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TGA, STPGA, and NTPGA Extend Junior Golf Alliance In 4-Year Agreement

Texas Junior Golf Alliance Continues

The Texas Golf Association, along with the Northern and Southern Texas PGA Sections, recently announced a four-year extension of the Texas Junior Golf Alliance (TJGA).

Established in 2013 to formalize the relationships between the TGA and PGA Sections, the TJGA creates a statewide partnership that highlights playing opportunities for juniors in each region of the state based on playing ability. The Alliance establishes a local, regional, and statewide roadmap for competitors operated by the governing bodies and leaders of the golf community in Texas.

The new extension takes the TJGA partnership through the 2025 season.

“Texas has an incredible heritage in championship golf, and many of the greatest players in the game have come up through our junior ranks,” said Stacy Dennis, Executive Director of the TGA. “By extending the TJGA partnership and solidifying the relationships between the NTPGA, STPGA and LJT, we can collectively continue to provide Texas junior golfers the best platform to compete and chart their course to accomplish their goals and achieve their dreams. I am so proud to be a part of delivering this opportunity to Texas kids.”

Junior golfers become members of the TJGA and LJT by joining their respective PGA Section’s junior program. Alliance members have opportunities to play in the events conducted by the PGA Section in their region. Through playing in NTPGA All-American Tour and STPGA Srixon Prestige Tour events, Alliance members earn status and exemptions into LJT events, which are conducted by the TGA.

As a result, participation at the local level is encouraged and supported, and LJT Championships attract the best players throughout the state. This allows LJT events to earn American Junior Golf Association Performance Stars, higher World Amateur Golf Rankings, and greater attention from the collegiate golf community, including coaches.

“We are very proud of the partnership that we have with the TGA and STPGA,” said Mark Harrison, Executive Director/CEO of the Northern Texas PGA. “The Alliance provides a clear player pathway for our local junior players on the Sections’ Junior Tours to reach the Legends Junior Tour, which is the top of the playing pyramid in Texas. With the likes of Jordan Spieth, Scottie Scheffler, and Will Zalatoris, amongst others who are by-products of the Alliance and Junior Golf here in Texas, the future is bright for the Legends Junior Tour and our partner organizations. However, most importantly, it is bright for the junior golfers and their parents that we collectively serve.”

As the top of the TJGA pyramid, the LJT formed in 2005 to establish an elite-level, statewide junior tour to provide the state’s top young competitors opportunities to compete at the highest level without leaving Texas. Extending the partnerships with the All-American Tour in North Texas and Srixon Prestige Tour in South Texas continues to fortify the LJT’s position as the proving grounds for the most elite junior golfers in the state.

“While this alliance showcases how Texas is the best place for junior golf, it more importantly showcases all three organizations’ desire to create lifelong golfers and introduce the game to as many people as possible,” said Thomas Hutton, Executive Director of the Southern Texas PGA. “The STPGA believes strongly that we need to create a player pathway for all junior golfers, and we are excited that the alliance continues to be strong for the best junior golfers in Texas.”

For more information on the LJT, click here. For more on the NTPGA’s All-American Tour, click here. For more on the STPGA’s Srixon Prestige Tour, click here.

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LJT Events to Offer VOA Exemptions

The Volunteers of America Classic, the only LPGA Tour event in Texas, will continue its partnership with the Northern Texas PGA Foundation for the third year in a row. Youth female golfers can compete for the opportunity to play with the pros next September by participating in the Volunteers of America Classic Girls Championship.

The Northern Texas PGA Foundation will conduct the Volunteers of America Classic Girls Championship Monday, July 11 through Wednesday, July 13, 2022.  Tribute Golf Links will play host for rounds one and two, and Wednesday’s final round will take place on Old American Golf Club.

Exemption opportunities into the Volunteers of America Classic Girls Championship will begin in January 2022. Youth female golfers can compete in select All American Tour events hosted by the Northern Texas PGA, select Prestige Tour events hosted by the Southern Texas PGA and select tournaments hosted by the Legends Junior Tour.

