By BRUCE MEADOWS
FEBRUARY 2024
Can you add to this list ???
A while back, when we lost local golf legend Dean James, I got to thinking about the many “golf people” I’ve met since moving from Klamath Falls, Ore. to Santa Rosa in 1977.
Among those I first came into contact with as a sportswriter for the Santa Rosa Press Democrat was James as well as Mike Jonas, who was at the time at Santa Rosa G&CC.
It got me to thinking about the many golfers – pro and amateur – I had crossed paths with through writing about golf and playing it.
So I started to make a list, which I have continued to add to on a fairly regular basis since Dean left us.
And that got me to thinking about whether there is a need or any desire by anyone other than myself to create some sort of “Redwood Empire Golf Hall of Fame.”
The “Hall” would include those well-known in the golfing community – not just Sonoma County, but surrounding counties – and also some who have had an impact locally on the game even though many people may not be as familiar with their names.
I have spoken with longtime local golfers such as Greg Anderson, Jessica Reese-Quayle and Jason Schmuhl, and others.
Their reaction was positive, so . . . I am going to show you my list in the hope you will offer an opinion on the names I have chosen as well as giving me additional names that would be on your “list.”
So, in no particular order, the way I see it . . .
Dean James; Bill and Jim Fisher; Bill and Dan Ross; Tom Isaac; Charles and Jeanne Schulz; Lee Farris; Jessica Reese; Val Verhunce; Ron Fream; Pam Palmieri; Greg Anderson;
Bob Borowicz, Bill Carson; Dave Herrington; Jim Strong; Fred Bliss; Frank Johnson; Jimmy Stewart; Rich Coombs; Mike Jonas.
John Theilade; John Murray; Marian Arcia; Jim Knego; John Flachman; Jason Schmuhl; Rob Watson; Nancy Maul; John Berry.
Gaylord Schaap; Vern Ayers; Charlie Gibson; John Russell; Rod Metzler; Dave Johnson; Amanda Beeler; Monica Borowicz; Don Ballard; Wendell Nordby.
John Grund; Pete Perrelli; Mike Clark; Ray Leach; Molly James;
Bob Caldwell; Ed Stocke; Ted Robinson; Ray Helmy; Demian Reddy.
I know I have left some people out who should be here (and maybe included a couple you don’t agree with !!!) but I am counting on you to let me know who I have missed, etc.
Email me at bmeadows4sports@aol.com
Coming Up . . .
Sonoma County Amateur . . .
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MAY 18th & 19th Deadline for entry: May 13th at 5:00 PM. |
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PUBLIC $220
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PLAYERS CLUB $200
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LIMITED & SOUTH MEMBERS $190
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UNLIMITED MEMBERS $120
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Green Fee, Cart Fee, Tee Gift, Prizes & Range Balls included Friday, May 17th 2024 RSVP required for PRACTICE ROUND with optional skins game from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. Practice Round on Friday May 17th – $40 includes cart special rate Skins game: $30 Cash Buy in with cash payout. Gross and net in flights: Black/Blue Flight, White Flight, Gold Flight RSVP to agallardo@playfoxtail.com. Deadline to sign up for skins on Friday will be May 13th by 5pm. FLIGHTS CHAMPIONSHIP | GROSS ONLY, BLACK TEES WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP | GROSS ONLY, WHITE TEE MEN’S | GROSS & NET, BLUE TEES WOMEN’S | NET ONLY, GOLD TEES SENIOR | GROSS & NET, BLUE/WHITE COMBO, AGES 55-64 SUPER SENIOR | GROSS & NET, BLUE/WHITE COMBO, AGES 65+ |
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Foxtail Golf Club 100 Golf Course Drive, Rohnert Park, CA 94928 (707) 584-7766 www.playfoxtail.com |
At Bennett Valley GC . . .
Save the date for Piner’s 3rd Annual Golf Tournament on Friday June 14th at Bennet Valley Golf Course !
Proceeds benefit Piner Athletics.
Registration open 11:30, golf starts at 1pm, dinner at 6.
