News

Investments support Utah Golf Association’s launch of the Utah Golf Legacy Fund

From the Utah Golf Association

The Bank of Utah Championship celebrated its community partnerships this month by announcing more than $400,000 in investments that create opportunities for Utah students and young athletes and build champions beyond the golf course.

Investments totaling $438,718.52 were made to benefit The Policy Project, First Tee – Utah and the Utah Golf Legacy Fund. Utah’s annual PGA TOUR event provides a statewide platform to bring people and organizations together, creating an impact that begins during Championship week and extends far beyond the fairways.

The Utah Golf Legacy Fund received a $303,508.42 investment, including $100,000 from the Utah Golf Association. The charitable arm of the Utah Golf Association, the Utah Golf Legacy Fund will provide a pathway for promising junior golfers with the ability and commitment to compete but who face financial barriers. The fund will support reimbursement grants for eligible expenses, including tournament entry fees, travel, equipment, practice and green fees, and coaching. The Championship has also created a pathway to golf’s highest level by awarding the 2026 Utah State Amateur champion, Bowen Mauss, a sponsor exemption into the Bank of Utah Championship.

“Champions are built when people see potential, remove barriers and provide the resources, relationships and opportunities needed to succeed,” said Ben Browning, Chairman and CEO of Bank of Utah. “For nearly 75 years, Bank of Utah has invested in the people, businesses and communities that make Utah strong. The Championship gives the Bank a powerful platform to continue that work — bringing partners together and investing in young people as they pursue their futures.”

An additional investment of $75,000 was made in The Policy Project, now in its second year. What began during the 2025 Bank of Utah Championship has grown into a year-round partnership supporting Teen Centers with the development of the Teen Finance Lab. Teen Centers serve students across Utah by providing food, clothing, hygiene supplies, laundry facilities and safe spaces where students can have their basic needs met with dignity. The Teen Finance Lab builds on that foundation by helping students develop practical skills in budgeting, understanding a paycheck, banking safely, preparing for employment and planning for the future. This week, the partnership also brought Bank of Utah, The Policy Project, the PGA TOUR Wives Association, Washington County School District and Black Desert Resort together to assemble 2,500 pantry packs for five local Teen Centers.

A Lasting Partnership: MontHill Extends Commitment to Indigenous Ontario Championship

From Golf Ontario

Golf Ontario is pleased to announce that MontHill Golf & Country Club has committed to become the Ontario Indigenous Championship’s permanent home.

The agreement builds on a partnership that began with the inaugural championship in 2022. As the founding host venue, MontHill has played an important role in the growth and development of the Ontario Indigenous Championship, helping establish it as a premier celebration of Indigenous golf in the province.

By extending its commitment, MontHill and Golf Ontario are reinforcing a shared vision of growing the game, celebrating Indigenous excellence, and creating meaningful opportunities for Indigenous golfers. The partnership provides stability for the championship while helping build lasting connections among players, families and Indigenous communities for years to come.

MontHill has helped the Ontario Indigenous Championship grow year after year. The club’s continued support provides a familiar setting for players and creates consistency for the communities that gather around the event each season.

“MontHill Golf & Country Club has been an integral part of the Indigenous Ontario Championship since the event’s inception in 2022. By committing to host the championship for the next five years, MontHill is helping secure the future of one of Ontario’s most meaningful golf championships. This long-term partnership reflects a shared dedication to growing the game, celebrating Indigenous excellence, and creating a legacy for current and future generations of Indigenous golfers,” says Golf Ontario’s Director of Competitions and Rules, John Lawrence.

All 50 States Join USNDP State Junior Team Program

From the United States Golf Association

This week, the United States National Development Program announced that all 50 states have joined the USNDP State Junior Team Program, establishing a nationwide player-development pathway for elite junior golfers five years ahead of the USGA’s original 2033 goal.

The milestone comes three years after the State Junior Team Program launched with seven pilot states in 2024. Created to expand, strengthen and diversify the pipeline of junior golfers ages 13-18, the program provides athletes with development, competition and talent-identification opportunities within their home states.

In February, Augusta National Golf Club and Masters Tournament Charities committed $1.5 million over three years to support the expansion of the State Junior Team component of the USNDP, helping accelerate the growth of the program.

“This is a significant moment for the U.S. National Development Program and for junior golf in this country,” said Heather Daly-Donofrio, managing director, U.S. National Development Program. “When we launched the State Junior Team Program, the vision was to create meaningful development opportunities for young athletes across the country. Having all 50 states committed to the program brings that vision to life and gives us the foundation for a truly national pathway. Most importantly, it will allow more young golfers to access the resources, coaching and competitive opportunities that can help them reach their full potential.”

The State Junior Team Program began with California (Southern), Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Ohio and Tennessee. The initial goal was establishing teams in all 50 states by 2033.

British Columbia Golf’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan

From British Columbia Golf

British Columbia Golf is working to build a more connected future for golf in BC, making it easier for people to find their place in the game and see where it might lead them next.

Golf in British Columbia takes shape in countless ways: a first lesson, a standing weekend tee time, a provincial championship, an evening at the driving range, a volunteer shift, a return to the game after years away. Around each of those experiences sits a wider network of clubs and facilities, professionals and coaches, volunteers, administrators, partners, and communities whose work keeps the game moving.

British Columbia Golf’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan sets the direction for how we intend to contribute to that shared work over the next five years.

At its centre are a new Vision and Mission that sharpen both the future we are working toward and the role we intend to play in getting there.

South Carolina Golf Association Has a New Home

From the South Carolina Golf Association

The new 6,500-square-foot facility at 7701 St. Andrews Road in Irmo is located about half a mile from the association’s previous headquarters on Irmo Drive in Columbia. The move was celebrated September 10 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by local dignitaries, golf association leaders, staff and supporters.

The SCGA’s history stretches back to 1929. Since then, the game in South Carolina has grown significantly, including the addition of the South Carolina Junior Golf Association in 1990 and the South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation in 1995. Today, the organization has a staff of 16.

For SCGA Executive Director Biff Lathrop, the new headquarters represents more than a larger building. It provides the staff with a modern environment designed to better support the work they do.

