News

The Road to Augusta with Mason Howell

From the Georgia State Golf Association

Leading into the playing of the 90th Masters Tournament, the GSGA released – The Road to Augusta – a video series detailing Mason Howell of Thomasville as he was set to become the first Georgian in over 50 years to compete at Augusta National Golf Club as the reigning U.S. Amateur champion.

The four-part series features lengthy interviews with Mason, Robb and Lauren Howell (Mason’s parents) and Jimmy Gillam (Mason’s high school coach).

Each video details a different aspect of Mason’s journey and covers receiving the invitation from Augusta National, reliving his U.S. Amateur victory, the newfound pressure and obligations he has faced since and his parents sharing Mason’s growth as a kid to a top amateur in the world.

A New Look for the Golf For All Fund

From Golf Ontario

Golf Ontario is proud to introduce a new visual identity for the Golf For All Fund—one that reflects both the purpose of the fund and its role in shaping a more inclusive future for the game across the province.

A Symbol of Growth, Connection, and Opportunity

At the heart of the new identity is the maple key—a symbol that represents growth, movement, and the intentional spread of opportunity.

Often seen spinning and travelling before taking root, the maple key reflects how the game can reach new communities, create new pathways, and grow in ways that are both natural and purposeful.

More than a symbol of growth, the maple key represents structure and connection—how the Golf For All Fund is designed to unlock access, remove barriers, and create lasting impact across Ontario.

It also builds on Golf Ontario’s identity. While the association is represented by the maple leaf, the maple key offers a forward-looking evolution—one that connects heritage with the future of the game.

The Golf For All Fund maple key logo:

Symbolizes growth, movement, and new beginnings

Represents access, connection, and opportunity

Builds on Golf Ontario’s maple leaf heritage in a modern, future-focused way

Creates a distinct identity for philanthropy and community impact

AZ GOLF Extends Partnership with Grass League as Official Tournament Operations Partner

From AZ Golf

AZ GOLF is excited to announce it has extended its partnership with Grass League, the world’s first high stakes par 3 golf league. As part of the agreement, AZ GOLF will serve as the Official Tournament Operations Partner, overseeing all on-course operations for Grass League events.

The partnership is effective immediately and will run under a two-year agreement through December 2027.

“Grass League is excited to partner with AZ GOLF as the official Tournament Operator of our qualifying events and championships,” said Jake Hoselton, CEO, Grass League. “As competition remains at the core of the Grass League, AZ GOLF brings a level of professionalism, structure, and oversight that is critical to the integrity of the game—while helping us forge new pathways in defining par 3

competition.”

Under the terms of the agreement, AZ GOLF will support operations for Grass League qualifying events both in-market and out-of-market through 2027. AZ GOLF’s responsibilities will include inside-the-ropes operations, registration and check-in, facilitation of pre-event player meetings, on-course rules officiating and official scoring.

The partnership will debut publicly at Grass League’s first event of the 2026 season, scheduled for April 24–25 at Grass Clippings Rolling Hills in Tempe.

Scottie Scheffler’s Caddie, Ted Scott, has a Bigger Story

From the Louisiana Golf Association

“If there’s a story, he’s told it,” says his wife, Melanie.

Today, Scott is serving up breakfast too: eggs, bacon, avocado and toast. And cinnamon lattes meticulously concocted and poured into Masters mugs. There are millions of these ceramic collectibles in circulation, but how many are owned by a caddie who’s been on the bag for an actual Masters winner — something Scott has done four times in the past 14 years? He sets the frothy beverages in front of his guests.

Full disclosure: This story won’t entirely be about Ted Scott. He’s not trying to be rude; the 52-year-old devout Christian and looper for World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler rarely is. But that angle doesn’t interest him. Instead, we’re in his hometown of Lafayette, La., in balmy mid-January to visit places he’s passionate about and meet the people whose stories he thinks are important — the ones strapped with challenges but full of promise.

