Beyond a traditional round of golf, some of the strongest connections within the game can happen just outside the fairways. The spirit of community was at the heart of Pins & Pours, a social golf event held August 27 at the Poppy Ridge Practice Area. Designed to bring together players of all experience levels, the evening offered a different way to engage with the game while connecting with fellow golfers, local brands and the broader Northern California golf community.
Friendly competition was intertwined within the event with putting and chipping contests, giving attendees a chance to test their skills without the pressure of a full round. Between competitions, guests could enjoy food, drinks and music while connecting with event partners Hirondelle Golf, ParBear, SunCruiser and Fathers Brewing. Together, the activities and partnerships created a relaxed setting where attendees could compete, discover local brands and spend time with others who share an interest in the game.
Creating Connection Through The Game
The value of a social golf event extends beyond the activities themselves. Creating a setting where a round of golf is not required to participate offers another avenue for people to connect with the game and with one another. Throughout Pins & Pours, those interactions became as much a part of the evening as the competition.
“Meeting new NCGA members was definitely the highlight of the event. The closest to the pin and putting competition got the competitive juices flowing for all in attendance,” said local golf creator Milton Grant (@831golf).
With golfers, creators and businesses sharing the same space, the evening also reflected the larger network that exists around golf in Northern California. Bringing those groups together outside of a traditional round creates room for relationships and collaborations that can continue well beyond the event itself.
“Northern California golf needs more of these types of events to build our golf communities and network with like-minded people and businesses,” Grant said. “We saw some local breweries and vendors at this event. The event can connect so many more local brands and golf clubs around Northern California.”
Bringing Brand and Golfers Together
The partnerships behind Pins & Pours added another layer to the community experience, giving brands an opportunity to connect directly with the golfers they serve while giving attendees a chance to discover businesses already rooted in the game. Rather than existing as a separate part of the evening, vendors became part of the experience and the conversations happening throughout it.
For Hirondelle Golf founder and Bay Area golf creator Judy Tran (@jujugolfs), that interaction also meant taking connections formed within the online golf community and bringing them into a shared, in-person setting.
“Transitioning from interacting with the online golf community to finally meeting so many incredible people in real life was a major highlight,” Tran said. “The evening provided an amazing platform not just for brands like ours to network and collaborate, but for everyday golfers to forge real connections.”
That opportunity to interact directly with the golf community was also meaningful for ParBear, where connecting with golfers across the Bay Area is an important part of building the brand. Co-Founder Lauren Kong saw an even broader value in the type of environment Pins & Pours created.
“Events like this show golf at its best: community, inclusivity, and fun,” Kong said. “They bring people onto the course who might not otherwise come, including families, first-timers, and longtime players sharing the same space over food, games, and friendly competition.”
More Ways To Experience Poppy Ridge
For attendees, the welcoming environment meant being able to experience Poppy Ridge in a way that extended beyond the event itself. Before heading to Pins & Pours, Bay Area golf creator Brandon Koehne (@brandoninthebay) played The Ridge 9, explored the practice facilities and clubhouse. Once the event began, Koehne competed in both contests and ultimately took home the putting competition win.
“The Pins & Pours event at Poppy Ridge was a great experience to showcase the course, practice facilities and clubhouse,” Koehne said. “It was great to have two different competitions as I’ve never competed in any. I was able to ask all my NCGA and Poppy Ridge related questions too, which all got answered. I would definitely go to another event!”
Experiences like Pins & Pours create more reasons to come together around golf, whether that means playing a round, testing your skills in a friendly competition, meeting others in the community or simply spending an evening around the game. As Poppy Ridge continues to build on social programming, the goal remains the same: create opportunities for more golfers to connect with the game, the property and one another.
Poppy Ridge Club members receive first access to events like Pins & Pours, along with member-only programming, monthly clinics, tournaments and additional experiences throughout the year.