Member Profile: Fumi Urabe 

Fumi Urabe, a long time PWGA member at Salinas Fairway Niners, is a rock star both on and off the course.  Like many female golfers, Fumi originally got involved playing because her husband is an avid golfer. Urabe took her first lessons in her early 20’s and now at the age of nearly 97 (May 10^th she will be 97 years old) she hasn’t looked back! “When my three children were younger, I didn’t play as much, but I still found time on the weekends to get out and play a little bit,” said Fumi. Once she became a more active member of her club in the 1980’s, she loved holding office positions. Fumi served as treasurer for the Fairway Niners for many years, and loved providing great prizes and incentives for the players in big tournaments.

When she’s not golfing, Fumi loves to fish in the ocean, bass fishing specifically. The Sea Cliff Pier in Santa Cruz is a frequent, and favorite, fishing spot for Fumi. On a few occasions, she’s caught upwards of 22 pound bass!!

“Some people ask me why I keep playing at my age. And I tell them I do it because I love the game, it’s keeping me young and healthy! Someone told me one time that I might die on the course, and that’s fine by me!” Fumi says. Continuing to walk and play golf is such a great way to keep your body healthy, and the game is so awesome for someone of any age!

Ladies, like Fumi, who have been playing for years are continually puzzled by the fact that there aren’t more ladies out playing! The PWGA has so many opportunities for ladies to get playing, even for beginners. With our Twilight Club, Niner Clubs, 18-hole Women’s clubs, and our NEW Caddie Club for beginners, there are plenty of great ways to get involved in the game! So get playing, or join a PWGA member club! Bring a friend too, because golf is always more enjoyable with a partner. And who knows, maybe you’ll still be playing like Fumi!

PWGA Poll: Haggin Oaks named NorCal’s
 top women-friendly public golf course

Rocklin, CA (April 12, 2016) – Sacramento’s Haggin Oaks collected more than twice as many votes as any other nominee in February voting conducted by the Pacific Women’s Golf Association to find the most women-friendly public golf course in Northern California.

PWGA Executive Director Caroline O’Brien will present an award to Haggin Oaks during the complex’s annual Golf Expo April 29-May 1.

“We’re very pleased at the participation of our members in the poll, and in its outcome,” O’Brien said. “Haggin Oaks has been a great partner to the PWGA, with five women’s clubs and a deep commitment to growing the game among women. And they’ve recently created a new position, Golf Ambassador, to help them strive for even higher participation and satisfaction among women golfers.”

That commitment starts with the customer-first philosophy that Ken Morton Sr. has insisted on since he started working part-time at Haggin Oaks in 1958. Today he’s CEO of Morton Golf, which manages the complex.

“Our staff is constantly being observed and nurtured to treat people with respect and with a caring and positive attitude,” Morton said. “We provide significant Customer Service Training as well as management training for monitoring and managing of behaviors. Our goal is for everyone to be a happy, friendly and enthusiastic staff member.”

Morton spoke in general about customer service, but acknowledged that the needs of the female golf customer warranted some research. The results – particularly statistics in the Sacramento Bee reporting that women’s golf declined as much as 40 percent after the last recession – prompted Morton to hire Linda Reid as Golf Ambassador to focus on training Haggin Oaks staff to serve and communicate better, especially with women golfers.

 “We have found that most of the problems we have with women is that we simply haven’t communicated with them to let them know what we are doing, why we are doing what we do and how what we do impacts women,” Morton said. “We must educate our staff about how to specifically communicate with the five different generations of women who enter the game and those who are already playing the game of golf. Each generation of women communicate differently and each generation looks at golf in a different way.”

Reid is developing such programs as “Wine and Wedges,” an evening clinic series, and “Get Course Ready,” an extension to the PGA of America’s popular “Get Golf Ready” introduction to the game. “If I can bring more players into the game by creating a welcoming, comfortable learning environment where they can make new friends, become healthier and embrace this great game, it’s good for them and it’s good for golf,” Reid said, noting that men are not excluded from programs designed to appeal to women.