“It’s like, let’s help other people with the stuff that we’ve been given, with the blessings that I’ve received. Let’s pass it on,” Scott says. “I’ve never seen a U-Haul hooked up to a hearse, right? We can’t take it with us, so why are we getting all this blessing? What do we do with it? Let’s go help some people.”

On the golf course, Ted Scott understands the narrative shouldn’t be about him. Turns out that’s the way he lives his life too.

Reese Isings, Drake Lai receive inaugural Andrew Putnam Scholarship

From Washington Golf

The Washington Golf Foundation has announced that Reese Isings of Puyallup, Wash., and Drake Lai of Sammamish, Wash., have been selected as the recipients of the inaugural Andrew Putnam Scholarship presented by TRUE linkswear.

Introduced in 2026, the annual scholarship – established by the Washington Golf Foundation in partnership with Tacoma native and PGA TOUR player Andrew Putnam – offers financial support to two standout junior golfers who have demonstrated strong character and community engagement in addition to both golf talent and financial need. Both Isings and Lai, through their academic and golf efforts, unequivocally fit the spirit of the award.

“We want to provide opportunity to those who show promise, and we want to assist in their growth as young people and as golfers, in developing character and skills,” Putnam says. “I benefited from an incredible junior golf program when I was growing up, and this scholarship is one way to provide others that same opportunity.”

Reese, 15, is a sophomore at Emerald Ridge High School. She can remember golf being part of her life for as long as she can remember, growing up watching her father play and eventually getting her own clubs at the age of seven. In the few years since she began to compete competitively, Reese has garnered seven top-10 finishes in WJGA events. At Emerald Ridge, she maintains a 4.0 GPA and was on the girls’ golf team that placed fourth in the 2025 WIAA 4A Girls’ State Golf Championship.

“Being selected for this scholarship means a lot to me,” Reese said of her honor. “It allows me more opportunities that I wouldn’t have had, which excites me and makes me feel like my goals are more achievable.”

Missouri Golf Association Rebrands as Missouri Golf

From Missouri Golf

For more than a century, the Missouri Golf Association has worked to promote and protect the game of golf throughout the Show-Me State. As the game has evolved, so too has the organization, continually adapting to better serve golfers across Missouri.

Now, after more than 120 years serving golfers across the state, the organization is taking the next step forward. The Missouri Golf Association is introducing a refreshed brand that honors its legacy while looking toward the future of the game in Missouri.

Focused on inclusivity and the growth of the game in the Show-Me State, the rebrand starts with the subtle but meaningful name change from “Missouri Golf Association” to “Missouri Golf.” While the name is changing, the organization’s mission and commitment to serving golfers across Missouri remain the same.

The change reflects a simple idea: every golfer in Missouri has a place in the game and within Missouri Golf.

Simply put, Missouri Golf represents the game for everyone who loves to play it in the Show-Me State.

Indiana PGA HOPE Veterans Heading to National Secretary’s Cup

From Indiana Golf

For the first time in program history, the Indiana PGA Section will have a team represented at the PGA HOPE Secretary’s Cup, often referred to as “The Veterans Major.” The 2026 event will take place on Monday, May 11 at Chester Valley Golf Club, located just outside of Philadelphia.

The Secretary’s Cup brings together teams from across the country to celebrate the impact of PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere)—the flagship military program of the PGA of America. Each team is made up of four military veterans and one PGA Professional, competing in a 9-hole scramble format against teams representing PGA Sections from across the nation.

Representing Indiana in the 2026 Secretary’s Cup will be:

Dan Heavrin – U.S. Army

Jeremiah Runser – U.S. Army

Travis McGovern – U.S. Navy

Gil Sanchez – U.S. Army

Crystal Morse – PGA Professional

Together, the group will compete against 11 other PGA Sections, proudly representing veterans from across Indiana on the national stage.

Owning His New Role

From the Colorado Golf Association

When Whitey O’Malley, his wife Lanna and some partners built Saddleback Golf Club in Firestone starting in 1998 and opened it in 2001, it was one of O’Malley’s first impressions about the golf course business.

