In the summer of 1967 the Navy Golf Course in Cypress opened. It was only a couple of mobile trailer buildings and the course. Yet by December of that same year the Navy Golf Course Women’s Club was forming. Nearly 47 years later, the club is still going strong, and since the course opened to the public, the ladies who hit the links every Tuesday morning, have become stronger in numbers.
With their increase numbers they have put their golf rounds to good use. Over the past several years, the club has begun using some of its tournaments to raise funds for good causes. And since the club was formed by military women and wives of military men, one of their primary targets has become the Fisher House.
The Fisher House is a housing facility at VA hospitals where patients and their families can stay while they, or their loved ones undergo treatment at the hospital. In early June, the NWGC held its annual Member/Guest Invitational, which has been earmarked as the fundraiser for the Fisher House. It was one of their most successful tournaments, as they had 152 players join the field.
“That’s the most we’ve ever had,” Past President and one of the club’s committee chairmen, Sharon Hanley said.
By selling tee sponsorships and garnering donations, the club raised $2,000 that will be delivered to the Long Beach Veteran’s Hospital on Monday, where the newest Fisher House is currently under construction. Their first fundraiser in 2006 went to the San Diego Fisher House, then the closest one. After that there was a Los Angeles Fisher House, but the last two years have gone towards helping the eventual Long Beach House.
Currently, the club has 93 members, with another 10 associate members who attend functions but no longer play golf. They play weekly on Tuesdays and average about 40 players every week. In addition, they have five major tournaments each year. But it’s the relationships that bring the players back year after year.
“You make a lot of nice friends, the golf is secondary, I think,” said member Susanne Briant.
Shortly after the Navy Golf Course was opened to the public about six years ago, the club membership ballooned to more than 136 members. And while the number has gone down the opening of the club to the public was an energizer to the women’s club. Two of their members are charter members who have been part of the club since its inception in 1967; Marilyn Woods and the club’s first president, Virginia Fletcher. They are always looking for new members, they just need to get the word out.
“There are a lot of people who are unaware that the Navy Golf Course is open to the public,” member Louise Helselth said.
Not only is the club opened to the public, it is completely self-supporting and uses no taxpayer money to operate. In fact the profits from the course are donated to military support causes, such as Morale Welfare Recreation and Quality of Life programs for military and their families.
Another of their major tournaments is their member tournament in October, which is for Breast Cancer Angels. It was formerly a fundraiser for the Komen for the Cure Foundation, but in recent years the club has donated to the more localized organization of Breast Cancer Angels. That event usually draws about 60-65 members.
While the club plays regularly at Navy Golf Course, they venture out to other events and their club champions participate in the Public Link Masters. The club is part of the Public Links Golf Association. This year’s club champion is Sophia Kim and its’ senior champions is Helen Har.
After the club’s Breast Cancer Angels Tournament in October, the final major will be their Christmas Party Tournament in December. They will then begin gearing up for 2015 and more fun, competition and support of causes important to them. Any female golfers interested in finding out more about joining the club, can email Membership Chairman Judy Gibson at jagrn60@gmail.com.