“I am excited about what this new facility says about the success of the SCGA, but I am even more excited about what it means for our staff,” Lathrop said. “Now they can do what they do in an environment that helps them be productive.”

The new building is about one-third larger than the previous space. The property also includes a two-story gated storage facility, providing more usable office space than the association had in its former headquarters.

In recent years, the old approximately 4,000-square-foot space had become increasingly cramped as the staff grew.

“We found ourselves squeezing everything out of every square inch,” Lathrop said. “Honestly, we had one room with four staff members — practically elbow to elbow — that was so unappealing it became known, not very fondly, as The Pit. We were literally bursting at the seams.”

Collaborating for the Kids

From the Chicago District Golf Association

The second season of ‘Play Like a Champion’ Events provides proof that growing the game is a team effort.

Golf can be a challenging game for anyone, including 9-year-old Eden Watkins. The South Side golfer has found a way to turn that frustration into enjoyment.

“You might hit a shot that makes you go ‘Errrrrr’,” she said with a smile. “It might mess up your swing, but for me, [golf] is very relaxing.”

That fresh outlook on the game was on full display on Aug. 4 at Columbus Park Golf Course on the city’s west side. Watkins was one of a multitude of youngsters from across the city of Chicago and beyond to participate in the final ‘Play Like a Champion’ event of the 2026 season. Debuted in 2025 and put on through a collaboration between the CDGA, Chicago Park District, Chicago Police Department, Troon Golf, First Tee – Greater Chicago, Kids Golf Foundation, United States Adaptive Golf Alliance (USAGA) and others, these events are designed to engage at-risk youth and foster positive relationships with Chicago Police Officers. The 2026 schedule featured two days at Columbus Park Golf Course (June and August) and a July gathering at Marquette Park Golf Course.

Watkins’ mother, Khallilah, is grateful for the events and the alliance of some of Chicago’s golf entities, as they help to provide further opportunities for Eden to not only practice the game, but also to meet other golfers.

“It is so important for exposure,” she said. “It’s so important for kids to meet other kids who may not be from their socioeconomic background. Golf continues to give all three of our girls exposure that I could not imagine from any other sport.”

The three-hour events consist of various golf stations, including chipping and putting, SNAG (Starting New at Golf) equipment, games and inflatable bounce houses. CPD officers are on-site to foster relationships and help the youngsters across each station. Chief Angel Novalez remarked on the importance of these instances in generating goodwill within the community.

Nevada Golf Launches Inaugural North South Junior Cup

From Nevada Golf

When the Northern Nevada and Southern Nevada golf associations came together to create the unified Nevada Golf in 2026, a mission was to create an elite North vs. South Junior Golf team competition. Enter the inaugural Nevada North South Junior Cup, the start of a new golf tradition.

Nevada Golf is the Allied Golf Partner of the United States Golf Association.

“We’ve had team events for adults, including women, for the past several years, and to finally bring that to juniors is really cool,: said Kenn Ebalo, president, Nevada Golf. “It’s something that needed to happen. It’s been history in the making this week, so it’s exciting to have this event become a reality. We’re playing it, and it’ll be on the schedule for years to come. The juniors are our future, and golf is such a great avenue for the rest of their lives.”

The North team won 12.5-11.5, but it was as much about camaraderie as it was competition.

“The first thing that comes to mind is team,” said Luke Swanson, member, North team. “This is a really good opportunity for those of us who go to different high schools to join forces as a team and compete against other kids. I played pretty well this weekend. The first day, I played solid, made some birdie putts and was able to rely on my teammates for help. This was really cool. It was my first time playing match play, so getting that experience and going 3–0 helps build momentum for future match play tournaments.”

Changes coming to State Open in 2027

From the Virginia State Golf Association

Significant changes are coming to the State Open of Virginia in 2027, including a new final-round venue, new dates, and a streamlined qualifying process that will include both amateurs and professionals.

The 2027 State Open of Virginia, which is conducted jointly by the Middle Atlantic PGA and Virginia State Golf Association, will be contested July 20-22 (Tuesday-Thursday), marking a departure from the State Open’s normal weekend finish. The field is set to expand from 144 players to 156.

There will also be a change in the structure of the event as two courses—Independence Golf Club in Midlothian and The Foundry Golf Club in Powhatan—will serve as co-hosts for the first two rounds of the championship. All competitors will play one round at each course, with 78 players at each course each day. The third and final round will be played at The Foundry, with the field cut to the low 60 players and ties after completion of the second round.

“These changes for the 2027 State Open of Virginia are the culmination of years of work of the committee,” said Craig Groenendaal, VSGA President and State Open committee member. “I’d like to thank the committee as a whole and specifically our MAPGA partners for attacking the challenge of looking at the event and making decisions with the singular focus of improving what is already a competition for the highest honor in men’s golf in Virginia.

“The field expansion will ensure more opportunities for the best players—amateur and professional—to compete in the championship. Also, a special thank you is deserved for our 2027 hosts The Foundry and Heritage Golf Group, who have signed on to help write this new chapter in Virginia golf history. The VSGA and our championship committee couldn’t be more excited for the future of the State Open of Virginia for 2027 and beyond.”

The Utah Golf Association Announces Rebrand

From the Utah Golf Association

The Utah Golf Association (UGA) recently unveiled a new logo and brand identity, introducing a modern look designed to better represent Utah golf while honoring the history of an association that has served the game in the state for more than a century.

The new identity, incorporates Utah’s mountain landscape and a reference to 1899, the year of the inaugural Utah State Amateur Championship. Together, those elements connect the association’s history with a look designed to represent the UGA and Utah golf well into the future.

UGA President Tina Mathieu said, “This logo captures what makes Utah golf distinct — a landscape and a history unlike anywhere else. As a board, we see it as both a tribute to more than 125 years of the game in this state and a clear statement of where we’re taking the UGA next.”

UGA Executive Director, Easton Folster, said the process began with a desire to create an identity that members would immediately recognize as representing golf in Utah.

“We wanted to create an identity that Utah golfers and UGA members could be proud of—one that represents what ‘Utah Golf’ truly is,” Folster said. “It was important that we honor the UGA’s history while creating a look that reflects where the association and the game are headed.”

