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Category: Haggin Oaks

Mini Golf Night Organized by Ietetsu Ueyama Dubbed “Ueyama Fundraiser”

18-Year-Old Ietetsu Ueyama Organizes Fundraiser to Benefit Junior Golf Development Programs With Morton Golf Foundation

At the age of 8 a junior golfer, Ietetsu Ueyama, decided he wanted to host a birthday party at Haggin Oaks, but he didn’t want his friends to give him a gift. He asked that his friends give a donation toward Morton Golf Foundation to support junior golf. The day ended with Ietetsu donating $455.00 to Morton Golf Foundation so another junior golfer could have the opportunity to play the game. More recently, Ueyema organized a mini golf night.

Ten years later, on July 17th, 2023, Ietetsu Ueyama, now 18 years old wanted to create another fundraiser to support Morton Golf Foundation. With all proceeds going to support junior golf development grants and grow their game through tournaments, coaching, and equipment.

For the past 4 months, Ietetsu has been using his great personality and skills by asking his friends and families for support in growing his next fundraiser.

Ietetsu has been a volunteer for Morton Golf Foundation since he has been 4 Âœ years old.  At that time, he attended an “Easter Egg Hunt” at Haggin Oaks and decided that day that he was going to volunteer.  For the past 14 years, Ietetsu has been an active volunteer in helping raise funds to give back to other non-profits to grow the game of golf.  When he turned 18, he decided that he wanted to give back into adulthood and called the Morton Golf Foundation to discuss his newest adventure with creating his next fundraiser. The idea come about at a Committee meeting to have a Mini Golf Night knowing that whoever he asked to participate could join in whether they played golf or not.  

On Monday evening, July 17th the fundraiser kicked off with 7 putting teams participating along with several donors that provided the opportunity for a junior to participate.

30 participants gathered in the 107-degree heat starting at 5:00 p.m. One participant was quoted as saying, “We had so much fun at the event that I don’t remember how hot it was.”

As the evening came to an end, a wonderful catered dinner was provided in the Pavilion Tent by his family, owners of Shoki Ramen House, 2530 21st Street, Sacramento.

The Winning team was won by Kelli Corlett, Ellis Morton, Evan Morton, Kenny Castro & Alex Cooper with a score of only 26 putts.

This year Ietetsu’s fundraiser will donate nearly $2,000 to support future junior golf development grants!

Frank LaRosa, a friend and board member of Morton Golf Foundation was the emcee of the event. Frank interviewed Ietetsu and asked if he would wait another 10 years to do a fundraiser since he did one at age 8 and age 18.  Ietetsu answered back, “I’ll do one every year”.

Are hats are off to our friend IETETSU UEYAMA for believing in the mission and organizing a thrilling mini-golf night.  It is philanthropy like his that continues to help all ages of people through this amazing sport of golf, character building, and competition for a lifetime.

TEAM Benbrook Law Group Wins 2023 “Putting Party”

The Annual Putting Party Fundraiser for Morton Golf Foundation crowned Team Benbrook Law Group as its 2023 winner.

The MacKenzie putting green was set-up with 18-holes of “fun” on Tuesday evening, May 9th. Fifteen Corporate Teams joined in the Morton Golf Foundation fundraiser where each team brought 5-putters and took the challenge of trying to win the 1st place spot.

This year, Benbrook Law Group brought their 5-person putting team of Brad Benbrook, Wes Ehlers, Tory Griffin, Greg Lauck & Dave Swanson to WIN the event.

All 15 teams put and laughed their way around the 18-hole putting course as they enjoyed appetizers, drinks, and a buffet dinner following.

The real winners are all the wonderful charities supported by Morton Golf Foundation.

Please join us next May when we meet again for more fun, laughter, and putting competition.

Hope to see you there!

The Crest Theater Shows The Premiere of Our Documentary 90 Years Young: The Haggin Oaks Story

90 Years Young, The Haggin Oaks Story Premiered this week at The Crest Theater in Sacramento.

On Tuesday, December 13th at the historic Crest Theater in downtown Sacramento, nearly 700 golf staff, volunteers, city dignitaries, local media, customers, sales reps, vendors, and close friends and family celebrated the world premiere of this documentary to celebrate a very special golf course and its story.

Joel Johnston, Director, Haggin Oaks Turns 90

Everyone that came to the Crest Theater on Tuesday evening, December 13th was eagerly anticipating the premiere of 90 Years Young. They craved to hear the history and pass on their stories to everyone in the room.

Ken Morton,Jr., Joel Johnston, Joel Cardenas, and Terry Daubert

Joel Johnston, the film Director, worked for months along with members of the marketing team, Ozola Cody, Barrie March, and Joel Cardenas to create this historic treasure narrated by Frank LaRosa, the voice of Haggin Oaks for the past two decades.  The film was written by Ken Morton, Jr, and Joel Johnston and produced by Ken Morton, Jr. and Joel Cardenas.  The past 8 months have been dedicated to researching the past 90 years of history including the celebrities who have played here and the key people that shaped the course as we know it today.

The outside entrance to the historic Crest Theater had 6 large, framed posters advertising the 90 Years Young Celebration.

