GET STARTED WITH GHIN CHALLENGES

GHIN Challenges are a great new feature in the USGA® GHIN® app, which encourages golfers to play additional rounds at your course to participate in virtual competition. During your club’s GHIN Challenge period, players who post at least three 18-hole scores in the app earn an official ranking on the Challenge leaderboard.

For more information about GHIN Challenges, click here.

For questions or to schedule your club’s next GHIN Challenge, contact Mary Harrison by email at mharrison@txga.org or by phone at (214) 468-8942.

UPDATE ON THE USGA HANDICAP REVIEW TOOL – PHASE 3 RELEASE

More details about the Phase 3 release of the USGA Handicap Review Tool will be communicated by the TGA to our member clubs within the next two weeks.

While it is currently available in the GHIN Admin Portal, if your club staff or Handicap Committee chooses to run it, we strongly recommend you select the Blue “Manual” option.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Mary Harrison, TGA Senior Director of Handicapping & Membership, by email at mharrison@txga.org or by phone at (214) 468-8942.

PROJECT MUNI GRANT PROGRAM NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS

Now entering its fourth year, Project Muni was created to grant funds to assist member club municipal facilities across the state with implementing new agronomy projects and practices, particularly those designed to improve course conditions, enhance the playing experience, or make the game more accessible for all backgrounds and abilities.

Since its inception in 2023, Project Muni has awarded over $300,000 to nearly 50 municipal facilities, with $125,000 directed towards 16 facilities in 2025. Building on the momentum over the past two years, the grant funding available for 2026 has been increased to $165,000.

The Project Muni Grant Program is dedicated to investing in municipal courses so they can overcome budgetary challenges and move forward with proposed agronomy improvement plans and practices. The two-part grant funding program provides: 1) fund grants for every municipal facility to cover the cost of a USGA Course Consulting Service (CSS) once every 5 years and 2) matching fund grants (up to $10,000) to a facility wanting to implement CSS recommendations or to make other improvements that will support sustainability, enhance player experience, or make the game more accessible.

To be eligible for the grant program, municipal facilities must be a current member club in good standing of the TGA. The Project Muni Grant Program is funded by the TGA and administered by the TGA Foundation.

For more information regarding the Project Muni Grant Program and to submit an online application, click here.

For questions or assistance with the application process, contact Kelly Kilgo at kkilgo@txga.org.

BILL PENN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MAY 1

The Bill Penn Internship Program is a paid summer internship that provides an introduction for young people from different backgrounds to the vast network of jobs, mentors, and interests that the golf community provides. The TGA Foundation works to carefully select motivated high school students aged 16 and older for the program and connect them with participating TGA member clubs and facilities in their area. Prospective interns complete a thorough application process detailing their interests and goals and are then interviewed by a representative from both the TGA Foundation and potential club.

Once hired, interns are assigned a rotating schedule over the course of the approximately 10-week program providing them with opportunities to be exposed to various areas of club operations. By working closely with professional club management and staff, interns will learn the importance of teamwork, gain self-confidence, and develop positive skill sets that will enable broader career options in the future.

If there is a high school student aged 16 or older at your club or facility who loves the game and is personable and motivated, the TGA Foundation would like to encourage you to let them know about the internship opportunity and have them submit an application before the May 1 deadline.

To learn more about the Bill Penn Internship Program, click here.

GET READY FOR UPCOMING SEASON WITH GOLF GENIUS

Season preparation is a critical part of tournament operations at golf clubs and facilities. Whether you are gearing up for your first season using Golf Genius Tournament Management (GGTM) or transitioning from a prior season to a new season, there are important steps and practices to follow that will help you run your season more smoothly, as well as help you transition to future seasons.

The customer support team at GGTM has created a “Steps to Prepare for Your Season” tutorial to get you started off on the right track. Among the topics covered in the tutorial include adding and deactivating staff members as customer managers, reviewing default settings for events and leagues, creating and adding new events and leagues, updating master roster, adding or updating course details (e.g., Slope Rating, Course Rating, handicap holes, yardages) and verifying World Handicap System™ compliance, and much more.