The new logo replaces the UGA mark that has represented the association for decades. While that logo carried considerable history and familiarity, the new design introduces elements more directly connected to Utah and the UGA.

Inside Team Pennsylvania | USGA State Junior Team Program

From GAP

Meet Team Pennsylvania, part of the USGA State Junior Team Program designed to expand competitive and development opportunities for the next generation of junior golfers, as they practiced this summer at Lancaster Country Club.

The program brings together elite junior golfers ages 13-18, providing opportunities for high-level competition, player development and talent identification while representing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Launched nationally by the USGA in 2024, the State Junior Team Program is expanding across the country through collaboration with Allied Golf Associations, PGA of America sections and state junior golf programs.

Get an inside look at Team Pennsylvania, its players and the experiences helping shape the future of junior golf across the state.

AZ GOLF Volunteers: The Backbone Of Golf In Arizona

From AZ Golf

For more than 100 years, AZ GOLF has served as the governing body of golf in Arizona, helping grow and protect the game through hosting amateur championships, administering golf course ratings and providing our members with a Handicap Index.

But none of that happens alone.

Behind every tournament, every ruling and every course rating is a group of people who give their time because they love the game. They are the volunteers who make it possible for AZ GOLF to do what it does.

The opportunities to get involved run year-round and span all corners of the game. Volunteers can help at tournaments, serve as starters, become Rules Officials, rate golf courses and take on many other roles.

Three Hikers Go the Distance to Support Youth on Course Maryland

From the Maryland State Golf Association

The 2026 Youth on Course 100 Hole Hike in support of Youth on Course Maryland took place at the Suburban Club on Monday, Sept. 14. Three hikers took to the course early Monday morning to begin the 100-hole trek and raise funds and awareness for the program.

Completing his fifth consecutive Youth on Course 100 Hole Hike, Will Fisher was joined by two first-timers, Neil Delwadia and Colin Fagan. The three Hikers began the day at 6:33 a.m., and the trio could not have asked for better weather. With rarely a cloud in the sky and temperatures hovering in the mid-70s throughout much of the day, the conditions were ideal for the journey ahead.

The trio set a strong pace early on, finishing the first 18 holes in two hours. Spirits were high as they headed into the rest of the day.

“It was an awesome day of golf,” Fisher said. “I am lucky to be able to do something I love all day long.”

For Delwadia and Fagan, completing 100 holes was a new challenge. Delwadia described the experience as “a true physical and mental test,” while Fagan called it “exhausting, rewarding, and unlike any other round of golf I’ve played.”

As the day progressed, the physical and mental demands of the Hike began to set in. For Delwadia, the halfway point proved to be one of the toughest moments of the day.

The International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA) announced today that Tom Ryan and Ed Gowan will be honored as recipients of the 2025 IAGA Distinguished Service Award. The award presentation will take place during the 2025 IAGA Annual Conference scheduled for November 3–6 at Horseshoe Bay Resort near Austin, Texas.

The IAGA is proud to recognize Tom and Ed for their outstanding leadership and lasting contributions to the game, both within the associations they served and across the broader golf industry. 

Jack Nance served the Carolinas Golf Association for more than four decades, including 33 years as Executive Director, establishing the CGA as one of the most respected and largest golf associations in the United States.

Nance grew up in Clinton, N.C., alongside his twin brother and three sisters. His parents, John and Dot Nance, built a house just off the first fairway at Coharie Country Club in 1960, and golf became a constant in the family’s life. Jack went on to play for legendary coach Jesse Haddock at Wake Forest University, helping the Demon Deacons finish 10th at the 1982 NCAA Championships at Pinehurst No. 2. He also qualified for the 1980 U.S. Amateur as a player.

After graduating in 1982, Nance spent a year as an assistant coach under Haddock before joining the Carolinas Golf Association in January 1984. He worked in communications, course rating, rules and competitions before being named Executive Director in January 1992.

Under his leadership, the CGA grew from a small regional office with a handful of staff into a 21-employee organization with a $9.1 million budget, more than 700 member clubs and over 200,000 golfers across the Carolinas. Nance’s vision was instrumental in constructing the Carolinas Golf House in Southern Pines, which opened in 2014 and gave the association a permanent, centrally located home in the region it serves.

Beyond his work at the CGA, Nance officiated at more than 30 USGA championships, served on many USGA committees, and served as President of the International Association of Golf Administrators. He supported numerous initiatives to advance women’s, junior and adaptive golf throughout his career.

Colleagues and peers consistently point to Nance’s steady, even-keeled leadership as his defining trait. He is widely regarded as a mentor and ambassador who elevated everyone and everything he touched, building lasting relationships throughout the golf community and mentoring the staff who now carry the CGA forward, including his successor, Andy Priest.

Nance officially retired from the CGA in April 2025, upon his 65th birthday, leaving as his legacy one of the nation’s most visible and healthy regional golf associations. He remains involved with the CGA as a volunteer and consultant on select competitions and projects.

Nance lives in Pinehurst with his wife of 36 years, DeAnn. They have two daughters and four grandchildren. He remains active in his church, assists with the local high school golf team and continues to find ways to give back to the community and the game that has been both his career and lifelong passion.

For more than three decades, Jay N. Fox has made an enduring impact on golf in Arkansas and beyond through a career distinguished by leadership, service, and an accomplished playing record.

Fox served as Executive Director of the Arkansas State Golf Association (ASGA) from 1990 until his retirement in 2024. During his tenure, the association’s championship schedule grew from six events to 30, membership reached an all-time high of nearly 20,000, and its scholarship program expanded from four annual recipients to as many as 20. He was also instrumental in developing the ASGA’s partnership with Simmons Bank and establishing the Simmons Bank Cup.

Fox joined the International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA) in 1991 and was elected to its Board of Directors in 2007, serving as Secretary, Treasurer and Vice President before becoming IAGA President in 2014. His service extended to the USGA, where he earned expert status in the Rules of Golf in 1993 and served on rules committees for more than 25 national championships. In 2014, he received the USGA’s Ike Grainger Award in recognition of 25 years of volunteer service.