Last year’s Volunteers of America Classic Girls Championship resulted in Avery Zweig of McKinney, ranked number one for the class of 2025, winning the exemption and playing in the 2021 LPGA Tour Volunteers of America Classic. A second exemption was also granted to Farah O’Keefe of Austin, class of 2023, who also made her LPGA debut last summer. O’Keefe made the cut and finished T56. Zweig finished 36-holes at +3 and missed the cut on the number.

In addition to awarding an LPGA Tour exemption, the partnership between the Volunteers of America Classic and the Northern Texas PGA Foundation will impact the community by providing a junior golf clinic, a PGA HOPE clinic for female veterans, and award a $5,000 college scholarship to a deserving female junior golfer.

For the team at the Volunteers of America Classic, the opportunity to help inspire the next generation of LPGA Tour players and expand its community outreach is something that fits right into the tournament’s mission.

For more information, visit ntpgajuniorgolf.com and VOAClassic.com.

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In Memory of John Semander

It is with deep sadness that the TGA announces the passing of John Semander. Semander gave selflessly of his time, energy and resources to promote golf in Texas for many years. His contributions to the game of golf are immeasurable and have impacted the state’s entire golfing community. The longtime TGA volunteer and Past Director passed away on July 27. He was 89 years old.

Semander was a gentle spirit who didn’t know a stranger. He seemed to be friends with everyone and had a warm-hearted story to share about each one to back it up. The Houston native was recognized numerous times for his steadfast dedication and efforts in helping the TGA.

He was the recipient of the 2005 South Texas Volunteer of the Year Award and the 2009 Bob Wells Distinguished Service Award, the TGA’s highest honor for individuals who’ve contributed to the growth of the game through their volunteerism and meritorious service.

In addition to duties as a TGA Director, Semander also served as a member of the TGA Rules Committee, as well as the USGA Junior Amateur Committee.

In 2010, Semander captained the South Texas team to victory in the Texas Shootout held at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands.

The longtime Shell employee was also very active with the Houston Golf Association among other pursuits.

In 2017, the TGA established the John Semander Family Scholarship to financially assist golfers who are seeking higher education. Semander’s dedication, character and lifelong connection to golf were attributes that the scholarship program endeavored to honor and encourage in the next generation of golfers.

The TGA mourns the loss of John Semander and sends its condolences to his family and friends.

 

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Jim Brown Honored with Bob Wells Volunteerism Award

Jim Brown Bob Wells Award

The Texas Golf Association is pleased to announce longtime director and past president Jim Brown has received the Bob Wells Distinguished Service Award, the TGA’s highest honor for individuals who’ve contributed to the growth of the game through their volunteerism and meritorious service.

The words volunteerism and service define Brown, a retired personal injury attorney who joined the TGA Board of Directors in 2010 and in less than a year promptly received the North Texas Volunteer of the Year Award. From the outset, Brown annually has averaged more than 50 days a year working both on the course as a TGA Rules Official at multiple men’s, women’s and junior championships and off the course attending to association-related business matters at board meetings. That’s in addition to the time he’s given volunteering as a Rules Official for the United States Golf Association, Southern Golf Association and Trans-Mississippi Golf Association.

Brown was surprised when he received the news – “aghast” is the word he used – but there’s been no one in recent TGA history who is more deserving.

“I have admired the people who previously have received this award ever since I’ve been involved with the TGA,” Brown said. “Those people have mentored me, with or without their knowledge, with all the dedication they’ve shown. That’s what makes me so gratified to just be considered among those people. I’m so grateful I found the Texas Golf Association. The people and the association add immense value to my life.”

TGA Executive Director Stacy Dennis said there is no better representative for the game of golf and the association than Jim Brown.

“He is the kind of person I imagine this award was created to honor,” Dennis said. “He has meant more to the TGA than the deep Rules knowledge and countless days he’s contributed as a volunteer. He is a gentleman in the truest sense of the word. He sincerely loves the game and, most importantly, he loves our players.”

