Golf: Fore You for week of Dec. 21
Happenings around the Valley for local golfers
A weekly look at happenings around the Valley for local golfers, compiled with the assistance of Bill Finn. Submissions can be emailed to billfinn71@yahoo.com or sports@fresnobee.com.
Upcoming events
Friday, Dec. 25 – Christmas Day.
Courses closed for the holiday: Belmont CC, Eagle Springs G&CC, Lemoore GC, Riverside GC, River Island GC, River Park Golf Center, Exeter GC, Dragonfly GC, Madera G&CC, Sherwood Forest GC, Tulare GC.
Courses open for the holiday (special hours): Fig Garden GC, Valley Oaks GC, Madera Muni GC, Pheasant Run GC, Airways GC, Bluff Pointe Golf Center, Hank Swank’s Golf Center.
Dec. 29, NCJGA Winter Golf Classic at Lemoore GC
Jan. 3, Golf Channel AM Tour at Dragonfly GC
Airways GC
Holiday hours: Open regular hours on Christmas Day.
Upcoming: Dec. 31, SIR branch No. 159 four-man, 2 best ball shamble tournament, 10 a.m. shotgun start
Belmont CC
Holiday hours: Open Dec. 24, Christmas Eve at 9 a.m., shotgun tee time for all play. Course closes at end of play. Closed Christmas Day.
Upcoming: Dec. 31, New Year’s Eve party. Open regular hours on Jan. 1, 2016.
Bluff Pointe Golf Center
Holiday hours: Open Christmas Day.
Ongoing: “First come, no tee time” rounds. Nine holes in under two hours. Call 559-275-0600 for details.
Winter program: “Ask the Pro” Jim Perez every Tuesday from 5-7 p.m. Free lesson with purchase of a bucket of range balls.
Dragonfly GC
Upcoming: Dec. 24, Ladies club tournament, 9 a.m. Jan. 3, Golf Channel AM Tour 18-hole tournament. For information and to sign up, email sneer@gcamtour.com.
Ongoing: Visit www.dragonflygolfclub.com for December specials.
Eagle Springs G&CC
Ongoing: Women’s Club is taking new members for regular play on Wednesdays. Book a corporate, club or fundraising event. For full info and to sign up, call the pro shop at 559-325-8900.
Exeter GC
Ongoing: Monday special, $5 all-day golf; Wednesdays, Ladies Day 8:30 a.m; Thursday scrambles, 8:30 a.m.; Friday all-day golf for $9.
Fig Garden GC
Holiday hours: Open Christmas Day, Dec. 25, at 9 a.m. Shotgun tee time. Course closes at end of play.
Ongoing: Daily specials for golfers, $44 for non-members after 10 a.m. and $30 after 1 p.m. Includes cart. Members pay $34 after 10 a.m. and $25 after 1 p.m. $99.99 mini-member discount card for 2016.
Golf Channel AM Tour
Upcoming: Jan. 3, Dragonfly GC in Madera. Jan. 17, The Reserve GC in Stockton. Jan. 31, Cinnabar GC in San Jose. For details and sign-ups, contact Sacramento/Central California Tour Director Steve Neer at 559-360-2720 or sneer@gcamtour.com.
Hank Swank Golf Center
Holiday hours: Open Christmas Day at 7:30 a.m. until dark.
Lemoore GC
Ongoing: 2016 Players Club memberships now available. Members receive NCGA handicap, one dozen Titleist Pro V1s, access to NCGA qualifiers and guaranteed weekday/weekend green-fees rate of $20. Membership costs $110.
Specials: Ladies play for half-price every Saturday.
Upcoming: Dec. 29, Northern California Junior Golf Association Winter Classic, junior golfers ages 7 to 18 eligible to play. Details at www.jganc.com.
Len Ross Junior Golf Center
Ongoing: Free golf clinics, 1604 S. Teilman Ave., Fresno, boys and girls 8-17, all equipment provided. Details, sign-ups at 559-485-2724 or jrgolf1188@aol.com or longjump72@yahoo.com.
Madera Muni GC
Holiday hours: Open Christmas Day, Dec. 25, from 8 a.m. to noon.
Specials: Foot golf, 18 holes, $8 adults, $4 juniors.
Paso Robles GC
Ongoing: This formerly private golf course has new local ownership and is open for public play at reasonable daily fees. Call the pro shop at 805-238-4722 or visit pasoroblesgolfclub.com for full details and to book a time.
Pheasant Run GC
Holiday hours: Open Christmas Day from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
River Park Golf Center
Award: River Park Golf Center was recognized by the Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) as one of the top 50 stand-alone ranges for 2015.
Ongoing: Youth on Course, $2 for nine holes; senior and military play nine holes for $6 on weekdays, $9 weekends/holidays. Pro instructors Cindy Vining, Patrick Horvath, Gary Green and Brandon Sherwood. Call 559-448-9467 or visit www.riverparkgolf.com. Demo new Callaway Great Big Bertha or Taylormade M1 metal woods for free.
Specials: Pay $100 and receive $150 range credit. Limited time only. Special Christmas Bonus, one time only initiation fee of $100 waived for the Green Grass Club Membership through December. Star Wars head covers are available in pro shop. Special Christmas instruction packages available from River Park’s teaching staff, check web-site for full details.
Riverside GC
Upcoming: Dec. 24, SIR No. 159 two-man best ball scramble tournament, 10 a.m. Closed Christmas Day.
December special: Play a round for just $25 per person, weekdays after 11 a.m. Cost includes green fee and cart. Not valid with any other offer.
Tulare GC
Ongoing: Monday’s Nine & Wine after 4:30 p.m., $20 per person includes cart, also beverage discount – ask for Monday Niner card at check-in. Optional Monday buffet for $15. Ladies Day every Thursday at 9 a.m. Twilight special after 3 p.m., $25 per person includes cart. Call pro shop at 559-686-5300 or go to tularegolfcourse.com/green-fees.html for details.
Valley Oaks GC
Holiday hours: Open Dec. 25, Christmas Day, at 10 a.m. Shotgtun tee time, course closes at end of play.
Specials: Bring four cans of food or one new toy per player for local food drive Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. this month and receive green fee and cart for $35 per player, $42 on weekends. Not valid on holidays/tournaments.
Ongoing: Book an event before Feb. 28 and receive $10 off price for each player. Youth on Course, $5 after noon, seven days a week, $2 small range bucket.
Christmas deals: Purchase four rounds of golf, one dozen Pro V1 golf balls, one Valley Oaks logo hat, and one Valley Oaks poker chip ball marker all for only $135. Purchase three lessons with one of our PGA pros for only $99. More deals online at www.playvalleyoaks.com
This story was originally published December 20, 2015 at 6:01 PM with the headline "Golf: Fore You for week of Dec. 21."