‘Welcome to Golf Day’ in Northern California

The Northern California Section of the PGA has announced its “Welcome to Golf Day Open House” will be held at golf facilities throughout Northern California and northwest Nevada on Saturday April 22 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The one-day event supports the national "Play Golf America" initiative. It’s designed to welcome local residents to nearby golf courses and practice facilities so they can learn more about golf and what it has to offer, not only for themselves, but family and friends. The event will also encourage former players to dust off their clubs and get reacquainted with the sport.

PGA and LPGA club professionals will provide facility tours and will give free mini-lessons on the range for those interested in learning more about the golf swing. They will share tips on new equipment and proper club-fitting, and practice clubs will be available for those who don't yet own a set. Schedules on upcoming clinics and classes will be available to both new and returning golfers, and pros will explain how to sign up for a group class or private lesson. Visitors will learn how to schedule a tee time, a golf tournament, and a corporate banquet at their course.

In conjunction with the “Welcome to Golf Day” at public facilities, some private golf clubs will open their doors on April 22nd to showcase new membership opportunities and inform current members of new player development programs at the club. PGA club professionals will provide members with complimentary mini-lessons and information on new programs for the 2006 season.

Courtesy of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of Northern California, free ball-mark repair tools with handy instructions on how to properly repair a ball-mark will be distributed to attendees at “Welcome to Golf Day” events throughout the region. For those interested, there will also be membership information available on the Northern California Golf Association (NCGA) and the United States Golf Association (USGA).

Golf courses and centers participating in the Play Golf America Open House on April 22nd include: Adobe Creek GC (Petaluma, CA), Blackhawk CC (Danville, CA), Castlewood CC (Pleasanton, CA), Claremont CC (Oakland, CA), Dryden Park GC (Modesto, CA) Elkhorn CC (Stockton, CA), FountainGrove Golf & Athletic Club (Santa Rosa, CA), Golden Gate Park GC (San Francisco, CA), Golf-Tec (San Carlos, CA), Los Lagos GC (San Jose, CA), Lyons GC (Stockton, CA), Metropolitan Golf Links (Oakland, CA), Moffett Field Golf Club (Sunnyvale, CA), Morgan Creek G&CC (Roseville, CA),Oakmont GC (Santa Rosa, CA), Pajaro Valley GC (Royal Oaks, CA), Peacock Gap GC (San Rafael, CA), Performance Golf-Reno (Reno, NV), Poppy Hills GC (Pebble Beach, CA), Poppy Ridge GC (Livermore, CA), Rancho Del Pueblo GC (San Jose, CA), Rooster Run GC (Petaluma, CA), San Ramon GC (San Ramon, CA), Shoreline Golf Links (Mountain View, CA), Swenson Park GC (Stockton, CA), Van Buskirk GC (Stockton, CA), Washoe County GC (Reno, NV), Wilcox Oaks GC (Red Bluff, CA), and Windsor GC (Windsor, CA).

"The ‘Welcome to Golf Day’ is just what it says, it's our way of welcoming new players to the game and former golfers back to the sport in a fun and relaxed environment," said “Growth of the Game” committee chairman Monte Koch, the Manager of Golf for the city of Stockton. "Our plan is to make this a fun and informative introductory day to golf and we encourage all family members to attend."

For more information on “Welcome to Golf Day,” contact Carol Pence at the NCPGA Growth of the Game Headquarters at 707/449-4742, or via e-mail at carol@ncpga.com. A current list of all participating courses and practice facilities can also be found on www.ncpga.com.

Allied golf organizations that support the Northern California PGA and its efforts to bring new players to the gamer include the Northern California Golf Association, Golf Course Superintendents Association of Northern California, Ladies Professional Golf Association, Northern California Chapter of the Club Managers Association, Executive Women’s Golf Association, California Golf Course Owners Association, PGA TOUR, The First Tee, The Shivas Irons Society, Livermore Valley Wine Country Championship, and the California Alliance for Golf. For specific information about upcoming golf classes and clinics, visit www.playgolfamerica.com.