One of the foremost experts on the Rules of Golf in Texas, if not the entire country, Brown served as TGA President from 2016-18.

“His heart and soul are in the TGA,” said his friend, neighbor and colleague Carey Schulten, an esteemed Rules Official in his own right who succeeded Brown as TGA president from 2018-20. “Jim has done everything. The number of days he does Rules work is virtually every tournament that is within his reach.”

Schulten, who lives two streets away from Brown in central Dallas, met his friend back in 2010 when they found themselves working TGA championships together. Schulten, a former U.S. Air Force and Delta Air Lines pilot who won the Legends Junior Tour’s Volunteer of the Year Award in 2015, said it’s the lawyer in Brown that makes him such a trusted expert on the Rules.

“I think he sleeps with a Rules book,” Schulten joked. “He drinks and sleeps the Rules book. He’s on it all the time, and it reflects his background. He’s down to the fine print on that Rules book.”

First presented in 2005, the Bob Wells Distinguished Service Award is named after the late Bob Wells, who served as TGA president from 1980-87.

Current president Leslie Henry met Brown in 2012 when she began serving on the Board of Directors for the Women’s Texas Golf Association, which eventually merged with the TGA in 2014. Henry said Brown joined her in championing the idea of the men and women golfers in Texas coming together as an inclusive statewide association.

“I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Jim,” Henry said. “He is one of the most caring, compassionate human beings I have met in my lifetime. He’s the true example of treating everyone with respect and fairness. The award is so deserving, and we are all proud to call Jim Brown our friend and a force for the TGA.”

Brown, 75, is in his 12th year as a director of the TGA. Prior to his tenure as president in 2016-18, Brown served two-year terms as 1st Vice President and 2nd Vice President. He’s also put in countless hours as a member of several sub-committees, including Nominating, Finance, Compensation and Rules & Competitions.

A longtime advocate for amateur golf, Brown has also been a member the Southern Golf Association’s Board of Directors since 2001 and a member of the Executive Committee since 2011. He’s a former SGA president, too, and previously served as the SGA’s 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President and Treasurer.

Brown received his BBA and JD from SMU in Dallas. He was a letterman on the Men’s Golf Team from 1963-1965 and has continued to support his alma mater by taking an active role on the Payne Stewart Cup Committee, the SMU Golf fundraiser, since 2003, serving as Chairman in 2009 and 2011. He’s also just about the biggest SMU fan anyone will ever meet.

Brown and his wife Camille have two adult children and four grandchildren.

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The Spirit Golf Association Announces Appointment of Charlie Epps, PGA, as Interim President

Charlie Epps Spirit Charity Challenge 2019

HOUSTON, Texas (August 20, 2020) – The Spirit Golf Association (SGA) announced today that long-time PGA Professional Charlie Epps will serve as interim president. Epps has served on the SGA Board of Directors since January 2020.

The Spirit Golf Association, a 501 (c) (3) charity dedicated to the promotion of amateur golf for the benefit of health-related causes, was formed in 1999 by Houston philanthropist Corby J. Robertson, Jr. Corby established the SGA and Whispering Pines Golf Club, rated by Golf Digest as the #1 course in Texas, as a mission for philanthropically minded people to support charitable causes, enjoy membership privileges at a world-class golf property and to conduct The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship.

“We are so fortunate to have Charlie step into this role after being an invaluable member of our Board of Directors and take the reins as we continue our charitable missions and promoting the international goodwill of amateur golf,” said Robertson. “Right now we’re focusing heavily on our recently created Spirit Food Fund, and Charlie has been instrumental in helping us raise more than $1.35 million for the food insecure. He brings years of unmatched experience and expertise in the golf industry and will continue to be a great asset to our organization.”

As interim president, Epps will be responsible for executing the mission and vision of the SGA, in addition to recruiting members to Whispering Pines and sponsors for SGA events while achieving the financial and managerial objectives of the association.

“I’ve been involved in a volunteer capacity with the Spirit Golf Association since the beginning,” said Epps. “I share Corby’s passion for golf in addition to giving back through the game. I look forward to continuing to grow our organization and coordinating events that have a positive impact on our Texas communities.”

