Frank LaRosa

Gary Gerould, the celebrated radio announcer for the Sacramento Kings, and I are extremely fortunate to have been named Honorary Members of the El Macero Country Club located on the other side of the Causeway from Sacramento. We have teed it up numerous times and very much enjoy the experience and the opportunity.

On a particular recent Sunday morning, Gary and I approached the first tee at El Macero as a twosome and introduced ourselves to the twosome paired with us. We were greeted with a big smile as one of the players exclaimed, “My two best friends from high school were named Gary and Frank!” My first thought was, “this is going to be a good day.”

We learned that our friend was a graduate of Justin Siena High School. While I didn’t learn anything about his fellow alum and NFL Quarterback Tom Brady, I did learn that our playing partner is an acclaimed mystery writer named John Lescroart pronounced Les-Kwaa.

Lescroart has sold more than twelve million copies of his books which have been translated into 22 languages in 75 countries and he is planning on releasing his 30^th novel this year.

While waiting on the tee during the round or even when looking for each other’s golf balls gone astray on the tree-lined course, I learned a bit more about the New York Times bestselling author.

About golf, Lescroart explained that he doesn’t get a chance to play as much as he would like but he very much enjoys the camaraderie and the chance to relax with friends.

I now know that while the perfect greens at El Macero can be challenging, the whodunnit author finds that writer’s block would concern him more than making a downhill, double-breaking putt.

I asked the novelist which character in his books would best exemplify his golf game. A wry smile crossed his face and without missing a beat, he cried “All of the dead ones!” Smiles all around.

The point here is that golf is a glorious game that obviously affords time for some conversation. It gives us opportunities to peek into each other’s lives. And it gives us occasion to delight in California’s stunning outdoors in a splendid park-like setting.

In more than 40 years of playing this game of golf, I never tire of greeting someone on the first tee and expecting to learn something.

And that’s no mystery!

Frank LaRosa
Not Dated

I never liked the idea of that Thomas Wolfe guy telling me, “You can’t go home again!”  What made him so sure?  So every now and then, I try to disprove his premise and “go home again” with a visit to Mather Golf Course.

I played my very first round of golf at Mather as a 15-year-old during the summer my family moved to Sacramento in 1960.  My three younger brothers and I had spent four days traveling from Wichita, Kansas, packed in a 1957 Plymouth station wagon with my father, an Air Force Captain who was being transferred to Mather to fly B-52s, my mother, who was seven months pregnant with another attempt at a girl who turned out to be my baby brother and our Chihuahua, whose nasty disposition never quite approached the savoir faire of that taco company’s frisky spokespup.

That teenage summer offered unlimited sunshine, few responsibilities and the adventure of a new home, new friends and new diversions.  Someone’s dad played golf and someone else suggested we all give it a try.  Mather was still a young course at the time.  It had been nurtured by the original members who carried burlap bags when they played to pick up any rocks they found along the way.  There were no tee times to be had.  You just walked up to the first tee, dropped a ball in the rack and when your ball got to the bottom, your group was up!

That first time on the course was wondrous!  Lack of knowledge about grip and posture were overcome with innate athletic sense of balance.  It was probably the only time I never had a swing thought in my head – positive or negative.  Our home was only half a mile from the course which cost very little to play, so we spent many hours playing golf. 

When school started, more new friends and new activities began to take the place of golf and I didn’t pick up a club again for about 15 years.  And I guess I haven’t put them down since.

I still return to Mather Golf Course from time to time and my mind floods with strong memories of the passing of  youth, of family bonds and especially of my mother, who is no longer with us.

It’s impossible for me to go into the snack bar at the Mather course without hearing her say, “Frankie, when you finish playing, pick up a bag of burgers.”  She was a cook of unparalleled talent, but she also was a great mom who knew that having five sons meant giving in to the occasional greasy burger and fries over her incomparable homemade lasagna!

Occasionally, after a round at Mather, I will drive past our old house and remember a simpler time of sandlot baseball heroics, backyard battles with my brothers and endlessly waxing my prized Corvair.  These memories energize me and help me focus on life’s lessons, which I now pass on to my children.  And the life cycle continues.

In a sense, of course, Wolfe is right.  Home is not there anymore.  But if the ties were strong enough, the memories full enough and the love rich enough, the echoes of home will fill your heart with a reminder of who you are and how lucky you are to have lived life and had a chance to play the game!

Frank LaRosa
Not Dated

Ace.  A hole-in-one. In a singular moment in time, disparate details come together to generate a life-long thrill for the golfer. When the artist captures a comparable set of contrasting elements, the resulting synergy, which lasts many lifetimes, is applauded as art.

Palmer. Nicklaus. Crenshaw. Player. Norman. Like deft brush strokes on a colorful canvas, the legendary names are respectful accents in the engaging stories the painter tells. Together, the tales paint a picture of the artist and his art.