Haggin Oaks was designed 83 years ago by the renowned architect Alister MacKenzie. Today there are five sets of tees on the walkable MacKenzie course, starting at 4,552 yards, and the two Arcade Creek nines have red tees at under 2,000 yards and an innovative short-game set at around 1,200. Rates depend on starting time; for instance, a prime 9 a.m. weekday time for a nonresident “guest” is $35.

PWGA poll voters’ comments included: “They just cater to women golfers in every way, including the store.” ... “Friendly employees and awesome women's programs.” ... “Has great women teachers.” ... “Fun to play and very accommodating to ladies, then the shopping!”

The famed-among-shoppers Haggin Oaks Super Store houses what may be the largest selection of women’s golf merchandise – especially fashion and shoes – in Northern California.

PGA Head Golf Professional Mike Woods was honored but not surprised to lead the way in PWGA balloting.

“We don’t track it, but I’d say our percentage of rounds by women is much higher than the (17 percent) industry average,” Woods said. “I think it could be as high as 25 percent. We take great pride in our personal relationships with all golfers, and hope to deepen each of those relationships in the years to come.”

With more than 400 voters selecting five courses each – most, of course, touting their home clubs --  Haggin Oaks wound up collecting nearly twice as many votes as runners-up Pacific Grove Golf Links and Lincoln’s Turkey Creek Golf Club. Bailey Creek in Lake Almanor and Sacramento’s Bartley Cavanaugh completed the top five.

Club Profile: Twilight Club Sacramento

Welcome, beginner, intermediate, & experienced golfers to the Twilight League! We are the only traveling league in the Sacramento PWGA. (Meaning we do not have a "home" course).

The Twilight League plays 9 holes on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday from April through September and our start time is 4pm. To name a few of the courses we play: Empire Rancho, Cherry Island, Land Park, Bartley Cavanaugh, Mather just to name a few.

We end our season with an end of the year tournament and a pot luck where we give out prizes. 

Please come out and join our Twilight League and enjoy an afternoon with a fun group of lady golfers! We welcome new members. Our first playday is Tuesday April 12 at Empire Ranch.

Sign up online at http://www.ghin.com/eclub/TwilightClubSacramento/

Volunteers Wanted for the US Women's Open  CordeValle, San Martin, Calif.

July 7-10, 2016

 The US Women’s Open is fast approaching. It will be here before we realize it.  They  need your help.  PWGA and WGANC are seeking volunteers for  holes  #14, 15 & 16.   We were assigned 116 people for the week.  As of today we have 66. We would love to have you join us.  It’s a great opportunity to volunteer but also to see some terrific golf.  Please contact your friends, relatives, neighbors, golf buddies and ask if they would like to be part of our marshal group. Information on Volunteer packages may be found here.  Please inform your local club or course(s) that volunteers are needed.  SIGN UP HERE

New in 2016...the PWGA Caddie Club!

You’re interested in women’s golf but not quite ready to join a club. You’ve loved golf but for whatever reason aren’t able to join a women’s golf club right now. Or, you just want to show your support for women’s golf in Northern California.

Introducing the Caddie Club, the Pacific Women’s Golf Association’s newest chapter, designed for aspiring golfers and women’s golf boosters. Open to all who are not full PWGA members but would like to support PWGA programs and philosophies, Caddie Club membership costs just $10 and comes with the following benefits:

• ·         Member pricing for PWGA social events and special programs, including upcoming “Mulligans and Mojitos” social golf clinics.
• ·         Special Caddie Club bag tag.
• ·         Special eBook welcome kit and a free subscription to GottaGoGolf Magazine (digital monthly).
• ·         Quarterly eNewsletter full of news about women’s golf in Northern California.
• ·         A connection to the inner workings of women’s golf in Northern California, and the endless possibilities of new friends, social outlets and business networking that come along with it.
• ·         Support for the PWGA’s efforts to grow the game among women.

Caddie Club members don’t play in PWGA tournaments or on PWGA playdays, but, of course, we hope they’ll want to eventually upgrade to full membership when their Caddie Club affiliation expires February 28, 2017.

Join online now! And PWGA members, this is a great way to encourage your friend to take a step toward getting into the game. Let her know: It’s better than a book club!