Epps, a member of the teaching staff at Golf Club of Houston, has always been committed to giving back to the game of golf, especially in the development of young players. He spent 15 years as the Head Professional at Houston Country Club and six years Pine Forest Country Club.

In his service to the PGA of America and the game, he has held positions of prominence on local, state and national leadership boards and committees gaining him recognition as the recipient of numerous PGA and Southern Texas PGA awards and honors. He was inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame in 2012 for his work as a club professional and golf instructor.

He and his friend, the late Dick Harmon, partnered to provide opportunities for young players to develop their game. He founded the Yellowstone Academy Foundation Golf Tournament to raise funds to help Houston’s inner-city kids gain access to golf. He also helps organize the Dick Harmon Memorial Invitational along with numerous other charity events.

On the PGA Tour, Epps coached two-time Major Championship winner Angel Cabrera and five-time Tour winner Blaine McCallister. Epps is currently featured weekly on the Charlie Epps Golf Hour which airs nationally on the SportsMap Nation Radio Network Saturdays 8-9 a.m. CT (97.5 FM in Houston).

Whispering Pines Golf Club is currently undergoing construction and is on track to reopen in fall 2020. Just 80 miles north of Houston along the shores of Lake Livingston sits Whispering Pines Golf Club, one of the best private golf clubs in the country. The club was founded not only to offer its discerning members a superior golf experience on an exceptional course, but it also was created to promote amateur golf and to benefit charitable causes on a local, national and international level. Whispering Pines is ranked #1 in Texas and was recently ranked #21 in the top 200 modern courses in the country by Golfweek.

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111th Texas Amateur Set for Aug. 6-9

Boot Ranch Hole 10 with trophy

The 111th Texas Amateur will be contested Aug. 6-9 at Boot Ranch in Fredericksburg. This year’s championship was originally slated for June but was rescheduled due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conducted by the Texas Golf Association since 1906, the championship brings together the state’s most accomplished amateur players to compete for the H.L. Edwards Memorial Trophy.

“We are incredibly thankful to everyone at Boot Ranch for their flexibility and support as we worked through the logistics of the date change,” said Ian Davis, TGA Tournament Director. “It is a privilege to be able to conduct this edition of the Texas Amateur on one of the state’s most acclaimed courses, which undoubtedly will identify a worthy champion.”

This will be the first Texas Amateur and second TGA major held at Boot Ranch. Previously the club was the site of the 2010 Texas Mid-Amateur, won by Mike Minicucci of Austin.

“Boot Ranch’s ownership, members and staff are excited to host the 111th Texas Amateur,” said Alex Rhyne, Head Golf Professional at Boot Ranch. “It is our honor to host one of Texas’ oldest traditions. The entire Boot Ranch family is committed to providing a memorable experience during the Championship.”

Opened for play in 2006, Boot Ranch was designed by PGA Tour great and 2004 U.S. Ryder Cup captain Hal Sutton. The 7,155-yard, par-72 layout, which will play to a par-71 for the Texas Amateur, meanders through groves of trees, natural water features and along the ridges and valleys of the scenic Texas Hill Country.

Sutton’s imaginative routing challenges players at every turn, with a variety of long and short holes, doglegs, sloping fairways, swirling winds and undulating green complexes. It is a demanding, but fair test of a golfer’s entire skill set that places a premium on intelligent course management and confident shot-making. Since its debut, Boot Ranch has garnered rave reviews and has consistently has been ranked as one of the best courses in Texas by national and state golf publications.

With a $2 million renovation completed in 2017 that included reconstruction of all bunkers and regrassing of all greens with TifEagle Bermuda, Boot Ranch will be in superb condition when the Lone Star State’s foremost amateur golfers gather in Fredericksburg.

The starting field for the 111th Texas Amateur will include 132 players, who earned entry into the championship through an exemption category or 18-hole sectional qualifying at one of 12 sites across the state from June 29 – Aug. 3.

