What is the NCGA?

Early San Francisco Golf Club

Regular clubs are those private, semi-private, public and military groups affiliated with a golf course property. Associate clubs are comprised of persons who do not regularly play at the same golf course but do conduct tournaments on a regular basis and have common interest in the game.

The NCGA is steeped in tradition. Although copies of formal bylaws date back to "only" 1910, the NCGA Amateur Trophy first was awarded back in 1906.

It is recognized that the five clubs who originated the NCGA in late 1905 were San Francisco GC, Presidio GC, Menlo CC, Claremont CC and Linda Vista (later to become San Jose CC). Shortly thereafter, the members added Marin GCC, Burlingame CC and Santa Cruz CC.

The affairs of the NCGA are conducted by 21 directors who represent various areas of Northern California. NCGA Directors (Blue Coats) serve without compensation and dedicate hundreds of volunteer hours to the game and activities of the NCGA.

Additionally, more than 250 volunteer committeemen (Course Raters and Redcoats) help in course rating and rules and competitions administration. They also serve without compensation.

There is a permanent staff which has its offices at Poppy Hills, the NCGA-member golf course in the Del Monte Forest. The staff moved form its Spyglass Hill headquarters in June of 1986. Poppy Hills opened for play that same month and was the first course in the United States owned and operated by an amateur golf association.

Post Where you Play

The success of Poppy Hills, designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., led to the quest for a second site where NCGA members could be provided quality golf and affordable prices. Rees Jones is the architect for Poppy Ridge Gold Course in Livermore. The 27-hole complex should be ready for play in late 1996.

The corporate structure of the NCGA was structured in a manner to maintain the NCGA as a parent corporation and at the same time retain non-profit status.

To accomplish that goal, the NCGA’s legal counsel advised that a for-profit corporation be formed. That’s when Poppy Hills, Inc. became a branch of the corporate structure. Now, a new corporation, Poppy Holding, Inc., overseas two for-profit organizations (Poppy Hills and Poppy Ridge Golf Courses.)

The NCGA non-profit branch stresses member services. The Executive Director is the administrator in charge of those services, including Administration, Course Rating and Handicapping, Rules and Competitions and Communications. All are dedicated to providing outstanding services to NCGA member clubs and their memberships.