Sacramento golf artist Jim Fitzpatrick is a man of world renown. He has worked with, shared conversation and broken bread with many of golf’s celebrated heroes. Although he’s on a first name basis with Arnold, with Jack, with Gary and others, he’s quick to point out that he’s just a golfer at heart. Fitzpatrick is not a painter who plays golf, but rather a golfer who paints.

“From the time I was in the fifth grade, I was quite serious about making a living playing golf,” Fitzpatrick revealed. “As a kid, I was out until dark chipping and putting. I became a very good player, but I recognized that the guys on tour were just a little bit better.” Realizing he wanted to stay close to the world of golf, he took a job early in his career doing drawings for a golf course architectural firm. “I’ve always admired the work of the really good architects,” he said. “They defined the spirit of the game by identifying the elements that make a great golf hole. To me, the essence of the game is in the risk, and the good architect will challenge you to take the risk. The reward is the thrill of a low score on the hole while the penalty is trouble and a higher score.”

Not content to continue doing architectural drawings, Fitzpatrick was craving to get closer to the grit of the game – to the tour, to the players and the great golf courses. “I did a bit of research and found that no one was doing golf art of any significance,” he said. “So, in 1983, I did a couple of small paintings which sold rather quickly. In fact, one painting – a close up of a lady bug on a golf ball in the grass – was used for years on “The Tonight Show” after Johnny Carson did his golf swing.”

A chance invitation from CBS announcer Ken Venturi gave Fitzpatrick an opportunity to display his work at a golf tournament reception for players and VIPs. Encouraged by the enthusiastic response, the enterprising artist was soon making arrangements with host professionals to sell his art on the tour stops. “I couldn’t believe that I was talking with all the greats of golf,” he said. “At one early tournament, I remember walking down to the driving range and the only person there was Arnold Palmer. I spent over an hour showing my work to Arnold and talking about golf!” 

Today, with more than 140 golf paintings bearing his name, Fitzpatrick’s originals and prints adorn walls around the world. At an average of 300 to 400 hours per painting, he has spent a great deal of time perfecting his art. He describes his art as “fairly realistic but not photo realistic. I like the texture of the canvas.” If commissioned to paint a certain golf hole, Fitzpatrick will spend hours photographing the hole at various times of the day. “In the morning, the light and shadows and shape of the bunkers may be ideal, but the leaves in the trees might look their best in the afternoon,” he said. “By giving each area of the painting its best look and best shape, the finished piece is closer to the picture the mind remembers.”

A number of washes and many layers of color bring a simple leaf to light or release a spray of ocean foam. Every area of a Fitzpatrick painting is painted ten to twenty times to build color or liberate color through another. He is lauded for his ability to capture the personality of a famous golfer in the scene, even though the player might appear quite small. His originals are digitally copied and produced as Giclee prints, with the scanned image printed at a very high resolution.           

Each piece has a cherished memory but painting number 100 of the famed 16^th hole at Cypress Point is Fitzpatrick’s favorite. Another favored piece is one he did for Arnold Palmer’s last PGA Championship. “Watching Arnold play the very hole I had painted him on brought tears to my eyes knowing that I was intimately involved with a huge part of golf history.”

History is important to Fitzpatrick. He is a self-described traditionalist with a deep respect for the game’s rich heritage. Augusta National. The Colonial. Pebble Beach. Hogan. Snead. Jones. In his art, the ground on which the game was born is treated with thoughtful reverence and the figures of the game command a larger than life presence, while maintaining very human qualities.

The affable Fitzpatrick and his energetic wife Kerry own JB Publishers, the company that produces and distributes his work. They recently moved into an impressive new gallery and retail store at 4208 Douglas Boulevard, Suite 200, in Granite Bay, California. It’s a comfortable spot to see or purchase his art, inquire about custom framing and maybe spend a few moments with the artist. 

The painter, who “manages to maintain a six handicap,” doesn’t get to play as much golf as the golfer would prefer but deep inside, the fire to compete still burns. In spite of all his successes, his experiences, the people he’s met and the places he’s been; given the opportunity to start again, the artist would give it up in a heartbeat. “I would give it up for lessons from a top ranked instructor for another chance to play the game at its highest level,” he revealed. “I appreciate how much work goes into being the best and I’ll always remember Ben Hogan’s quote. When asked how he perfected his game, Hogan answered simply, ‘I dug it out of the dirt!’” Fitzpatrick may well have traded a putter for a paintbrush, but like his idol, Hogan, he too refined his art – he dug it out from the heart!

Frank LaRosa
2009

Annika. Everything about her seems larger than life.

She has achieved one name status. She is the first woman to shoot 59 in a professional tournament. Through 2006, she had captured 69 career victories including ten majors. She is the first woman to surpass the $20 million mark in career earnings. She averages more than 260 yards off the tee. She is living proof of the benefits of harmonious training and maintaining peak physical condition.

It seemed odd, then that the first thing that struck me upon meeting her was her size. In my mind, the captured images had painted a picture of this legendary formidable woman who repeatedly generates her successes through discipline and determination. While that might possibly be a peek into her tournament persona, off the course, Annika Sorenstam is a petite woman with a gentle manner, pleasant voice and charming smile. She’s powerful, yet humble. She’s focused, yet engaging. She’s guarded, yet open.