Format for the championship is 72 holes individual stoke play. All contestants will play 18 holes Aug. 6-7. After 36 holes the field will be cut to the low 54 players and ties heading into the final two rounds on Saturday and Sunday.

At the 110th Texas Amateur, played on the Blue Course at Dallas Athletic Club, Ryan Grider of Lewisville was declared the champion after lightning and thunderstorms washed out the final round. The 20-year-old junior at Baylor University captured the title with a 54-hole total of 11-under-par 205. Addison’s Chris Wheeler took second place at 9-under 207. Scott Abbott of Dallas and Arlington’s Paul Gonzalez shared third place at 5-under 211. Katy’s Michael Cotton, who won the 106th Texas Amateur in 2015, took fifth place at 4-under 212.

Once the action gets under way from the 111th Texas Amateur at Boot Ranch, log on to txga.org for live scoring updates and daily recaps, as well as starting times and pairings.

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Texas Golf Hall of Fame Reveals Inductee Class of 2020

Texas Golf Hall of Fame

San Antonio, Texas – The Texas Golf Hall of Fame today announced the 2020 Class of
Inductees. The Hall announced its 2020 class will be honored with a formal induction ceremony
at The Houston Country Club on Tuesday, October 6th. Each of the Inductees of the 2020 class
has an illustrious history of achievement that will be commemorated on granite markers on the
prestigious Texas Golf Walk of Fame at historic Brackenridge Park Golf Course, along with the
evening’s festivities that are open to the public.

2020 Texas Hall of Fame Inductees:
• Professional Player: Angela Stanford
• Amateur Player: Hank Kuehne
• Lifetime Achievement: Verne Lundquist
• Golf Professional / Teacher: Mike Wright
• Golf Professional / Teacher: Dow Finsterwald, Jr.
• Texas Registry of Historic Golf Courses: Oak Hills Country Club

“We are delighted with this year’s class!” said Texas Golf Hall of Fame Board Chairman, Reid
Meyers. “Ms. Stanford is the first female selected into the Tour Professional class in ten years.
The Kuehne family now has the Triple Crown with Hank joining his sister Kelli and brother Trip
as an Inductee. To have ‘Oh, Wow! In your life have you seen anything like that!’ Verne
Lundquist elected is wonderful. There are no truer gentlemen than Mike Wright and Dow
Finsterwald. Jr., and the venerable Oak Hills is a great addition to our Registry. We could not be
more pleased not only with this class but, also, the depth of the list of nominees.”
Upon hearing of their induction into the Hall, Angela Stanford responded, “Oh wow!” and “I am
speechless right now!”. Inductee Henry “Hank” Kuehne stated “I don’t know what to say, thank
you very much, it’s a little bit shocking actually” and added “I’m speechless. It’s amazing, I’m
grateful, thank you very much!”

The 2020 Hall Inductee in the Professional Player Category, Angela Stanford born and raised in
Fort Worth, Texas, Angela Stanford won numerous junior Women’s Championships. Following
graduation from Boswell High School in 1996, Angela enrolled at TCU. She won nine collegiate
tournaments for the Horned Frogs, was a four-time All American, and a four-time All Western
Athletic selection. She was named Western Athletic Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year
in 1997 and 1999, respectively. Angela was also a member of the 2000 U.S. Curtis Cup Team.
Angela turned professional in 2000, earning a victory on the Futures Tour at the season-ending
event, and finished 4th at the LPGA Qualifying Tournament to earn exempt status on the LPGA
in 2001. Angela has 95 Top-10 finishes on the LPGA, including six Championships and one
Major (2018 Evian Championship). She has played in six Solheim Cups and ranks 11th on the
LPGA Career Money List. Angela created the Angela Stanford Foundation in 2009 to give
scholarships to students who have been affected by cancer.

