by Daniel S. Robinson and James Y. Pack
The Orange County Bar Association is proud to announce that the 2018 Charitable Fund’s Annual Judge Kenneth Lae Charity Golf Scramble will take place Monday, April 23, 2018 at the Newport Beach Country Club. This popular event sells out every year so please visit www.ocbacf.org to register now.
This year’s event is going to feature a social reception from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the second-floor ballroom of the Newport Beach Country Club. Golfers and non-golfers are all welcome, but RSVP today because space is limited!
ABOUT THE COURSE
2018 will be the first time the Newport Beach Country Club will serve as the location for the OCBA Charitable Fund’s Annual Judge Kenneth Lae Charity Golf Scramble. For over a decade, the course has served as the site of the Toshiba Classic on the Senior PGA tour. It features an open, beautiful 6,600 yard, par 71 course with incredible views of Newport Bay, Fashion Island, and the Pacific Ocean. Originally built in 1954 by William “Billy” Bell and recently enhanced by distinguished course architect, Ted Robinson, the narrow kikuyu fairways are lined with aged, towering pine trees, which puts a premium on driving the ball accurately off the tee. The small bentgrass and poa annua greens make for challenging approach shots, and putts often break toward the Pacific Ocean.
The Newport Beach Country Club was kind enough to provide us with a few pointers for golfers playing in this year’s tournament:
Hole #1 (339 Yards | Par 4): For this short slight dogleg left par 4, a 3 wood or long iron off the tee is the safe play. A short iron from the middle to left side of the fairway allows the easiest approach to the green. The large green slopes back to front.
Hole #2 (390 Yards | Par 4): A slightly uphill hole that requires the tee shot be worked from left to right. A drive hit to the right side of the fairway sets up the opening of the green. A large bunker fronts the left side of the green.
Hole #3 (549 Yards | Par 5): After teeing off of an elevated tee, the longer hitters are confronted with the choice of trying to reach the green with a fairway metal or long iron. There is a large lake to the left of the green. The green is protected by bunkers on the left and right side.
Hole #4 (143 Yards | Par 3): A tricky hole that is normally played upwind. A large lake in front and to the left of the green. A rock wall borders the lake and the green edge. Your shot must carry over a waterfall and the rock wall to reach the green surface. The green has a large undulation that adds to the challenge.
Hole #5 (430 Yards | Par 4): A straightaway uphill hole that is usually played upwind. A wide fairway lets you open up on the tee shot, but the second shot is played to a well-bunkered green.
Hole #6 (418 Yards | Par 4): A dogleg left with large trees on both sides of the fairway. A drive down the right center of the fairway will give you an unblocked shot to a well-guarded, subtle rolling green.
Hole #7 (368 Yards | Par 4): This hole can be played with a fairway metal or a mid-iron from the tee. This is one of the larger greens on the course and has a huge undulation. Careful not to hit the ball above the pin.
Hole #8 (203 Yards | Par 3): A very strong par 3 that normally plays upwind. The bank to the right of the green slopes down and away, making it a difficult pitch to get the ball up and down for par.
Hole #9 (403 Yards | Par 4): An excellent driving hole. Large trees left and right of the fairway demand a well-positioned tee shot. A dogleg right but the hole sets up from the left-center of the fairway. The second shot is uphill and rather deceptive. Out of bounds guards the left and rear of the green.
Hole #10 (429 Yards | Par 4): A straightaway hole that has two bunkers looking at you as you tee off. The tee shot between them leaves you with a mid iron to a small, tightly bunkered green.
Hole #11 (373 Yards | Par 4): Plenty of driving room off the tee. The second shot into a small elevated green with bunkers located both left and right makes the hole a little more difficult than it looks.
Hole #12 (373 Yards | Par 4): The landing area for your tee shot is narrow, and there is a large eucalyptus in front of the green on the right side. The left side of the green is well-guarded by bunkers.
Hole #13 (170 Yards | Par 3): A beautiful par 3 into a slightly tilted green that is surrounded by trees. Out of bounds runs along the entire right side of the fairway and it generally plays into the wind.
