Junior Girls’ Travel Fund

Summary

Almost all competitive golfers dream of qualifying for a national championship. For a junior, competing in a USGA Championship might open doors for a college scholarship, a professional golf career or a lifetime love of amateur competition.

In 1986, ‘Nez Muhleman established the Junior Girls Travel Fund to ensure that girls from all over the state of Texas who do qualify for the U.S. Junior Girls Championship have the opportunity and resources needed to go play. This fund is solely designed to secure donations and raise funds to pay for the girls’ travel and caddie fees.

The TGA Foundation provides a unique opportunity for those who wish to support individual golfers pursuing high-end competitive opportunities. In order to protect the integrity of amateur golf, the USGA has established strict limits and procedures on financial assistance for expenses related to tournament golf. While this creates a clean line between amateur and professional golf, it also creates challenges for golfers with limited financial resources in their families. The USGA allows Authorized Golf Associations to accept and disburse contributions for tournament-related expenses directly to competitors. The Junior Girls Travel Fund provides a tax-exempt vehicle for donors to support junior girls needing assistance.

History

This fund was established in 1986 by the late ‘Nez Muhleman of Houston, who served as a USGA volunteer on the U.S. Girls Junior Committee for 31 years as well as volunteering for countless local, collegiate and state-wide competitions.

The Junior Girls Travel Fund Committee was formed in 2011 when Mrs. Muhleman retired from the USGA after receiving its highest volunteer award, the Joe Dey Award. The JGTF Committee is committed to continuing ‘Nez’s efforts and ideals to support all eligible junior girls.

The “Nezzie”

The JGTF is funded through support from individuals, state associations and clubs throughout the state. The JGTF Committee hosts a fundraising golf tournament annually in June. The event, “The Nezzie” is played at Mrs. Muhleman’s longtime club, Riverbend Country Club, and all proceeds are directed to the fund.