© Larry Lambrecht
About The Stocker Cup
The Stocker Cup Invitational Golf Tournament (www.stockercup.com) was founded in 1991 to honor the memory of Peter C. Stocker, co-founder of The Santa Lucia Preserve, who died in a tragic helicopter accident at The Preserve in 1990. The tournament, cited as one of the Top 10 Amateur tournaments in the US, resides in The Preserve Golf Club’s bylaws as a tradition to hold at the club each year. Continued page 4...
Who was Peter Stocker?
Co-founder of the successful San Francisco-based real estate development firm ‘Pacific Union Company’, Peter aided in the creation of such properties as Meadowood Resort and Merryvale Vineyards in Napa Valley, and Opera Plaza in San Francisco’s Civic Center. In the late 1980’s, Peter and his partner Tom Gray set their sights on a ranch in Carmel, which would become The Santa Lucia Preserve. It would end up as his last project before his untimely death.
In life, everyone who met Peter Stocker came under his spell; a warm and beguiling smile, movie star handsome, a magical personality, and an enthusiastic zest for life. He is well remembered and loved by all who had the privilege and pleasure to have known him. In the words of former USGA President Sandy Tatum: “Peter Stocker was the quintessential amateur golfer. He loved golf with a passion. He would have loved this tournament.” Learn more here.
Fiftyyears ago, the San Francisco Bay Area was a hotbed of amateur golf. In recent years, the Bay Area and Northern California in general have started to make a comeback on the national golf scene. The Stocker Cup has established a prestigious annual amateur golf tournament on the West Coast that has attracted a field of top amateurs from throughout the country and abroad. In 2001, the Stocker Cup became the first annual amateur championship held in the State of California to achieve national stature when the tournament was granted World Amateur Ranking Player Points by Golfweek.
As an Invitational, the Stocker Cup committee annually invites many of the best nationally ranked mid-amateurs (over 25 years old). Participants have included players such as Brandt Snedeker (9-time PGA Tour winner), Mike McCoy (US Mid-Am Champion and Walker Cup Captain), Kevin Marsh (former US Mid-Am Champion), Gene Elliott (reigning US Senior Am and British Senior Am champion), Jeff Wilson (former US Senior Am Champion), Chip Lutz (former US Senior Am and British Senior Am Champion), Paul Simson (former US Senior Am Champion), and Pat Tallent (former US Senior Am Champion).
The Stocker Cup is hosted by The Preserve Golf Club, located within The Santa Lucia Preserve in Carmel, California. The tournament format provides both a stroke-play individual competition for the A Players as well as a two-man team best ball event that pairs an A Player with a B player (including many Preserve Members). The A player bio’s are available for review at www.stockercup.com.
The Stocker Cup has been cited as one of the Top 10 Amateur tournaments in the US, a list that included events hosted at prestigious clubs such as Pine Valley, Seminole, Winged Foot, National Golf Links, and Los Angeles CC.
How can Preserve Community Members participate in the Stocker Cup legacy?
Host a Player in Your Home
In addition to the outstanding competitive field, the Stocker Cup has gained wide recognition for the quality of the tournament and the exceptional hospitality afforded players as many (including their significant others) are housed by Preserve homeowners during the tournament. The Preserve’s community members and returning players have developed great relationships over the years, and we hope that tradition will live on as new homeowners join the community.
Preserve hosts are invited to enjoy various Stocker Cup social events and spectating privileges on the course. Beyond those experiences, we’ve found the relationships built over the years to be the most enjoyable of all.
If you are a community member of The Preserve and have an interest in hosting a player for the Stocker Cup (either within your home on The Preserve or in the local Carmel area), please contact Donal Daly at (831) 2384822 or ddaly@santaluciapreserve.com.
Request to Play
The Stocker Cup is an Invitational Golf Tournament with a field of just 48 teams. Many A Players bring a B Player, however, there may be limited availability for Preserve Golf Club members to participate as B Players by submitting an “Invitation Request” through the Stocker Cup website at this link. Generally, those with a handicap under 10.0 will be considered, and if not selected may be placed on a waitlist to participate.
