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2006 Season Photos:
San Geronimo
Metropolitan
Las Positas

2005 Season Photos:
Mare Island
Shadow Lakes
Las Positas
Wente Vineyards
Coyote Creek (Tournament)
Adobe Creek
Roddy Ranch
Eddie Reed Match Play*
Paradise Valley (Kooman)*
Diablo Grande (Legends)
Poppy Ridge (Fac/Staff)*
Tilden Park (2-Ball)*
Monterey Weekend
Alameda No. (Club Champ)*

2004 Season Photos:
Roddy Ranch
Las Positas
Wente Vineyards
Metropolitan
Rooster Run
Windsor
Eddie Reed Match Play*
Paradise Valley (Kooman)*
Stevinson Ranch
Poppy Ridge (Fac/Staff)*
Tilden Park (2-Ball)*
Gold Country Weekend
Boundary Oak (Club Champ)*

2003 Season Photos:
Windsor
Las Positas
Wente Vineyards
Shadow Lakes
Lone Tree
Bennett Valley
Eddie Reed Match Play*
Paradise Valley (Kooman)*
Spanos Park
Poppy Ridge (Fac/Staff)*
Tilden Park (2-Ball)*
Monterey Weekend
Chardonnay
Indian Valley (Club Champ)*

2002 Season Photos:
Bodega Harbour
Las Positas
Wente Vineyards
Adobe Creek
Rooster Run
Roddy Ranch
Eddie Reed Match Play*
Paradise Valley (Kooman)*
Monarch Bay
Boundary Oak (Fac/Staff)*
Tilden Park (2-Ball)*
Las Vegas Trip
Mare Island
Alameda No. (Club Champ)*

2001 Season Photos:
Windsor
Las Positas
Wente Vineyards
Diablo Grande (Ranch)
Rio Vista
Paradise Valley (Kooman)*
Eddie Reed Match Play*
Roddy Ranch
Spanos Park
Diablo Creek (Fac/Staff)*
Monarch Bay (2-Ball)*
Central Coast Trip
Poppy Ridge
Boundary Oak (Club Champ)*

2000 Season Photos:
Bodega Harbour
Las Positas
Wente Vineyards
Diablo Grande (Ranch)
Adobe Creek (Rained out)
Paradise Valley (Kooman)*
Eddie Reed Match Play*
San Juan Oaks
Poppy Ridge
Willow Park (Fac/Staff)*
Tilden Park (2-Ball)*
Sierras Trip
Rooster Run
Alameda So. (Club Champ)*

1999 Season Photos:
Diablo Creek (Fac/Staff)*
Tilden Park (2-Ball)*
Alameda North
Boundary Oak (Club Champ)*

pre-1999 Photos

* Major Tournament

Other Resources:

NCGA Website
NCGA Course Directory:
Eastbay,  SF/Northbay, Southbay, Monterey
A-C,  D-F,  G-I,  J-L,  M-O,  P-R,  S-T,  U-Z

USGA Website

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Our 2004 Most Improved Golfer was Dave Wherritt. In 2004 Dave showed the most improvement in his index by lowering it from a 17.6 to a 13.6. It was a very close race. For instance, Ryan Tabibian was the most improved player between 12/1/03 and 12/1/04. And from 1/1/04 to 1/1/05 Ryan reduced his index from a 15.3 to an 11.7. Only in the final month of the year did David narrowly slip ahead of Ryan as the most improved player. Indeed, it was so close that it came down to a single stroke!!! How? The formula for most improved is based upon a starting and an ending handicap index. Ryan's score in the final tournament (Las Positas) wasn't good enough to be part of his final index, but David's score at Las Positas was. David's 85 resulted in a differential of 13.5. His resulting January index was 13.6. Had David instead shot 86 at Las Positas his resulting index would have been 13.7. This would have resulted in an Index Ratio (used by the USGA to determine Most Improved) of 1.1518 rather than 1.1563. If you place 1.1518 in the chart below, you'll note that David would have only placed 2nd! This is how narrowly David squeaked past Ryan.