The 2020 Hall Inductee in the Amateur Player Category, Henry “Hank” Kuehne II is a former
U.S. Amateur Champion and a professional golfer who enjoyed some success on the PGA Tour.
Born in Dallas, Texas, Hank’s father started him playing golf at a young age. Hank began his
college career at Oklahoma State University but transferred to SMU. He earned All American
honors three times, won the 1998 U.S. Amateur, and played on the U.S. Eisenhower Trophy
Team in 1998. He has been inducted into the SMU Athletics Hall of Fame, was ranked Golf
Digest’s #1 World Amateur in 1999, and received numerous other Amateur titles and
distinctions. Kuehne’s best finish on the PGA TOUR was a T-2 at both the 2003 Shell Houston
Open and the 2005 John Deere Classic. In 2003, Hank won the TOUR’S Driving Distance title,
unseating John Daly, who had won eight consecutive titles. Hank joins his sister Kelli, a former
U.S. Women’s Amateur champion and brother Trip, winner of the 2007 U.S. Mid-Amateur in
the Texas Golf Hall of Fame. Lingering back problems have prevented Hank from playing, but
he remains involved in the game as an instructor.

The first of two 2020 Hall Inductees in the Golf Professional/Teacher category is Mike Wright.
At just 23 years old, Mike Wright was appointed as the Head Golf Professional at Shady Oaks, a
Hall of Fame course. He had the unwavering support and emphatic endorsement of Ben Hogan.
Now as the Shady Oaks Director of Golf, Mike has served the club for 36 years. Eleven of
Mike’s assistants have been promoted to Head Professionals/General Manager positions. He cofounded
the Ben Hogan Foundation, which has awarded over $835,000 in scholarships to
deserving students and children of soldiers and is now breaking ground on a new learning center.
Mike has received the highest honors as a merchandiser, teacher, and player. As an instructor, he
has an enviable reputation from both the professional and amateur rank. He counts Angela
Stanford, Gerina Piller, Chad Campbell, and Mark Brooks among his students. He has been a
thoughtful, graceful representative of Ben Hogan’s legacy and his service to the PGA of America
at both the section and national levels is admirable.

The second of two 2020 Hall Inductees in the Golf Professional/Teacher category is Dow
Finsterwald, Jr. Finsterwald Jr. is the son of PGA Champion Dow Finsterwald Sr., who won 11
PGA Titles and played on four Ryder Cup teams. Dow Jr. grew up working for his father at the
Broadmoor Country Club caddying, working the driving range, and helping guests. After
graduating from Arizona State in 1981, Dow was hired by Oak Tree Country Club in Oklahoma
City as an Assistant Golf Professional. In 1987, his life changed dramatically when he was hired
by Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas as its Head Golf Professional. Dow Jr. has been
the host of 33 PGA TOUR events and a Women’s U.S. Open. He has won the Metro Chapter
Championship (1990) and the Club Pro Championship (1991); he’s played in four Joe Black Cup
Matches and has qualified for the Byron Nelson Championship and Colonial National
Invitationals. Daily, Dow Jr. keeps busy with the 700 golf members at Colonial Country Club.
Dow and his wife Mary Lou have two children, Dow the third and Katy, and two grandchildren.

The 2020 Hall Inductee in the Lifetime Achievement Category, Verne Lundquist graduated from
Austin High School and Texas Lutheran University. Verne now serves on TLU’s Board of
Regents and has also given much of his time to various charities. After beginning his career in
Austin, Verne went to Dallas as a sports anchor. He was an immediate success and it wasn’t long
before he was courted for the national stage. His career rocketed with ABC Sports, then CBS.
From the NFL and the Olympics to SEC Football and PGA Golf, Verne’s achievements in
broadcasting are legendary. Notably, it was Verne’s voice that richly illustrated, beautifully and
timely, The Masters. The honors he has amassed during his career are numerous.

The 2020 Hall Inductee in the Texas Registry of Historic Golf Courses, Oak Hills Country Club
is one of the oldest and most respected private member-owned country clubs in the country.
Originally founded in 1922 as the Alamo Country Club, Oak Hills was designed by premier
architect A.W. Tillinghast – perhaps the most prolific golf course designer of his time, with a
course portfolio including Winged Foot, Baltusrol, and San Francisco Golf Club. Tillinghast
brought his vision of beauty and challenging play to life on the course, now regularly enjoyed by
PGA, collegiate, and amateur players. Oak Hills has hosted 32 PGA TOUR events, including the
inaugural PGA TOUR Championship, the USGA Jr. Amateur Championship, TGA
Tournaments, and USGA Qualifiers.