“My first experience, going back to the early 2000s, was ‘Holy smokes is this industry slow to take up technology,” O’Malley said in a phone interview with Colorado Golf Journal late last month. “That was my first take on it. … I was just amazed that the adaption of technology, even in 2001, was that slow.”

Even now, a quarter-century later, he noted, “I think we’re behind on the track quite a bit. It’s an industry that’s steeped in tradition, and I don’t think we’re as willing to try things. Here’s a good example: the autonomous mowers out there right now. We’re all excited because we’ve got all this new technology, right? These autonomous mowers running around the courses and how they can mow all night, how efficient they are and this and that. There are a lot of benefits. (Then) you look over to Europe; they’ve been (using autonomous mowers) for freaking 10 years. You know, what the hell are we doing? So we’re slow to adopt, very cautious, maybe afraid of change. But it slowly creeps in.”

(For the record, Saddleback recently went to basically totally autonomous mowing, with 16 such mowers soon expected in the fleet that does it thing overnight. “There’s no downside to it really,” O’Malley said. “We’re all in.”)

New NCGA Foundation–Golf with a Purpose

From the Northern California Golf Association

Since its founding 125 years ago, the NCGA has believed in the power of golf to change lives and connect communities.

Today, the NCGA Foundation is carrying those tenets forward and reaching more than ever through four primary pillars, which just happen to spell out: G-O-L-F

• Grow the Game (Junior Development): Supporting youth golfers at every stage of their journey—from first swings, to access through Youth on Course, to competitive play and lifelong engagement.
• Opportunity Through Golf (Scholarships, Careers and Volunteers): Opening doors through education, professional development and support for the people who make the game possible.
• Lives Changed Through Golf (Where Golf Transforms Lives): Supporting programs that use golf to build confidence, connection and opportunity, such as veteran-focused initiatives, PGA HOPE and other life-impact programs.
• Forever Preserve Our History and Traditions (Hall of Fame; Endow Junior Championships): Honoring Northern California’s golf legacy by preserving its history, celebrating greatness and learning from the past to inspire a brighter future.

From Dormant Winters to Year-Round Attraction: The Links at Greystone

From the New York State Golf Association

Greystone: A New York Golf Course that isn’t Hibernating this Winter

New York State is home to more than 800 golf courses spread out across a diverse geographic area. Like many other states in the Northeast, the golf industry here is largely at the mercy of the shifting seasons. When the snow finally hits, many of these public facilities go dormant until spring.

To stay active, many golfers turn to simulator golf (a more recent phenomenon) or traditional winter outdoor activities such as skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and more. In response to this recreational demand, golf clubs groom cross-country ski trails for members or allow casual sledding and snowshoeing on property if their terrain and conditions permit. Most course operators view the snow and seemingly endless winter months as an obstacle. It becomes a time to focus on off-season projects, selling next year’s memberships, or taking a well-deserved vacation.

But one popular public golf course in the Rochester area, The Links at Greystone, sees the snow differently. To the club ownership, it isn’t an obstacle; it’s a product.

Mass Golf Adds Team Scramble Format For Member Day Events At Whitinsville & The Orchards

From Mass Golf

After a record-setting year that brought more than 2,000 golfers to some of Massachusetts’ most sought-after private clubs across the state, Mass Golf Member Days are back this year and giving members another way to take part in a statewide event.

For the first time since the Member Day program was established in 2010, two events will exclusively utilize a two-person scramble format. The doubles-style events will be held June 22 at Whitinsville Golf Club in Northbridge (afternoon shotgun start only), and October 5 at Orchards Golf Club in South Hadley.

While the scramble format adds something new, the heart of Member Days remains the same. The 2026 schedule includes nearly two dozen events where Mass Golf Members play using an 18-hole Stableford format at outstanding private clubs.

Beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 3, golfers can enter the lotteries for their preferred events. In order to participate, you must have an active Mass Golf membership and create a Golf Genius Player Profile if one hasn’t already been created. This system ensures a fair and efficient way for all Mass Golf Members to get their chance to participate.

“We’re thrilled to have another great lineup of courses all around the state this year, as well as a first-time host in The Haven,” said Kyle Sherman, Mass Golf’s Manager of Member Events & Services. “I’m also looking forward to the addition of the two-person scramble format for two of the 2026 Member

2026 GCSAA Rounds 4 Research Auction

From the GCSAA

The 2026 GCSAA Rounds 4 Research auction is coming up – and more than 1,500 rounds are now live for you to preview! Be ready when the auction opens on April 26 and register for your account today.

Explore courses, add rounds to your wish list, and share bucket list spots with your foursome in preparation for the live bidding. Funds from Rounds4Research support valuable programs locally including turfgrass research, education, and advocacy. Items vital to the success of our industry. With rounds in nearly every state across the country, there’s something for everyone.

Register and explore the auction below.

WA Golf Launches New Digital Home

From WA Golf

Washington Golf (WA Golf) recently launched a redesigned website at wagolf.org, creating a modern digital hub for WA Golf members and golfers across Washington and North Idaho.

Built on HubSpot with a mobile-first approach, the new platform features streamlined navigation, enhanced club and course directories, and easier access to member programs and resources.

The site also supports WA Golf’s efforts to grow membership and connect more golfers with playing opportunities, benefits, and information—serving as the hub of golf in Washington and North Idaho.

McKenzie Brothers Maintain Family Legacy with Grandfather Watching on

From the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association

It should come as little surprise that, as a toddler, Connor McKenzie’s first words had to do with golf.

McKenzie, an Upper St. Clair graduate who has thrived on the local junior and amateur scene and is now competing at Robert Morris University, has truly been immersed in the sport since, essentially, his birth.

“My first word was ‘tractor,’” said McKenzie, sitting at a table alongside his brother, Colin, in Robert Morris’ Island Sports Center golf dome outside of Pittsburgh on a frigid mid-February afternoon. “All I saw back then were the lawnmowers around St. Clair Country Club. I guess you could say golf has had a pretty big influence on me.”

That may be quite the understatement.

Golf hasn’t just had an influence on McKenzie and his brother, but has almost been an inherent trait, with family roots deeply interwoven in the history of two of Western Pennsylvania’s most notorious golf courses, St. Clair Country Club and Oakmont Country Club. And that family lineage of success is being continued today, in a very strong way, with Connor and Colin.

AZ Golf Sends Two Female Amateurs to Ford Championship Qualifier

From AZ Golf

A dramatic sand shot made on Wednesday afternoon by Ashley Shaw earned her an eagle, a hug from mom, and a ticket punched to the March 23rd Monday qualifier of the LPGA Ford Championship, alongside Cynthia Lang.

For the second year in a row, AZ GOLF and the LPGA held a pre-qualifying event with the top two participants advancing to the Monday qualifier for the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass. Held at the Cattail Course at Whirlwind Golf Club, 12 of the top female amateurs in Arizona competed on the same course that the championship event will be held for the chance to qualify for a playing spot in one of the LPGA’s top events.

“It’s a really cool opportunity for these players that the LPGA is providing,” said Kylie Shoemake, assistant director of competitions for AZ GOLF.

While Ashley Shaw secured her spot in dramatic fashion in the playoff, Cynthia Lang played flawless golf carding a bogey-free 3-under-par 69 to secure the top spot on the day. About the opportunity provided to her, Lang said “I’m just really excited for Monday, I’ve never experienced anything like this.”

Shaw and Lang will join 46 other players on Monday March 23 vying for two coveted spots into the Ford Championship held March 23-29, and Arizona golf fans are pulling for both of them.

Scotland Run’s Winter Challenge

From the Golf Association of Philadelphia

He tried to ice skate on the first tee. He failed.

He tried to play golf while wearing skis. He failed.

