History of the Southern California Nisei Women Golf Association (SCNWGA)

The SCNWGA was originally comprised of five Southern California women golf clubs: Nisei Women's Golf Club, Fair Flite Golf Club, Pasadena Nisei Women's Golf Club, Lady Tee-Birds Golf and Par Seekers Golf Club.

The first meeting was held in December of 1989 in Little Tokyo. After many meetings and discussions attended by two representatives from each club, a set of by-laws were written and accepted in March of 1990. The first slate of officers selected and installed were Mary Horii (President), Mea Hanada (Executive Secretary), Masie Saisho (Treasurer & Membership Chairman), Lillian Fukutani and Alice Young (Tournament & Rules C0-chairpersons), Miki Wada (Handicap Chairman) and Sakaye Aratani (Advisor). The Board of Directors also included Sakaye Kirita (President of Nisei Women's GC), Diana Mitani (President of Fair Flite GC), Cathy Sato (President of Pasadena Nisei Women's GC), Holly Yoshimura (President of Lady Tee-Birds GC), and Tei Sugi (President of Par Seekers).

The concept of the association was formed out of the question why all the clubs were not eligible to participate in the Annual Nisei Week Golf Tournament. For many years it was held within the Nisei Women's Golf Club and only Nisei Women's Golf Club members were eligible to play. It was determined that in order to open the tournament up for all to participate, an association must be formed with all the individual clubs becoming member clubs. It was soon discovered that many other benefits could be had if an association was formed. Not only would it give the club members a chance to meet each other but ideas and information could be shared and exchanged and as an association with a membership of almost 200 members, we could collectively have more power to provide services to our members. Through our tournaments, the Association promotes not only golf tournaments but also golf etiquette and knowledge of the rules of golf.

Each year the association sponsors four tournaments including the Spring Tournament, the Senior's Tournament, the Nisei Invitational Championship Medal Play Tournament and the Team Tournament. The Association not only plans each tournament but also contributes money to the prize funds of each of the tournaments. Of course, the Nisei Invitational Tournament is the big tournament of the year with the Association contributing to the prize fund and additional money for tee gifts.

The future of our Association is as strong as its members. Each year the Association welcomes the new presidents of the member clubs to become a part of the board. There are usually four meetings a year where tournaments and other related matters are discussed over breakfast. All members of the Association are always welcome to join us at the meetings or to volunteer any services they might have to better our efforts to put on the best tournaments possible. If you cannot join us at our meetings, feel free to have your member club president relay any questions, complaints or suggestions that you might have.

Hope to see you at our next tournament!