To view GGTM’s “Steps to Prepare for Your Season” guide along with easy-to-follow instructions, click here.

PROJECT MUNI GRANT PROGRAM NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS

Now entering its fourth year, Project Muni was created to grant funds to assist member club municipal facilities across the state with implementing new agronomy projects and practices, particularly those designed to improve course conditions, enhance the playing experience, or make the game more accessible for all backgrounds and abilities.

Since its inception in 2023, Project Muni has awarded over $300,000 to nearly 50 municipal facilities, with $125,000 directed towards 16 facilities in 2025. Building on the momentum over the past two years, the grant funding available for 2026 has been increased to $165,000.

The Project Muni Grant Program is dedicated to investing in municipal courses so they can overcome budgetary challenges and move forward with proposed agronomy improvement plans and practices. The two-part grant funding program provides: 1) fund grants for every municipal facility to cover the cost of a USGA Course Consulting Service (CSS) once every 5 years and 2) matching fund grants (up to $10,000) to a facility wanting to implement CSS recommendations or to make other improvements that will support sustainability, enhance player experience, or make the game more accessible.

To be eligible for the grant program, municipal facilities must be a current member club in good standing of the TGA. The Project Muni Grant Program is funded by the TGA and administered by the TGA Foundation.

For more information regarding the Project Muni Grant Program and to submit an online application, click here.

For questions or assistance with the application process, contact Kelly Kilgo at kkilgo@txga.org.

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR 2026 BILL PENN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

The Bill Penn Internship Program is a paid summer internship that provides an introduction for young people from different backgrounds to the vast network of jobs, mentors, and interests that the golf community provides. The TGA Foundation works to carefully select motivated high school students aged 16 and older for the program and connect them with participating TGA member clubs and facilities in their area. Prospective interns complete a thorough application process detailing their interests and goals and are then interviewed by a representative from both the TGA Foundation and potential club.

Once hired, interns are assigned a rotating schedule over the course of the approximately 10-week program providing them with opportunities to be exposed to various areas of club operations. By working closely with professional club management and staff, interns will learn the importance of teamwork, gain self-confidence, and develop positive skill sets that will enable broader career options in the future.

If there is a high school student aged 16 or older at your club or facility who loves the game and is personable and motivated, the TGA Foundation would like to encourage you to let them know about the internship opportunity and have them submit an application before the May 1 deadline.

To learn more about the Bill Penn Internship Program, click here.

BUILDING BRIDGES: CONNECTING MEMBERS ACROSS GENERATIONS [GGA PARTNERS]

The widening gap between generational expectations is a challenging landscape for private clubs. Each age group has its own priorities, presenting obstacles for a cohesive club experience. Economic factors play a significant role, as membership demand and fees often attract a wealthier or younger generation to many clubs. This shift results in diverse perspectives on what private clubs should offer, sparking a clash between cherished traditions and modern desires.

The Club Leaders’ Perspectives (CLP) research, conducted in collaboration with the Club Management Association of America (CMAA), delves into these issues and explores how leaders address them. 

For more on GGA Partners’ Building Bridges, click here.

Note: This is the end of a three-part series on how clubs can improve the membership experience. To read part one, Maximizing Club Value, click here. To read part two, Strengthening Club Governance, click here.

REMINDER: DEADLINE TO UPDATE CLUB GHIN ROSTER IS FEB. 28

The TGA would like to remind all its member clubs’ GHIN contacts, head professionals, and golf shop staff that the end of February is the deadline for updating their GHIN roster.

This is your opportunity to make sure all golfers, including new members, are included in your GHIN roster as active members no later than 11:59 p.m. (CST) on February 28. Your club’s March billing will be based on the number of active GHIN golfers in your GHIN roster after that date and time.

Please review your club’s GHIN roster for the following prior to the deadline: 

• Ensure all golfers who wish to participate in the GHIN service for 2026 are listed as active.
• Verify all Junior/Minor golfers are coded correctly as “J” type with their correct Date of Birth, and Minors have been linked to a Guardian. Juniors and Minors not coded as such by February 28 will be charged the regular member rate.
• For clubs participating in the Online Join/Renew (OJR) program, golfers added via OJR have already paid and should be left in your club roster as “active.”
• Any credit amounts will be indicated on your club’s September billing summary.

