As we all get older, we go through the pain of seeing more and more of the people that we have loved and respected pass on. On December 17, 2015 we lost amateur golfing legend Ray Pellegrini. Ray’s life revolved around his love for golf, and his daily battle against diabetes and its complications. I know how much Ray suffered his whole life from the effect of this terrible disease, and how he had to live a different kind of life. Its a constant reminder how lucky we are to be healthy and not have to deal with daily injections, bags attached to our body and constant monitoring blood sugar levels.

Ray was quite a historian of the game, countless times at his favorite hangout, Hot Dog Bills at the OC Driving range, Ray would remember certain shots that players hit in the SF City or Cal State amateurs, that moved him. Ray in his prime was considered to be one of the very best to ever play the game in Northern California. I will always think of him as a very kind person that loved everything about golf and competing. As his disease limited his ability to play, he reduced his schedule of events to ONLY include the SF City, over the past 20 years, his favorite event in the world. Ray has a record in the San Francisco City that I believe will never be broken, or even closely touched. Ray played in the SF City for over 40 years, and made match play an astonishing record 40 years in a row (top 64 qualifiers make match play from a qualifier that once had as many as 300 players in the field).

This is the events historic 100th SF City and is being conducted in Ray Pellegrini’s honor. I could not be happier, I loved Ray, his spirit and love for the game. Ray also won multiple club championships at the Olympic club among many others prestigious events throughout Northern California.

You can see more about Ray’s life and career by clicking on this link that is on the Sf City Golf Championships website. http://www.sfgolfchampionship.com/ray-pellegrini.html

Its a very important and special year for the SF City, its 100th running of one of the countries oldest and most participated amateur tournament in the world. Anyone that has any historic articles about the SF City are asked to email them to SF City Committee member Steve Lewis at stevelewis@stevelewisgallery.com.

There is an important past champions dinner on February 25th at Harding Park that is important for us to find these past champions and make sure they know about this dinner. The dinner is also open to anyone that would like attend to hear more on the history of this great event. Listed below are the past champions that include legendary players like Ken Venturi, Harvie Ward and six time mens champion and  3 time senior champion Gary Vanier.

Stay Tuned!

Previous Champions