Herstory of the Sukiyaki Open
From one rainy-day dinner in the Pacific Northwest to one of the most memorable women’s golf traditions in the desert.
How it all began
What started as a post-round Sukiyaki dinner among friends became something much bigger: a traveling golf tradition built on friendship, competition, laughter, and unforgettable desert golf. Over the years, the Sukiyaki Open has grown from a small getaway into a marquee event that brings women together from across clubs, communities, and generations.
Today, the Sukiyaki Open is more than a tournament. It is a week of camaraderie, competition, generosity, and shared memories — shaped year by year by the women who made it what it is.
2012
The Sukiyaki That Started It All
On a chilly fall day in the Pacific Northwest, a round of golf sparked a simple idea: Sukiyaki for dinner. Sheila Locke offered to cook, and by the end of the evening a small group of Riverbend ladies had shared more than a meal — they had started a tradition.
That dinner would return again over the next two years and quietly laid the foundation for everything that followed.
2013–2014
Soggy Rounds, Warm Meals, and Bigger Ideas
After another soaked Northwest round and another post-golf dinner, the conversation shifted. What if the group traded gray skies and muddy fairways for sunshine and desert golf? Somewhere between wet weather and warm food, the idea of heading south was born.
2015
The First Desert Trip
In November, six Riverbend ladies headed to Las Vegas for a week of golf. It was the first true Sukiyaki trip to the Southwest desert — small in numbers, but huge in significance. What had begun as a dinner tradition officially became a golf getaway with a name, an identity, and a future.
2016
From Six to Twelve
The following year, the trip doubled in size. More women joined, the energy grew, and the pre-trip Sukiyaki dinner back home became part of the ritual.
The event was no longer just a fun idea — it was becoming a tradition with momentum.
2017
The Mesquite Migration
The group grew again, this time moving north to Mesquite. Wolf Creek, Conestoga, Oasis, and the dramatic desert setting gave the week a bigger-event feel.
This was also the year the competitive side sharpened: the Quota Stableford format arrived, and the Sukiyaki Open began evolving into a true tournament experience.
2018
Scottsdale and the Realization
With 20 participants, the group headed to Scottsdale and took on a fresh lineup of courses. The trip proved that Sukiyaki could travel and thrive beyond its early footprint.
It also made one thing clear: this was no longer just an annual golf trip. It had become an event people planned for and looked forward to.
2019
Forty Strong
Returning to Mesquite, Sukiyaki surged to 40 players. The field doubled, the schedule expanded, and the event felt bigger in every way.
By now the formula was unmistakable: great golf, great company, plenty of laughs, and a week where nobody wanted to go home.
2020
Pandemic Year, Unstoppable Spirit
The world slowed down, but Sukiyaki kept moving. Despite the pandemic, 47 women made the trip and successfully navigated the restrictions of the moment.
The week delivered both escape and connection during a difficult year. It also marked another major milestone: the presentation of the first Sukiyaki Champion’s award.
2021
Growth, Crystal, and a Cause
Sukiyaki expanded to 80 players and added another important dimension: giving back. Fundraising began in support of First Tee Greater Seattle, adding purpose to a week already rich with competition and camaraderie.
The event also introduced an overall runner-up crystal, reinforcing just how much the tournament side had grown.
2022
Bigger Fields, Bigger Impact
With 82 players, Sukiyaki kept climbing. Even when the desert delivered a surprise dose of wind and rain, the spirit of the event never dipped.
Fundraising grew again, deepening the tournament’s connection to First Tee Greater Seattle and showing that Sukiyaki was now building impact beyond the golf course.
2023
From Mesquite to St. George
At 96 players, the event reached another level. Three days in St. George expanded the footprint, while Wolf Creek still delivered the dramatic finish everyone had come to love.
A frost delay on day one quickly gave way to blue skies, another perfect example of the stories that make each Sukiyaki year memorable. Fundraising also reached a new high.
2024
New Destination, Same Spirit
The 13th annual event headed to San Diego and brought Sukiyaki to a new collection of standout courses. Wind added drama, the golf stayed excellent, and the week carried forward everything the event had become known for: competition, travel, generosity, and fun.
Even in a new setting, the spirit of Sukiyaki felt instantly familiar.
2025
Paiute Takes Center Stage
By 2025, the Sukiyaki Open had grown into a 112-player event delivering 90 holes of golf, major scale, and unmistakable energy.
Siena and Arroyo set the tone before the tournament moved to Paiute, where the Wolf, Snow, and Sun courses provided a world-class finish. With remarkable golf, strong payouts, and the same camaraderie that started it all, Sukiyaki had fully arrived as one of the most memorable events on the calendar.
Still growing
From a handful of friends sharing dinner after a cold round to more than one hundred players gathering for a premier desert tournament, the Sukiyaki Open continues to evolve.
The locations may change, the field may grow, and the competition may intensify, but the heart of the event remains the same: friendship, fun, generosity, and a love of the game.
Past tournament results now live in the tournament archive, while this page celebrates the story of how the Sukiyaki Open became what it is today.