Building Our Legacy: The Journey of UCSB Golf Club

Hey everyone,

I want to take a moment to reflect after we had an incredible first day back on the course.

We’ve come as a club and thank all of you for making this journey so successful. We’re heading into exciting times, especially with the upcoming CCGL league event on October 26th at Santa Barbara Municipal— we’re charting new territory and it’s so exciting.

The mission of the UCSB Golf Club is deeply intertwined with Project Grow the Game, a charitable organization I created to make golf accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or experience. The idea came to me during one of the most serendipitous times in my life while I was serving as a US Delegate in Haridwar, India at the C20 with Mata Amritanandamayi (story for another time). I brought it back to the States and shared it with a few people who believed in the vision and helped it grow into what it is today.

For a bit of background, I grew up near San Francisco and spent much of my teenage years on the water. In high school, my best friend and I co-founded a commercial fishing company that still catches 800 pounds of halibut each week. We only started the company after spending years selling weed and realizing we were too young to throw our lives away. We made a conscious decision to get it together, and that shift led to the creation of our fishing business. After high school, I attended community college, eventually earning a full-ride scholarship to UCSB but not before starting my golf journey.

I had only been playing for two weeks when I became a club fitter in late July of 2023, a job I excelled at for a year before deciding to pursue my education. I’m now using all my connections in the golf world, along with my creativity, to build the best club imaginable. Everything we’re working on is part of a larger vision that looks years into the future.

Looking back, it’s incredible and I want to share a few key moments and how few people can change the direction of your life. During Katya Armistead’s ED173 Leadership class, I realized something crucial: I didn’t want to pursue economics. Up until then, I’d been studying economics, but it was through that class, with the support of Jack, Jailey, and Gabe, that I began to understand my true passion didn’t lie there. They stood by me as I navigated this realization, and for that, I owe them immense gratitude.

As 2023 came to a close, I was on the brink of dropping out. December was a tough time. But Alexis, in her wisdom, helped talk some sense into me when I needed it most. Her support kept me grounded, and it was in her apartment on December 3rd that the UCSB Golf Club was officially born. That same week, we held our very first range day, and that moment was the start of something so much bigger than I ever imagined.

I also want to thank the anonymous person who voted for my vision during that class. Your vote was the turning point, giving me the confidence to push forward. Jack, Jailey, Gabe—your support was everything during those uncertain days. You gave me the courage to move forward with my dream, and for that, I can’t thank you enough.

And to Alexis, I’m beyond grateful for your belief in me, and I want to congratulate you on your marriage and baby girl. You’ve always been there when it mattered most, and I’m so happy to see you thriving in this new chapter of your life.

Special thanks to Ben 🍀

Special thanks to JT 🦧

Honorable Mentions: Jacob, Carson, Aryan, Bradley, Jonathan, Seth, Nathan, Olivia, Jerome, Connar, Aidan.

Roommates, supporters, conspirators, and ultimately you guys all did and said enough to be honored.

A MASSIVE thank you to the Original 5—Mustafa, Lodo, Jackson, Grant, and Ryan—for laying the foundation of this club. You all believed in the vision and kept it alive when it was just an idea. Now, it’s growing into something truly special.

To the Sunday Dozen who packed the course today (Sunday 9/29), your energy and commitment are what’s going to take us to the next level.

Special thanks to Jackson for setting up group chats and keeping everyone connected—your leadership in building community is invaluable.

I also want to welcome Riley, who has joined the administration team and is working behind the scenes. I’m excited to see the new content and direction as we continue expanding.

Looking forward:

For the new league, we’ve decided that the top six players from our club will take the first tee times, while the rest will compete individually. We’re finalizing details with Santa Barbara Municipal, and there’s been discussion about an optional $20 buy-in to add a competitive edge to the event. We’re also working on securing affordable accommodations, like air mattresses and shared spaces, to keep costs down for everyone.

We’ve got more events coming up, starting with the New Golfer Range Day this Thursday. I’m also negotiating with Twin Lakes for unlimited range balls for the club, so stay tuned.

Operationally, I’m drafting a league charter and setting up a committee to ensure everything runs smoothly. We’ll update and adjust the charter after the first event to reflect our growth. To help fund our initiatives—like content creation, swag, and more—I’m considering a $100 quarterly donation from those who can contribute. This would help take us to the next level, but it’s not mandatory (as of now), and if anyone has concerns, I’m always here to talk.

Lastly, we’re working on developing an app to streamline tee time bookings, and we’re looking for anyone with coding skills who wants to help. Let me know if that’s something you’d like to contribute to!

I’m incredibly grateful for the support and trust you’ve all shown. We’re building something epic, and I know what we’re creating now will leave a lasting impact. Looking forward to seeing you all at the next event.

Gratefully,

Julian