Golf

LPGA Kia Classic Returns To Aviara

by The Editors on March 22, 2016

Seventh Annual LPGA Kia Classic Returns to Aviara Golf Club March 24-27 (PRNewsFoto/Kia Motors America)The annual LPGA Kia Classic tournament returns to the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad, California, this week (March 24-27, 2016), offering fans of all ages an up-close and personal experience with 144 of the top players in the world as they vie for a share of the $1.7 million purse.

Now in its seventh year, the Kia Classic places an emphasis on family friendly activities such as scavenger hunts and player autograph sessions, and has also designated Hire Heroes USA as the tournament’s first-ever official charity partner.

“The Kia Classic has developed a reputation for attracting one of the most competitive fields in women’s golf, and this year is no different,” said Tim Chaney, vice president of marketing communications, Kia Motors America. “As a member of the Southern California community, we are honored to share this event with golf fans throughout the region, and very proud of the tournament’s focus on recognizing and giving back to the brave men and women who have elected to serve our country.”

For the official word from KIA and the LPGA, please follow the jump.

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62nd Annual Boys & Girls Club Golf Classic

by The Editors on May 19, 2014

2014Golf-161 Lores
Pictured (L to R): Winning Foursome members Steve Farnsworth, Scott Buoy, Club CEO Brad Holland, Aleco Prevalos, and Rob Gough.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad scored big at their 62nd Annual Golf Tournament held April 24, 2014 at the Aviara Golf Club.

“The success of this tournament is a result of astounding contributions from so many individuals and companies throughout North County,” said Randy Ferren of California Bank & Trust, Steering Committee Chair. “While the day presented so many winners, we are pleased that the kids are the ultimate winners – and benefit from this generosity.”

For the official word from the Boys & Girls Club, follow the jump. [click to continue…]

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Raise Money For Kids By Playing Silly Game

by The Editors on September 27, 2013

Golfhome2013The Carlsbad Education Foundation is hosting its 13th Annual Carlsbad Golf Classic on Friday, October 25, 2013 at the City of Carlsbad’s lovely, stylish, financial sink hole The Crossings At Carlsbad.

This should not stop you from registering, donating huge sponsorship dollars, and proving just how flush you are by over-bidding on all the cool stuff in the evening’s auction.

Sure it’s golf, but Carlsbad’s kids are important and the work the Carlsbad Education Foundation does for city schools is epic.
Click here for all the information. And lend a hand. . . even if it is golf.

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Boys & Girls Clubs Scores With Golf Classic

by The Editors on April 26, 2013

Tournament_Winners

Pictured: Steering Chair Randy Ferren, winning foursome members Mike Pottorff, Jonas Jackson, Club CEO Brad Holland, and winner David Flores (winner Scott McCary not shown).

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Carlsbad raised over $135,000 during their annual golf tournament held April 18, 2013 at Aviara Golf Club.

“The success of this tournament is a result of astounding contributions from so many individuals and companies throughout San Diego County,” said Randy Ferren of California Bank & Trust, Steering Committee Chair. “While the day presented so many winners, we are pleased that the kids are the ultimate winners – and benefit from this generosity.”

For the official word from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Carlsbad, follow the jump.
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61st Annual Boys & Girls Club Golf Tourney

by The Editors on April 5, 2013

Grand Prize WinnerThe Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad is hosting its 61th Annual Golf Tournament at Aviara Golf Club on April 18, 2013.

TaylorMade Golf Company joins the Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad as presenting sponsor for the thirteenth year in a row. This year’s theme “Clubs for a Brighter Future” celebrates the partnership between the golf industry powerhouse and nonprofit organization. In fact, TaylorMade CEO Mark King will be serving as the tournament’s honorary chair. Randy Ferren of California Bank & Trust is the event’s steering committee chair. . . “Between TaylorMade’s involvement he past 13 years and the move to Aviara Golf Club this year, our tournament is truly a first class event,” said Club CEO Brad Holland (pictured right with Grand Prize Winner John Hardy). “We are so thankful to be a part of a community that embraces the Boys & Girls Club, and supports youth development in such a significant manner.”

The tournament is completely sold out, but for more information follow the jump. [click to continue…]

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12th Annual Carlsbad Golf Classic

by The Editors on October 18, 2012

TrophyOn Friday, October 18, 2012 golfers will take to The Crossings at Carlsbad to whack their balls in the 12th Annual Carlsbad Education Foundation Golf Classic.

The action begins at noon with a shotgun start to a day that will include live and silent auctions, dinner and a program to follow. The Carlsbad Education Foundation hopes to double the funds raised this year and is aiming for $1 million dollars–all of going to support science, music, and innovation in all Carlsbad Schools. For more information click the link.

[Link: Carlsbad Education Foundation]

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Callaway Golf Gets Dicks On Top Flight Sale

by The Editors on April 6, 2012

Top-Flite Balls2 R620X349Carlsbadistan’s golf industry giant Callaway is reportedly selling their Top Flight brand (in its entirety) to big box sporting goods retailer Dicks Sporting Goods, according to a story in the U-T San Diego.