Contact Nancy Thiele 707-890-3840 ext 51112 or email nthiele@srcs.k12.ca.us
Registration open for our PGA Jr. League summer team! Open to boys and girls 6-13 years
At Valley of the Moon . . .
At Foxtail GC. . .
Irish Open
Join us for the 2024 Irish Open at Foxtail Golf Club on March 17th! This event will be a shotgun start on the North Course at 8:30AM.
This is not a tournament, just a fun way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with family and friends.
Entry fees include Green Fee, Cart Fee, Range Balls, Sleeve of Golf Balls, Breakfast Sandwich, and an Irish Coffee from the pub.
General Entry is $89 per player, please call the pro shop for membership rates! 707-584-7766.
Foxtail Junior Golf Club
Join the Foxtail Junior Golf Club – starting May 11
18 Hole Stroke Play
6 Tournaments
Ages 9-17
1 Entry Fee of $60 includes entry to all events
All players entered to win Player of the Year based on the flight.
Flights may change based on entries
Flights will based on age of as of Oct. 5
This is not a beginner program. Juniors should be able to play 18 holes walking.
Tournament Dates: 5/11/2024, 6/29/2024, 7/20/2024, 8/10/2024, 9/14/2024. 10/5/2024. Call pro shop: 707-584-7766
CourseCo Championship
Join us for the 2024 CourseCo Championship Qualifying Event at Foxtail Golf Club! The event will take place on April 27, 2024 at 8:30AM on our Championship North Course.
General Entry fee will be $84 per player. We offer discounts for Rohnert Park Residents, Seniors (62+), Players Club Members, Limited, Unlimited, and South Course Members. Please call the Pro Shop for membership rates: (707) 584-7766.
Teams will be playing a 1 Gross Ball + 1 Net Ball format. Each player will play their own ball the entire hole. Your team score will be the 1 best GROSS score combined with the 1 best NET score of the four on each hole, and the same ball cannot be counted as both Gross and Net. For Qualifying – Men under 62 will play blue tees, men 62 or older will play white tees. Women will play gold tees.
Winning foursome will win entry into the Course Co Championship Tournament at Palouse Ridge (July 19-July 21), expenses paid hotel Friday and Saturday, Friday Welcome Dinner, Saturday Golf, Boxed Lunch, Dinner, Sunday Golf, and Awards Lunch. Transportation NOT included. Championship Format will be a 5 Person Scramble with a Foxtail Pro.
At Northwood GC . . .
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At Santa Rosa G&CC Pop Up Clinics with Jessica Quayle Coming up are two clinics to get golf season ready at Santa Rosa Country Club. I am covering putting and driving on two separate weekends. Space is limited. Open to all golfers; men, women, members, and non-members. Cost $50. Lots more clinics to come in 2024!
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LPGA Girls Golf of Sonoma County
If you have a daughter or know of girls that are interested in learning how to play golf, please share this information. The LPGA Girls Golf Program is something that I have wanted to start for a very long time in Sonoma County. It’s a once a month class for an hour and a half that specialized in creating experiences that show girls just how much fun golf really is! Ages 6-17. Our next class is Feb. 25th from 1-2:30. Download the LPGA Girls Golf App to sign up or visit girlsgolf.org.
Youth On Course
Val Verhunce:
“Our programming for the 2024 season has started at Foxtail and Peacock Gap for 6 weeks and then will repeat going forward with additional sessions being added.
“The readers can go to our website at www.firstteenorthcoast.org to learn more about registration etc…!
“We are in need of volunteers and coaches that would like to become certified to assist with classes at the golf courses and the schools and Boys and Girls clubs. We can always use financial support where they can go to the website and make a one-time donation or recurring donations.”
Let’s hear from you . . .
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Thanks for your comments, questions and suggestions. I appreciate them and would like to get as many as possible.
If you have information about anything golf-related, including upcoming clinics, activities, tournaments or sales, let me know.
And if you have questions, complaints or compliments about golf in our area, let me know and I’ll make some inquiries. Email me at bmeadows4sports@aol.com