Stephen Curry Gets a Preview Round at Corica Park G.C.
12 Jun 2018
by Pete Wlodkowski of AmateurGolf.com
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Stephen Curry shot 71 playing with George Kelley of Greenway Golf
ALAMEDA, California (June 12, 2018) -- It’s no secret that Stephen Curry played golf during the NBA Finals. (OK, maybe not during the game, but you get the idea - he snuck some rounds in here and there.) The Warriors star is obsessed with golf, so it wasn’t a huge surprise when he showed up for a preview round at the new Corica Park South Course in Alameda.
During the season, Curry kept his golf swing sharp by hitting balls on the back of the range at Corica Park -- located just 15 minutes from Oracle Arena. He marveled at the progress being made on the new South Course, and asked his Under Armour rep Kris Stone to arrange the preview.
Related: Two New Northern California Golf Courses Open a Month Apart
It turns out Stone’s brother Erik is one of the teaching pros at Corica Park, so the game was setup for Monday, June 11. Just a few days away from a third NBA Championship, Curry and his father Del came out to Corica Park decked out in Under Armour golf apparel and ready to play.
In the group was Greenway Golf CEO George Kelley. Kelley, a former Australian Tour player, was impressed with Curry’s game.
“I don’t really see any weaknesses,” said Kelley. “He hit the ball great and made a lot of putts. The few errant tee shots he hit didn’t cost him much; he shot 71 on the day.”
Curry is a member of several clubs in the Bay Area. His primary membership is at California Golf Club, but he and his father Del often play other courses such as TPC Stonebrae, where Curry played in the Web.com Tour’s 2017 Ellie Mae Classic, posting a pair of 74s and missing the cut by 11 strokes. (But thrilling Bay Area golf and basketball fans in the process.)
Once their disbelief at seeing him drive by in a golf cart subsided, Curry stopped to take photos with several members of the Corica Park grounds crew as they prepped for the grand opening. (And by the way, his father Del said he thinks the South Course will stack up well against even the best private courses in the Bay Area.)
A fleet of Yamaha golf carts had just been delivered, but even during the rush to get three of them prepped for the round the Yamaha crew didn’t miss a beat.
The numbers on the three carts were No. 30 (Curry’s number); No. 3 (The number of championships he’s won with The Warriors) and No. 1, of course. Cart 30 won’t be retired at Corica Park anytime soon, but it will likely be in high demand.
Curry’s summer plans include playing golf, “as much as I can,” while he has started talks with the PGA Tour about hosting an event, possibly the Safeway Classic at Napa’s Silverado Resort. Early discussions on a Stephen Curry Junior Golf Academy are also rumored to be taking place.
Two things you can bet on? More championships for the Warriors and a return visit (or two) to Corica Park by Stephen Curry.