There are no doubts that 2025 was a banner year for the NCGA.
As usual, there were a number of exciting and memorable moments on the course, along with some historical moments.
The biggest moment of them all came in May with the opening of the new 18-hole course at NCGA member course Poppy Ridge. Since the course’s opening, it has received numerous rave reviews including Sports Illustrated naming it the Best Public Course Renovation of 2025. Kudos to architect Jay Blasi and Poppy Ridge superintendent Jeff Mason and his staff.
As per championships and events, we saw 2024-25 Senior Player of the Year Steve Sear complete what is the ‘Senior Slam’—that being victories at the Senior Four-Ball Championship (with Randy Haag as his partner), Senior Amateur Match Play and Senior Championship. There was also 2024-25 Super Senior Bob Niger, who went bananas winning seven times, 2024-25 Senior Women’s Player of the Year Karen Garcia earning 14 Top 10’s, the inaugural Senior Women’s Amateur at Spyglass Hill and Wes Payne winning both the NCGA Amateur Mid-Amateur Championship and Valley Amateur.
The NCGA region also hosted three USGA championships—The U.S. Amateur at The Olympic Club, the Walker Cup at Cypress Point Club and the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur at Monterey Peninsula CC.
The year 2026 marks the NCGA’s 125th anniversary. As part of the celebration, the 59th Pacific Coast Amateur will be held at Poppy Ridge in July.
We can’t wait to see what else happens in 2026. We’ll see you on the tee!