Hole #14 (397 Yards | Par 4): One of the more difficult holes on the course. Large trees on the left side of the fairway and large, deep bunkers on the right side. The green is lower than the fairway, and it is very small and well-bunkered.
Hole #15 (492 Yards | Par 5): A good drive sets you up to see the green and all the trouble that surrounds it. Bunkers surround the left side of the green and a pot bunker is positioned on the right side of the green. The green is two-tiered with mounds and swales around the outer side. Some thirty palm trees around the green will offer challenge if you tend to stray just a little.
Hole #16 (437 Yards | Par 4): Perhaps the best par 4 on the course. It requires a long tee shot avoiding out of bounds left and trees right, leaving a long iron to a large rolling green that has well-placed bunkers guarding the front of the green.
Hole #17 (185 Yards | Par 3): A beautiful hole with a large lake in front of the tee and to the green’s edge. A two-tiered rolling green with a large bunker guarding the front and a pot bunker behind the green. Mounds and swales will present a challenge if you miss the green.
Hole #18 (510 Yards | Par 5): An uphill finishing hole that presents an opportunity for the long hitter to reach his green in two shots. A wide fairway with large trees both right and left and a bunker covering the green’s front, right side. The green is slightly elevated from the fairway and is deceptive to pitch to. The play is to approach the green from the right side of the fairway.
PLAYING FOR A GOOD CAUSE
In addition to honoring the legacy of Judge Lae, the sponsorship and underwriting options provide an opportunity to give back to the legal community, promote your business, and mingle with judges and members of the bar. All proceeds from the event benefit the OCBA Charitable Fund’s support of local legal organizations and charitable programs. This year, the Charitable Fund will award more than $205,000 in grants, a record amount and a 15% increase over last year.
On February 15, 2018, the Charitable Fund awarded annual funds to the following Orange County charitable organizations that enhance the system of justice:
CALIFORNIA YOUTH CONNECTION Creating Leaders From Within Grant Awarded: $5,000 Provides leadership training to foster youth, ages 14-24, who subsequently work to transform the child welfare system through targeted legislative and policy advocacy. See calyouthconn.org.
CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY FOWLER SCHOOL OF LAW Bette and Wylie Aitken Family Protection Clinic Grant Awarded: $15,000 Provides free legal advice and representation to low-income victims of family violence, trafficking, and other forms of abuse in protection orders and victim-related immigration matters, all while teaching up to 50 law students ethical lawyering skills and the value of pro bono community service. See chapman.edu/law/legal-clinics/family-protection.aspx.
COLLABORATIVE COURTS FOUNDATION Transportation and Employment Assistance Program (TEAP) Grant Awarded: $10,000 Provides transportation and employment support and services to program participants that are necessary to securing and maintaining employment, improving program participant graduation, and post-program success. See collaborativecourtsfoundation.org.
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS FOUNDATION, ORANGE COUNTY Civic Education Project Grant Awarded: $45,000 Provides civic and law-related educational programs to Orange County high school students including Mock Trial, Peer Court, Constitution Day, Law Day, and the Orange County Career Forum to build greater knowledge of government, democracy, and the legal system. See crfoc.org.
COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES Mentor-Advocate Program Grant Awarded: $4,000 Trains and supervises volunteers who mentor and advocate for Orange County’s most at-risk foster youth both inside and outside the courtroom. See casaoc.org.
HUMAN OPTIONS Legal Advocacy Program Grant Awarded: $10,000 Provides survivors of domestic violence with education on legal rights, court accompaniment and support, direct assistance, and referrals. Within a limited scope, the program provides assistance with filing restraining orders and visa applications. See humanoptions.org.
LAURA’S HOUSE Legal Advocacy Program Grant Awarded: $10,000 Provides survivors of domestic violence with a wide range of services and support to assist them in understanding and securing their legal rights to lead safe, violence-free lives. See laurashouse.org.
LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF ORANGE COUNTY Legal Aid in Action: Homeless Outreach Grant Awarded: $30,000 Provides direct legal assistance to Orange County homeless and those at-risk of homelessness, focusing on helping particularly vulnerable individuals and families including youth and domestic violence survivors. See legal-aid.com.
ORANGE COUNTY BAR FOUNDATION Project SELF Grant Awarded: $4,500 Provides low-income and at-risk high school students with hands-on internships in the legal field. See ocbarfoundation.org/program/project-self.
ORANGE COUNTY CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION CENTER Monitored & Supervised Visitation Program and Child Abuse Services Team (CAST) Grant Awarded: $3,000 Serves at-risk children and families in crisis to prevent child abuses—sexual and physical, through facilitating monitored and supervised parental visits, and providing a safe, child-friendly facility for child abuse investigations and forensic interviews. See brightfutures4kids.org.
PUBLIC LAW CENTER Bankruptcy Project Grant Awarded: $25,000 Provides guidance to low-income, self-represented debtors as well as non-clinic bankruptcy case assistance through staff and volunteer lawyers and law students. See publiclawcenter.org/services/bankruptcy-legal-assistance.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE SCHOOL OF LAW Pre-Law Outreach Program (POP) Grant Awarded: $6,500 Assists undergraduate students from disadvantaged backgrounds to prepare for the law school application and admissions process, to understand the unique demands of the practice of law, and provides practical experiences in legal advocacy. See law.uci.edu/about/public-service/public-interest/community-programs/pop.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE SCHOOL OF LAW Saturday Academy of Law (SAL) Grant Awarded: $5,000 Provides a unique learning experience twice a year to ninth grade students. Students experience what higher education could look like, giving them a glimpse of future aspirations into the exciting field of legal education while improving their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. See law.uci.edu/about/public-service/public-interest/community-programs/sal.
VETERANS LEGAL INSTITUTE Pro Bono Legal Clinics Grant Awarded: $22,000 Provides pro bono legal assistance to homeless, at-risk, disabled, and low-income veterans and service members. Seeks to eradicate barriers to housing, education, employment, and healthcare, and to foster self-sufficiency. See vetslegal.com.
WOMEN’S TRANSITIONAL LIVING CENTER Legal Advocacy Services Grant Awarded: $10,000 Provides shelter and supportive services to overcome legal barriers for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking who require immigration relief assistance. Responds to inquiries, provides consultation on available immigration relief, successfully files restraining orders, applications, and petitions, and trains volunteers and advocates. See wtlc.org.
Special thanks to all of the incredible members of the OCBA Charitable Fund Golf Committee: James Pack (Co-Chair), Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP; Daniel Robinson (Co-Chair), Robinson Calcagnie, Inc.; Ashleigh Aitken, Aitken * Aitken * Cohn LLP; Michael Baroni, Palace Entertainment; John Beckley, Automobile Club of Southern California; Cathrine Castaldi, Brown Rudnick LLP; Joseph Chairez, BakerHostetler LLP; John Denny, Hittelman Strunk Law Group LLP; Matthew Fletcher, Connor, Fletcher & Hedenkamp LLP; Todd Friedland, Stephens Friedland LLP; Kelly Galligan, Rutan & Tucker LLP; Daniel Glassman, Crowell & Moring LLP; Danielle Mayer, Robinson Calcagnie, Inc.; Sarah Nowels, Amezcua-Moll & Associates PC; Christopher Ross, Knobbe Martens; Beau Stockstill, Paul Hastings LLP; and Dean Zipser, Umberg Zipser LLP.
We look forward to seeing everyone on April 23!
Daniel S. Robinson practices civil litigation with Robinson Calcagnie, Inc., and can be reached at drobinson@robinsonfirm.com. James Y. Pack practices corporate immigration law with Fragomen, Del Rey, Bersen & Loewy, and can be reached at JPack@fragomen.com. Dan and Jim are proud to co-chair the 2018 Judge Kenneth Lae Charity Golf Scramble.