Bud Leedom of Leedom Asset Management San Diego called the purchase “one of the worst moves I have seen in the golf industry. It just lacked so much understanding of how much Top Flite had deteriorated over the years from lack of investment.” . . The sale is a sign that new Callaway Chief Executive Chip Brewer, who was hired from Adams Golf, is steering Callaway back to its roots in premium golf equipment, said Leedom.

And as we all know “getting back to our roots” is corporate America’s way of saying, “we got way over extended, screwed up and now we’re struggling to put the pieces back together.” Wonder what Callaway Creative Director Justin Timberlake has to say about this move?

[Link: U-T San Diego]

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Riehl World: Taj Magolf’s Extreme Makeover

by Richard J. Riehl on August 11, 2011

ThelossingsMark Twain once called the game of golf “a good walk spoiled.” Something similar could be said of Carlsbad’s $68 million public golf course–a splendid setting for weddings, dining and golf, spoiled by tilting fairways, undersized greens, and lost balls.

A struggling economy, the many affordable courses nearby, and its playability have been blamed for the course’s annual deficits. Hopes for a financial turnaround are based mostly on the attractiveness of the venue.

That was a summary of a consultant’s report for the city of Rockville, Maryland on the financial condition of its Redgate Municipal Golf Course. The recommendations? Modify greens and bunkers, build additional facilities for player convenience, and launch a more aggressive marketing campaign.

Sound familiar? The differences between The Crossings and Redgate are foreboding. Rockville’s course is 40 years old. You can play it for half of what you pay for a round at Carlsbad’s Taj Magolf. [click to continue…]

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City To Chip $186,000 More At The Lossings

by The Editors on June 28, 2011

Thelossings-Tm-TmTonight when the Carlsbadistan City Council meets they will approve AB#20.610 or Improvements To The Crossings and Adjacent Open Space Erosion Mediation.

Apparently, City staff and Kemper Sports Management (the company that runs The Lossings, but can’t seem to do it at a profit) have decided (after paying a golf consultant to prepare a report) that improvements need to be made if the business is ever expected to prosper.

In order to increase “course playability” the city staff would like to spend $80,000 making the 18th hole easier. Apparently, people aren’t playing the course as much as they should because the 18th hole is just too difficult. City staff is also suggesting that $12,000 be spent to transform a “boardroom” into the clubhouse’s second bar. Apparently, the Canyons Bar and Restaurant (one of the more profitable pieces of the Lossing’s business in the past) is not the kind of establishment that keeps golfers around after their round.

But that’s not all. Thanks to heavy rain fall last winter (and the way the land has been artificially shaped for the course) city staff would also like an additional $106,000 for “open space remediation.” They’d like to “repair serious erosion” that created “crevices and brought silt onto city streets.”

Of course, money has already been set aside in the “Golf Course Capital Reserve Fund” for simplifying the 18th hole and building another bar, however, city staff would like to use money from the Capital Construction funds to pay for the erosion repair. And just like that another $200,000 is flushed down The Lossings.

Meanwhile, we still don’t have the Alga Norte Pool nor the skateboard park. Nice, huh?

[Update June 29, 2011: For the record the City Council unanimously approved the $106,000 erosion control funding and the $80,000 to simplify the 18th hole, however, they did not approve the $12,000 to create a “players club” because Farrah Douglas didn’t like the idea of using the boardroom as a temporary bar. She thinks the course needs something more luxurious and suggested maybe turning the pro shop into a new lounge. Council will discuss the new bar issue at a future time.]

[Link: City County Agenda and AB#20.610]

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Riehl World: The Crossings on Life Support

by Richard J. Riehl on December 30, 2010

Thelossings-Tm-Tm-1This year’s $1.7 million bailout of Carlsbad’s three-year-old golf course will bring the total amount of annual subsidies since its opening to $5.1 million. Four of the five council members who voted to tap city coffers again this time voted for each of the previous giveaways. Here’s a small sample of what three of them have said to explain their votes to save a failing enterprise.

The most creative justification came from newly re-elected councilman Mark Packard. “We’re not subsidizing,” he claimed, “we’re ‘fronting’ the money. None of us on the council play golf, so we didn’t do this for our own benefit.” For him, keeping the course on life support amounts to a misnamed and selfless act.

In a variation of I’m-from-the-government- and-I’m-here-to-help, Mayor-elect Matt Hall assured his constituents, “The five of us manage the affairs of the city very well and I feel certain it will pay for itself.”

Holding environmentalists largely responsible for the ballooning cost of construction from its $11 million estimate 18 years ago, Retiring Mayor Lewis sadly predicted, “This will pay, maybe not in my lifetime.”

Each year since its August 2007 opening, the number of budgeted rounds of golf has fallen. The number for 2008 was 52,000. This year’s number of actual rounds is projected to be 42,000. That’s a 20 percent decline. Reaching next year’s budgeted goal of 44,000 seems unlikely, given the course’s track record.

Follow the jump for the rest of the story. . .
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