If you have any questions or need assistance accessing your GHIN roster, please contact Mary Harrison, Senior Director of Handicapping & Membership, by email at mharrison@txga.org or by phone at (214) 468-8942.

NOTICE TO COMPLETE 2026 CLUB ASSESSMENT

For USGA® Handicapping Club Authorization, the 2026 Club Assessment must be completed before July 1, 2026. The Club Assessment is now included on each club’s GHIN® Admin Portal. It only takes a few seconds to review and complete, so please do so today to remain authorized to provide GHIN to your members.

STEPS TO COMPLETE THE 2026 CLUB ASSESSMENT:

1) Sign in to your club’s GHIN Admin Portal.

2) Select the Club Authorization tab.

3) Click the Complete Assessment button.

4) Review the information displayed:

• If the information is correct, click the Submit button.
• If the information needs to be updated:
  • Click the Edit link on the right side,
  • Input the correct information and click the blue Save button,
  • Then click Submit.

If you have any questions or need assistance accessing your GHIN roster, please contact Mary Harrison, Senior Director of Handicapping & Membership, by email at mharrison@txga.org or by phone at (214) 468-8942.

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR TEXAS GOLF HOF CLASS OF 2026

The Texas Golf Hall of Fame is now accepting nominations for the Class of 2026. Golf fans, industry professionals, and the public are invited to nominate individuals and courses that have made a lasting impact on the game of golf in Texas before the midnight deadline on February 18.

Nominations can be made in six membership categories: Amateur Player, Professional Player, Golf Professional/Teacher, Lifetime Achievement, Professional Service, and the Texas Registry of Historic Golf Courses. This will be the Texas Golf Hall of Fame’s 31st class to be inducted since the Hall’s inception in 1978. 

To learn more about the nomination process, category descriptions and requirements for nomination, and to fill out an online nomination form, click here.

Following the nomination deadline, the list of nominees will be screened by the induction nominating committee to be sure they meet the eligibility requirements of the specific category for which they were nominated. There shall be no more than eight total nominees per category per induction year. Not all public nominations are guaranteed a place on the official ballot. 

The 2026 Class will be announced in mid-May and formally inducted on October 19 at the San Antonio Country Club, which will be an all-star event bringing together leaders, legends, and supporters of the game to recognize the individuals and institutions that define Texas golf. Tickets to the fall ceremony will be made available to the public as the details become finalized.

STRENGTHENING CLUB GOVERNANCE: INSIGHTS, OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT [GGA PARTNERS]

With many clubs continuing to adopt best practices, private club governance is seeing an overall enhancement in club leadership and operational effectiveness. However, opportunities for improvement remain within the key areas of board responsibility. Specifically, clubs can improve governance by increasing the use of strategic planning to enable a shift from procedural oversight to a more proactive, strategy-driven approach. Increasing the focus on risk management is another opportunity for clubs of all sizes. Finally, as one of the most common challenges in private clubs, board-to-member communication is an area where dedicated efforts can be made to ensure effective and transparent engagement.

What actions can clubs take to increase governance effectiveness in these three areas? Results from the Club Leaders’ Perspectives (CLP) research, conducted in collaboration with the Club Management Association of America (CMAA), examine these to provide insights and actionable steps that all clubs can implement.

For more on GGA Partners’ Strengthening Club Governance, click here.

Note: This is the second of a three-part series on how clubs can improve the membership experience. To read part one, Maximizing Club Value, click here.

IMPORTANT COURSE RATING SCHEDULING UPDATE – EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2026

Beginning January 1, 2026, the USGA® has implemented a policy change that directly impacts course rating expiration dates and GHIN® score posting.

Under this new policy, golf courses will have a 5-day window past their course rating expiration date to have a new course rating completed. If a course is not rated within that timeframe, the course will be inactivated in the GHIN system, meaning scores may not be posted until a valid rating is completed.

