California Golf Course Owners Association

Celebrating courses and leaders recognized for excellence and service to the game.

Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, 2024 CGCOA Course of the Year
*Pictured above: 2024 CGCOA Course of the Year Award Winner – Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, Mission Viejo*

Below are members who have received our
CGCOA Awards
for their demonstrations of excellence and service to the golf industry in the following categories.

2024

  • Course of the Year – Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, Mission Viejo
  • Community Environmental – The Crossings at Carlsbad, JC Resorts
  • For The Good of The Game – Mike Sharp, CourseCo
  • Ted Horton Distinguished Service – Lee Finkel, CourseCo
  • Employee Excellence – Danny Buckley, Quail Golf Club (Carmel)

2023

Awarded at Dove Canyon Golf Club, Trabuco Canyon

  • Course of the Year – Desert Willow Golf Resort (Kemper Sports), Palm Desert, CA
  • Community Environmental – Crystal Springs Golf Course (CourseCo), Burlingame, CA
  • For the Good of the Game – Dave Sams (Brookside Golf Course/Rose Bowl)
  • Ted Horton Distinguished Service – Zeb Welborn (19th Hole Media)
  • Employee Excellence (Southern California) – Marc Lilleberg (American Golf)
  • Employee Excellence (Northern California) – Carlotta Brown (Lake Chabot Golf Course/Touchstone Golf)

2022

No awards presented in 2022.

2021

Awarded at Coyote Hills Golf Course, Fullerton

  • Course of the Year – Encinitas Ranch Golf Course, Encinitas, CA
  • Community Environmental – Metropolitan Golf Links, Oakland, CA
  • For the Good of the Game – Joe Guerra, Turf Star Western, CA
  • Ted Horton Distinguished Service – George Kelley
  • Employee Excellence – Asa Jennings, Ancil Hoffman Golf Course/CourseCo

2020

  • Course of the Year – Silverado Resort, Napa
  • Community Environmental – Ancil Hoffman Golf Course, Sacramento, CA
  • For the Good of the Game – Michael Lautenbach, Golf Manager, Anaheim City Golf Courses
  • Ted Horton Distinguished Service – David Kramer, Los Serranos Golf & Country Club, Chino Hills, CA
  • Employee Excellence – Michael Block, Head Golf Professional, Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club, Mission Viejo, CA

2019

Awarded at The Ranch at Laguna Beach, Laguna Beach

  • Course of the Year – Indian Wells Golf Resort, Indian Wells, CA
  • Community Environmental – Corica Park, Alameda, CA
  • For The Good of The Game – Jeff Jensen, GCSAA
  • Ted Horton Distinguished Service – Bill Aragona, Boulder Creek Golf & Country Club, Boulder Creek, CA
  • Employee Excellence – Toby Todd (Dad Miller Golf Course, Anaheim, CA)
  • CGCOA Goodwill – Steve Hall, former Los Serranos employee

2018

Awarded at Chardonnay Golf Club, American Canyon

  • Course of the Year – Skylinks at Long Beach (American Golf), Long Beach, CA
  • Community Environmental – The Ranch at Laguna Beach, Laguna Beach, CA
  • For The Good of The Game – David Kramer, Los Serranos Golf & Country Club, Chino Hills, CA
  • Ted Horton Distinguished Service – Ed Smilow, Golf Course Law

2017

Awarded at Angeles National Golf Club, Sunland

  • Course of the Year – Dad Miller Golf Course, Anaheim, CA
  • Community Environmental – Indian Wells Golf Resort, Indian Wells, CA
  • For the Good of the Game – Johnny Hakim, Greenskeeper.org
  • Ted Horton Distinguished Service – Ron Zraick, Cinnabar Hills Golf Club, San Jose, CA
  • Employee Excellence – Matt Muhlenbruch, Poppy Hills Golf Course, Pebble Beach, CA

2016

Awarded at Summitpointe Golf Club, Milpitas

  • Course of the Year – Presidio Golf Club, San Francisco, CA
  • Community Environmental – Cinnabar Hills Golf Club, San Jose, CA
  • For the Good of the Game – Tom Addis III, CEO/Executive Director, Southern California PGA
  • Ted Horton Distinguished Service – Dawn Prebula, Senior Vice President for VGM Club, Resorts & Gaming

2015

Awarded at Black Gold Golf Club, Yorba Linda

  • Course of the Year – Poppy Hills, Pebble Beach, CA
  • Community Environmental (North) – Yocha Dehe Golf Club, Brooks, CA
  • Community Environmental (South) – Olivas Links Golf Course, Ventura, CA
  • For the Good of the Game – Mike Huck, Irrigation and Turfgrass Services
  • Ted Horton Distinguished Service – Steve Plummer, Championship Golf Services

2014

Awarded at Chardonnay Golf Club, Napa

  • Course of the Year – Indian Wells Golf Resort, Indian Wells, CA
  • Community Environmental – Dairy Creek Golf Course, San Luis Obispo, CA
  • For the Good of the Game – Craig Kessler, Southern California Golf Association
  • Ted Horton Distinguished Service – Scott Hoyt, Pasatiempo Golf Club, Santa Cruz, CA

2013

Awarded at Indian Canyons Golf Resort, Palm Springs

  • Course of the Year – Haggin Oaks Golf Complex, Sacramento, CA
  • Community Environmental – Little River Inn, Little River, CA
  • For the Good of the Game – Emmy Moore-Minister, Doctors Orders: Play Golf
  • Ted Horton Distinguished Service (Inaugural) – Ted Horton, Ted Horton Consulting