Attention Lobbyist Golfers: The Next 30 Days

There’s an embarrassment of golfing opportunities in the next four weeks – provided mainly by legislators seeking campaign contributions.

If golf isn’t a passion there is also fishing, fighting and football although it’s a little late to sign up for Assemblyman Jared Huffman’s Sept. 18 “Striped Bass Fishing in the Delta”, $2,000-a-head fundraiser which starts at 7:00 AM at the Pittsburg Marina.

Bay Area traffic might also prevent arriving in time for the 10:00 AM shotgun start of San Francisco Assemblywoman Fiona Ma’s $1,000 golf tournament at Harding Park.

On Saturday, September 19, Assemblyman Kevin de Leon hosts a $5,000-a-person trip to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas to see Floyd Mayweather, Jr box Juan Manuel Marquez. Proceeds benefit the “believing in a Better California” campaign committee.

The 14th Annual Tom Stapleton OE3 Scholarship Golf Tournament, hosted by Operating Engineers Local #3 to benefit the Operating Engineers Scholarship Foundation is slated for September 21 at Hiddenbrooke Golf Club in Vallejo. Registration is at 11:00 AM. Shotgun at 1:00 PM. Dinner at 7:00 PM.

The Half Moon Bay Golf Links at the Ritz Carlton is the locale for a September 24 through September 25 event hosted by Assemblyman Jose Solorio and “The New Democrats.” The $5,000 contribution will be deposited in the account of “Californians for Jobs & A Strong Economy.” Tee times on the 25^th begin at 8:30 AM. Cocktails and dinner Thursday night.

Assemblyman Anthony Portantino seeks $1,500 from players at his September 28 event at Oakmont Country Club in Glendale. The “mini shotgun start” is at 10:30 AM.

The following day, Sen. Curren Price, an Inglewood Democrat, hosts a $1,500 “Golf Challenge” beginning at 11:00 AM on the Eisenhower Course at the Industry Hills Golf Club at the Palms Resort. Dinner follows.

Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, a Salinas Democrat, seeks $1,500 for a round of golf at Quail Lodge Resort & Golf Club. Golf starts at 1:00 PM. Cocktails afterwards at Edgar’s. Actress Doris Day’s home perches above the tee box of the course’s 18^th hole.

Capitol Network, a group of women involved with state government and politics, hosts it’s 21st Annual Charity Golf Tournament at El Macero Country Club in Davis. The $250 entry fee – and the rest of the tournament’s proceeds — benefits a variety of non-profits in the greater Sacramento area.

A convenient two-fer is offered by Sen. Bob Huff and Assemblyman Bill Emmerson who is raising money for a 2012 Senate bid. On October 14, Huff holds a $1,950-per-person, $7,800-per-foursome tourney at East Valley Golf Club ion Beaumont, just off Interstate 10 on the way to palm Springs.

The following day is Emmerson’s event at the same course, which, for convenience, also has the same entry fee but starts at 9:30 AM rather than noon as Huff’s does.

Emmerson’s event competes with that of Assemblywoman Noreen Evans, who like Emmerson, is raising money for a Senate bid although hers now comes four years earlier than she initially planned with the announcement by Sen. Pat Wiggins that she will not run for a second term. The tee time for Evans’ Napa valley event is 10:45 AM.

On October 16, it’s a chance to play Pebble Beach at the California Legislative Black Caucus Charity Golf Tournament and Leadership Seminar. Cost: $5,000.

Two days later, GOP Sen. Sam Aanestad seeks money for his bid to be elected lieutenant governor next year. The venue is the Winchester Country Club in

Meadow Vista. Shotgun at noon. Dinner at 5:00 PM. Check for $1,500.

Rounding out October, on the 25th it’s the Oakland Raiders versus the New York Jets at Oakland’s McAfee Coliseum to benefit Henry Perea, a Fresno City Councilman running for the Assembly in 2010. A $1,000 contribution admits one to view the game with Perea from his luxury suite.

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