Honor Board
2021 TPGC History of Tournaments
TILDEN PARK GOLF CLUB HISTORY
In 1936, the well-known golf course architect, William “Billie” Bell, laid out an eighteen-hole championship golf course of varied fairways, challenging hazards, and well-clipped greens in the Berkeley hills. Built with an old military tractor starting in March 1937, the golf course opened in November 1937 and immediately became a popular recreation landmark. The clubhouse opened at the golf course the same year.
Also in March 1937, almost eight months before Tilden Park Golf Course was completed by the East Bay Regional Park District, a small but enthusiastic group of golfers met at the Claremont Country Club and formed the Tilden Park Golf Club, electing its first president, Roy Butler, a University of California baseball star and track man, who served two terms. Tom Telfer, then-president of the California Golf Association, was named vice-president, Thomas Boarman Smith was the unanimous choice for secretary, and Joseph Sullivan accepted the post of treasurer. In 1939, the Tilden Park Golf Club was incorporated.
By 1943, the Tilden Park Golf Club had 65 members and, differing from most public golf clubs, was holding many small, informal tournaments promoting more fraternal relations to its membership.
TPGC TOURNAMENTS
OTTO ZEUS TROPHY
This Honor Board tournament began in 1959 and is named after the first secretary of the Tilden Park Golf Club.
FORMAT: Four person teams play 18 holes of best ball medal play at handicap. The Tournament Chairman makes up the teams.
ROSS TROPHY
The Milton K. Ross Perpetual Trophy Honor Board tournament began in 1943 with a trophy donated by Milton Ross, a Berkeley taxi company owner and known as the “golfing cabbie.” Ross was one of Tilden Park Golf Club’s earliest members, playing most of his amateur rounds at Tilden. He became so enamored of golf that he dropped everything to become a pro golfer, succeeding only to the extent of becoming an assistant pro at a few golf clubs and ending up in Las Vegas from whence he disappeared.
FORMAT: Two person teams (members making up their own teams) play 18 holes of better-ball medal play at handicap. The 16 low net teams advance to a 72 hole, better-ball match play competition.
IRENE McGOWEN TROPHY
Started in 1956, this Honor Board tournament was named after Irene McGowen, a waitress at the Tilden Park Golf Course who was well-loved by all the members and noted for her pies. Sadly, she died when, on her way to work, her car ran off the road on a foggy morning.
FORMAT: 18 holes of individual medal play at handicap.
JACK FISHER TROPHY
Started in 1949 and named after Jack Fisher, an East Bay Regional Park District Ranger who policed the golf course. A huge man, he dressed in a dark green uniform, rode a horse, carried a .38 caliber revolver, and was generally quite impressive. The Jack Fisher is a 36-Hole, medal play Honor Board tournament.
FORMAT: Low total score over 36 holes, individual medal play at handicap.
VOLLMER CUP TROPHY
Started in 1938, the Vollmer Cup Trophy (originally, the August Vollmer Trophy and a 72-hole tournament) is a 36-Hole, medal play Honor Board tournament. “The Vollmer” is named after August “Augie” Vollmer (1876-1955), one of Tilden Golf Club’s earliest members, Berkeley’s Town Marshall (1905-1909), first Chief of Police (1909-1931), developer of Cal’s School of Criminology, and one of the founders and a first board director of the East Bay Regional Park District. Vollmer Peak overlooking Tilden Park (formerly Bald Peak) is named in his honor. According to one source, the actual “Vollmer Cup Perpetual Trophy” was last reportedly held by 1938 winner, Oakland firefighter Dave Gray.
FORMAT: Low total score over 36 holes, individual medal play at handicap.
DIRECTORS CUP TROPHY
A tournament established in 1938 by the Club’s Board of Directors.
FORMAT: Originally the low individual total score over 72 holes, medal play at handicap. Originally, there was a secondary tournament of 72 holes of stroke play, running concurrently, but without handicaps, to determine the honorary Low Gross Champion. Presently, the Directors Cup is a 36-hole, individual medal play Honor Board tournament at handicap.
ALDO GALLETTI MEDALIST TROPHY
This Honor Board tournament, and special trophy, was established by a previous club member and 4-time Club Champion, Gordon Wilkes, to honor Aldo Galletti, a former Club member and previous Club Champion (1949). The Aldo is the only TPGC tournament where the winning score is placed next to the winner’s name.
FORMAT: 18 holes of individual medal play, without handicaps, played concurrently as the Club Championship Qualifying Tournament.
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP QUALIFIER
The “Aldo Galletti” tournament is used to establish a bracket of 16 players for the Club Championship Tournament.
FORMAT: 18 holes of individual medal play, without handicaps, played concurrently as the Aldo Galletti Medalist Trophy.
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHY
The Club Championship has been contested since 1938 as a 4- round, match play event at scratch, First won by Foster McMullen, other remarkable Club Champions are: Bill Ames (9), Bob George (5), John Richards (5), Les Johns (5), Gordon Wilkes (4), Ralph Hall (3), Jim Watson (3), Steve Wessels (3), and Richard Kho (3).
FORMAT: 72 holes of individual match play at scratch. Depending on turnout following the Aldo Galletti/Club Championship Qualifier, handicap flights may also be offered. RESTRICTIONS: Members who wish to compete in the Club Championship proper must be a Club member for at least one year and have competed in at least three Club tournaments.