Historically, courses remained active through the end of their expiration year. That buffer will no longer exist under the new policy. Moving forward, course rating schedules must be driven by the actual expiration date, rather than the calendar year.

How the Texas Golf Association Is Adjusting

To protect our member clubs and avoid any disruption to score posting, the TGA has updated how course ratings are scheduled:

• Scheduling will now be based on each course’s rating expiration date
• Courses with near-term expiration dates will be prioritized and asked to submit paperwork earlier
• Preferred rating windows may still be considered, but only when they do not create a risk of GHIN inactivation
• Our goal is to build a cushion into the schedule whenever possible to ensure uninterrupted GHIN access

The TGA will continue to proactively communicate with clubs regarding expiration dates and required next steps. These changes are designed to ensure compliance with USGA policy while maintaining seamless score posting for your golfers.

If you have questions about your course’s expiration date or upcoming rating, please contact Shona DeMint at sdemint@txga.org.

TEXAS LEAGUE PLAY REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

New for 2026: 9-hole facilities can now be a part of Texas League Play

It’s the beginning of a new year and that means the start of 2026 Texas League Play is right around the corner. Now entering its 20th season, Texas League Play provides an opportunity for TGA member clubs to play against each other in an exciting team match-play format. Held during the springtime, these organized interclub matches promote friendly competition, camaraderie, and team spirit in a fun atmosphere. The TGA is pleased to announce that beginning this season, 9-hole courses will now be eligible to participate in Texas League Play.

Regional conferences for Texas League Play can be established anywhere in the state where there are four member clubs in the same geographic area interested in competing against each other. During the 10-week regular season, the four clubs in each conference play a home-and-away series for a total of six matches. Following the regular season, regional conference winners earn a spot to compete for the statewide title in the Championship Playoffs, a thrilling single-elimination bracket tournament to be held this year at White Bluff Resort (New Course) in Whitney from May 28-30.

Texas League Play is primarily a handicap team event to make it more inclusive, and a club’s staff professional is also encouraged to participate along with the members. The format for the matches is four-ball match play with a Nassau scoring system. Eight players are needed for each match, but there is no limit to how many players a club can have on its team roster.

For more about Texas League Play, click here. For questions or assistance on putting a team together for Texas League Play, email Duffy Suhr, Tournament Director, at dsuhr@txga.org.

TEAM TEXAS TAKES NEXT STEP WITH RELEASE OF 2026 POINTS LIST

With the launch of Team Texas in the fall of 2025, the state officially joined the United States Golf Association’s nationwide effort to strengthen the junior golf development pipeline. Now, the program moves into its next phase with the release of the 2026 Team Texas Points List, a framework outlining the competitive pathway athletes will follow as they work toward selection for the inaugural 2027 team.

The 2026 Team Texas Points List features designated events from across Texas and nationally, including competitions conducted by the USGA, American Junior Golf Association, and Texas Allied Golf Associations (Texas Golf Association, Northern and Southern Texas Sections of the PGA), as well as select junior tour and UIL championship participation. To view the 2026 Team Texas Points List, click here.

Developed collaboratively by the Team Texas Selection Committee, the points list provides structure and clarity for juniors by identifying the events that will contribute to a player’s standing. This effort supports the USGA’s broader goal of aligning development opportunities nationwide and creating a more unified pathway for competitive junior golfers.

At the conclusion of the 2026 season, eight boys and eight girls will earn automatic selection based on the final points standings, with geographic representation considered in the process. An additional four athletes will be chosen by the committee, drawing on performance data as well as indicators of growth potential such as scoring trends, competitive behaviors, work ethic, and overall team fit.

For more about Team Texas, click here.

MAXIMIZING CLUB VALUE: MEASURING, COMMUNICATING AND ALIGNING STRATEGIC PRIORITIES [GGA PARTNERS]

Club leaders and their teams create value for their members but often face challenges in measuring and effectively communicating it. 

Club leaders face an important challenge: although they feel confident in their ability to create value for their members, they feel they are far less effective at communicating that value. This notable communication gap can result in missed opportunities for engagement and member satisfaction. But how can leaders address this issue?

