ALAMEDA COMMUTERS GREAT HISTORY

This weekend begins the second major of the season the very well run Alameda Commuters. With all the rain we’ve had the course has been hit hard with standing water and very long and wet rough. On Monday Darryl Donovan the 2000 & 2001 champion played a practice round to get a feel for the course and conditions. With 5 days to prepare the course I’m sure the conditions will be greatly improved over what we saw on Monday.

I usually don’t like to copy and paste, but it well worth it to read about the history of this great event, and see some of the legendary names that have won this prestigious event. No finer a person will you find than 6 time champion Bob Blomberg. See the comments on Bob below.

Later I’ll post photos of the Earl Fry Course (the North course) where 3 of the 4 rounds will be contested. I’ll have my thoughts on how I play each hole under the heat of battle in the Commuters- STAY TUNED

History

Almost as long as there has been golf in Alameda, there has been a “Commuters”

On May 27, 1927, Mr. James Hunter, the Starter of the Alameda Golf Course said, “Gentlemen, you are on the tee”, and when Mr. George Rose hit his tee shot, golf had arrived on the island city of Alameda.

Since 1927, many golf tournaments have been held in Alameda. The oldest and most important is the Alameda Commuters.

The first Alameda Commuters was held in July of 1928 – the first prize was a keg of nails and the last place was a sack of manure. By 1936 the tournament grew to a field of 21 handicap flights of 16 players, a total of 352 entries.

By 1937, it was necessary to hold qualifying for the Championship flight to determine the low 32, who advanced into match play. That format lasted for 22 years, when in 1959 the Championship became a 72-hole, medal play event as it remains today.

The Commuters has had the staying power to survive part of a depression, prohibition, World War II, and more. The strength of the Tournament Committee, sponsors, and the desire of top amateurs to compete have all factored into this longevity.

While many contenders over the years have gone forward into the professional ranks, many often return as sponsors. Top competitors seek out the highest quality events, and the Commuters Championship and Senior divisions have been awarded high point values by the Northern California Golf Association.

Each year, the task of chairmanship is given to a new leader, he and the other 39 Committee members share in the time, effort, and sacrifices required to run such a prestigious event (For more information on the Tournament Committee, click here).

Past Champions

1928 J. Charles Jordan	1929 Ralph P. Freese	1930 Howard C. Stovel	1931 Howard C. Stovel
1932 Stuart Heatley	1933 Stuart Heatley	1934 Roland B. Wagner	1935 Howard C. Stovel
1936 Walter Tebaldi	1937 R. C. Graham	1938 Einar Hansen	1939 Phil Gordon
1940 Matt Palacio, Jr.	1941 Talbert Smith	1942 Earl Fry, Jr.	1943 Ralph Hall
1944 Elmer Cities	1945 Henry Suico	1946 Talbert Smith	1947 Talbert Smith
1948 Don Whitt	1949 Bob Rosburg	1950 Talbert Smith	1951 Talbert Smith
1952 Talbert Smith	1953 Aldo Galletti	1954 Talbert Smith	1955 Elmer Cities
1956 Robert Snelling	1957 Jack Luceti	1958 Robert Unthank	1959 John Lotz
1960 Richard Lotz	1961 John Lotz	1962 John Lotz	1963 Richard Lotz
1964 Jim Johnson	1965 Terry Small	1966 Bob Smith	1967 Ray Leach
1968 Forrest Fezler	1969 Forrest Fezler	1970 Kelly Moser	1971 Rod Velasquez
1972 Sandy Galbraith	1973 Bob Berg	1974 Bob Blomberg	1975 Doug Poole
1976 Mike Powers	1977 Tom Costello	1978 Bob Blomberg	1979 Bob Blomberg
1980 Milt King	1981 John Susko	1982 Bill Malley	1983 Ally Trompas
1984 Bob Blomberg	1985 Aly Trompas	1986 Bob Blomberg	1987 Ken Webb
1988 Gary Vanier	1989 Gary Vanier	1990 Gary Vanier	1991 Ken Webb
1992 Mark Sear	1993 Bob Blomberg	1994 Randy Haag	1995 Rob Martin III
1996 Dong Yi	1997 Jeff Burda	1998 Ryan Wilson	1999 John Ellis
2000 Darryl Donovan	2001 Darryl Donovan	2002 Matt Bettencourt (266)*	2003 Rick Reinsberg
2004 Rick Reinsberg	2005 Carlos Corona	2006 Rick Reinsberg	2007 Rick Reinsberg
2008 Michael Jensen	2009 Taylor Travis	2010 George Gandranata

* Tournament record

Seniors’ Champions

1988 Jim McMurtrey	1989 Earl Forbes	1990 Hank Lucente	1991 Jim McMurtrey
1992 Jim McMurtrey	1993 Fred Strebel	1994 John Cranston	1995 Bob Callan
1996 Bob Olds	1997 Dan James	1998 Bob Olds	1999 Bob Olds
2000 Bob Heaton	2001 Jay Guerin	2002 Roly LaMontagne	2003 Bob Callan
2004 Mike Butler	2005 Merton Goode	2006 Jeff Early	2007 Gary Vanier
2008 Mark Miller	2009 Jim Knoll	2010 Jim Knoll

Below is a photo of 6-time “Commuters champion, Bob Blomberg, dressed in his Alameda Commuters Committee “greencoat”. In 2001, Bob was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Northern California Golf Association, for his 30 years of stalwart play, great golf sportsmanship and for always behaving like a true gentleman.  Bob’s on-course demeanor and the way he relates to his fellow competitors exemplify the true spirit of the dedicated amateur golfer.

Bob is a great ambassador for golf and for the Alameda Commuter’s Golf Tournament.