His accomplishments as a player are equally distinguished. Fox won two Arkansas high school individual state championships and, in 1977, was named the Arkansas Gazette’s Outstanding Male High School Golfer. That same year, he earned National High School All-American honors after finishing 13th in the national championship. Fox went on to earn ASGA Player of the Year honors twice and was runner-up for the honor two additional times. Over his amateur career, he won more than 50 individual tournaments in Arkansas and participated in seven USGA National Championships. He also qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship twice.

Among his IAGA peers, Fox won the IAGA Championship nine times and finished runner-up four times over a 20-year period. Internationally, he earned both team and individual runner-up honors at the 1998 International Amateur Team Championship in Lima, Peru.

Fox earned both his BSE and MSE degrees from the University of Central Arkansas and was the first golfer inducted into the UCA Sports Hall of Fame. An endowed scholarship established by his family awards the Jay N. Fox Golf Scholarship to one UCA golfer each year. Fox was also inducted into the Arkansas Golf Hall of Fame and Arkansas Officials Association Hall of Fame.

Throughout his career, Fox’s commitment has extended beyond his own accomplishments to the future of the game. In a 2002 newspaper interview, he reflected that he hoped his legacy would not simply be his success as an amateur player, but the difference he made in the lives of those who play the game, especially junior golfers.

About the IAGA Distinguished Service Award

The IAGA Distinguished Service Award honors individuals who have made a meaningful and lasting impact on their golf community at the local, regional, or national level. Recipients exemplify the highest standards of professionalism and demonstrate outstanding leadership, innovation, mentorship, collaboration, and communication. They are champions of knowledge sharing, dedicated service, and the advancement of the game of golf.

About the IAGA

Founded in 1968, the International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA) is the industry trade organization representing golf associations across North America. Its mission is to advance the game of golf by supporting and developing those who manage and guide it. The IAGA comprises more than 90 member associations, representing nearly 800 industry professionals and over 3 million golfers. Through education, networking, and resources, the IAGA empowers its members to strengthen their organizations and enhance the overall golf experience.

Golf With Us Brings Golf, Community and Opportunity Together at Frederick Douglass

From Indiana Golf

More than 250 kids filled Frederick Douglass Golf Course on Saturday, August 29, for a day designed around a simple idea: make golf fun, accessible and welcoming to everyone.

The Bank of America Golf With Us event brought together Indiana Golf, First Tee – Indiana, Youth on Course, Watson Links and community partners for a full day of activities, instruction and memorable experiences. More than 25 Indiana Golf staff members and volunteers were on hand, helping young golfers learn the game while celebrating the community surrounding one of Indianapolis’ most historic golf courses.

The morning began with five interactive stations spread throughout the facility. Kids had the opportunity to take full swings, test their putting and chipping skills, trade golf balls for soccer balls with FootGolf and step inside the Dryvebox mobile golf simulator.

For some, it was another opportunity to enjoy a game they already knew. For others, it was their first introduction to golf.

Either way, the objective was the same. The morning wasn’t about building perfect golf swings or keeping score. It was about connecting fun with the game and creating an experience that made kids want to pick up a club again.

And there were a few familiar faces helping make that experience even more memorable.

Indiana sports icons Tamika Catchings and Jeff Saturday joined the celebration, speaking with participants, signing autographs and spending time alongside the kids as they rotated through the stations.

When a Community Loves its Golf Course: Supporters of Druids Glen look to save it from development

From WA Golf

There are many ways the game of golf brings people together. Travel, charity fundraisers, buddy trips, tournaments, volunteering, weekly foursomes, family time for nine holes on a long summer evening.

Another way is when a beloved golf course – and the haven it provides to wildlife and as an environmental ecosystem – is threatened with development. People then look to each other for support in embracing a common goal.

Opened in 1997, Druids Glen Golf Club in Covington, Wash., spreads across 376 acres beneath the shadow of Mount Rainier, including the golf course and a habitat for deer, elk, the salmon-bearing Covington Creek and other wetlands with their natural inhabitants.

At the Remington Homeowners Association (RHOA) Annual Meeting held in May of 2025, Parks Legacy, which currently owns Druids Glen, presented to the homeowners their plan for the property. In their proposal, the golf course and clubhouse would be eliminated, and be replaced by 72 houses within a gated community.

Mark Rosenberger has lived in the Remington housing development adjacent to Druids Glen for over 30 years. After he retired from Boeing, he has served as something of a liaison between the RHOA and the golf course for the past dozen years.

In the days following that annual meeting, Rosenberger discussed the Parks Legacy proposal with his neighbors, and they felt they needed to do something. They received approval from the RHOA to officially form the Preserve Druids Glen Committee, which consists of five people, and they began organizing a plan in January of 2026.

GSGA Announces Partnership With Southern Company!

From the Georgia State Golf Association

The Georgia State Golf Association (GSGA) is proud to announce a new partnership with Southern Company, one of the largest energy providers in the United States. Headquartered in Atlanta, Southern Company will support the GSGA Adaptive Golf Program through its monthly community clinics and serve as the title sponsor of the Georgia Adaptive Open.

“We are proud to partner with Southern Company in support of our shared commitment to creating opportunities for all to enjoy the great game of golf,” said Matt Vanderpool, CEO, GSGA. “Together, we look forward to strengthening our programming for golfers of all ages and abilities across Georgia while showcasing the talent of our adaptive golf community.”

The GSGA Adaptive Golf Program is a complimentary community golf program with a mission to empower individuals with physical, cognitive or sensory impairments to enhance their lives through the game of golf. The program offers monthly clinics across the state providing participants with golf clubs, training aids, range balls, on-course learning and single-rider adaptive golf carts.

Adaptive Golf Is Growing in Minnesota — And Braemar Is Proof

From the Minnesota Golf Association

This fall, Braemar Golf Course will host the second Minnesota Adaptive Open, a championship-level tournament that gives golfers with disabilities a stage to compete at the highest level.

The event carries World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD) status, which means every player earns points toward international rankings. It’s a serious competition and a celebration of how far adaptive golf has come in Minnesota.

Nathan Lindberg, the MGA’s Youth & Adaptive Golf Manager, has watched this growth since the inaugural event last year.