Results from the Club Leaders’ Perspectives (CLP) research, conducted in collaboration with the Club Management Association of America (CMAA), examine these challenges. This article, the first of a three-part series on how clubs can improve the membership experience, offers strategies and insights to help club leaders quantify and articulate the value created in the club, improving members’ understanding of and appreciation for the benefits they receive.

For more about GGA Partners’ insights on Maximizing Club Value, click here.

GOLF GENIUS TM SPOTLIGHT: 7 WAYS TO ENHANCE YOUR WEEKLY LEAGUES

Leagues and other forms of regular and recurring competitions provide an opportunity for golfers to enjoy the club, meet other players, and develop camaraderie. In turn, leagues increase play and potentially increase revenue for the club. In this Spotlight section, the Golf Genius Tournament Management (GG TM) team outlines seven ways the platform can save you time, increase participation, and enhance the quality of your leagues. 

Save Time with Online Round Signups

Making it easier to sign up is a sure-fire way to increase your league participation. Using GG TM, you can send round invitation emails to all players in the league roster. 

Add Fun with Unique Games

Add fun and variety by introducing new and unique tournament formats over the course of your season. 

Mix Up the Pairings

Fostering player relationships is a key component to a successful golf club operation. Golf clubs that promote a friendly and welcoming atmosphere where “everyone knows your name” will generate more club activity and revenue.

Easily Manage League Standings

League standings can be tedious to manage and update. Also, standings are sometimes only displayed on a paper sheet and barely visible to the players. Fortunately, managing league standings with GG TM requires very little work. As each round is completed, the standings are automatically updated and displayed on your league website. 

Engage Players with a League Website

A great benefit of using GG TM is the ability to create league websites (with customized background images, banners, and logos) to drive participation and share league information (including pairings, tee times, results, and league standings).  

Easily Communicate with Players

Good communication plays a major role in running a well-organized and professional weekly league. GG TM makes it easy to consistently communicate with players using email and text messaging.

Add Drama with Live Scoring in the Mobile App

A key feature of GG TM is live scoring through the mobile app which allows players to easily enter scores and view live leaderboards on their device.

For more on 7 Ways To Enhance Your Weekly Leagues, click here.

SUPPORT THE TGA FOUNDATION AND EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATION

Join the 2025 TGA Foundation Giving Campaign and Support All the Good Texas Golf Has to Offer

Five years ago, the TGA Foundation partnered with the national nonprofit organization Youth on Course to help break down financial barriers and ensure the young people in Texas have access to affordable rounds of golf.  

First introduced by the TGA Foundation as a pilot program in the San Antonio area in late 2020, Youth on Course-Texas provides boys and girls ages 6-18 with life-changing opportunities through the game, including access to play rounds of golf for $5 or less at participating courses throughout the state and across the country. More than 450 juniors signed up that year and played nearly 2,000 rounds at 11 participating courses. 

The growth of Youth on Course-Texas in the ensuring years is nothing short of extraordinary. Since the program’s first full year in 2021, the number of Youth on Course-Texas members has jumped from 1,433 to over 13,000. During that same timeframe, the number of participating courses has expanded from 22 to more than 85. In 2024, Youth on Course-Texas members played 26,537 rounds for $5 or less with the TGA Foundation reimbursing $141,646 in subsidies to the participating courses.

As the demand for Youth on Course-Texas grows, so does the need for resources that make $5 rounds possible. The TGA Foundation’s ongoing goal is to expand the number of participating courses in current areas and bring the program to new regions of the state that are not yet being served.

Your gift during the 2025 TGA Foundation Giving Campaign, which ends on December 31, will help to continue creating access and opportunities for more young Texas golfers. To ensure your gift goes as far as possible, the TGA is going to match every donation made during the fall giving campaign, dollar for dollar. No gift is too small and together we can empower more young Texas golfers for a lifetime.

To donate to the 2025 TGA Foundation Giving Campaign, click here. To learn more about the TGA Foundation and Youth on Course-Texas, click here.

The TGA Foundation is grateful for your support during this Fall Giving Campaign and throughout the year. With your help, the TGA Foundation can continue to deliver the programs and initiatives that will keep Texas Golf thriving for years to come. 