My interview, scheduled to coincide with her appearance at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, by necessity was interrupted. Soon thereafter, my cell rang and the voice on the other end said, “Hi, this is Annika Sorenstam…”

What was your first association with golf?

My mom says I got my rhythm in golf because “I played golf when I was pregnant with you.” So that was my introduction. When I was twelve I went to a junior camp but before that I would hang out with my parents on the course.

What attracted you to the game?

I was slow to respond to the game. As a kid in Sweden I played all kinds of sports—tennis, soccer, badminton—you name it…every sport with a ball. Golf was slow and not something I really wanted. I enjoyed hitting balls but it wasn’t until I was 16 that I got a bit more serious about dedicating myself to golf.

How has golf affected your life?

Golf is my life. I’m lucky to have a hobby that turned into a job that doesn’t feel like a job! If it wasn’t for golf I wouldn’t be in the United States. I wouldn’t have met all these people and be where I am today. I’d probably be an engineer. Or maybe I would have taught tennis to kids. I live for golf. My sister is a professional and my family loves the game. It’s a big part of what we do.

How important is fitness to today’s game?

In today’s game it’s huge.  It’s always been important. I just don’t think anybody thought it was that important.  There are a few exceptions. Greg Norman and Gary Player many years ago were into it and that’s why they’ve been so good and sustained it so long but fitness is definitely a big part of the game. At the end of the day it’s so competitive that it’s not enough to hit big drives and make putts. You have to stay in shape not only to prevent injuries but to stay strong with the heavy travel schedule.

Quick fitness tip?

I think consistency is important. Whether you do cardio or weights—and there are so many theories—consistency is important. As a professional golfer, you can’t go hard in the off-season and then quit for 9 months. That’s not going to do it. You have to stay consistent and that’s how you get better.

How do you sustain your consistency of strength in mind and body?

Balance is very important in your life…in your golf. You have to schedule enough tournaments, enough practice and enough rest. All three really matter. Some people practice too much and reach a point they’re not getting any better and the body needs time to recoup. At the same time, if you don’t practice enough or play enough, you just get rusty.

What is the mistake amateurs make most consistently?

They try to hit the ball too hard. It’s funny how you have different swings for different clubs. They don’t trust their ability and think they hit the ball farther than they really do.

What can we do to encourage more people to take up the game.

That’s a really good question. I think we need to speed up play. It shouldn’t take more than 4 hours to play and with golf carts there is even less reason to be slow. It’s a wonderful game but few people have 5-6 hours a day to play.

How would you change the game to make it more accessible?

There are public courses in every city. I think you can find ways to play.

What would you say to a non-golfer to interest them to try the game?

Go to the range and hit some balls. Try it out. There are people in Japan that have never been to a golf course but they’re hitting dozens of balls on the range. It’s not always about being on the golf course. Try it out and see what it’s about. It’s a great social game. It really is.

What do junior golfers need to do if they have aspirations of playing on tour?

The key is in the fundamentals. Work with a coach at an early age to prepare yourself for life on tour. What I mean by that is to be able to adjust to different courses, to different surfaces; you really have to take your time and grow up and go through the steps in life—amateur golf, high school golf and college golf and maybe Futures Tours— there are no short cuts really.  You have to have a long term perspective on the whole thing and most of all, have fun along the way.

Where is the strong group of today’s young players coming from?

It comes from coaching at early ages. Their techniques are better at early ages and it speaks to the level of competition, their high school coaching and coaching at club level. Kids get better earlier. They just mature as players early and that’s what you see today.

Is there someone you like to watch play? Someone with really good stuff?

Oh there are a lot of good players and lots of good stuff. I’m one of those players that look at different people and there might be a player with a great short game or bunker shots, bunker technique, good course management. I love to learn from all different people and pick and choose. But golf is fun to watch and I do enjoy it.

Anyone you haven’t played with that you’d like the opportunity?

As a golfer, I’ve been lucky to play with lots of the male golfers and most of the female golfers, at least of my era. Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to play with Kathy Whitworth or someone like that. Obviously I’ll never have the chance but in the modern times, I’ve had the opportunity to play with all the top players.

How does golf in Northern California stack up with the rest of the country?

I haven’t had as much opportunity as I’d like to play there. Obviously you have Pebble Beach which I’m sure is the highlight. Being in Tahoe, I’ve played a number of courses there. We had a tournament in Sacramento, one in Napa. It’s beautiful every time we go there. There’s so much to do there. It really is a treat.

We’re fond of Natalie Gulbis in Northern California. What’s your impression of her from inside the ropes?

Inside the ropes I’m very impressed myself. She’s probably one of the players I’m closest to on tour. I’ve stayed with her and her mom. I think she’s a terrific young lady with a lot of talent and I think she’s going to win very soon. She’s just a class act.

