The First Tee

This has been a year of firsts FORE! Golfer’s Wife and I. Since my last blog entry, a lot has happened.

The biggest news that Golfer’s Wife and I announced this year is the new addition to our family. We have a baby girl scheduled to join Team K&D on November 28, 2009. We are so excited to have our first addition to our family. Since we did not know the gender of our baby girl FORE! the first 20 weeks of Golfer’s Wife’s pregnancy, we nicked named her “Pro V1.” Everyone says that once Pro V1 is born, my golf game is going to suffer. We’ll see about that, Pro V1 and I will just have to prove those doubters that they are wrong.
Another exciting first FORE! me this year was that I was able to play Pebble Beach Golf Links in May. Pebble Beach Golf Links is ranked number one on "America's 100 Greatest Public Courses" list by Golf Digest. It is also the site of the 2010 U.S. Open Championship. Playing Pebble Beach was a daddy’s day present from Golfer’s Wife and Pro V1. What made the experience even more enjoyable was that Golfer’s wife and Pro V1 were able to follow and watch me play. The experience of playing Pebble Beach is something that every diehard golfer should do. From the caddie carrying your clubs, giving you advice and yardages to the breathtaking views of the course and coast.

FORE! the first time in FORE! years, I also changed jobs and went to another State of CA agency. This was a very hard decision to make. Leaving my comfort zone of friends and work FORE! the unknown. Lucky FORE! me, I have great ex-coworkers as we still keep in touch and meet FORE! lunch. In addition to working FORE! the State of CA, Governor Schwarzenegger has imposed a 3 day furlough on all State Workers which equals to almost a 15 percent pay cut.

If there was a positive side to the 3 day furloughs and recession, I got to play more golf because of the cheaper greens due to the golf courses needing business. Some of the golf courses that I was able to play FORE! unbelievable cheap green fees were The Links at Bodega Harbour, Northstar at Tahoe, Sevillano Links at Rolling Hills Casino and Trinitas Golf Club.

Here are some photos from some of the golf courses that I have played this year so far.

18th Hole at Pebble Beach
15th Hole at Trinitas Golf Club
15th Hole at Northstar at Tahoe
The Links at Bodega Harbour

These are just some of the major events that have happened so far this year. If you can’t get enough of Golfing With DC or Golfer’s Wife, you can follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/dc_golfing.

Let The 2009 Golf Season Begin

Who would have thought we would have 70 degree temperatures in January? So with the perfect spring weather in January, I played golf this weekend at Lockeford Springs Golf Course with my buddies Adam, Andrew and cousin Matt. You could not ask FORE! a better day of golf. Beer flowing, cigars lit, trash talking, great golf shots, you name and we did it. I was hoping FORE! a better start to my 2009 golf season, but there were many signs of rust on my game. I hit iron shots, thin, fat, pushed and pulled. On the bright side, I didn’t miss a beat with my driver and didn’t shank any shots. I scrambled my way to an 80 FORE! my first round of the year. The shot of the day came on the 4^th hole when my cousin Matt holed out his lob wedge from 86 yards FORE! birdie. If this round is any indications of how my 2009 golf season is going to be, I can’t wait FORE! the next round.

DC’s photos from Lockeford Springs Golf Course

Disneyland’s Version Of Augusta National Golf Club

This last Friday, Golfer’s Wife, Dad and Mom and I took our annual trip to Disneyland. We were all invited to eat at the exclusive and secret Disneyland Club 33 restaurant. Club 33 is Disneyland’s version of Augusta National Golf Club where the membership stands at only 487 members with a waiting list time over 10 years. Along with your lunch entrée, Club 33 offered unlimited lobster tails, crab, shrimp, salads and customized deserts. Club 33 is also the only place that is allowed to serve alcohol in Disneyland.