REGISTER NOW FOR 2026 CMAA WORLD CONFERENCE AND CLUB BUSINESS EXPO

Registration is open for the Club Management Association of America’s 2026 World Conference and Club Business Expo, scheduled for February 17-21, in Anaheim, Calif. It is a chance to join club management professionals from around the world at the only event that focuses on the business of running a club.

The industry’s largest annual gathering provides a multitude of opportunities to chart a new course and forge ahead, including presentations by stellar business and industry experts, discussion forums, meeting certification goals, networking, finding new talent, idea sharing, and exploring products and services offered by more than 260 companies showcasing cutting-edge trends and innovations in the industry.

Additionally, with 65 concurrent sessions available scheduled across all 11 competencies essential for success in club management, the robust professional development offerings will provide inspiration for leadership journeys and insights for today’s management challenges.

For CMAA 2026 World Conference and Club Business Expo online registration and details, including a list of featured speakers and schedule of events, click here.

TGA HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS

Please take note that the Texas Golf Association’s Main Office in Dallas and South Office in Humble will be closed from Dec. 24 – Jan. 1. Both offices will reopen on Jan. 2 at 9 a.m.

The TGA would like to take this opportunity to thank our Member Clubs for their continued partnership in supporting and advancing amateur golf in Texas. We look forward to serving you long into the future, and we share our warmest wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a successful and prosperous new year.

HANDICAPPING GUIDE TO PLAYING CONDITIONS CALCULATION

The World Handicap System™, launched in January 2020, includes safeguards designed to protect the integrity of a golfer’s Handicap Index®. One of them is the playing conditions calculation (PCC), which accounts for factors like weather and course set-up. Below, the USGA Handicapping Department explains what the PCC is and why it matters.

The PCC is entirely based on scoring data

The PCC compares the actual scores made at a given course each day to the expected scores of the players who made them. If the number of players who score at or below their expected score is higher than anticipated, the course played easier. If the number of players who score at or below their expected score is lower than anticipated, the course played more difficult.

If, for example, harsh weather conditions cause golfers to shoot higher scores than they normally would based on their Handicap Index, the PCC takes that into account to better reflect performances on that day.

PCC adjustments, which range from -1 to +3, are applied automatically within the Score Differential™ calculation and clearly identified within a player’s scoring record. Keep in mind that, on most days, the PCC results in a value of 0, meaning the course played to its difficulty as indicated by the Course Rating™ and Slope Rating™ of the various tees.

The more scores, the better

For the calculation to take place, at least 8 scores must be posted at a course by players with a Handicap Index of 36.0 or below – and the more scores that are posted, the more reliable the data becomes.

When players post matters

The PCC takes place at the end of each day, so only scores posted on the day of play will contribute to the data pool. That is why all golfers should be encouraged to post their scores on the same day as their round. If a player posts on a later day, the result of the PCC will still be applied after their score is posted – as long as they have used the correct date for when the round was played.

For more information and resources on Playing Conditions Calculation, click here.

2025 TGA FOUNDATION GIVING CAMPAIGN

Join the TGA Foundation Campaign and Support All the Good Texas Golf Has to Offer

The TGA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Texas Golf Association, is dedicated to creating and supporting efforts that focus on seeing more Texans from all walks and stages of life play and enjoy all the good that golf has to offer.

From now through December 31, we invite you to join us in growing the game we all love by supporting the TGA Foundation’s mission to make golf more accessible, inclusive, and life-changing for Texans of all ages. Your gift directly fuels opportunities for young players to learn, compete, and achieve by connecting them with college scholarships, internships, elite competitive events on the Legends Junior Tour, and affordable access to rounds of golf for $5 or less at courses across the state through Youth on Course.

Every contribution, big or small, helps more young Texans discover confidence, friendship, and a lifelong love of the game. Together, we can make a lasting impact.

To donate now, click here. To learn more about the TGA Foundation, click here.