But Brian Hecker succeeded in turning Scotland Run Golf Club into a social media sensation. The club’s head golf professional starred in a pair of Instagram reels that generated 24.4K and 11.4K views, respectively.

“I’m kind of like the office class clown, so the how of it really was like, ‘There’s nothing going on. Let’s come up with funny ideas and do content while we have down time.’ We’re just being goofy,” Hecker, 52, of Williamstown, N.J., said. “I’m not a big social media guy, so I didn’t know it racked up a lot of views. That’s funny.”

Clip No. 1, posted on Feb. 2, shows Hecker ice skating on the golf course. Ten inches of snow, reinforced by subzero temperatures thereafter, provided a seemingly perfect surface. Plus, Hecker played ice hockey during his Washington Township High School days, so why not use the first tee as a makeshift rink?

He glides gingerly at first. Assistant Professional Aidan Caspar and member Josh Jones, spectators in Scotland Run’s pro shop, record. Just as Hecker gets a burst of speed, he stumbles. The cameramen chuckle; “Kids of the Last Days” by The Strike plays as Scotland Run’s kid at heart lies in the snow.

Hecker is at first unaware of the video evidence. Once he watches it, he laughs. Post the footage. You can’t heckle Hecker; his skin is as thick as the snow.

California Assembly Member Chris Ward (D-San Diego) Introduces Legislation to Protect Equitable Access to California’s Publicly Owned Golf Courses

From the Southern California Golf Association

SACRAMENTO, CA – Friday February 13 San Diego lawmaker Chris Ward introduced AB 1954, the “Blocking Illegitimate Reservations and Protecting Equitable Access to California’s Publicly Owned Golf Courses Act,” to give the state’s municipal golf courses a tool they don’t now have and only the state can provide to manage their parkland golf properties for the maximal benefit of the communities they are intended to serve.

The bill’s sponsor is the California Alliance for Golf (CAG), an organization created by the state’s allied associations to speak as the unified voice for golf regarding matters of statewide concern (e.g., legislation, regulation).  It is managed by the Southern California Golf Association with the assistance of an executive director and a legislative consultant.  It is overseen by a Board of Directors composed of representatives from California’s allied associations/organizations.

There are over 220 golf courses in California that are municipally owned by cities, counties, charter cities, and the state.  As part of publicly owned park systems, these courses operate per business models that eschew maximal revenue generation in favor of making them maximally available to local residents, seniors, juniors, school athletes, local clubs and civic organizations.  Because California’s urban areas are among the most golf-starved in the nation, this model creates a demand for tee times second to none.  It has also created opportunities for 3rd party tee time brokers to capture and re-sell tee times at inflated prices and in the process substantially reduce the already strained supply of recreational opportunities available to California residents.

When the ubiquity of 3rd party brokering became a front page story in Los Angeles and other California urban areas in 2024, municipalities adopted various forms of reservation protocols at the expense of the public that mitigated the problem but in the end were not capable of solving it.

A New Look for Championship Logos in 2026

From Golf Ontario

Golf Ontario championships will feature a refreshed logo system in 2026, designed to celebrate tradition while creating a stronger, more unified championship identity across the province.

The new framework introduces a clear visual distinction between our major championships and non-major events, while maintaining consistency across the provincial calendar.

Elevating Our Major Championships

Beginning in 2026, Golf Ontario’s major championships will be represented by a bold trillium-inspired mark — a symbol deeply connected to the province and the traditions of amateur golf in Ontario.

The new major championship design:

• Celebrates Ontario through the trillium silhouette

• Creates a distinctive, premium championship identity

• Delivers strong visual impact across signage, apparel, and digital platforms

• Reflects the prestige and history of our flagship events

This approach ensures major championships stand apart while remaining aligned within the broader Golf Ontario brand system.

“Our goal was to create something that feels unmistakably Ontario while giving each major championship a mark players and host clubs can take pride in,” says Golf Ontario’s manager of brand and communications, Greg Mitchell. “The trillium mark allows us to celebrate tradition while delivering a modern identity that works everywhere our championships show up — from digital platforms to signage and apparel.”