TEXDAHL/JOHNSON TROPHY
Established by Don Texdahl, a Club Champion (1978) and Club member for many years until his death in 1993 after enjoying a round of golf. An excellent golfer and a real gentleman, Don competed in 37 consecutive State Amateur Tournaments as well as others, including the 1980 US Senior Amateur Championship at Virginia Hot Springs. He won the 1982 San Francisco City Championship at Harding Park and competed in the 1963 Lucky-International Pro/Am Tournaments with partners Jack Nicklaus, Bobby Nichols, and Miller Barber. The Texdahl/Johnson Honor Board tournament is named after the sporting goods outlet operated by Don and his partner Johnson. Originally played at Aptos Seascape Golf Course for several years it moved to Oakmont in Santa Rosa where Don retired. Presently, this tournament is played at various away venues.
FORMAT: 18 holes of individual medal play at handicap.
SPYGLASS TROPHY
This Honor Board tournament was originally played at Spyglass Hill in Pebble Beach until Poppy Hills Golf Course was built. It is normally held in the Fall and is preceded with an informal Saturday warm-up competition at the Pacific Grove Golf Course.
FORMAT: 18 holes of individual medal play at handicap.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA GOLF ASSOCIATION
QUALIFYING TOURNAMENTS
The Northern California Golf Association has instituted a series of amateur golf championships to provide tournament experience for its members. Member clubs are encouraged to qualify and send their players to these events. The Club holds four qualifying tournaments each year. Except for the NCGA North East Bay Zone Tournament, the winners of Club qualifying tournaments move on to regional tournaments held by the NCGA.
NCGA FOUR-BALL NET CHAMPIONSHIP
FORMAT: 18 holes of two-man teams playing better ball at 90% handicap. Maximum index of 36.4; however, qualifying for this event is played with a maximum index of 18.4. The two low net teams qualify for the NCGA’s 36 hole championship rounds at Spyglass Hill (or alternate) and Poppy Hills.
NCGA NET AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
FORMAT: 18 holes of individual medal play at handicap, with indexes up to 36.4. Two members with the low net scores advance to an NCGA regional qualifying tournament hoping to progress on to the NCGA Championship which rotates each year between Poppy Hills and Poppy Ridge.
[Previously: 3 flights = President, indexes of 9.9 or less; Directors, indexes between 10.0 and 17.9; and Secretary, indexes 18.0 or more. One winner from each flight moves on to an NCGA regional qualifying tournament hoping to progress on to the NCGA Championship which rotates each year between Poppy Hills and Poppy Ridge. Two teams can be qualified locally, when the Club membership is 250 or more; if Club membership is lower than 250, then only one team can be qualified.]
NCGA NORTH EAST BAY ZONE QUALIFYING
FORMAT: 36 holes of individual medal play over two days (consecutive Saturday and Sunday) with a maximum handicap of eighteen strokes. The four low net players move on to compete at the NCGA qualifying round at various Monterey area courses at a date/time set by the NCGA. Club members eagerly look forward to this tournament which usually takes place in March.
NCGA SENIOR FOUR-BALL NET CHAMPIONSHIP
FORMAT: 18 holes of two man teams (55 years and older) in a better ball format with 85% of handicaps. Maximum handicap index of 36.4; however, qualifying for this event is played with a maximum index of
18.4. Three low net teams qualify to play at an NCGA qualifying event with the hopes of qualifying for the 36 hole championship rounds played alternatively at Poppy Hills and Poppy Ridge (which is played at 85% of the course handicap with a maximum handicap index of 18.4 for men and 25.4 for women).
AWAY TOURNAMENTS
There are between six and ten away tournaments scheduled each year, ranging from, among others, Oakmont in the North, Coyote Creek, Cinnabar Hills, and Poppy Hills to the South, Yocha De He to the East, and Harding Park to the West. The number depends upon the energy of the Tournament Chairman and the number of openings in the rest of the tournament schedule. Some away tournaments are considered “traditional,” such as the Spyglass Trophy tournament (formerly played at Spyglass Hill; now at Poppy Hills), as is the Oakmont Tournament (Texdahl/Johnson).
FORMAT: 18 holes of Stableford scoring with a Low Gross winner and a Low Net winner. Medal play at gross and handicap is sometimes a substituted format.
OAKMONT AWAY TOURNAMENT
This venue had been the site of the Texdahl/Johnson Trophy Honor Board tournament after long-time Club member Don Texdahl moved there. Presently, the Texdahl/Johnson is played at various away venues.
FORMAT: 18 holes of individual medal play at handicap.
OTHER TOURNAMENTS
THE TOP TEN SHOOTOUT
A very unique and highly anticipated event taking place in November. Members who accumulate the most Top Ten Points at tournaments throughout the year qualify for this event (at every TPGC tournament, members win points for 1st through 10th place).
FORMAT: Members who have accumulated the most Top Ten Points meet on the 10th Tee at 7:00am for this 9-hole event. If one or more of the Top Ten is not present by 7:00am, the next in order of Top Ten Points can take the absent player’s or players’ place(s). Handicaps are re-calculated by the Top Ten Director(s) so as to allow for no strokes on hole #18. A player with the highest score on each hole is eliminated. Ties are settled with a Chip-Off, all chip-off participants being obligated to turn away from seeing each player’s chip. Measurements for chip-offs are made using the traditional Gimme Stick.
MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT
This tournament was introduced many years ago to honor Club members who died during their period of membership.
FORMAT: 18 holes of individual medal play at handicap.
TURKEY & GOOSE SHOOTS
These tournaments are viewed as “traditional” tournaments. Two are held each year – one to celebrate Thanksgiving, and the other, a “Christmas Goose Shoot,” to celebrate Christmas and the end of the year.
FORMATS: A variety of formats have been used for these tournaments. The only restriction is the boundaries of the Tournament Chairman’s imagination.