PGA SHOW 2026 EDUCATION PROGRAM EXPANDS WITH NEW BOOTCAMP AND KEYNOTE SERIES

The PGA Show Education Program will return with its most comprehensive schedule yet at the 2026 PGA Show to be held Jan. 20-23 in Orlando, Fla. More than 80 sessions and workshops will be offered and are designed to elevate professional expertise and leadership across the golf industry.

Now in its 73rd year, the program introduces several new features, including the Golf Industry Bootcamp, Lunch & Learn Keynote Series, and an enhanced All-Access Education Experience, alongside a lineup of core sessions developed in partnership with the PGA of America.

Debuting on Tuesday, Jan. 20, the Golf Industry Bootcamp will deliver a series of workshops focused on merchandising, operational excellence, and strategic relationship building, tailored for retailers, sales representatives, exhibitors, and golf industry professionals. Topics will include retail math, inventory planning, visual merchandising, pricing, and social media strategy, all aimed at helping attendees strengthen business performance and profitability in today’s consumer-driven marketplace.

The new Lunch & Learn Keynote Series, running Jan. 21–22, will feature acclaimed speakers such as Randi Braun, best-selling author and leadership coach, and Johnny Guidry, renowned career strategist. Both will share actionable lessons on leadership and personal growth in an interactive, conversational setting. Attendees with an All-Access Education Pass can enjoy these sessions in the All-Access Lounge, where networking and collaboration continue throughout the week, including a Cocktail Reception on Wednesday, Jan. 21, following the day’s final session.

Additional professional development opportunities will also run throughout PGA Show Week, including expert presentations on the PGA of America Industry Stage presented by CapTech, specialized workshops in the PGA of America Member Business Center, and complimentary sessions across the Fitness, Health & Wellness, Clubhouse, and Racquet Sports stages.

For more information about the 2026 PGA Show, including overview of show features and events, attendee resources and online registration, click here.

REGISTER NOW FOR 2026 PGA/USGA RULES WORKSHOPS

Registration is now open for 2026 PGA/USGA Rules of Golf Workshops. There are four different workshops being offered for interested participants.

Below is a brief overview of the Rules education options available in the upcoming months: 

• Traditional PGA/USGA Workshops: In-person, 3.5-day PGA/USGA Workshops will be conducted at 12 locations around the country from January 2026 through March 2026. These workshops include access to Virtual Rules School videos (approximately 20 hours of recorded content) and access to either the 80- or 100-question exam on the morning of the fourth day (or online on a date selected from the exam schedule).
• USGA Virtual Workshops: The USGA staff will be conducting four week-long virtual workshops from January 2026 through April 2026. These sessions include daily two-hour webinars Monday-Friday (10 hours total), access to Virtual Rules School and access to the 80- or 100-question exam (either online on a date selected from the exam schedule or in-person at a PGA/USGA Workshop site).
• USGA Introductory Workshops: These will be offered periodically throughout the 2026 calendar year and are conducted fully online. The workshop includes approximately four hours of on-demand video recordings and two one-hour webinars with expert instructors on the selected dates.
• Rules Exam Only: The exam can be taken online through an exam platform on selected dates, or in-person on the morning of the fourth day of a PGA/USGA Workshop site. 

The fee for the traditional PGA/USGA Workshop is $500, while the USGA Virtual Workshop is $375. The Introductory Workshop is $25, and the exam only is $100 (80-question test) or $150 (100-question test).

For more information and to register for 2026 Rules of Golf Workshops and Exams, click here.  

GOLF GENIUS TM SPOTLIGHT: GET CREATIVE WITH YOUR TOURNAMENT FORMATS

A great way to encourage more tournament participation at your course is by introducing a variety of event formats to your golfers. With Golf Genius Tournament Management (GG TM), you have the tools to easily offer engaging, competitive formats that attract players of all skill levels.

GG TM makes the management of these different formats, often with intricate scoring methods and sophisticated handicap options, a simple process for the professional staff. GG TM enables you to set up even the most unique tournaments with minimal time and effort.

In a special Spotlight feature, GG TM highlights just a few of the great tournament format options to consider for your future competitions.

