The worlds of golf and wine cross over in countless ways, from the luxury lifestyles that both often represent to the direct connection that they provide for appreciating the unique landscapes of our planet.
But it wasn’t until three years ago that these two cultures were officially united in Santa Barbara, when the first-ever Vintners Golf Classic teed off at Sandpiper Golf Club in 2022. Hosted by the Santa Barbara Vintners Foundation , the annual event — which happened for the third time this past Monday, June 10, at the Ranch Course at Alisal — draws winemakers, winery owners, bankers, and other industry friends like myself to the links to raise money for Community Health Centers of the Central Coast .
CHC, as it’s better known, provides health care through 31 clinics across northern Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, clocking more than 450,000 visits each year. Given that many of those people served by the clinics work in the region’s vineyards, CHC is a natural partner for the Vintners Foundation. It is now the main beneficiary of both the golf tourney — which raised more than $20,000 for the organization this week — and the biannual Santa Barbara Wine Auction , which returns to the Ritz-Carlton Bacara this November.
