RANCHO MURIETA, CA (MPG) - Beautiful spring weather graced the Rancho Murieta Country Club (RMCC) as the Niners’ Golf Club held its Silver Anniversary Invitational, “Swing into Summer.” With course conditions pristine and well-groomed, 140 women returned from their round of nine holes with impeccable scores.

After 25 years of hosting this action-filled event, the Invitational committees of the RMCC Niners aced it with activities, raffle, door prize and tee-prizes.

Twenty-three golf clubs from the surrounding area and as far away as Brentwood and Modesto took part in the fun. Groups within RMCC supported the Niners’ Invitational, as the Women’s Golf Club greeted golfers with freshly baked and wrapped cookies and the Senior Men’s Golf Club shuttled the women to their destinations and served mimosas to them while they were on the course. 

Club Pro Brian Little provided exquisite directions for the four-person, Modified Chapman’s Scotch Format. The Pro Shop, managed by Sandy Boal, offered the ladies 25% off, which, when combined with the gift certificate tee prize, contributed to shopping fun for all.

After a hearty breakfast prepared by Chef KC Brown and organized by Sharon Haeger, all 35 teams of four hit the links in a shotgun start on the North Course of RMCC. Eighteen teams played the front nine (holes 1-9) while 17 teams played the back nine (holes 10-18). These were considered the two flights for the day.

Niners’ Captain Cathy Niley enlisted the help of the Senior Men’s Golf Club for a free putting contest, hosted by Golf Galaxy. The two putters stroking the ball closest to the putting green hole received a generous gift certificate from Golf Galaxy/Dick’s Sporting Goods. Member Elaine Fowler landed the white orb closest of all participants while guest Vicky Holman (Castle Oaks) holed it to claim the win.

Holes 2 and 12 were played for closest-to-the-pin for members and Guests alike. Member Elaine Fowler was 5’9” away on hole 2 and member Ginny Hoskins was 40’1” on the tough-pin-placement of hole 12. Guests Vicki Holman, representing Castle Oaks Golf Club, placed the ball closest to the pin at 2’3” on number 2, while Lori Bradford from Northridge Country Club landed her tee shot 45’7” away on the back-nine hole 12. All four ladies walked away with cash awards.

After two-and-a-half hours of team golf, the lady linksters returned to the clubhouse for a delicious lunch, also arranged by Haeger and prepared by Brown. During the mealtime gathering, Captain Cathy Niley and Co-Captain and Invitational Chair Vicki Kalman announced team winners. Cash prizes paid down to the top four teams for those playing the front nine and the back nine. The scores were impressive.

The ladies scrambled to place raffle tickets in hopes of taking home one of the 35 incredibly decorated and filled baskets of food, wine, goods, cash and golf outings. Chair Andrea Johnson put together beautifully decorated and sought- after items. The generous Door Prize—a Ping Golf Bag—was donated by the Pro Shop. Door Prize and Raffle winners left pleased with their take-homes.

The team of Heidi Taylor, Katie Gilchrest, Mary Sanchez and Robin Karnitz walked away with first place honors on the front nine of the course with a scalding 23 under par, while Sharon Crawford, Judy Scelea, Christina Lehman and Conni Warren captured the best score on the back nine. They smoked the back of the course with 25 hits under par.

Recognition to those with the second-best scores went to Catherine Silvera, Helen Botsford, Colleen Earley and Kathleen Weatherby on the front and on the back Vicki Kalman, Cheryle James, Sandra Weissenbacher and Trudy DeFelice, with 21 and 23 under. Third place honors went to the team of Pamela O’Hern, Kathi Adams, Vicki Holman and Teresa d’Artenay (19 under), and with 21 under on the aft part of the course were the team of Elizabeth Meyer, Terry Gau, Terry Wilder Unruh and Susan Levy. Alison Gomez, Debra Massaro, Nancy McDonough and Gina Moll were recognized for their fourth-place finish of 17 strokes under par on the front nine as Nancy Clevenger, Cindy Woodbury, Lori Bradford and Deena Post scored 21 under on the back. Great scores for a delightful day of chasing the golf ball with wonderful women on a magnificent course.

Rancho Murieta Country Club offers golf, tennis and pickleball. Memberships are available by contacting the Club Office at 916-354-3416. RMCC members who would like to join in the Niners’ Golf Club or their events may contact Captain Cathy Niley at [email protected].