“The player field has expanded, volunteer participation has increased, and overall awareness of the event has grown throughout Edina and the greater Minnesota golf community,” he said. “It’s exciting to see more people recognizing the championship and embracing adaptive golf.”

Bryan See, a longtime adaptive golfer and MGA volunteer, got his official adaptive golf pass this year and plans to compete for the first time.

“There’s almost twice as many people signed up already this year compared to last year,” he said.

He also credited the visibility adaptive golf has gained nationally, pointing to the U.S. Adaptive Open’s growing television coverage.

The Cobra PUMA Golf State Cup Series: Five Years of Growth and Impact

From the AJGA

For the past five years, the Cobra PUMA Golf State Cup Series has combined competitive junior golf with valuable lessons in leadership, teamwork, character, philanthropy, personal development, and community impact.

In 2025, the series hosted 25 events at premier venues such as Whistling Straits, Pasatiempo Golf Club, Silverleaf Club, and Sea Island. Already in 2026, more than two hundred juniors have participated in nine State Cups, with a full-year goal of 26 events. In the last five years, participants have helped raise more than $5.7 million for charitable causes. Each Ryder Cup-style event brings together up to 36 junior golfers, creating a unique team experience while showcasing some of the best talent in the game.

Meet Olivia Jatczak, A Cape Cod Teen Who Will Play Along PGA TOUR Champions Roster in September at Pebble Beach

From Mass Golf

Golfers spend years trying to control the ball. Olivia Jatczak has learned something even more valuable: not letting where the ball goes control her. Whether she is playing well, recovering from an errant shot or competing in a playoff with a close friend, the 17-year-old rising senior at Cape Cod Academy makes a deliberate effort to smile, laugh and enjoy where the game has taken her.

Now, it’s taking her farther than ever.

Jatczak earned the opportunity to represent First Tee – Massachusetts in the PURE Insurance Championship from September 18-20, making her first trip to California to compete at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Prior to the event start, she will also participate in practice rounds at both courses, attend the Pairings Party, and play in a special event at The Hay, Pebble Beach’s renowned par-3 course.

“It’s Pebble Beach,” Jatczak said when asked about the excitement level. “It’s every golfer’s dream. I feel like it speaks for itself.”

The 54-hole event brings together 80 nationally-selected First Tee juniors, 80 PGA TOUR Champions professionals and 160 amateurs. Jatczak will be the first participant representing First Tee – Massachusetts since Jared Winiarz in 2017.

Winiarz now serves as Mass Golf’s Member Services Coordinator and has competed on the USGA stage as a standout mid-amateur.

For Jatczak, the opportunity represents everything she has come to enjoy about golf, whether it’s the constant pursuit of improvement, the places it can take her and the promise that every course might show her something new.

Golf community embraces Zeb Patten after plane crash

From the Tennessee Golf Association 

This was a week that Zeb Patten had been looking forward to since last December when the Tennessee Golf Association announced their Senior and Super Senior State Amateur championships would be coming to Lookout Mountain Club in 2026.

Patten has been a long-time member at Lookout Mountain, proudly representing the club at competitions throughout Tennessee and beyond. He also makes his home on the mountain, and he was thrilled to be able to host some of his closest peers as they experienced life for the week in his close-knit community.

But all of that changed on August 9th.

Patten, who has been a pilot for 15 years and serves as Commander of the Chattanooga Civil Air Patrol, and fellow Lookout Mountain resident Grant Caldwell were taking a short flight to Winder, Ga., where Caldwell’s brother has a farm, when their aircraft encountered mechanical issues.

“There was a large bang and the engine quit,” Patten said. “I declared an emergency, and we looked for a suitable place to land. We were trying to get into Bill Elliott Airport in Dawsonville, but it turned out that those trees were so high around it that we couldn’t make the airport.”

New Scholarship House to Serve More Than 40 Evans Scholars at Rutgers University

From NJ Golf

New Jersey Golf and the Caddie Scholarship Foundation joined the Western Golf Association and Evans Scholars Foundation, Rutgers University, Liberty National Foundation and Liberty National Golf Club in July to mark the official start of renovations on the future home of the Rutgers Evans Scholars.

Jameson Hall D, located on Rutgers University’s New Brunswick campus, is being renovated to become the Liberty National NJSGA Evans Scholars Scholarship House, providing Rutgers Evans Scholars with a permanent place to live, study, build community and develop as leaders.

The new residence represents a significant milestone for a program that began at Rutgers with its first cohort of three Evans Scholars in the fall of 2022. Four years later, the program has grown to include more than 40 students, with the scholarship house scheduled to open next summer.

“The Evans Scholars Foundation has become one of Rutgers New Brunswick’s most impactful philanthropic partners, providing tuition and housing each year to more than 40 of our undergraduate students. Through this extraordinary investment, talented young people, many of whom are here today, have been able to pursue a Rutgers’s education while becoming part of a community defined by academic excellence, leadership, and service,” said Rutgers Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Jason Geary on behalf of Chancellor Francine Conway.

Golf for All Fund Donation Expands Access for Toronto Youth

From Golf Ontario

Hundreds of Toronto youth will have the opportunity to experience golf this summer thanks to a generous donation through Golf Ontario’s Golf for All Fund.

The $3,000 contribution from the Michael Cundari Memorial Fund will help provide subsidized Youth on Course rounds for young golfers who were unable to secure a City of Toronto Junior Golf Membership after unprecedented demand filled the program earlier this spring.

Interest in the City’s junior golf program reached record levels in 2026, with more than 5,000 people online when registration opened. Approximately 300 memberships were claimed within the first 15 minutes, and by the end of registration, 670 memberships had been sold, leaving another 250 youth on a waitlist.

Recognizing an opportunity to make a meaningful impact, Golf Ontario worked with the City of Toronto and the Michael Cundari Memorial Fund to create a solution. The donation will fund 700 Youth on Course rounds for waitlisted juniors this summer.

“This is exactly the type of impact the Golf for All Fund was created to make,” said Craig Loughry, Senior Director, Membership & Member Services at Golf Ontario. “When we can remove barriers and help more young people experience golf, everyone wins. We’re incredibly grateful to the Michael Cundari Memorial Fund for choosing to invest in the next generation of golfers and helping ensure hundreds of kids have the opportunity to get on the course this summer.”