Game On With Grants: Brothers Gage, Ryker, Tanner Blakesley among new Junior Golf Opportunity Grant recipients

From WA Golf

In 2026, the Washington Golf Foundation – which has led dedicated efforts to foster and advance the growth of the game in Washington since 2022 – has offered its inaugural Junior Golf Opportunity Grant to 10 recipients. Each one-time award offers $600 to Washington residents of ages 8-17 who exhibit financial need, passion for golf and strong academic achievement.

Three of the grants have recently been awarded to a single household. Gage, Ryker and Tanner Blakesley, who live in Otis Orchards east of Spokane, comprise a sibling trio that has done plenty over the previous years, whether equipped with golf clubs or No. 2 pencils.

According to their mother, Arreal, each of the boys’ steadfast golfing journeys began some three years ago. Their dad is a casual player, and their grandmother is a competitive one, automatically providing them with family playing partners in addition to each other. Trailhead Golf Course, Liberty Lake and MeadowWood – all of which are located just about next door to each other in Spokane – have served as common destinations for family golf endeavors.

“I think it’s cool that they’re going to be able to have the opportunity to buy new stuff,” Arreal said. “We’ve been using borrowed clubs and things like that, so it’ll be nice to get them something that fits them.”

Torque GC partners with AJGA as Title Sponsor of Torque GC Championship

From the American Junior Golf Association

Torque GC of the LIV Golf League and The American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) today announced a multi-year partnership, establishing the team as title sponsor of the Torque GC Championship. The event will return to Santa Rosa Golf & Beach Club for the second consecutive year, reinforcing a shared commitment to developing the next generation of elite golfers.

The partnership reinforces Torque GC’s commitment to creating meaningful pathways for young golfers, while focusing on the global growth of the game. Torque GC’s roster includes AJGA alumni, Joaquin Niemann, Abraham Ancer and Carlos Ortiz, each of whom competed on the AJGA circuit before rising to the professional ranks.

The Torque GC Championship will feature 78 of the world’s top-ranked junior players competing June 9–11, 2026. An AJGA Qualifier will be held Monday, June 8, providing 78 additional players the opportunity to earn a place in the championship field.

Younkman 2025 LPGA Professional of the Year

From the Metropolitan Golf Association

The LPGA Professionals in late 2025 announced its Global Awards selections, recognizing outstanding contributions to the game of golf through teaching, professional service, coaching, and junior golf leadership. Megan Younkman, the chief operating officer and director of instruction at Golf Channel Academy with Kelley Brooke, was named Professional of the Year.

The award, established in 1980, is awarded annually to an LPGA Professionals member primarily engaged in a golf operation, golf association, or industry position, promoting the game through player development, growth of the game initiatives, and other golf-related activities.

Younkman moved to New York in 2019, bringing years of academy experience with her from Florida to work for good friend Kelley Brooke at Bethpage State Park. She now oversees the Golf Channel Academy with Kelley Brooke operations at Bethpage, Montauk Downs Golf Course, Harbor Links Golf Course, Merrick Golf Club, and Lido Golf Club.

“All those years of developing and running my own academies in Florida was teeing me up for something as big as this,” says Younkman, who became a Class A certified instructor in 2007.

How Lake Placid Club Helped Secure the First U.S. Winter Olympic Games

From the New York State Golf Association

The Intersection of Golf, Winter Sports, and the Olympics in New York State.

There are very few places where golf and the Olympic Games are connected by more than coincidence. The Lake Placid Club is one of those sacred grounds.

Here, golf courses don’t just sit near Olympic venues. They provided the foundation that made them possible.

As the 2026 Olympic Winter Games unfold on the global stage in Italy this month, we are reminded how one NYSGA Member Club offers a truly unique story steeped in the early beginnings of these international games. Here, golf and winter sport evolved together, on the same grounds, leaving a legacy that New York State golfers are still reminded of each season.

