Getting to Know 2022 President Bob Brooks

January 4, 2021

A native of Los Angeles, 2022 CSGA President Bob Brooks moved to Carpinteria when he was just two years old.

He’d grow up there, attending Santa Barbara schools and later graduated from UC-Santa Barbara in 1962. After college, Bob started farming in Oxnard on family property and shortly thereafter founded San Miguel Produce in the mid 1970’s growing, packing and shipping mixed vegetables mainly in Oxnard but to a lesser degree in Salinas, Nipomo, Imperial Valley and Mexico.

It was during his farming days in Oxnard that he met his wife of 54 years, Kathleen. The couple has two children.

The produce company still exists, but Bob withdrew and retired in the late 1990’s. Today, you’ll often find him on his home course—Saticoy CC in Ventura.

What are you looking forward to as CSGA President?

Continuing to work with Vaughn Kezirian and the Board in an intense search for exciting venues for our annual tournaments. This has been ongoing and landing Torrey Pines is a perfect example.

How did you first get started with golf?

As a kid, I discovered a musty old leather bag of hickory-shafted clubs in my mother’s closet. She was a member of Bel Aire in Los Angeles in the 20s.

What is your greatest golf memory or moment?

Meeting The King, Arnold Palmer, at Pebble Beach

Anything you would change with the game?

Bifurcation of the Rules of Golf. In my golf world, there are no two-stroke penalties or stroke and distance.

What’s your favorite course and why?

My home course Saticoy, where I’ve been for 45 years. I still get a little buzz turning up the driveway. Out of town, it’d be Shinnecock Hills on Long Island—just all around wonderful.

What influenced you to take up golf?

My mother, later on business and getting into Saticoy for $1,200.

What do you enjoy doing besides golf?

Visiting my daughter and her family in Marin, my old Jeeps and off beat car collection, landscaping, and reading and lastly, daily long dog walks with Martin Short (Marty).