AZ GOLF Foundation Launches, Marking a New Chapter for the Sport in Arizona

From AZ GOLF

Formerly the Arizona Golf Foundation, the newly re-branded organization unites access, pathways and stewardship programs under a single strategic direction to provide opportunity through the game statewide.

AZ GOLF, the governing body for amateur golf in Arizona and the state’s representative to the USGA, recently announced the launch of the AZ GOLF Foundation, a relaunch and evolution of the organization formerly known as the

Arizona Golf Foundation.

The Foundation’s mission is expanding opportunity for more people to access, experience and thrive in the game of golf across Arizona — opening pathways for future generations and investing in the long-term health of the game through meaningful stewardship.

“The AZ GOLF Foundation gives us an opportunity to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the game throughout Arizona.,” said John Souza, President AZ GOLF. “By bringing together people who care about golf and want to give back, we can expand access to the game, support programs that make a difference, and create opportunities for golfers of all ages and backgrounds. I’m excited about what the Foundation can become and the role it can play in strengthening the future of golf in Arizona.”

Developed under the governance of AZ GOLF, the Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that supports programs and initiatives showcasing golf’s ability to change lives across the state.

Always Time for the Game: Eric Kleser brings experience to his internship with Pathways Discover Program

From WA Golf

The term “Pathways” seems very appropriate for Eric Kleser’s journey, as his is not an everyday one. At 43 years old, he was easily – by two decades or more – the oldest of the 25 college students who were selected to participate in this year’s USGA Pathways Discover Program, the annual 10-day immersive internship program that is centered each year around the U.S. Open.

But with Eric recently completing the program, held June 12-22 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., he found that he was not walking the journey alone.

Growing up in Vancouver, Wash., immediately after graduating from Evergreen High School Eric enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Trained as a crew mechanic and flight engineer, he was first stationed in Japan, and for the next 20 years devoted himself to his military career.

Soft-spoken and modest, he slowly recounted his service in the Air Force. “I flew over 4,000 flight hours on MC-130s (special operations), E-4B, and AWACS,” he said. “I was recognized as a member of the best air refueling crew in the U.S. Air Force in 2013. I have a meritorious service medal, 10 air medals, and six aerial achievement medals as my top decorations.” He also deployed numerous times to Afghanistan and Kuwait, and flew over 1,000 combat sorties.

In 2021, after 20 years of service, Eric retired as a U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant. He was just 38 years old. “I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do next,” he said. “But I had a general idea.”

MGA Foundation’s 100 Hole Hike Returns for 2026

From the Minnesota Golf Association

The sun is barely up at Lafayette Club, and a small crowd is already gathering on the first tee.

By the time the last group finishes, it will be evening, the group will have played 100 holes, and every one of them will have raised money to help a kid somewhere in Minnesota play golf for the first time.

This is the 100 Hole Hike.

Where the Hike Began:

The 100 Hole Hike started as a national fundraiser through Youth on Course. The MGA launched its own Youth on Course chapter in 2017, and demand grew fast to stage the Hike in Minnesota.

MGA’s Joel Comstock, who was instrumental in launching the Youth on Course program in Minnesota back in 2017, remembers those early years well.

“We needed to find another way to cover our expenses that we were creating,” he explains. “The 100 Hole Hike has been a great tool for us here in Minnesota.”

Historic Celebration of 80 Years since Inaugural U.S. Women’s Open

From WA Golf

The first U.S. Women’s Open was held at Spokane Country Club (now called Kalispel Golf & Country Club) in 1946. It was conducted by the Women’s Professional Golf Association (precursor to the LPGA) and the Spokane Athletic Round Table. It is the only U.S. Women’s Open that was played as match play, and future World Golf Hall of Famer Patty Berg defeated Betty Jameson, 5 and 4, in the scheduled 36-hole final match to win the title.

Spokane’s Betty Jean (Rucker) Hulteng defeated several professionals earlier in the match play bracket, and advanced to the semifinals, where she finally bowed to Berg on the 35th hole.

It was in the 1940s that Hulteng enjoyed most of her success. She won the Spokane Women’s City Amateur three times (1942, 1943, 1944), and burst onto the national scene 1944 when she won the Broadmoor Invitational in Colorado Springs, the most prestigious national women’s event next to the U.S. Women’s Amateur. She won the PNGA Women’s Amateur in 1945 and 1946, and the Washington State Women’s Golf Association Championship in 1946.

In 1995, Hulteng was inducted into the Pacific Northwest Golf Hall of Fame.

Pop Warner’s Overlooked Legacy: Springville Country Club

From the New York State Golf Association

In 1934, the former president of Springville Country Club spoke to about 800 young football players who bombarded their special guest with questions. The organizer of the event, Joseph Tomlin, wanted to help those children learn the game of football. He expected attendance from several speakers, but due to poor weather, only one showed up. To commemorate the generosity, Tomlin would eventually name his new youth football program after the speaker, Pop Warner.

The name “Pop Warner” holds great significance in American football. Pop Warner is now the largest youth football program in the world. An estimated 60-70% of NFL players played Pop Warner as kids. The league’s namesake, Glenn Scobey “Pop” Warner, was a legendary college football coach before the days of Paterno, Bryant and Saban. He was known for his innovative spirit and winning ways.

What many people don’t know is that Warner’s impact was felt in another sport, golf.

Team Alabama Captures Tenth Consecutive Southern Junior Cup Victory

From the Alabama Golf Association

The 2026 Southern Junior Cup team, representing Alabama, won 9.5 of the 24 points available in today’s singles matches to claim their tenth consecutive Southern Junior Cup title at The Club at Old Hawthorne in Columbia, Missouri after three rounds consisting of Four-Ball, Foursomes, and Singles matches.

Coming down to the final hole and the final match, Team Alabama successfully held onto their title after Kamdyn Kelley of Alabama tied Lisa Zhang of Missouri on the 18th hole to put Team Alabama half a point in front of Team Missouri.