Our Volunteers

As the guests arrived, they were welcomed at the door by Ken Morton, Jr along with several of our California Eagles Athletes (Adults with disabilities). Guests checked in with our six smiling volunteers, so they could be given a ball marker poker chip to use on the golf course or as a lucky charm. The lobby beautifully displayed our Silent Auction, with all proceeds from the auction given to Morton Golf Foundation, a 501c3 giving back to local youth, disabled and underserved. 

90 Years Young showed the growth of the land, people & game.  We can’t wait to see the next 90.

Golf & Guitars Music Festival a Huge Sucess

The Golf & Guitars Music Festival at Haggin Oaks Surpasses The 1.5 Million Dollars Fundraising Mark

Morton Golf Foundation Uses Funds To Support Programming For Youth, Veterans & Those With Disabilities

The Golf and Guitars Music Festival is a celebrity pro-am golf tournament and country concert featuring nationally recognized & major label country music artists that raises money for key children’s charities in Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento, CA. Each golfer in the tournament plays with a celebrity and gets a seat near the stage where these generous artists put on a tremendous concert underneath the stars on the golf course. The hottest acts in country music, the up-and-coming artists you’ll soon see topping the charts and some of Nashville’s very best songwriters are all donate their time to help raise funds for children’s charities. Much of the funds from the event go to the Morton Golf Foundation with the balance being paid out via a tournament purse to the artist’s children’s charity of choice.

This year started with decidedly female slant as the Monday night Singer-Songwriter Showcase was a near-all women event. Nashville’s downtown club The Listening Room has hosted an all-female songwriter collective show every Monday for the last decade or so called The Song Suffragettes and our event was able to host a “West-Coast version” of their show with eight incredible young songwriter and artist talents including Kaylin Roberson, Lydia Dall, Bonner Black, Emily Brooke, Haley Mae Campbell, Jillian Dawn, Julie Williams and Olivia Faye. Daughter of PGA Tour player Bobby Clampett and wildly talented songwriter Katelyn Clampett and longtime supporters Megan Conner, Johnny and Heidi Bulford rounded out our first night playing for a few hundred VIP guests.

The next morning was our Pro-Am Tournament where all of the songwriters and artists play in a five-person gross score scramble format. Restaurants were on every other hole providing food, local Bud Light distributor Markstein Beverage (our longest-running sponsor) made sure no one went home thirsty and our Caddie Crew with nearly every group made for an incredibly fun day of golf. Golfers will be proudly wearing their Americana flag sweatshirt hoodies and caps that they received courtesy of another key sponsor, Adidas.

When the strokes were counted, these were our winning teams and the charities the artists chose to play for along with the dollar amount that was contributed in their name.

Steve Mendiola (Cripple Creek Band) – $5,000 – St. Jude
Lydia Dall – $5,000 – Next for Autism
Conner Smith – $4,000 – Show Hope
Chris Roberts (The Lonely Fighters)- $2,000 – Valor Collegiate Academy
Adam Wakefield (Texas Hill)- $2,000 – National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Kaylin Roberson – $2,000 – Hope Nation Foundation

The balance of our Tuesday was filled with incredible music from our main stage starting with our pre-show featuring Northern California act The Cripple Creek Band and new Americana duo The Lonely Fighters.

And before our main concert began, artist Jason Michael Carroll invited his four PGA Hope playing partners up for a standing ovation recognition and a gracious recognition gift from PING Golf who gave each of our veteran heroes a red, white & blue PGA Hope bag and a promise to fill it with a full set of custom clubs. Not a dry eye in the house was left from their response.

And lastly, but certainly, not least was the music. Jordan Fletcher, Conner Smith, Texas Hill, Jason Michael Carroll, Jackson Dean, Love & Theft, Restless Road and Ryan Hurd joined special last-minute guests Parmalee for three hours of musical celebration that lasted well into the evening.

The result? An incredible time had by all and a healthy addition to the more than 1.5 million dollars raised for charity with this event since its inception.

Sacramento Golf Council First Annual Player of the Year Awards

The Sacramento Golf Council First Annual Player of the Year Awards were held on October 3, 2022.

The following are the Sacramento Player of the Year recipients:

*Men’s Player of the Year, Matthew Sutherland 
*Women’s Player of the Year, Sienna Lyford 
*Senior Men’s Player of the Year, Mark Morgan
*Super-Senior Men’s Player of the Year,  Jeff Burda

Each recipient was chosen from a Committee within the Sacramento Golf Council by their point system by this year’s accomplishments.

They were all recognized in front of their family and friends at the Creekside Landing at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex. Their names were put on an inaugural plaque to be displayed at a City or Country golf course of their choosing.

Ken Morton, Sr told the history of the Sacramento Golf Council as it started in 1952 as everyone felt the growth and need as the Council continues.

Matthew Sutherland was quoted as saying, “I am honored to be the first name on the plaque as we kick off this prestigious award”.

We look forward to the growth of these awards in many years to come.

Congratulations to all!

Golf Fore Health Lessons at Haggin Oaks

Are you, or someone that you know interested in rehabilitating using the game of golf? Golf Fore Health is the answer!

