David Pearson was officially named the 95th President of the Northern California Golf Association at Wednesday’s NCGA Annual Meeting, which was held at Poppy Ridge Golf Course in Livermore. Other board members for the 2023 NCGA golf season were also confirmed at the meeting.
Pearson, a member at Visalia Country Club, has been a member of the Board of Directors since 2015. Pearson, whose wife is Susan, is an engineer by trade.
Pearson succeeds Gary Fox, a member at Spring Creek G&CC in Ripon. Also seated were Vice President Edward Quinn (seventh year) and Secretary/Treasurer Kevin Peyton (sixth year). Current NCGA Board members that were re-nominated for 2023 were Lance Parker (fifth year), Preston Pinkney (fourth year), Bill Carle (fourth year), Cathy Stroh (fourth year), Dana Carrigan (third year), Bob Miller (fifth year), Karl Rodefer (third year), Bill Self (third year), April Kenyon (second year), Branche' Jones (second year), Erika Corradi (second year), Tyler Tharpe (second year) and Greg Rhine (second year).
NCGA Board members who are either retiring or have met board term limits are Bob Goldstein and Lynn E. Harvey.
Newly elected oncoming Board members are Michael Braun of Peninsula G&CC and Michael Smith of Lake Chabot GC.
In other meeting news, the NCGA announced preliminary plans for a renovation of Poppy Ridge Golf Course to be performed by architect Jay Blasi (seen below). Currently a 27-hole facility with three separate nine-hole courses (Chardonnay, Merlot and Zinfandel), the renovation would result in a single 18-hole championship course and a nine-hole "flex" course that could play long or short. The changes, which will result in a more walkable layout, would also include more practice areas for beginners and juniors.
Blasi, previously a member of the Robert Trent Jones Jr. team that developed Poppy Hills, has an extensive resume' that includes 2015 U.S. Open site Chambers Bay in Washington and Sentry World in Wisconsin, site of the 2023 U.S. Senior Open.
"I can't tell you how honored I am to be part of the team," Blasi said. "The Poppy Ridge site is an amazing canvas."
There were also reports from Adam Heieck, CEO of Youth on Course, and USGA West Region Affairs Director Mike Sweeney, as well as the presentation of the 2022-23 NCGA Player of the Year awards. Winning the titles were Garett Wagner (NCGA Men’s Player of the Year), Annika Borrelli (NCGA Women’s Player of the Year), Randy Haag (NCGA Senior Men’s Player of the Year), Lynne Cowan (NCGA Senior Women’s Player of the Year) and Jim Knoll (NCGA Super Senior Player of the Year).