October 9, 2015
K.C. Cote–NCGA Tournament Official of the Year
When K.C. Cote asked her first rules question, little did she know that the query would lead to what has now become over 20 years of service as a rules official.
For the 81-year-old Cote, it all started back in the 1990’s. After playing in her first Women’s Golf Association of Northern California tournament, Cote, then a board member of the WGANC, followed up her round by asking then-WGANC President Gail Rogers some rules questions.
“I remember Gail telling me, ‘I think we’ve got someone hooked,’” Cote said.
Just a few years later in 1997, Cote helped with the founding of the WGANC Rules Committee.
Since then, the Novato resident has gone on to serve as a rules official for NCGA, USGA, California Women’s Amateur, Executive Women’s Golf Association and WGANC tournaments.
Yep, it’s safe to say she was hooked.
“I love interacting with the players, especially if you give them a good ruling,” said Cote with a smile.
Even at 81, Cote continues to love her duties. She still does about 40 events a year, and has never thought about retiring.
“Nope, I’m too young,” she said. “I recently played in a group of ladies and I was the youngest.”
As for Cote’s spirit and passion for the game– and life itself for that matter—it all stems back to her days as a nurse. Following nurses training, she joined the Air Force, where she ended up doing two tours of duty as a flight nurse during the Vietnam War.
As part of a crew, Cote’s duties were to pick up injured U.S. soldiers, get them on a Medivac carrier and bring them back to the States for further treatment.
“Rulings are a piece of cake compared to my time as an Air Force nurse,” said Cote, who eventually was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. “We’re all on the right side of the grass, looking up.”
-Jerry Stewart