Team Alabama finished the two-day, three match event with 16 points to defend the Cup and claim victory for the tenth year in a row.

MGA Foundation Kicks off 2026 Youth Clinic Series Presented by Webster Bank

From the Metropolitan Golf Association

The MGA Foundation kicked off it’s Youth Clinic series presented by Webster Bank at Knollwood Country Club on Monday afternoon.

Approximately 25 kids from the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester rotated between putting and short game stations, where they learned the fundamentals of stance, grip, and hitting the ball.

“I think it gives our youth a chance to try a new sport,” said John Tunas, Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester Donor Impact Officer. “MGA gave us the opportunity to come here and let our kids play. It’s amazing.”

The outing was the MGA Foundation’s first of four Youth Clinics in the Met Area this year and the first ever at Knollwood Country Club, whose teaching pros led instruction at both stations.

“We were thrilled to partner with Knollwood Country Club for this clinic and are incredibly grateful for their hospitality and support,” said Jordyn Lee, MGA Coordinator of Membership Growth. “Their team helped create a fun, welcoming environment that made for a fantastic experience, and we’re excited to continue introducing more juniors to the game through partnerships like this.”

Why the Voice of Golfers Matters in Protecting Utah’s Municipal Golf Courses

From the Utah Golf Association

As Director of Golf for Davis County, he oversees two municipal golf courses – Valley View and Davis Park – and in 2025, those courses produced a combined $6.6 million in revenue and generated a budget surplus of $2.3 million.

On a recent spring day, I visited Volk in his basement office below the pro shop at Valley View Golf Course. He pulled up budget spreadsheets and ran manual calculations on his old-fashioned desktop printing calculator to educate me on how a municipal golf course operates — and to bust somecommon misperceptions.

“It’s always funny, you always get a few in here who say, well, my tax dollars are supporting you,” Volk said with a laugh. “And I’m like, I don’t want to make you feel bad, but that hasn’t been the case since 1981.”

We love our local munis here in Utah, but what do we really know about how they are funded, how they operate, and how they stay in business?

Valley View and Davis Park are county-owned courses funded by revenue generated by their own operations — not by taxpayer dollars. Like many Utah municipal courses, their staff salaries, maintenance, and improvements are funded by four revenue streams — greens fees, cart fees, range fees, and merchandise sold in the pro shop.

The Choe-sen One, Nina Choe Claims the 96th Women’s Amateur at Pinehaven

From New York State Golf Association

History was made at the 96th NYS Women’s Amateur Championship, as Nina Choe capped off a remarkable summer by becoming just the second player in NYSGA history to win both the Girls’ 18U Junior Amateur and the Women’s Amateur Championship in the same year.

Nina Choe continued a dominant summer winning the 96th NYS Women’s Amateur Championship at Pinehaven on Tuesday. Her final round of 67, four-under, meant a two stroke victory over Sophia Li; it was the lowest round of the tournament.

Choe, a member of Pelham Country Club, also won the Girls’ 18U Junior Amateur earlier this month at Cavalry Club in Syracuse. She and NYSGA Hall of Fame member Dottie Pepper are the only two people to have won the Girls’ 18U Junior Amateur and the Women’s Amateur Championship in the same year.

With the win, Choe gained exemption to the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship at The Honors Course in Ooltewah Tennessee next month. It will be her first U.S. Women’s Am.

“I played a qualifier [for the U.S. Women’s Amateur] earlier this year and I missed by a couple shots so knowing I had a second chance was great,” Choe said.

From The Prep Tour to Indiana Open Champion

From Indiana Golf

There are some victories that mean more than a trophy.

When Brayden Miller rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to win the 111th Indiana Open Championship at Brickyard Crossing Golf Club, he wasn’t just celebrating the biggest victory of his career. He was completing a journey that began nearly a decade earlier as a young golfer teeing it up in an Indiana Golf Prep Tour event.

Like so many junior golfers across the state, Miller’s story with Indiana Golf started with opportunity. Growing up in Goshen, he entered his first Indiana Golf event in 2016, beginning a path that would take him through nearly every level of junior competition the association offers. From the Prep Tour to the Junior Tour, Masters Tour and championship events, Miller developed his game one tournament at a time while competing alongside many of the same players he would eventually face in this year’s Indiana Open.

Along the way, he embraced every opportunity to compete. Miller advanced to the Drive, Chip & Putt sub-regional in both 2018 and 2019, won an Indiana Golf Age Group Championship, captured Boys State Junior Championships in both 2022 and 2024, and recorded multiple top-five and top-10 finishes in the Boys PGA Junior Championship and Hoosier Junior Championship. By the time he graduated from Indiana Golf’s junior programming, he had competed in more than 40 Indiana Golf events.

Now, Miller continues that journey as a member of the University of Cincinnati men’s golf team, where he competes at the Division I level. But despite moving on to college golf, Indiana Golf championships remain an important part of his competitive schedule.

Women’s Golf Day in NorCal

From Northern California Golf Association 

When Women’s Golf Day was founded in 2016, it was a single-day celebration.

What began as a single-day celebration has grown into a week-long global event, and once again Northern California was part of the festivities. On May 30, Women’s Golf Day was celebrated at venues around the region, including Corica Park Golf Complex in Alameda, where the Golden Bay Women’s Golf Club hosted a special event organized in large part by golf influencer and NCGA ambassador Judy Tran. The NCGA was proud to be part of the day, joining golfers in celebrating and growing the women’s game.

Among the highlights from the day were a friendly 9-hole best ball tournament, skills competitions, health and fitness expos and info and goodie booths from some of the event’s sponsors.

What is Women’s Golf Day? Women’s Golf Day is a collaborative effort by a dedicated team, golf management companies, retailers and organizations all working together to engage, empower and support girls and women through golf. The four hour experience allows a simple and accessible platform to build a foundation and creates a network to support the continuation of golf no matter what skill level or interest while engaging them in a charitable cause with global impact from a local level.

What to Do in Your Retirement? Well, You Could Buy a Golf Course, and Kyle Wiggins Did Just That with Tolt Golf Club

From WA Golf

Residents of the Snoqualmie Valley town of Carnation, Wash. have made their love of golf known for nearly 60 years. Their local course – known initially as Carnation Golf Course and later Blue Heron Golf Course – could always count on its tee sheets being full, at least until the place closed in 2024.