This will be the Texas Golf Hall of Fame’s eleventh class to be inducted since the Hall’s
reconstitution in 2009. Public nominations made online were voted on by living Hall members,
the Texas Golf Hall of Fame Board of Directors, and designated Texas golf media members. The
Induction Dinner will take place at the historic Houston Country Club on Tuesday, October 6th.

For tickets and sponsorship information please visit www.texasgolfhof.org/donate.
The TGHOF is a 501(c) (3) organization. More information is available at www.texasgolfhof.org.

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A Note from our ED on Current Events

When golfers are asked about why they love the game, some common themes always rise to the top.  Golf is a game of honor and integrity.  Golf is a healthy outdoor activity that can be enjoyed for a lifetime. Golf brings people together around a common passion. Golf reveals character. Golfers are required to take responsibility and be accountable, much like we are being asked to do today.

As we have heard the phrase “unprecedented times” so frequently over the last several months, the game we love has provided us with reminders about fundamental principles we can all embrace.  As we wrestle with how we can deliver true equality in our society and provide safety in the face of a pandemic, I am inspired by the values of our game.  The Core Values of The First Tee set a high standard for the way we behave and interact with each other.  These are not just lessons for junior golfers, but standards for us all to live up to.

Honesty.  Integrity.  Sportsmanship.  Respect. Confidence. Responsibility. Perseverance. Courtesy. Judgment.

As the worldwide community of golfers works to fully embody these values, our game and our culture will be better for it. Respect does not allow for prejudice and discrimination. Courtesy requires valuing the safety of others at least as much as we value our personal routines.

The TGA staff and leadership will be working diligently to ensure that our policies and programs meet these standards and make a difference.

Stacy Dennis

Executive Director

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Men’s Championship Updates (COVID-19)

TGA COVID 19 Update

For the first time in just under three months, the TGA returned to conducting first-class competitions for the benefit of its membership. With new health and safety protocols in place, the 21st Veritex Bank Byron Nelson Junior Championship, held June 2-4 at Lakewood Country Club in Dallas, went off without a hitch.

The gradual easing of state and local lockdown restrictions, coupled with the successful implementation of new tournament safety guidelines for players, staff, volunteers, spectators and host club staff, has allowed the TGA to revisit and make adjustments for the upcoming Men’s Championships listed below.

 

Texas Father-Son (July 10-12, Omni Barton Creek, Austin)

With the state moving into Phase 3 of reopening, the Texas Father-Son starting field size will be expanded to the original 80 teams (160 players). The championship will also be played under the original format. There will also be shared carts and the utilization of double-tee, double-wave starting times.

For more information about the Texas Father-Son, click HERE.

 

West Texas Amateur (July 17-19, Bentwood CC, San Angelo)

The West Texas Amateur will be played under the original format and will return to the original field size of 144 participants in three divisions (Championship, Senior and Super Senior).

Entries will now be accepted on a first come, first serve basis. Those that have earned an exemption will have a reserved spot in the field provided they register by the Exempt Entry Deadline. With the expanded field size there will be a cut following 36 holes of play. There will also be shared carts and the utilization of double-tee, double-wave starting times.

For more information about the West Texas Amateur, click HERE.

 

Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play (July 23-26, Willow Brook CC, Tyler)

The Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play will be played under the original format and original field size (84 players).  Shared carts ridership will be allowed throughout the championship, including the Stroke Play Qualifying Round.

For more information about the Texas Mid-Amateur Match Play can be found HERE.