You have a home in Incline Village. What is it about Northern California that appeals to you?

It’s beautiful. I bought a beautiful home in Northstar. Great skiing. Nice community. For me it’s all about lifestyle. I’m an outdoors person and I love that atmosphere, the fresh air, the hiking, the biking. You can do everything there.

How much input do you have with design and color with the Annika Collection from Cutter & Buck?

I have a lot of input working directly with Julie Snow from the design team. I give her a player’s feedback on functionality, comfort level, how it performs traveling and on the course. The last thing I want to do is play in tournaments and feel uncomfortable or worry about my clothes. When it comes to travel, I tell them we don’t want to worry about dry cleaning when you’re in a different city every week. I tell them what colors I like, patterns I like, the length of the pants or the shorts, the number of pockets and more. They tell me about fashion and what the trends are going to be and what sells. It’s not about using my name and do what you want. A combination of their expertise and some of my knowledge results in the Annika Collection. I wear every piece and I’m having a lot of fun.

What’s the benefit of the new performance fabrics?

It’s almost like golfers. You have to be more competitive and now we’re seeing that in the fabrics. It’s all about the textures and the functionality. It’s amazing the fabrics they have now. Some keep you cool when you’re hot and warm when you’re cold.

What should women look for when they select clothing for the golf course?

Women and men are very different when it comes to golf clothes. Men love to buy a golf shirt with the course logo on the left chest and women don’t want to look like golfers. They’re more into style…more into fashion but it needs to be functional and that’s the difference. Women are a tougher audience to please. They want to wear something on the course and then pick up the dry cleaning or go to the grocery store and not feel like you’re still on the golf course.

Who inspires you?

When it comes to golf, there are several players I admire. Arnold Palmer is somebody I admire, not only for his skill but for his personality and his love for the game and he’s doing it at almost 80 years old. I admire Greg Norman. He’s a tough guy, very competitive and very successful. And I admire his talent. When it comes to the women, Nancy Lopez is a great person who has achieved a lot. She’s had great success on the course and off the course too. She’s married with two great kids. That to me is remarkable.

Outside of golf, I admire people that work hard. Work ethic is impressive to me. I value honesty and I value people that stand for what they think.

What accomplishment makes you most proud?

I can’t single out one thing but for me to take the big step from Sweden to come here to college… I’m proud and happy I did that. I’m very proud to be the first woman to break 60 and shoot 59. Playing with the men at the Colonial was an incredible week. I won my first LPGA tournament at the US Open in 1995. The Hall of Fame summarizes everything. It’s not just one achievement but a culmination of ten years. And I’m the first foreigner in the LPGA to do that and I’m very proud of that.

With so many accomplishments, what do you still hope to achieve?

I still think I can be a better player. I’ve learned a lot along the way and I know it’s probably to play smarter golf and be more efficient. I don’t think I can get any stronger or hit the ball any further but I think I can manage my game around a little better from all the experience and I would love to win more majors and I know I have that in me. And there’s a part of me that believes I can win the Grand Slam.

How would you explain the concept of wanting to get better to an amateur who just wants to shoot in the 80s?

The way I look at my game is through stats. I’ve been checking my stats on the computer since 1988 and I believe that I can hit 18 greens, 14 fairways, x amount of up and downs; so I believe I can always improve my numbers. Certainly there are days when it’s very good and days when it’s not so good so consistency is something that I think is important. If I can hit more greens, I will have one or two more birdie putts. If I can make one of those putts a round, that’s four putts a tournament and those four shots may move you up on the leader board.

How do you want people to remember you?

I hope people remember me as somebody who loved the game and somebody with sportsmanship.

Annika Sorenstam’s career isn’t close to being finished but chances are pretty strong she’ll be remembered as somebody who loved the game….possibly even as the finest female player in the history of the game.

Frank LaRosa
Sacramento Magazine – May 23, 2006

I’m in love with golf and I want everyone else to share my love affair.

– Arnold Palmer

I’m guessing Arnie had no idea how many others would also fall hard for the game. We love to hit the long ball and we have a passion for precarious putts. We love our hot new hybrid and have a thing for finding the ideal ball. We love uncovering new courses and have a weakness for a picture-perfect golf getaway. We love everything about golf. We even love complaining about it! As Washington Post columnist Thomas Boswell wrote, “When you fall in love with golf, you seldom fall easy. It’s obsession at first sight.” Northern California offers much to love about golf, and we all have our favorites. So here, in no particular order, are my 72 reasons (a golfer’s perfect number) to love golf in Northern California.

1. The hole with no fairway
Edgewood Tahoe’s par-3 No.17 puts you so close to the lapping lake waves that you actually hit over beachfront from tee to green.

2. Shades of Bobby Jones
Guests at Meadowood of Napa Valley can play the nine-hole course with borrowed hickory-shafted clubs.