DC’s photos of Club 33

Why The 2004 SASF Golf Tournament Was So Special

One of the most memorable golf tournaments that I have ever played in was the 2004 Sacramento Asian Sports Foundation (SASF) Golf Tournament at The Reserve Golf Course. 4 years ago in November, Paul Yip, Greg Yip, Ken Yee and I put together one of the most perfect 4 man scramble rounds I have ever played. We could do no wrong on the golf course that day. We hit monster drives, knocked iron shots stiff, made eagle and birdies putts like they were nothing. We ended winning one of the most prestige Asian golf tournaments in Sacramento with a score of 15 under.

The next year as we were getting ready to defend our title, we pulled out because Paul came down with an illness that was later diagnosed as cancer and passed away later that year. What made this 2004 SASF Golf Tournament so special was that Paul’s older brother Greg told me that winning the tournament was one of Paul’s top golf accomplishments. When Greg told me this, it made me realize what an honor it was to be part of this event FORE! Paul.

When I play golf, I always play FORE! the love of the game. Not to take it too serious, don’t slam your clubs after a shank or say any four letter words after missing a 3 foot putt. You should treat every round of golf like it is your last because life is too short to stress over this game.

2004 SASF Golf Tournament Results

Governor’s Budget Proposal Targets Golfers

Governor Schwarzenegger’s latest budget proposal could impact more than 3,000,000 California golfers’ wallets with new taxes if his proposal is passed.

The NCGA is doing its part in combating the proposal through the California Alliance for Golf (CAG) whose office is housed at NCGA headquarters. The CAG and its executive director, Bob Bouchier, are working with a lobbyist in Sacramento to defeat the tax increase.

Golfers in Northern California can help through lobbying their state legislators. The next few weeks are critical, since the Governor has called a special session of the lame duck legislature to take up his proposal. It is important for all golfers to mobilize their efforts to protect the future of the sport.

The Golf Season That Almost Didn't Happen

Rolling back the clocks and rain in the forecast means only one thing. There won’t be too many more opportunities to play golf this year. I was actually supposed to play DarkHorse Golf Club this weekend, but the two inches of rain that dropped in Auburn, CA canceled that plan.

Every year when the golf season comes to an end, I always reflect back on my season. I was very lucky to have a golf season this year since I had rotator cuff surgery in February. My doctor and physical therapist said that I would be lucky if I was even putting by September. With the help of Golfer’s Wife and the physical therapist, I was chipping and putting in March and started swinging a golf club in April. The goal of my season was to just play in the 6th Annual CalPERS Charity Golf Tournament in September. In May, I played my first post surgery round of golf at Bing Maloney Golf Course and shocked myself by breaking 80. I was surprised that after surgery my golf game seemed at its all time best. I broke 80 every round this year with the exception of 2 rounds. My driver was on fire with numerous drives over 300 years and the CalPERS Long Drive Champion Title to go with it.

I even had a great wedding anniversary vacation with Golfer’s Wife in Monterey, CA where we visited some of the greatest golf courses in United States.

I can’t complain about this year’s golf season. Over 20 rounds of golf, played some of the nicest golf courses from Sacramento to Reno and best of all, played golf with friends that enjoy the game just as much as I do. I can’t wait FORE! the 2009 golf season start.

2022 U.S. Open Champion

Ready or not Tiger, Here I come. Let me introduce to you Colton Hall. Colton is the 7 year old golf protégé of Darin Hall. Colton and Darin’s golf games are the complete opposite. Colton plays the game of golf like The Legend of Bagger Vance while Darin plays golf like Happy Gilmore. Colton took his first golf swing at the age of 5 and started taking the game more serious at the age of 6 when his grandfather “Poppi” signed him up FORE! lessons at the First Tee at Land Park Golf Course. Colton is currently a member of The First Tee of Greater Sacramento and is taking lessons from future LPGA Pro Tracey Nichols and former college golf standout Kristin Nichols. I have been told that Colton is already averaging 85 yards off the tee. Look FORE! Colton’s name at the top of the leader board at the 2022 U.S. Open.