This program consists of a spring and fall program that provides the participants the opportunity to improve their golfing skills while on their journey of recovery. These sessions consist of coaching sessions on Mondays and 9-hole play on Wednesdays. Each of these sessions concludes with a “Hot Dog Scramble” where the participants can have family, friends, or caretakers play nine holes of golf with them.

Due to the requests of the participants, a July/August “Summer School” was added last year on alternating Mondays to allow the golfers to continue to hone their skills and maintain their friendship during the “dog days” of July and August.

This program has been growing in leaps and bounds over the past few years and includes participants aged 16 through the “young” 80’s. Such growth has been made possible through the dynamic coaches and volunteers that work with the participants.

Golf Fore Health is another example of how the Morton Golf Foundation uses golf as a tool for enriching people’s lives.

If you are interested in our Golf Fore Health Program, Click HERE

Special Olympics Golf Regional at Haggin Oaks

The Special Olympics Golf Reginal was held at Haggin Oaks on September 9, 2022. We were thrilled to host all of the athletes and families that participated.

Today was a very special day at Haggin Oaks. It’s been 3 years since the last Special Olympics Golf Regionals has held due to COVID-19.

The Special Olympics Athletes started to arrive, the volunteers were in place & the BBQ grills were cooking burgers.

36 Athletes had the opportunity to play 9-holes of golf & 100 more Athletes were transported to the back of the driving range to compete with their golf skills.  No matter which way the Special Olympic Athletes competed everyone went home with a medal.

From the time everyone stepped onto the property of Haggin Oaks until the time that Alex Cooper, Director of Youth, Family & Adaptive Golf officially closed the Summer Games everyone was enjoying a healthy outdoor recreational golf experience.

We all can’t wait for next year’s Special Olympics Golf Regionals.

31st Annual Junior Senior Funvitational

The 31st annual Junior/Senior FUNVITATIONAL was held at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex on Friday, July 29, 2022.

Every year we gather for the Junior Senior Funvitational when an adult plays golf side-by-side with a junior player.

This is an opportunity that doesn’t happen often throughout the year which is why it is so special.

Morton Golf Foundation is a huge supporter of this event as it involves most of the junior players who are supported by Morton Golf Foundation all year long.

This year, Jack Fidler (2nd of left) was the PROUD recipient of the Marilyn & Bob Hughes Scholarship Award.

Jack will be attending Sierra College this fall and this scholarship will help him meet his college goals.

Thanks again to Marilyn Hughes for presenting this award to Jack Fidler at this year’s luncheon.

Marilyn & Bob Hughes have been volunteers with First Tee – Greater Sacramento for many years.

We are already looking forward to seeing Marilyn again next year at this “fun” event.

Austin Smotherman Morton Golf Foundation Alumnus Earns PGA Tour Playing Card

What fun watching our past Morton Golf Foundation 2012 College Scholarship Winner play in his 1st PGA TOUR tournament in the Fortinet Championship, Silverado Country Club, Napa, CA on September 16 – 19, 2021.

We all remember on his 13th birthday when he was hitting long drives at The First Tee Bodycraft charity golf tournament at Granite Bay Golf Club.

Another Morton Golf Foundation alumnus, Richie Gibbs was quoted as, “When I, my brother Alex & Austin were little we would play golf at Indian Creek Golf Course in Loomis, CA and pretend that we were on the PGA TOUR. Austin this week was not pretending. He has arrived.

Austin made the cut in his 1st appearance as a PGA TOUR Professional in front of family & friends. He had the biggest cheering crowd that we could see on the course. His wife Jesse of 5 years was there as they now reside in Dallas, TX where Jesse works in the fashion industry.

In 2012, Austin graduated from Del Oro High School in Loomis, CA, and was awarded a Morton Golf Foundation College Scholarship. He was then off to play college golf all 4 years at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX.

When we ask a junior golfer what they want to be when they grow up many of them answer, “On the PGA TOUR”. This proves it can happen.

Let’s continue to cheer Austin on as he continues his PGA TOUR career ahead from all his Sacramento fans!

The Putting Party represents everything wonderful about the Great Game of Golf!

Outside in the fresh air, friends getting together, music playing, the sound of laughter, raising Funds for some of Sacramento’s best charities.  “The Putting Party” is back and better than ever. 

We were so honored to have our two celebrities on hand to enhance the evening.  Kevin Patton told his story of golf literally “Saving His Life” through the PGA HOPE Program.  Kevin continues to feel good as he enjoys golf each week and competes at a national level in the Para Golfer Competitions.  Kevin Sutherland, PGA Tour Champions Member, and Morton Golf Foundation Board Member were also on hand.  As always, Kevin shared his extensive golfing knowledge and showed us all how to really putt.  

Although the real winner is Charity, the players enjoyed some friendly competition.  Congratulations to team CBS TV/CW 31 Double Eagles for taking home the golf with an amazing 8 under par 28.  Team Mel Rapton Honda took the silver at 7 under par, 29. 

Everyone had a blast and we are excited to keep this tradition going for years to come.