The sun was shining and the course was looking exceptional on a perfect Saturday morning at Teal Bend Golf Course for our annual Farm-to-Fairway tournament. Golfers sipped breakfast bloody marys and mimosas, grabbed a light bite, and set out for a day of fun, friendly competition, and generous support for Yolo Food Bank. After a warm welcome from Executive Director Karen Baker and Master of Ceremonies and Board Member Ned Spang, teams hit the fairways, where a few surprises awaited. Among the lush landscape and curious wildlife, golfers found some fun challenges designed to mix up their rounds. At two special holes, a spin-the-wheel game determined each player’s next twist. One wheel required golfers to use a single club for the entire hole. Tee shots with a putter were a sight to behold. The second wheel introduced novelty swings, including attempts with a tennis racket or while blindfolded. Players also tested their skills at Plinko and skee-ball games, designed and built by our very own Alan Mapalo, for the chance to take strokes off their scorecards.
Post-Play Highlights and Raffle Fun
Once the last putt dropped, the crowd gathered for a celebratory lunch featuring tri-tip, barbecue chicken, and all the sides a hungry golfer could want. Over plates and laughter, teams swapped stories of their memorable shots while hoping their raffle numbers would score them one of the day’s exciting prizes. Tailgate grills, coolers, wine tasting passes,rounds of golf at other local courses, and Sacramento Republic FC tickets were among the crowd favorites. After the scorecards were all tallied, the foursome of Bill Tanimoto, Brad Lint, Joe Carillo, and Rick Rhody were the big winners with the low score. This group from the Farmers’ Rice Cooperative bested some very competitive scores to come out victorious and claim the “Golden Rooster” trophies awarded to the first-place team.
The success of this event would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors. Tournament sponsors Republic Services, Travis Credit Union, and Medina McKelvey made this day and its impact possible. We also thank our tee box sponsors: Clark Pacific, APM Cares, and Farmers’ Rice Cooperative. “A huge thank you to our sponsors,” said Ned Spang. “Their generosity helps fund not only this event but also our critical programs that connect food to the families who need it most.” A special “thank you” to our Board Member Patrice Griffith, who came out to welcome the golfers early in the morning at registration. And we are also grateful to Karen Roan as well as Bob and Pat Rodriguez, our wonderful volunteers who came and lent a hand to support this event as well!
Why Farm-to-Fairway Matters
As Karen Baker shared, “Today’s theme, Farm-to-Fairway, is more than just a catchy phrase. It speaks to the deep connection between the land around us and the lives we serve. In a time when food banks across the country are facing federal funding cuts, it means so much that our community continues to show up for Yolo Food Bank. Our theme isn’t just a nod to golf and agriculture,” Karen continued. “It’s a meaningful reflection of how local partnerships truly nourish our community.”
Next year’s tournament returns to Teal Bend on May 1, 2026. Mark your calendars now! We’d love to see you on the course again, swinging for a great cause.
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