Not two years later, Kyle Wiggins, with assistance from Dan Tachell – the son of Bob Tachell, the course’s original designer and owner – have been leading an effort to revitalize the course to the beloved local fixture it had always been.

It is now known as Tolt Golf Club, the first word reflecting the original Lushootseed-derived name of the surrounding town.

Already accomplished at the new Tolt has been a remodeling of the clubhouse and driving range, with plenty more upgrades and purchases planned for the coming years. As of May 2026, Tolt is already up and running to some capacity and, even with some scattered damage still visible from winter floods, has attracted hometown hitters in droves.

“Everybody’s super excited it’s back open,” said Wiggins, eagerly. “All these people missed the course and all the history – it’s been around since 1967.”

NOGA to Support Evans Scholarships, Caddies

From Northern Ohio Golf Association

The Northern Ohio Golf Association is pleased to announce a new formal agreement of support for the Western Golf Association’s Evans Scholars Foundation and their mission to help local caddies achieve their collegiate dreams.

There are currently 48 Evans Scholars from Northern Ohio golf clubs for the 2025-26 academic year, and 566 Evans Alumni from the region. Under the agreement, NOGA will assist the Evans Scholars Foundation with its Canterbury Pro-Am and scholar selection meeting when it is held in Northern Ohio.

“The NOGA Board of Directors and I are incredibly proud to partner with and support the Evans Scholars Foundation,” said Robb Schulze, CEO of NOGA. “It’s an organization dedicated to creating brighter futures for caddies by expanding their educational opportunities and enriching their life experiences.”

A first job for many young people, caddying provides the opportunity for students to learn the importance of work ethic, communication, perseverance and financial independence while developing valuable leadership and people skills. Caddying can also provide a path to college through the Evans Scholars Foundation.

Established in 1930 by the Western Golf Association and famed amateur golfer Charles “Chick” Evans Jr., the Evans Scholars Foundation awards full tuition and housing college scholarships to high-achieving students with a strong caddie record, excellent academics, demonstrated financial need and outstanding character. The nation’s largest scholarship program for caddies, the Evans Scholarship is valued at more than $125,000 over four years.

2026 Every Drop Counts Campaign

From AZ Golf

The water issues facing Arizona broadly and the Arizona golf community more specifically are at a critical point. The seven states that make up the Colorado River basin and benefit from the water and power generated from the river and associated reservoirs have failed to meet a Feb. 14, 2026, deadline for an agreement that defines how the water rights are managed. The decision reverted back to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation under the Department of the Interior, who are determining if they are going to decide on or extend the negotiations for the associated states.

With over 325 golf facilities serving over 650K golfers in the state and a tourism industry that relies on these facilities, golf is a vital piece of the fabric of Arizona. The Arizona golf industry is responsible for over $6B in economic impact each year and the game serves as a physical outlet for juniors, seniors and everyone in-between. And while the golf industry invests heavily in research, development and implementation of tools and processes to use water intelligently and mitigate waste, if the valve that supplies water to Arizona is closed, no amount of resourcefulness will keep our golf courses open.

Given the water issues the lower basin states are in the midst of, specifically Arizona, as an Association we felt it was necessary to reinforce the work that the Arizona Alliance for Golf is doing in water education and take the next step to directly message our membership in our trusted voice. As with other advocacy campaigns in the past, our goal is to create the sense of urgency without being alarmist. This Every Drop Counts initiative should help our members recognize that the water issues Arizona is facing are going to affect their ability to play golf and provide them with the information necessary to advocate on behalf of golf.

Nevada Golf Rules Experts Honored With USGA Major Selections

From Nevada Golf

There is no higher honor for an amateur rules official than to be selected by the United States Golf Association to work a professional or amateur major. In 2026, four Nevada Golf rules officials were selected to work a variety of national events including each given the responsibility to oversee a hole at the U.S. Women’s Open at historic Riviera Country Club. Photo: Brand, May, Beckel, Quinn.

Tim Brand, Sue May, Rusty Beckel, and Tim Quinn each were honored and have had a busy summer.

“The first thing that came to my mind was how special it was,” said Brand, Southern Region executive director. “While the rules committee for the U.S. Women’s Open is larger than amateur championships, it is still a relatively small group, so to have four rules officials from Nevada selected was remarkable. The only state with more officials represented was California, since it was hosting the championship. For four of our officials to be invited to work such a prestigious event says a lot, and we all thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I was incredibly honored to be selected, but having four officials from Nevada there made it even more meaningful. It really speaks to the quality of the rules officials we have in our state.”

John & Tate Hadges At The Center Of Titleist Campaign About ‘The Rounds You Remember Most’

From Mass Golf

“How ’bout this, Tate?…Bucket list!”

That is the first thing you hear as John Hadges’ voice begins to settle into the voicemail he left for his daughter Tate, the emotional core of a new Titleist commercial that has aired in recent months.

The message reflects on their trip to Royal St. George’s Golf Club, but it is not really about checking a famous course off a list. It is about how their shared lifelong passion for golf has created moments like this they will remember long after the round is over.

That feeling became the basis for how a father-daughter golf story from Thorny Lea found its way across the Atlantic last fall to the famous English links known for its massive, wind-swept dunes and its legacy of hosting 15 Open Championships.

The instructions given by the production crew were surprisingly simple: Play golf. Talk. Be yourselves.

The finished spot has resonated especially with golf families, though neither John nor Tate anticipated just how personal the project would become.

Boatwright Alumni: Share Your Story

From the United States Golf Association

If you’re one of the many AGA staff members who got your start through the P.J. Boatwright Jr. Internship Program, we’d love to hear from you. With more than 30% of AGA staff counting themselves as Boatwright alumni, we’re gathering updated information on where the program has taken participants and the roles they hold across the golf industry today.

Your responses will help us better understand the program’s long-term impact and strengthen our storytelling efforts as we highlight the many career paths shaped by the Boatwright Internship. The survey takes just a few minutes to complete—we appreciate your participation!