Haggin Oaks Golf Complex (Sacramento, CA) is the worthy recipient of the 2013 CGCOA Golf Course of the Year award. This prestigious honor is given to a golf facility based on specific criteria: a well-maintained golf course/s supported by quality golf management services; a facility which gives back to the community and contributes to the betterment of golf through its outreach and player development programs. Haggin Oaks not only met the criteria, but exceeded it on all levels.
Accepting the award on behalf of the Morton Golf team at the 2013 CGCOA Annual Meeting in Palm Springs, CA, was CGCOA Awards Committee Chair Emmy Moore Minister.
Haggin Oaks Golf Complex, a busy 36-hole municipal facility, owned by the City of Sacramento and managed by Morton Golf, is home to the Arcade Creek Golf Course, Alister MacKenzie Golf Course, plus a popular 24-hour lit range, MacKenzie’s Sports Bar & Grille and an amazing 15,000 sq. ft Haggin Oaks Super Shop.
Morton Golf sets the framework for success at Haggin Oaks GC and also for the three city-owned golf facilities they manage in the Sacramento area. Between all facilities they employee more than 250 employees. The company is dedicated to friendly customer service and building strong, lasting relationships. Morton Golf is known for providing a stable work environment with equal opportunity for learning and personal growth; creativity and innovation are encouraged throughout the entire operation.
Morton Golf has been a leader in player development programs and was extremely instrumental in the initial development of the industry-wide initiative, Play Golf America. The nationally-recognized Saving Strokes Program which provides golf opportunities for stroke victors was developed at Haggin Oaks in conjunction with the American Stroke Association. (a division of the American Heart Association).
Haggin Oaks has been on the forefront of junior golf for decades evidenced by their program offerings which include The First Tee Jr. Golf Camps, The First Tee After School Programs, Little Linker and Jr. Linker Programs, Tots on the Tee Program, PeeWee Play Leagues and a Girls Play League. They were one of the initial First Tee Chapters (which was developed through their flourishing SAY-Golf Program) and today, continue to serve as the prime role model for other chapters across the country.
They also provide an array of player development programs for adults−from Welcome to Golf to Get Golf Ready 1 & 2 to women’s programs modeled after the Connecting with Her initiative. They even have an “It’s Okay to Play” golf league for beginners. Player retention is important and special programs are created to encourage students to return to the course and play more golf.
At Haggin Oaks they’ve hosted a variety of events including the Play Golf America Days (with national record-breaking attendance), the largest Special Olympics golf tournament, an Annual 3-day Golf Expo (the largest golf demo day in the country), plus a country music festival and pro-am that attracts 6,000 people and has raised more than $100,000 for charity. And if you are interested in the recent fun-filled sport of Foot Golf, you’ll find it too, at Haggin Oaks.
While Morton Golf management team and their staff welcome this prestigious CGCOA award, they will add it to their list of other well-deserved honors. From 1963-2013 Morton Golf received more than 260 awards for excellence in golf. To highlight a few, the list includes: Golf Digest/Golf World Business Top 100 Golf Shop Operation Award (Haggin Oaks is the only green grass shop in the nation to receive this award every year since its inception, 27 years in a row),S ports Illustrated Merchandiser of the Year, Titleist-FootJoy Worldwide Clubfitter of the Year, Golf Range Association of America “Top 50” Range Facility, GolfWeek Magazine’s “Top 25” Municipal Golf Course in America, and Sacramento Magazine and Sacramento News & Review have both recognized Haggin Oaks Golf Complex as “The Best Public Course” in Sacramento.
Additionally, Haggin Oaks Golf Complex has obtained certification as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary site and are committed leaders in providing course accessibility for golfers with disabilities. In 2013 alone, through the Morton Golf Foundation more than $175,000 was raised for worthy community-based golf programs.
It is for all the reasons above, and more, the CGCOA recognizes Haggin Oaks GC and Morton Golf as it 2013 Golf Course of the Year.
