play in whatever order you think is best when it is your side’s turn to play.

FAQs:

Can I play out of turn to save time?Can my partner and I play in whatever order we choose?

Read the Rules:

Rule 5.6 – Unreasonable Delay; Prompt Pace of PlayRule 6.4 – Order of Play When Playing Hole

 

2020-2021 JTNC Players of the Year

July 28, 2021

 

 

Girls’ Player of the Year—Adora Liu

At the end of the 2019-2020 JTNC season, Newark resident Adora Liu found herself just inside the top 50 of the Player of the Year standings. In a tie for 48th.

Cameron Champ Gets Third PGA Tour Victory

July 25, 2021

Cameron Champ fended off dehydration and crisply putted his way to a 5-under 66 on Sunday, winning the 3M Open by two strokes for his third career PGA TOUR victory.

The 26-year-old Champ, of Sacramento, had five birdies in a bogey-free round to finish at 15-under 269 at TPC Twin Cities. Louis Oosthuizen, Jhonattan Vegas and Charl Schwartzel tied for second.

Oosthuizen shot 66, too, in a much stronger finish than the previous weekend at the Open Championship, where his 54-hole lead turned into a tie for third after a fourth-round 71.

Playing six pairs ahead of Champ, Oosthuizen birdied three of the last four holes to give himself an outside chance. His approach to the 18th green almost yielded an eagle on the PGA TOUR’s hardest par-5 hole, but the ball lipped out. He made a 2 1/2 foot putt for birdie instead. Schwartzel, his fellow South African, posted a 68 to match Vegas in the final round.

 

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NCGA Hall of Famer Wally Goodwin Dies Aged 94

July 21, 2021

Wally Goodwin, who left his mark in golf coaching at numerous institutions including Stanford University and was inducted into the NCGA Hall of Fame in 2014, died July 20 at the age of 94.

Goodwin, who coached at Stanford from 1987-2000, led the Cardinal to the 1994 NCAA title, its first since 1953, while finishing second in 1995. He was named national coach of the year in 1992 and 1994 and Pac-10 Coach of the Year twice and guided Stanford to a pair of conference championships while producing seven All-Americans.

Among his recruits that helped revive a struggling Stanford program were Tiger Woods, Notah Begay III, Casey Martin, Joel Kribel and current Cardinal head coach and NCGA Hall of Famer Conrad Ray.

“Stanford Golf and the world of college athletics lost an icon,” Ray said. “Coach Goodwin had a profound impact on so many young student-athletes over the years, including myself. He was not only a legendary coach, but also a man of character, hard work, and total positivity which carried over to everything he was involved in.”

Spirit of the Game: Morikawa’s Historic Win at The Open Championship

July 19, 2021

By Ben Everill, PGA Tour

Tiger’s killer irons and instinct. Phil’s courage, smile and warmth.

Fellow Californian Collin Morikawa invoked thoughts of the two most successful Golden State-bred golfers who came before him as he became the first player to win two different majors in his debut at The 149th Open.

One is reluctant to tie the 24-year-old’s achievements to these legends, such is their enormity, but it is impossible not to watch the now five-time PGA TOUR winner and be amazed. False dawns for new prodigies have come and gone but in Morikawa we seem blessed with a stayer.

 

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Faces of the NCGA: Jim Valenti–Age Shooter

July 8, 2021

Do you dream of shooting your age someday? Data suggests that the odds are less than 9 in 1,000,000. For comparison, the odds of making a hole-in-one are 9 in 112,500.

Over at The Villages Golf and Country Club, a retirement community for those ages 55-plus, Men’s Club member Jim Valenti, age 84, does it regularly. The Villages officials discovered his accomplishments several years ago and have been tracking his scores since. At age 84, the frequency is increasing. (62% of the time in 2021).

Recently, on July 2 Jim posted an 80, marking this as the 200th time he has posted a score at or below his age.

 

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