By Nancy Norton
This article originally appeared in the August issue of NCGA Golf Magazine
The Modesto Muni Niners Women’s Golf Club, one of the oldest nine-hole women’s golf organizations in Northern California, recently celebrated its birthday. In doing so, they also gave back.
As part of the celebration, the club hosted a 60th anniversary tournament and fundraiser for local girls’ high school golf teams that enabled them to purchase new bags, supplies and equipment.
The tournament was held at Creekside Municipal Golf Course in Modesto, with the theme being ‘Flower Power.’ Included was a touch of diamonds in honor of the era of the hippies, reflecting when the club was created (in the 1960s), and the stone that represents 60 years.
It all started in 1965, when 27 women established a nine-hole Women’s Golf Club, which they named the Muni Niners. They played at the Modesto Municipal Golf Course (Muni). At its peak in the 1990s, the Muni Niners boasted over 70 members. Due to the deterioration of the course and lack of play, the City of Modesto closed Muni in December 2020.
The Muni Niners persevered and kept their name of Muni. Among the highlights for the club are five wins at the 9-hole Northern California Team Play, which is more than any other club in the district.
There too is Carmen Ingols, who has been a member of the club for 35 years. Ingols began playing in April 1990 on the 25th Anniversary of Muni and is still playing to this day.
Maxine Fisher (1923–2012) was the team’s first Captain, and Terry Wilder-Unruh is the current Captain. Wilder-Unruh has the distinction of being the only Captain to be elected five consecutive years.
Congrats to the Modesto Muni Niners Women! Here’s to another 60 years!