The Most Improved Golfer Award is determined using the USGA's Most Improved Player Ratio. You may read more about this formula below. In order for members to be eligible for the Most Improved Golfer Award, they must be a member in good standing as of January 1st that year. Members can only win the Most Improved Award once, ever. (This to eliminate those who, for whatever reason, may repetitively rollercoaster dramatically from season to season.) Indexes lowered as result of reduction penalty are not eligible. Members must also have played in at least 5 events to qualify for this award. Below is a list of all 2004 members, ranked by their USGA Ratio score over the 2004 year. 

With a net gain in membership, this was a season in which players, for the most part, tended to slide in their overall index ranking. This is a comparative ranking between members. Noteworthy is that David Wherritt and Ryan Tabibian tied in having advancing 21 slots in the club ranking. Ryan Atkinson showed the highest percentage improvement in his index, going from a 1.8 to a 1.0, he improved his index by 44%! Bruce Flushman shaved the most strokes off his 2003 index. Bruce reduced his index from a 27.7 to a 22.9, a reduction of 4.8 strokes!

* - All comparisons between years occur between indexes on 1/1/04 and 1/1/05. 1/1/01, 1/1/02, and 1/1/03 indexes are listed merely for viewing. 
Idx Chg  - (Index Change) This is the reduction or increase in the individual's index between January 2004 and January 2005.
Idx Rdtn% - This column ranks by percentage reduction each person's index from January 2004 to January 2005. In other words it highlights which golfer reduced his/her index by the highest percentage against last year's index.
Idx Ratio - This calculation is used to determine our annual Most Improved Golfer Award recipient. It's an NCGA formula.
Rank 2001 - Member's January 2001 index ranked among other club members.
Rank 2002 - Member's January 2002 index ranked among other club members.
Rank 2003 - Member's January 2003 index ranked among other club members.
Rank 2004 - Member's January 2004 index ranked among other club members.
Rank 2005 - Member's January 2005 index ranked among other club members.
Rank Change - Position change in member's rank between January 2003 index and January 2004 index. Negative numbers mean member's rank has slipped.
Sex - UCGC membership divided by sex and listed alphabetically.
Joined UCGC - Date which member joined the UCGC. Records only date back to January 1992. Many members have been with the club for 20-30 years. 
R - Reduction - USGA Handicap Index reduction for exceptional tournament scores. When players have two or more eligible tournament scores with differentials at least three strokes better than their USGA Handicap Indexes, an alternate calculation is used to determine their USGA Handicap Indexes. (See Section 10-3 of the USGA Handbook)

New Members for 2005

The UCGC would like to send a WARM WELCOME to the following new members. Many on this list have already been members for several months, however 2005 will mark their first full season. These "rookies" will be offering up new competition in each flight, including our championship flight.

Craig Adelman Walter Chun William Curtis Gene Eun Kevin Grant Ben Greenspan Ned Griffith Kevin Kendall Allen Kent Steve Koneffklatt Bryan Lee Paul Lord

Peter Mackenzie Bill Manning David Nilson Sean O'Neill Steve Rabedeaux Brad Rice Al Rollins Jamie Sutton Earl Takasaki Tim Walsh Richard West Christopher Ybarra

The Formula

Over the past few years we've used a most-improved formula which was developed by Aaron . Begining with this year (current date is 1/1/05) we're using the USGA's Most Improved Player Formula (as specified below). Primarily we wish for equity.

USGA Handicap System manual:

Misc./1. Method for Determining Most Improved Golfer

Q: What method for determining the winner of a club’s most improved golfer award does the USGA recommend?

A: The USGA recommends the following method: Add 12 to the player’s USGA Handicap Index at the start of the season. This is value A. Add 12 to the player’s USGA Handicap Index at the end of the season. This is value B.

Divide value A by value B, calculating to three decimal places. This is the improvement factor. The player with the highest improvement factor should receive the most improved golfer award.

Add 6 instead of 12 in the case of nine-hole players.

Example:

Starting Handicap Index:
22.6
Ending Handicap Index:
17.4
Value A:
22.6 + 12=34.6
Value B:
17.4 + 12=29.4
A / B:
34.6 / 29.4=1.177
Improvement Factor:
1.177

Continue this process for every golfer who improved during the year. The player with the highest improvement factor is the most improved player.

The USGA Handicap System manual is available online at http://www.usga.org.