3. Cheeseburgers
The Olympic Club (San Francisco) and Silverado Resort (Napa) serve theirs on hot dog buns made from Bill Parrish’s original 1950 family recipe. Olympic Club members would send caddies to the other side of Lake Merced to pick up the tasty burgers from Bill’s trailer; eventually he and his wife, Billie, were invited to set up shop on the course. Daughter Candy, who now runs the original Hot Dog Bills (her brother runs the snack bar at Silverado), says the one-bun inventory for burgers and dogs was initially a cost-saving measure.

4. Déjà Vu on Two!
Stand on the tee at Whitehawk Ranch Golf Club in Clio and you’ll have the feeling you’ve been there before. Look up and you’ll see Eureka Peak, which is depicted on California’s state seal.

5. Like Golf in a Cathedral
With giant redwoods lining the fairways, the best Alister MacKenzie golf course you’ve never heard of is the Northwood Golf Club’s nine-holer along the Russian River.

6. Dog of the Year
Tommy, the course dog at Fall River Valley Golf & Country Club, was honored by Golfweek SuperNEWS magazine for keeping the course clear of geese and for his mesmerizing early-morning sprinkler dance.

7. Tough as Nails
At Lahontan Golf Club in North Lake Tahoe, unusual square-headed iron nails put the finishing touches on a handsome clubhouse designed and built in the post-and-beam style of old-time Tahoe.

8. Double Eagle, Anyone?
No. 2 at Tahoe Paradise Golf Course in South Lake Tahoe, with a combination of thin air and a par 4 listed at 225 yards from the back, gives you a great chance to make your first two on a par 4.

9. Oldest Nine-Hole Course in Nor Cal
Built in the 1920s by the McCloud River Lumber Company, McCloud Golf Course has long since replaced its oiled, sand greens.

10. Beauty and the Beast
The seventh hole at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Play a sand wedge or a 3-iron depending on the direction and strength of the wind.

11. All-Time Double Team
Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed only a handful of courses together. Their last was a dandy: Winchester Country Club in Auburn is built on a grand scale that befits the talents of these two golf giants.

12. Poor Man’s Pebble
On condition the city build a golf course, S.F.B. Morse sold the land under Pacific Grove Golf Course in 1932 for a $10 gold coin. Now it sports a $10 gazillion view and a green fee about one-tenth that of Pebble Beach.

13. Snow Way!
You’re wearing shorts as you walk up the 18th fairway at Lake Shastina Golf Resort, but magnificent Mount Shasta in the background is capped in snow.

14. Best of the Best
After 21 consecutive years of being listed as one of the Top 100 Golf Shops in America, Haggin Oaks Golf Super Shop was named “Best Public Golf Shop in America” for 2006 by Golf World Business magazine, a Golf Digest Company publication.

15. Don’t Get Lost Here
At the Bigfoot Golf & Country Club in Humboldt County’s Willow Creek, your mind will conjure up birdies, bogeys and Sasquatch.

16. On the Edge
Both the Old Course and the Ocean Course finish on cliffs overlooking the ocean at Half Moon Bay Golf Links. File these under your “gotta play ’em” holes.

17. Jones Gets His Man
While filming at Del Monte Golf Course in Monterey, Bobby Jones, who was in town for the 1929 U.S. Amateur, was told to aim for the cameraman down the fairway. The ball hit the camera dead center and the cameraman fell out of the tree. Presumably, the tree is still standing at the West’s oldest course in continuous operation. (It was opened in 1897.)

18. Golf and Wine Club
Premier winemakers from Napa and Sonoma provide a yearly barrel of their best vintage for member allocations at Mayacama Golf Club near Santa Rosa. Each member receives a private wine locker in the underground grotto for storing favorite wines.

19. That Ocean Is a Lake!
At first glance, the vast Lake Tahoe looks like an ocean inlet. After your round, the new Brooks’ Golf Bar and Deck at Edgewood Tahoe is a great place to enjoy a cold beer and contemplate how lucky we are to be alive and have had a chance to play the game.

20. West of Scotland
The seaside links feel of The Links at Bodega Harbour will have you yearning for gray skies and stiff breezes, even when the sun is shining.

21. Seeing Stars
The AT&T at Pebble Beach is a unique golf tournament where celebrities and tour players offer plenty of opportunities for close-up gawking. If you’re lucky, Bill Murray may autograph your head, too.

22. PlayGolfAmerica.com
Whether you’re new to the game or only play occasionally, this one-stop source of information is where the fun begins. Drop in your ZIP code and find affordable Northern California programs for adults, families, business associates and more.

23. Seventeen Miles, 117 Holes
Nowhere in the world, let alone Northern California, will you find better golf than the 117 golf holes along the Monterey Peninsula’s Seventeen Mile Drive. End to end, you’ll hit upon Pebble Beach Golf Links, Cypress Point Club, Monterey Peninsula Country Club, Spyglass Hill and Spanish Bay.

24. History Lesson
In 1917, the United States entered World War I and Reno’s first course, Washoe Golf Course, was opened. It was rebuilt in 1948 and its second head professional, Barney Bell, remains there today. Course record is 63 by Ben Hogan but Barney wasn’t there.