Byrd Looks Back: The Georgia Win That Sparked His Golf Journey

From the Georgia State Golf Association

For Marcus Byrd, a move to Georgia in the early 2010s helped shape his life and who he is now as a professional golfer chasing his dream.

Byrd made the journey from Maryland to the Peach State to help develop against tougher competition and take advantage of better weather throughout the year.

It didn’t take long for Byrd to make his mark in Georgia and open doors for college and gain confidence in his abilities. Byrd took home the 2013 Georgia Junior Championship at The Farm in Rocky Face by one shot with a three-day total of 215 (-1) not too long after moving to the Peach State.

“That was the first week in my life that I really realized I could compete at a really high level,” Byrd said. “There were a lot of really good players in that championship, and the golf course was set up perfect for me. I love that golf course. It was long and I was definitely one of the longer hitters, so it was an amazing place for me.

“Winning that championship opened the floodgates for me when it came to college recruiting. I didn’t really even know too much about playing golf in college or if I would even have the opportunity.”

MSGA Launches Junior Grant Program in Maryland & Washington, D.C.

From the Maryland State Golf Association

The Maryland State Golf Association (MSGA) is proud to launch the MSGA Junior Grant Program – a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to deliver impactful financial support to promising junior golfers throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C. The new grant program launches in parallel with MSGA’s Team Maryland initiative, part of the United States Golf Association’s U.S. National Development Program (USNDP).

How the Program Works

The MSGA will oversee all aspects of the grant program, including applications, reviews, and distributions, using a streamlined and accessible system designed to support junior golfers. Applications will be managed through Reviewr, a leading scholarship and grant management platform, while Thru Golf will provide support and collaborate on outreach to maximize impact.

The MSGA will award four grants of up to $5,000 each, with Thru Golf serving as a program sponsor, to help break down financial barriers and expand access to high-level playing and development opportunities through a simple, mission-driven grant process.

Selection Process and Timeline

Applications will be reviewed by the MSGA selection committee to ensure the process is mission-aligned, credible, and athlete-focused. The inaugural application period is open from February 5, 2026, to April 15, 2026, with grants to be awarded in May 2026. Eligibility requirements, detailed criteria, and application instructions can be found here: Junior Grant Program.

January 2026: Nerding Out on the Numbers

From the Oregon Golf Association

Even a modicum of searching the interwebs for “Geek vs. Nerd” will reveal more than a few hotly contested chats regarding the differences between the two. “Are they interchangeable?” “Which one is smarter?” I thought about clicking on “Geek vs. Nerd vs. Dork vs. Dweeb” but that seemed like a slide into a rabbit hole from which recovery is questionable, like shopping on Amazon.

Whether you’re a Geek or a Nerd or neither, I think you already get the point of this article, and you haven’t even read it yet. Here at the OGA, we often dwell squarely, even proudly, in Nerdom and have a fondness for stats. Though sometimes data can be the gift that keeps on giving like a case of the yips, we thought we’d share fascinating findings from 2025.

As always, thank you for your membership! We hope you had a happy, healthy holiday season and that the single New Year’s Resolution you keep consists of a couple of four-letter words: More Golf.

Creative Investment

From Global Golf Post Biz

As membership in Allied Golf Associations across the country has increased, driving substantial revenue growth in the years after COVID-19, finding new and creative ways to serve members has become these associations’ driving focus.

According to the National Golf Foundation, total on-course golf participation rose to 29.1 million in 2025 from 24.3 million in 2019, an increase of nearly 20 percent. By adding off-course participation, the number climbed more than 40 percent to 48.1 million. This post-COVID-19 swell precipitated high-water marks in revenue for Allied Golf Associations, the keepers of the amateur game at the statewide level across the nation. Thanks to the seismic growth spurts in membership numbers and significant increases in competitors in their respective events, the AGAs have enjoyed a head-turning monetary infusion.