 

111th Texas Amateur (Aug. 6-9, Boot Ranch GC, Fredricksburg)

When the decision was made in April to reschedule the 111th Texas Amateur to August 6-9, 2020, the starting field size was reduced from 144 to 120 participants. At the time, this change was seen as necessary because of the expected lower qualifying numbers as a whole, given the reduced number of sites and new dates for the qualifying rounds.

However, due to higher than anticipated qualifying numbers, the TGA will be increasing the field size to 132 players. The field size cannot increase to 144 players due to roughly 45 minutes less daylight in August as opposed to June.

For more information about the 111th Texas Amateur, click HERE.

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TGA Foundation Finding New Ways to Grow the Game

TGA Works

The Texas Golf Association Foundation strives to grow the game through new initiatives every year. In 2020, the TGA Foundation launched Youth on Course in the San Antonio area. The program gives juniors access to play golf for $5 or less at eight courses in San Antonio.

“We love this program because it gives junior golfers a chance to take their skills from The First Tee, LPGA*USGA Girls Golf and more junior programs to the course and continue to learn the game,” TGA Foundation Managing Director Kelly Kilgo said. “Youth on Course helps to make golf a big part of their lives because now they can go play fantastic courses for no more than a $5 green fee.”

The eight courses in San Antonio participating in this year’s Youth of Course program are Mission Del Lago, Riverside, Willow Springs, Brackenridge Park, Olmos Basin, Northern Hills Golf Club, Cedar Creek and San Pedro Driving Range.

Founded in 2006 by the Northern California Golf Association, Youth on Course began as way to increase the accessibility and affordability of golf for the area’s youth. Within five years, the program was thriving and expanded as a nationwide initiative. Today, the 501(c)3 organization partners with state and regional golf associations across the country. Youth on Course is currently offered in 34 regions and has subsidized more than 900,000 rounds of golf.

“Investing in the future and health of the game is exactly what the TGA is built for and Youth on Course allows us to accomplish this with juniors, families and golf facilities,” TGA Executive Director Stacy Dennis said. “Youth on Course provides juniors with an opportunity to take the next step from skill development programs to access on a golf course. It creates relationships between juniors, their parents and local golf facilities. This program creates a pipeline of juniors that can continue to build confidence on the golf course and become lifelong players.”

Youth on Course memberships are $20 a year. The membership gives access to the eight courses in San Antonio as well as internships, caddie program and scholarships. The program is designed for youth ages 6-18 and there are zero restrictions on when to join.

To learn more about Youth on Course, click here.

The TGA Foundation started its own initiative in 2016. The TGA Works Program gives high schoolers who are interested in working in the golf industry opportunities to intern at various Member Clubs across the state. TGA Works is a paid summer internship and offers invaluable lessons on and off the golf course.

“Throughout the TGA Works internship, I learned the ins and outs of the golf business,” said Cade Cook, who worked at Indian Creek Golf Club in Carrollton last summer. “The internship opened my mind to so many new things and persuaded me toward a career in the golf business even more.”

The program strives to introduce motivated youth to respected careers in the golf industry. It helps clubs invest in their local communities and grow the game. Member Clubs, who offer internships, will receive up to $3,000 in grant funding to offset intern wages.

Along with Indian Creek Golf Club, Quail Valley Golf Course in Missouri City and Mira Vista Country Club in Fort Worth had TGA Works interns last summer. Responsibilities ranged from tournament operations, golf course agronomy, merchandise management, outside services and golf instruction.

To apply for a TGA Works internship,  click here. Application deadline is May 15.

 

ABOUT THE TGA FOUNDATION: The charitable arm of the TGA, is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that was established to make certain that golf in Texas continues to grow and prosper. It achieves this mission through the financial and administrative support of existing grass-roots junior golf development programs, and in creating new avenues for deserving and underserved youth to learn some of life’s most important lessons through their exposure to the game of golf.  By ensuring that deserving young people from every walk-of-life have the opportunity to be exposed to this great game and the accompanying valuable life lessons to be learned, as well as discovering the many possible career opportunities surrounding the sport, the TGA Foundation expects that golf in the Lone Star State will be in good hands for generations to come. To learn more about the TGA Foundation, click here.