IAGA Quick Hits | 3.10.26
Canadian golf community mourns the passing of Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Stephen Ross
From Golf Canada
Former Golf Canada Executive Director was globally renowned as one of the foremost authorities in the Rules of Golf, a passionate golf industry leader whose decades of service helped shape the modern era of Canadian golf.
Golf Canada and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Stephen Douglas Ross of Dundas, Ont. — a 2011 inductee into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and one of the most influential administrators in Canadian golf history.
The golf community extends sincere condolences to Stephen’s wife, Janet; his four children – Stephanie (Dan), Andrew, Christopher (Stephanie) and Nicholas; grandchildren Savannah, Scarlett, Samantha, Isaiah, Sadie, Skylee and Sienna; and the entire extended Ross family.
A respected golf industry leader, Stephen Ross devoted more than 30 years of his life to the Royal Canadian Golf Association (now Golf Canada), shaping the sport’s development in Canada with vision, integrity, and unmatched dedication.
Guided by the North Star: Introducing a New Era for the Minnesota Golf Association
From the Minnesota Golf Association
For 125 years, the Minnesota Golf Association has served as the governing body for the game in the North Star State. But honoring a storied legacy also requires a clear vision for the future. Today, we’re proud to introduce a revitalized brand identity that reflects both where we’ve been — and where we’re going.
Centered on a stylized monogram, the iconic North Star, and our founding year, the new visual identity balances institutional stewardship with a clean, modern aesthetic. Rather than leaning on traditional golf imagery, the updated mark signals leadership, credibility, and organizational growth through refined geometry and a sophisticated color palette.
To bring this vision to life, the MGA partnered with Seth McWhorter, who designed the new logo and leads his own creative studio, McWhorter Creative. With experience building thoughtful, enduring brands, McWhorter approached the project with deep respect for the MGA’s history and an eye toward its future.
“We wanted to recognize the rich history of the organization, but also provide a nod to the future and room for exciting expansion,” explained Seth McWhorter.
The result is a brand that feels equally at home atop a championship leaderboard or stitched onto a member’s favorite hat. It’s a thoughtful evolution designed to ensure the MGA remains a guiding light for Minnesota golfers for the next century and beyond.
2025 GHIN® Challenge Winners
From the Texas Golf Association
Congratulations to the winners of the November 2025 GHIN Challenges! Watch the calendar for upcoming GHIN Challenges at courses across Texas.
Alamo City Golf Trail (Brackenridge Course), San Antonio | Terry Bleeker and Jose Garcia
Clay/Kizer Golf Club (Roy Kizer Course), Austin | Elias Haslanger Champion Lakes Golf Course, McAllen | Alejandro Gutierrez
Fort Worth Golf Association (Rockwood Park Golf Course), Fort Worth | JP Fanous,
Martin Nealey, and Pat Wilhelmson
Jersey Meadow Golf Course, Houston | Donald Milbourn
Memorial Park Golf Course, Houston | Bill Furr
The Rawls Course at Texas Tech, Lubbock | Avery Smith
Ross Rogers Golf Complex (Mustang Course), Amarillo | Kim Hazelwood
Sherrill Park Golf Course (Course #1), Richardson | David Strawn Tenison Park Golf Course (Highlands Course), Dallas | Travis Sursa
Tempest Golf Club, Gladewater | Ronald Crutcher
Eight RDGA Member Clubs to Receive Expert Course Advice From USGA Green Section Agronomists This Year
From the Rochester District Golf Association
A year ago, the Rochester District Golf Association introduced a new featured service for Member Clubs of the association – bringing in USGA Green Section agronomist Elliott Dowling to assess and analyze their grounds operations from top to bottom, providing invaluable advice to improve their operations.
This season, the RDGA will be bringing back these fully-funded visits to select RDGA Member Clubs – a value of $2500 each – providing best practices and effecient methods of course maintainence as a value-added member benefit.
In 2025, Brook-Lea Country Club, Caledonia Country Club, Canandaigua Country Club, Cobblestone Creek Country Club, Irondequoit Country Club and Sodus Bay Heights Golf Club all benefitted from these Green Section visits.
During the 2026 golf season, the RDGA will award 8 of its Member Clubs with these visits – up from 6 such visits in 2025 – with last year’s pilot program seen as a tremendous success.