NCGA Member Services Provided

COURSE RATING & HANDICAPPING	RULES & COMPETITIONS
COMMUNICATIONS/PUBLICATIONS	OTHER MEMBER SERVICES

The spirit of golf lies in proper handicapping. The source of equitable handicap indexes is an excellent course rating system. The NCGA follows USGA principles and rates each of its courses through the direction of staff and well-trained course rating committeemen.

Course Measuring
Through the efforts of the NCGA, clubs throughout its jurisdiction enjoy one uniform system of handicapping. In January of 1990, the NCGA adopted the USGA's Slope Handicapping System in an effort to provide a more portable handicap.
Through the NCGA's decision to join the Slope System and because the NCGA provides electronic posting terminal at nearly every Northern California golf course, members are part of a system that includes 1.6 million golfers.
Post Where You Play! is the motto of the NCGA.
NCGA members receive monthly index updates that can be attached to plastic membership cards. Members can review their posted scores daily. Peer review is a vital part of the handicap system and club chairmen have that ability.

The NCGA conducts the most extensive amateur tournament calendar in the nation, including the California Golf Association (State) Championships in conjunction with the Southern California Golf Association.
Competition is provided for all skill and age levels with golfers playing "for the gold." Medals--gold, silver and bronze--are the sole but coveted goal in each of the tournaments.
Many NCGA tournament championships are conducted at Spyglass Hill and Poppy Hills. Poppy Ridge will be a challenging new venue when it is completed. The NCGA also depends on member club golf courses for NCGA, USGA and CGA qualifying sites and championship locations.
The NCGA is committed to having individuals who are well trained in the Rules of Golf as established by the USGA and Royal and Ancient Golf Club of ST. Andrews. A special certification program has been adopted by the Rules Committee to provide tournament participants with trained and certified committeemen working at all NCGA events.

Beginning in 1987 the NCGA News became a quarterly magazine distributed to each of its members, other golf organizations, advertisers and news media.
The annual Bluebook Edition mails in mid-January and features a directory of regular (with maps) and associate clubs. Subsequent issues mail on or before April 15, July 15 and October 15. All publications list not only pertinent membership information but articles written by the top golf writers in Northern California, Places to Play, instruction, a specific area of NCGA member clubs and all NCGA Tournament results.
Advance copy and results of all NCGA events are provided to media outlets throughout the year by the Communications Department.
All member clubs are eligible to compete in the annual Newsletter Contest. Awards go to the top four places with division winners--private, public/fee and associate--receiving special recognition at the NCGA's Annual Meeting in October.

Construction (No. 10) at Poppy Ridge Golf Course)
NCGA members scoring holes-in-one in accordance with the rules listed on the proper entry blank--in Blue Book Edition--receive not only a commemorative coffee mug for their achievement, but have their names placed in drawing for a grand prize that includes lodging at Carmel Valley Ranch and golf at Poppy Hills.

Member Gold Courses: Poppy Hills and Poppy Ridge (when it is completed) provide the complete golf experience at a reduced cost for NCGA members.

Player of the Year Trophy
Golf Course Superintendents Internship Program: In cooperation with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of Northern California, the NCGA administers an internship program. Applications are reviewed and selected applicants are reviewed interviewed in April. Those chosen begin their training in the two-year program at NCGA member course or Poppy Hills. Internships are paid positions with funds budgeted from NCGA dues.
Guest Speaker Service: The NCGA provides staff and /or directors, whenever possible, to act as speakers at member-club meetings and at service clubs.
Golf Calendar: The NCGA Golf Calendar is organized and published to assist member clubs in scheduling their major clubs events.
Player and Senior Player of the Year Honors: Designated tournaments, under the guidance of the Rules and Competitions Department, provide NCGA players the opportunity to accumulate points during the season from October 1 of one year to September 30 of the next. All tabulations are done in the NCGA office.