This article originally appeared in the August issue of NCGA Golf Magazine
Sonoma Valley GC (SVGC) has roots that go back further than its current home course. The story starts at Sonoma National Golf Course, where men from Sonoma had been playing for years, paying their green fees out of a small shack behind the first tee. In 1984, a group of those players decided to make it official and formed a club, which eventually became the Sonoma Valley Golf Club. Twenty-five players signed up that first year, paying a membership fee of just $3. Over time, the club made the move to Eagle Vines and took on the name it carries today.
That history still shows in the culture of the club. Donald Jeffries is president of Sonoma Valley GC at Eagle Vines, and one of the first things he'll tell you about the club is that they're able to attract some really great people. He credits the strong and engaged member base to three things in particular: the club's ability to play other courses in the area, the great relationship with the Eagle Vines GM and golf shop staff, and a board that's genuinely passionate about the club.
Start with the golf. They don't just play at Eagle Vines - sure, that's home base, but the club runs a full calendar of away tournaments too, so members get out and play other courses throughout the season instead of the same 18 holes over and over. Tournament formats change things up throughout the year - Cha Cha Cha, Stableford, Designated Scorer, that sort of thing. Members are split into flights, and points from these events add up over the season toward the Club Championship, so there's something riding on more than just one event.
Just as important is the relationship with the Eagle Vines facility. The owners and staff at Egale Vines are committed to making regular improvements so golfers of all abilities have an exceptional experience, and the golf shop staff and maintenance crew are a big part of that effort. The shop staff is unfailingly welcoming, the kind of place where they remember your name every time you walk through the door. The maintenance team deserves equal credit: thanks to their hard work, course conditions have improved year after year, a point of real pride for the club.
Much of that seamless partnership comes down to David Griffis, the GM at Eagle Vines. We asked him what makes the facility/club relationship work so well.
"The SVGC provides our facility with consistency of patronage twice a month. Every SVGC player is also an Eagle Vines Vineyards and Golf Club member, which comes with discounted green fees throughout the year. Many of our SVGC members end up playing several times a week, which creates a steady, appreciated flow of guests. When you're working with a membership group like the SVGC, it's important to really understand the value they bring to the table and to recognize the bigger picture. The SVGC has a strong Board of Directors, which makes it easy to sit down together and find common ground that benefits both the members and our facility, so we can grow together."
And finally, there's the Board. Jeffries said they specifically look for Board members who actually want to make the club better, not just people looking to fill a seat. Which is why they are able to hold tournaments at multiple courses. That mindset seems to be part of why the club keeps growing.
Membership is open to both men and women, and if you’re interested in learning more about the club, please click here.