The increase in participation also translates to expansion of programs, projects, initiatives, and tournaments beyond the usual scope of AGA core business, which includes handicapping and course rating in addition to staging competitions. “Membership is the engine that drives all that we do,” said Mass Golf executive director Jesse Menachem. “It’s our U.S. Open that supports all of our programs and services at the local level.”

WA Golf Delivers More Value Through Partnership With Local PGA Section

From WA Golf

Like many Allied Golf Associations, WA Golf continues to look for innovative ways to deliver meaningful value to its members. One of the most recent and successful examples is Flipwedge, a modern club exchange platform developed by the Pacific Northwest PGA Section.

Launched in late 2025 and fully white labeled and branded for WA Golf, Flipwedge was built with a simple goal to help members unlock significantly more value when trading in golf equipment. Early results have been encouraging, and as WA Golf heads into the heart of the 2026 golf season, Flipwedge is poised to become one of its most compelling member benefits.

Unlike traditional trade in options, Flipwedge can return up to 40 percent more value for used clubs. Even more exciting, upcoming enhanced member bonus offers are expected to push that advantage to as much as 60 percent more in many cases, depending on the original equipment manufacturer selected, including brands such as Titleist, Callaway, TaylorMade, and Cobra. The result is more flexibility, more buying power, and more opportunities for members to reinvest in their game.

Flipwedge is not just about financial upside. Every club exchange also supports the PGA Build a Bag program, which provides free clubs to kids, veterans, and others who want to play golf but may not have access to equipment. Each transaction helps remove barriers to entry and directly contributes to growing the game in local communities.

The Pacific Northwest Section PGA is ready to collaborate with other AGAs that are interested in launching their own white labeled and fully branded Flipwedge platform. The model is adaptable and scalable for associations of all sizes. To learn more or get started, contact Frank Talarico, CEO of Pacific NW Section PGA, or reach out to the Marketing Department at WA Golf.

Taking a look at the numbers behind West Penn Golf in 2025

From the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association

Golf continues to grow in popularity throughout the region and nationally, and the statistics support the trend of golf’s rise.

Both independently and through its alliance with the USGA, the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association tracks a variety of data during the year to fully understand the scope of play and the game’s rising popularity in the western half of the state.

In this article, we look at the numbers behind West Penn Golf in 2025, including Handicap Index information, rounds played details, membership and competition data and more.

Making Moves in Membership

Beginning with membership information, the WPGA saw a sizable rise in membership from the end of the 2024 active scoring season to the end of the 2025 active scoring season, as the Association’s overall membership climbed from 39,667 to 42,784 — an increase of over 3,000 people.

Since 2020, membership in the WPGA has grown a remarkable 47.8 percent, as nearly 14,000 more players have affiliated themselves with the WPGA or one of its member clubs.

The Alabama Golf Association Announces 2025 Alabama Amateur Players of the Year

From the Alabama Golf Association

The Alabama Golf Association (AGA) has announced the 2025 AGA Players of the Year. To honor Alabama amateur golfers who performed exceptionally in the preceding tournament season, the AGA identifies award recipients as the number one golfer based on a season-long ranking system.

In 1994, the Men’s Player of the Year Award was established. Throughout time, the award expanded to include Women (2010), Senior Men and Senior Women (2016), and Junior Boys and Junior Girls (2017).

Notable past men’s award winners include Garrett Osborn (2000), Patton Kizzire (2003), Bobby Wyatt (2011-2012), Michael Johnson (2013), Robby Shelton IV (2015) and Nick Dunlap (2023-2024). Will Swift (2002, 2005, 2006), Steve Hudson (2004, 2009, 2010), and Gordon Sargent (2020-2022) are tied for the most awards with three apiece.

Notable past women’s award winners include Kathy Hartwiger (2010-2012, 2015), Elaine Wood (2016-2017) and Scarlett Schremmer (2024-2025). Kathy Hartwiger (2010-2012, 2015) holds the most awards with four, as well as the overall record for most state tournaments won.