Nikki Gatch Elected President of the SCGA
October 26, 2021
Nikki Gatch, PGA, and an SCGA member through the SCPGA Tour Alumni, was selected as both the first-ever female president and PGA member of the Association at its Annual Meeting, held virtually this morning. She succeeds El Dorado Park Men’s Club member Bob Livingstone.
“Being the first PGA Professional and first woman to become SCGA President is an honor I am truly humbled by,” said Gatch. “I don’t take the honor and responsibility lightly, and I vow, along with my fellow Board Members, to continue to lead this great Association with integrity, passion and vision, just as the Presidents before me have done. The opportunity and responsibility with being first is to ensure you’re not the last.”
Gatch serves as Assistant Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer for the Southern California PGA section. Prior to that, Gatch worked for the PGA of America as a Player Development Regional Manager and then as Regional League Manager. She was previously a co-owner of Emerald Isle Golf Course for three years with her husband and fellow PGA member, Don.
Gatch joined the SCGA Board in 2014 and has supplied her passion for the game to numerous committees, including Communications & Marketing, Hall of Fame, Membership Development and SCGA Junior Golf Foundation. She has also served as the emcee for the annual So Cal Women’s Summit, co-managed by the SCGA and the SCPGA.
Joining Nikki on the 2021-22 SCGA Executive Committee are Vice President Mike Ortega, Skylinks GC and Gauchos and Gringos, Secretary Huy Dang, Griffith Park GC as well as Treasurer Zack Moran, GC Superintendents Club and Olivas Links GC. Nikki will lead a diverse board representing a cross-section of clubs, backgrounds, skills and geography. Also serving on the
Jorge Badel, South Bay Pub Links GC
John Fischer, The Los Angeles CC
Lynne Haraway, Porter Valley CC
John Kobara, Screaming Eagles GC
Azucena Maldonado, Latina Golfers GC
George Mallory, Rancho Park GC
Tom Reul, Briarwood GC
and Immediate Past President Bob Livingstone, El Dorado Park Men’s GC and Recreation Park Men’s GC
Honored at the meeting were:
Phil Frengs, who received the Lynn Smith Award, which honors individuals who show outstanding contributions and service to amateur golf in Southern California. Frengs is a past president and long-time board member for the SCGA Junior Golf Foundation. He is actively involved beyond our foundation, supporting college golf, Friends of Golf and especially, the UCLA Bruins Women’s Golf team. Within our Foundation, Phil served as a long-time scholarship committee chair and still serves on our scholarship committee. Nine years ago, he founded the main funding mechanism for our scholarship program. The COPi Cup Intraclub Pro-Am at Pebble Beach has contributed $1.34 million dollars since inception and thanks in large part to Phil, 156 students have received assistance to attend college.
Dick Beckman, who received the Jim House Award, which recognizes the work of an exceptional SCGA volunteer. Beckman’s commitment to volunteerism along with his passion for the Rules and championship golf have made him an incredible ambassador and family member of the SCGA since 2004.
Sheldon Sommer, who is a well-established figure at the South Course Men’s Golf Club, was named winner of the Newell Pinch Delegate of the Year award for his continued engagement with the SCGA. He helped set up the club’s online portal to make the membership process easy for both members and non-members. Sommer also helps the SCGA market the club via our website as well as through the SCGA’s Associate Member Program.
Jamie Templeton, the handicap chair at El Carison Women’s Golf Club, was awarded the Don Carlson Handicap Chair of the Year Award. Templeton has been instrumental in partnering with the SCGA, and by utilizing the software provided, she has added to the effectiveness of managing the club more efficiently. She is extremely engaged with both the SCGA and her members, ensuring all handicap-related issues are addressed for her club.
LA84 Foundation received the John Argue Founder’s Award, established to honor SCGA Junior Golf Foundation Founder and former SCGA President John C. Argue. In their own positive youth development efforts: Give Golf a Shot and the Road to Riviera, they continually work with us and seek our input to collaborate on how to best serve So Cal youth through the game. LA84 also creates the space and network that allows Foundation staff to collaborate and grow with others in positive youth development and youth sports. Finally, they have been incredibly generous funders, granting more than $200,000 to our programs, including an amazing $100,000 grant this year to allow us to hire and train more and more coaches.
Keenan Barber was honored with the President’s Award, annually given to an SCGA member or member club who furthers the mission of SCGA Junior Golf Foundation. Barber is an avid junior golf advocate and volunteer, which includes commitments to us, but also to high school golf and the First Tee of Coachella Valley. He is a long-time SCGA championships volunteer as well as a past SCGA board member and president.
Luke Potter was named the SCGA Player of the Year after continued dominance on the national stage as one of the top players in the country. Potter was a semifinalist at the U.S. Junior Amateur, reached the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball and advanced to the Round of 32 at the U.S. Amateur. He also won the inaugural Maridoe Amateur over a star-studded field. Locally, he finished seventh at this year’s SCGA Amateur Championship.
Kelly Xu was recognized as the SCGA Women’s Player of the Year after kicking off the season by winning the girls’ division of the Southern California Junior Amateur before winning the SCGA Women’s Amateur by five strokes eight months later. She almost completed the “triple crown” at the California Women’s Amateur but fell just short in the semifinals. Xu also reached the round of 32 at the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship.
Robert Funk earned the SCGA Senior Player of the Year honors, as his presence on the senior stage is just beginning for the xx-year old. Funk kicked off the points race by winning the California Senior Amateur Championship at Poppy Hills GC. His consistent play throughout the season included tying for fifth at the SCGA Senior Amateur, sixth at the SCGA Mid-Amateur, and second at the SCGA Senior Four-Ball. He also qualified to participate in this year’s U.S. Senior Open.
One event still hangs in the balance and will determine our Senior Women’s Player of the Year. The California Senior Women’s Amateur Championship will be conducted at the San Jose Country Club on Nov. 15-17. Several players have a chance to win this prestigious state championship, along with the SCGA Senior Women’s Player of the Year honors.