IAGA Quick Hits | 7.21.26
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!