25. A Horse of a Course
In the mid-1800s, General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo’s prized white mare swam across the channel to an uninhabited island, thereby becoming the namesake for Mare Island, established in 1854 as a naval shipyard. Thirty-eight years later, Mare Island Golf Club was born as a nine-hole layout. With 18 holes today, the Vallejo course offers magnificent views of San Pablo Bay, Napa River, Mt. Tamalpais and even the Golden Gate Bridge on a clear day. Incidentally, General Vallejo was a pretty influential guy: Sonoma is named after his wife, and Benicia was his daughter.

26. Back to Basics
At San Francisco Golf Club, one of the best private inland courses in the world, there are no yardage markers on the deceptive layout. Is that an 8-iron or a 4-iron to the green?

27. One Piper Piping
The 5 o’clock ritual of the bagpiper walking The Links at Spanish Bay and finishing at The Inn at Spanish Bay will give you goose bumps and a good excuse for another toddy.

28. The Right Side of the Grass
A stone temple built in the 1800s lies between the 11th and 12th holes at Whitney Oaks Golf Club in Rocklin. The temple still holds the remains of its namesake, Mr. Whitney himself. This should serve as a gentle reminder that there are worse things than making double-bogeys.

29. Hooker’s Delight
Most par-4 and -5 holes at Marysville’s Peach Tree Country Club are dogleg left. Not a place for the conservative player.

30. Hit All 18 Greens
The greens at Fairfield’s Rancho Solano Golf Course are undoubtedly the largest in Northern California. The good news is you may well hit all the greens, and the bad news is   that if you choose the wrong club, you could be looking at a 100-foot putt!

31. No Cable Cars Here
The Course at Wente Vineyards in Livermore, the only Greg Norman design in Nor Cal, features a crooked Lombard Street-style cart path to take you up the side of the hill.

32. Where the Deer and No Antelope Play
An afternoon round at Fairfax’s Meadow Club, where more than 200 deer live on the property, usually ends with deer everywhere. If they don’t move, it’s probably because they can tell from your set-up whether you’ll hook or slice.

33. Play Where Presidents Played
The Presidio Golf Course, with its century-old eucalyptus and Monterey pine trees, survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and was “home course” to Presidents Teddy Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower.

34. Follow the Road to the Clubhouse
The security officer’s instructions at the gate of The Preserve in Carmel don’t quite prepare you for the 25-minute scenic up and down drive though oaks, past stables and eventually to the golf course.

35. Looks like Gringe
Stevinson Ranch Golf Club in the San Joaquin Valley maintains some of the fastest greens in Nor Cal. The fringe, cut as short as greens on many other courses, is called “gringe” by the locals and allows a putt from anywhere off the green.

36. Northern California Golf Association
In addition to tournament play, NCGA members receive a free USGA membership, NCGA/USGA handicap index, NCGA Golf magazine subscription and discounts on merchandise and green fees at Poppy Hills and Poppy Ridge golf courses. 180,000 members can’t be wrong.

37. Soup’s On!
Every Monday, the kitchen staff at Poppy Hills Golf Course (most staff members are from Oaxaca) in Pebble Beach puts authentic tortilla soup on the menu. The soup base is a homemade salsa made from fresh, locally grown produce. Add seasoned chicken, tortilla strips from scratch and cheese, and it might be the best soup on the planet.

38. Drown Your Sorrows
After your round at Genoa Lakes Golf Club in the Carson Valley, forget your bogeys at the Old Genoa Bar. Built in 1863, it is the oldest continually operating thirst parlor in Nevada. Sorry, no horses allowed.

39. No 10th-Tee Jitters Here
The 10th fairway, which used to be the first fairway, at Seascape Golf Club in Aptos is channeled from two hillsides, making your errant drives a sure bet to roll back into the middle.

40. Golf’s History Preserved
The Brandenburg Historical Golf Museum at San Jose’s Cinnabar Hills Golf Club is a fan’s delight with its unique collection of full-size exact replicas of trophies from the U.S. Open, British Open, Masters, Ryder Cup and PGA Championship. You’ll find memorabilia from Sarazen, Nelson, Hogan, Jones, Hagen, Snead and more.

41. Lefty’s Delight
General Robert B. McClure, who constructed Bayonet Golf Course in Seaside, was a left-handed golfer with an all-too-common fade. He managed to reduce his handicap with a little creative architecture: Holes 11 to 15, known as Combat Corner, include a series of sharp doglegs.

42. California’s Wisconsin Clubhouse
Originally designed in 1923 for a Wisconsin location, Frank Lloyd Wright’s dream became a reality in the spectacular Nakoma clubhouse at The Dragon at Gold Mountain.

43. On a Wing and a Prayer
Bing Maloney Golf Course in Sacramento might well be the only golf course with landing lights. Even if your tee shots aren’t as the crow flies, you can be sure the airplanes landing above the sixth fairway are headed straight for the adjacent Sacramento Executive Airport.

