2019 TFTGS Sacramento Golf Hall of Fame Inductees
Mike Green
Mike received a golf scholarship to the University of the Pacific and then pursued playing professionally on the Space Coast Mini Tour, in Florida. He was hired as an Assistant Professional at Del Paso Country Club in 1982, and promoted to Head Golf Professional in 1993. He received the Private Club Merchandiser of the Year Award in 1999, and has been a contributing writer for the Play it Forward initiative. He has been heavily involved in prestigious events such as the Swing at Cancer Pro Am, Del Paso’s Charity Golf Marathon, Del Paso’s Pro-Am Fore Kids, the 2015 U.S. Senior Open and the Del Paso Foundation. These events, and so many others represent his commitment of Del Paso’s membership mission in giving back to the community.
William Land
William Land was a quiet and self-contained man who was viewed as an active businessman in the community and who gave the city nearly half a million dollars to enhance the conditions of its citizens. His will and probate records are larger in volume and weight than the man himself. When he died on December 31, 1911, the 74-year-old bequest $250,000 for a public park and $200,000 for the poor of Sacramento. Land invested heavily in the Sacramento area only. He said that he would not take money out of the city that gave him his fortune. Though we know little of William Land the man, his legacy speaks volumes through the beautiful park and golf course that bears his name.
Lanie Case
Lanie's work in education and volunteerism in golf makes her a favorite with the group she helped create: the first and largest Special Olympics golf program in the country called The California Eagles. Lanie helped champion special needs and those with disabilities and create a program that was often copied but never duplicated. The program has been a model for involving children and adults with Down Syndrome and other disabilities. In addition she's spent nearly two decades on the Sacramento Golf Council specializing in putting on events for children.
Frank Freer
Frank was committed to over 50 years to improving the game of golf in Sacramento, California. As the longtime Tournament Director to the prestigious California State Fair Golf Championship for nearly three decades and the Chairman for the 1963 USGA Men's National Public Links Championship, he was synonymous with quality events for some of the best players in the world. He served on the NCGA Board of Directors (1962-1968) and the USGA Sectional Qualifying Committeeman, National Public Links (1964-1995). Few people in American have given as much to amateur golf as Frank C. Freer. He brought organization and professionalism to every part of golf that he touched. Known for his gentle and giving manner, Frank earned the respect and gratitude of golfers in Sacramento and throughout the United States.
Ed Vasconcellos
Ed Vasconcellos started his career at Diamond Oaks Golf Course in Roseville, California back in 1969 and then would go on to spend the better part of three decades performing all parts of golf operations at the city-owned course and for the Roseville community. Over that time, Vasconcellos oversaw dozens of major amateur events including the longtime David Oxley Memorial Junior Championship, one of JGANC's premier events. He worked extensively with the First Tee of Greater Sacramento on a variety of different events and is synonymous with golf in the City of Roseville.
Bob Burns
Bob Burns is a lifelong northern Californian who developed an early interest in sports, history and writing. As a sportswriter for The Sacramento Bee, he covered such events as the Olympics, Super Bowl, NCAA Final Four and every local golf happening in Greater Sacramento for more than a decade. Those early interests coalesced in The Track in the Forest, a chronicle of the 1968 U.S. Olympic men’s track team’s road to Mexico City in a year of war, assassinations and racial unrest. His support to local amateur golf and the local golf professional community cannot be overstated.
