CLUB NEWS
04.04.2010
New Faces and New Challenges for the Dragons in 2010
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. - It all came down to the final 18 holes at Lake Merced last October, when Wes Chong put together a superb round of 74 to overtake Bobby Chang in the inaugural Dragon Cup race. The Dragon Cup, the perpetual trophy for the club championship, sits proudly atop a grand piano at the Club Captain's house. This one, one can tell, Wes is very proud of -- dozens of trophies from victories past are in his Foster City attic, gathering dust. But not this one, as it symbolizes the rebirth of the legendary Good Guys that Wes led for years, and a bright future for a new generation.
On April 17, the Dragon Cup race will start anew, as the Dragons gather at Cinnabar Hills in San Jose for the 2010 Season Opener. It will be a daunting challenge for Wes to defend this title, as the club enter its second season. The Dragons will start the Year of the Tiger with a full roster of 55 members, including more elite players in the A Flight and more ever-improving higher-index players in the B Flight. With Dragon Cup points now available to top 10 finishes and more weight given to low net finishes, those who play the most club tournaments and score with consistency, no matter the handicap, will find themselves in contention.
All of the fun and games will play out over the prime months for golf on the finer venues of Northern California. Cinnabar Hills and Shadow Lakes are two of the best examples of the modern links architectural philosophy. The Dragons will move to the coast for the summer months, beginning with Poppy Hills in June and The Presidio in July. In August, the 1st Annual Weekender will be played at Half Moon Bay Golf Links, where the members will go head-to-head in a Ryder Cup style team match, as well as play for the club's first 36-hole medal play championship. Hiddenbrooke, a former LPGA Tour venue, will be the site of our first September tournament. The finale will again be held at Lake Merced, the host of the 2009 California State Amateur.
The Dragons will compete again in the NCGA Associate club tournaments, beginning with the Four-Ball qualifier in April. In 2009, the Dragons' 4-person NCGA Associate Club Championship team made it to the championship finals at Spyglass and Poppy Hills. In 2010, the Dragons will field another Associate Club Championship squad in June at the locals. The Dragons also hope to field its first Senior Four-Ball Net team come August.
In Federation action, the Dragons will defend its Federation Team Match title at the Sacramento Memorial Day Invitational at Lincoln Hills, where Wes is also field low gross defending champion. Oakland CGC will have a busy summer, hosting the Battle of the Bay in June, featuring the Dragons, SFCGC, Marin CGC and the host club in the annual 12-person team match. In July, Oakland CGC will then host a Federation summer invitational up in Reno at Somersett and D'Andrea. Then, the Victoria CGC will conduct the 60th InterCity Labor Day Invitational in beautiful Victoria, British Columbia, where the field will take on Arbutus Ridge and Olympic View. For the members of this club, double Dragon Cup points are up for grabs at the Federation Invitationals, not to mention the opportunity to travel, compete for trophies in multiple flights, play interesting courses away from home, and make some new friends.
An exciting and fun year is about to start and, for now, the Dragon Cup will remain in Wes' living room, until this October when the season finale is played at Lake Merced. Who will get to take it home come November, when we gather again at The Olympic Club for our holiday party and awards banquet? Only one way to find out: Tee it up and let it fly!