44. Get High at Sierra Star
At 8,000 feet, Sierra Star Golf Course at Mammoth is the highest golf course in California. The thin air will produce visions of Tiger Woods-type drives in your head.

45. Bed, Breakfast and Bogey?
There might not be a better 24-hour experience than being pampered at the Little River Inn near Mendocino, followed by a round at the charming nine-hole Little River Inn Golf Course overlooking the Pacific.

46. Raise the White Flag
Historically, raising the white flag meant giving up. When you see the white flag on the blind tee shot of Roseville’s Woodcreek Golf Club’s seventh hole, it’s safe to hit your tee shot.

47. Green Green
At the Wawona Golf Course in Yosemite National Park, green fairways are taken to a new high. The course is one of only four organic golf courses in the United States and a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.

48. Get High at Weed
It’s somehow fitting that Northern California should be home to Weed Golf Club. The natural high here comes from the gorgeous, hilly, weed-free, nine-hole, 1925 layout, which has stood the test of time.

49. Plenty of Hang Time
The elevated practice range at Plumas Pines Golf Resort in Graeagle ensures everyone will get the ball in the air. The ball seems to stay up there forever.

50. Apple a Day
The satisfying crunch of a cool, crisp fresh apple is a first-tee treat during the fall apple harvest at Apple Mountain Golf Resort in Camino. Area growers deliver a selection of their crop, which players can pick from a basket on the first tee.

51. Yay for Yates!
Patrick Yates is a remarkable man from Grass Valley who eliminates barriers by inventing, designing and manufacturing a number of assistive devices for disabled golfers, including his Model Tee, a one-person cart that will drive on greens.

52. Saving Strokes
Sacramento’s American Stroke Association program uses golf as a rehabilitative tool for stroke “victors.” The program is now offered in six locations including Harding Park Golf Course in San Francisco, Pleasanton Golf Academy in Pleasanton, McInnis Park Golf Course in San Rafael, Seascape Golf Course in Aptos, Coyote Creek Golf Club in Morgan Hill and the pilot location at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento.

53. Jim Langley, PGA
Named 2005 Northern California PGA Professional of the Year, Langley, who recently retired as head professional at Cypress Point, represents the 1,150 Northern California Section pros who teach, manage courses, fit equipment and generally make the game more enjoyable for the rest of us.

54. These Guys Are Good
The PGA Tour comes to Northern California with the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am every February and the Reno-Tahoe Open at Montreux Golf and Country Club, Aug. 24–27.

55. A New Home for the Ladies
The LPGA has moved its tournament location from Sacramento to Blackhawk Country Club in Danville, where the women will tee it up for the Longs Drugs Challenge Oct. 18–24.

56. Oldies But Goodies
The Champions Tour, for players aged 50 and older, culminates with the top money winners in attendance at the exciting Charles Schwab Cup Championship at Sonoma Golf Course Oct. 23–29.

57. In the Wings
The Nationwide Tour began in 1990 to provide a place to play for up-and-comers, as well as veterans looking to sharpen their skills for the Champions Tour. The Livermore Valley Wine Country Championship will be played March 30–April 2 at The Course at Wente Vineyards.

58. Make Mine Over Easy
The lowest rating for a course at least 3,000 yards long is Visalia’s Exeter Golf Club at 56.2, and the lowest slope belongs to Quail Valley in Grass Valley (at 76), featuring a blind shot over an old milking barn.

59. I like Hard Boiled
If you play them from the back and the harder the better, you’ll love the Nicklaus tees at Ruby Hill Golf Club in Pleasanton, with Northern California’s highest rating at 76.7. The highest slope belongs to Mayacama’s back tees, at a staggering 153!

60. Inspiration for Augusta
Bobby Jones was so impressed while playing Pasatiempo that he invited Alister MacKenzie to design Augusta National, home of The Masters. Designer Tom Doak’s recent restoration has preserved the historical integrity of MacKenzie’s design.

61. Growing the Game
The First Tee program, available at many area courses, provides a wonderful opportunity for youngsters to learn life-enhancing skills through the game of golf. The national program is based on a successful Sacramento model developed in 1983 by PGA professional Ken Morton Sr. 

62. Tiger and Big John
San Francisco’s Harding Park Golf Club will forever call to mind indelible images of Tiger Woods and John Daly battling on extra holes to decide the 2005 World Golf Championship-American Express Championship, an event featuring the best the PGA has to offer—playing at a public facility!

63. Big Ball Washer
No. 15 at Reno’s LakeRidge Golf Course is a famous par 3 with a tee box set 140 feet atop a rocky ridge. The target is an enticing island green surrounded by the area’s largest ball washer, called Lake Stanley. Do you tee up a new ball or dig deep in your shag bag?

64. 27 Holes, One Tree!
If you’re really good at hitting woods but have trouble getting out, Poppy Ridge Golf Course in Livermore is calling your name. You’ll contend with only one tree on the entire 27-hole layout, but the architect found other ways to get your attention.

