This article originally appeared in the September issue of NCGA Golf Magazine
For members who love participating in fantasy sports, the NCGA provides a fantasy golf league that encompasses five of the professional Major championships. The Masters, PGA Championship, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Open and British Open. Each season, the member with the highest combined point total across all five majors is crowned the NCGA Fantasy Golf Champion.
This year, the title went to Todd Barreras. Todd had an amazing season, beating 1,475 other teams and taking home the victory by just a single point over Jeryn Sampson. Todd accumulated 40.8 season-long points with the following finishes (seeing how he started slowly also proves that things aren’t over until they’re over):
We caught up with Todd, who is a member of Quicksilver GC at Cinnabar Hills, to pick his brain about strategy, favorite players and what keeps him hooked on the game year after year.
No, he wouldn't give up the full playbook. But he did admit his strategy comes down to two things: "I analyze recent form and player stats, combined with relying on a bit of luck." A straightforward approach and probably the best way to play fantasy sports.
When it comes to an actual roster, a couple of names show up almost every single week. "Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are consistent choices for me." LIV players, though, are pretty much off the board entirely, not out of any grudge, just practicality: "I generally avoid LIV Golf players due to their limited playing schedule." Fewer starts, less fantasy value. It will be interesting to see how the LIV players play next year.
We asked about his favorite players and the answer gets a little more personal. Jackson Koivun made the list "given his ties to Cinnabar Hills GC," and Ryan Fox earned a permanent spot in Todd’s Hall of Fame for one specific reason: "His birdie on the 18th hole at The Open Championship was key to my victory in the NCGA Cup."
Golf isn't Todd’s only fantasy outlet either; football and NASCAR are both in the rotation too. Still, when it comes to picking a favorite, there's no hesitation: "Fantasy golf is definitely my favorite."
So what's the actual appeal? It's less about the golf itself and more about the challenge of the game. "I enjoy the competition and testing my ability to make accurate predictions."
And for anyone looking for a quick fantasy golf tip, his advice is refreshingly simple: don't overdo the research. "Trust your instincts; it is easy to overthink decisions after watching too much coverage on Golf Channel."
Todd’s win came with the grand prize of a free foursome at Poppy Hills or Poppy Ridge, and we can’t wait to welcome Todd to one of our two great facilities. Congrats on a great season, Todd!
Be on the lookout for the NCGA email when the fantasy league opens back up for the 2027 Masters -- Your shot at the next Fantasy Golf Championship!