65. A Seasonal Snack
I don’t want to advocate ignoring signs that suggest you shouldn’t partake, but surrounded by grapevines at Napa’s Chardonnay Golf Club, you may find it hard to resist hand-picking a few fresh snacks between visits from the hospitality cart.

66. Gold of a Different Color
The history of Copperopolis dates back to the copper mines of the 1800s. Today’s treasure is found at the Saddle Creek Resort, where a weekend retreat will have you feeling like you discovered gold.

67. Splish, splash
Buckingham Golf and Country Club in Kelseyville has a lake on the driving range that used to be part of a volcano. It’s marked with distance flags, giving you the opportunity to actually hit into the lake—on purpose!

68. Golden Moment
Talk about putting a golf course in the right place. On a fog-free day, tee it up on the 17th at San Francisco’s Lincoln Park Golf Course and you’ll be treated to a breathtaking view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

69. Sea to Shining Tee
How many places in the world offer you the chance to play on the ocean in the morning and in the mountains in the after-noon? Tee it up at Bodega Harbour Golf Links at dawn and tap in at dusk at Old Greenwood in Truckee.

70. Two with a View
Northern California has more than its share of first-class resorts for a romantic golf getaway for two. Take your pick from some gems among many: Carmel Valley Ranch, Quail Lodge Resort and Golf Club, the Ritz-Carlton at Half Moon Bay, CordeValle, Silverado Resort, the Resort at Squaw Creek. Or rent a weekend home on the course at Sea Ranch Golf Links or Plumas Pines Golf Resort.

71. Carl Spackler Aside
Unlike Bill Murray’s Caddyshack character, a good superintendent often goes unnoticed working behind the scenes. Players love the quality and the consistency of the greens at Hiddenbrooke Golf Club in Vallejo. That’s the domain of the course superintendents who groom our courses from subzero temperatures in the mountains to triple digits in our valleys. Green thumbs up!

72. The Newest Baby
While golf course construction has slowed, new courses continue to open. The latest is Callippe Preserve Golf Course in Pleasanton, which brings the total number of courses in Northern California to more than 400. How many have you played?

Frank LaRosa
Not Dated

When you’re on the first tee, don’t bet with anyone with a deep suntan, squinty eyes and a 1 iron in his bag!

– Dave Marr, former PGA touring professional

Ever since the first Neanderthal whacked a hunk of granite with a wooly mammoth tusk, the urge to bet that you can knock the nugget into a T-Rex footprint in fewer strokes than your partner has proved irresistible to many. The stakes may be as benign as a fancy drink with an umbrella or they might be something quite astonishing. In fact, the records of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews point to a particularly infamous wager where Sir David Moncreiffe bet his life against that of John Whyte-Melville in 1870. Apparently, Sir David’s “bet bogey” prevented him from making any more wagers—permanently!

Today’s friendly wagering games, while played for considerably less dramatic stakes, are nonetheless just as significant and potentially nerve-wracking to the participants. According to Lee Trevino, “You don’t know what pressure is until you’ve played for $5 a hole with only $2 in your pocket.” Whether you’re one to play for an adult libation or just an “atta-boy,” here’s a short primer on the games golfers play.

Nassau

The round is divided into three separate wagers—the front nine, the back nine and the 18-hole total. Each hole is scored as a separate match with the lowest score winning the hole and the player getting a point. In the event of a tie, there is “no blood” on the hole and no point is available.

If you’re playing for Snickers bars, the player with the most points on the front wins a Snickers, the player with the most points on the back wins a Snickers and the player with the highest total wins another Snickers bar.

Press

In a Nassau, if one player falls behind, he can “press” or concede the hole and start a new bet. If you’ve played three holes and you’re two down, you can press, give your partner his Snickers and wager another Snickers on the remaining six holes.

Skins

Popularized by two-day television matches, the player with the lowest score on a hole wins a skin or point from the other players. If two tie for the lowest score, no skin is awarded and two skins are up for grabs on the next hole.

Wolf

Each player rotates being the “wolf,” which gives him the option to choose a partner on the hole or “wolf it” by going to alone. With a partner, the team’s best ball or lowest score counts for the hole with the winners each earning a point. If the player “wolfs it,” the points are doubled and the wolf must beat the low score of the other three, giving the wolf the chance to win or lose six points.

Bingo, Bango, Bongo

Three points are available on each hole. One is awarded to the player first on the green, another to the closest to the hole when all have reached the green and the other point goes to the player who makes the first putt.

Total Strokes

Each player’s handicap is used to equalize the round. If you’re a 17-handicap player and the person who keeps winning your daughter’s school milk money is a 5 handicap, you will get strokes on the twelve highest handicap holes.

Nines

A game for three players with nine points available on each hole. The low score gets five points, next best gets three and the worst score gets one. A two-player tie for best score earns four points each and a tie for worst gets two points each. If all three tie, each player earns three points.

These are but a few of the more popular games within the game and each has many variations. Just be sure that the guy with the squinty eyes and the pocket full of Snickers doesn’t set the rules!