Fun Tournament Formats

GG TM provides extensive support for a vast range of tournament formats, making setup quick and easy. While Stroke Play and Match Play are the most commonly used formats, there are many different options to choose from, including Stableford, Quota, Skins, Aggregate Skins, Ringers, Eagles, Birdies, Deuces, Treys, 9/9, 3/3/3, 6/6/6, Nassau, and many more.

With many available formats, competitions, and ball selections, GG TM helps you generate strong interest and attract more players to your events. 

For more on Get Creative With Your Tournament Formats, click here.

TEXAS LAUNCHES STATE JUNIOR TEAM

Texas is launching a state junior golf team that will expand the pipeline for elite local golfers into the recently created U.S. National Development Program (USNDP), an initiative launched in 2023 by the United States Golf Association to create critical development, competitive, and talent identification opportunities for golfers ages 13-18.

Texas is now one of 30 states to join the USNDP’s state junior team program. The initiative launched in January 2024 with seven pilot states, expanded to nine more earlier this year, and continues to grow steadily. The USGA’s goal is to establish a team in every state by 2033, working in close partnership with allied golf associations, the PGA of America and its sections, and local junior golf programs.

“This program represents an important step in building the national player pathway,” said Heather Daly-Donofrio, USGA managing director, Player Relations and Development. “By creating state junior teams, we’re not only opening doors for more juniors to access resources and development opportunities but also instilling pride in representing their home state. That combination will help elevate competition locally and deepen the overall pool of talent nationwide.”

The participating states will each establish a committee consisting of representatives from major golf entities within the state including any AGAs and PGA of America Sections. The Team Texas Selection Committee will be comprised of representatives from the Texas Golf Association and both the Northern Texas and Southern Texas Sections of the PGA of America.

To learn more about Team Texas, including selection criteria and FAQs, click here. To read more on USGA Adding State Junior Teams Under USNDP Umbrella, click here.

Additionally, the 2026 USNDP Grant application deadline is Friday, Oct. 31. The USNDP Grant provides up to $15,000 in reimbursements for families of competitive junior golfers demonstrating financial need and exceptional potential to progress through the USNDP Development Pathway. For more information about the 2026 USNDP Grant Application, click here.

2025 TEXAS ADAPTIVE GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP SET FOR OCT. 20-22

The City of Grand Prairie’s acclaimed Prairie Lakes Golf Course will be the host site of the 2025 Texas Adaptive Golf Championship, set to be held Oct. 20-22. 

Bringing the inspirational event to Prairie Lakes was made possible by a new partnership agreement this year between Grand Prairie and the TGA to provide the resources and facilities necessary to help deliver enhanced adaptive golf programming to individuals of all ages with physical, cognitive, or sensory impairments, whether they are experienced golfers or new to the game. In addition to hosting the championship, the city also made Prairie Lakes available for two complimentary TGA Adaptive Golf Clinics.

Ray Cerda, the City of Grand Prairie’s Director of Parks, Arts & Recreation Department, said, “The City of Grand Prairie and Prairie Lakes Golf Course are absolutely thrilled and excited to partner with the Texas Golf Association to host the 2025 Texas Adaptive Golf Championship.

“As someone who has used a wheelchair for over forty years, adaptive and inclusive sports are a cause that is close to my heart and I eagerly look forward to welcoming the caliber of inspiring players who will be competing for this all-inclusive championship. It is an honor for us to be part of this event, and we love seeing the growth and development of adaptive golf. The sense of community and inclusiveness this championship brings is something we deeply cherish.”

The Texas Adaptive Golf Championship, a WR4GD-counting event, is open to both male and female professional and amateur golfers who meet the player eligibility and player classification standards established by the United States Adaptive Golf Alliance (USAGA). The starting field will compete over 36 holes of individual stroke play on the White and Blue Nines at Prairie Lakes, featuring different sport classes across multiple impairment groups.

Following a practice round on Monday, Oct. 20, the championship officially gets underway Tuesday, Oct. 21, with tee times beginning at 9:00 a.m. Spectators are welcome to come out and watch this powerful community in action and be part of something meaningful.

Established by the Fort Worth-based Texas Adaptive Golf Association in 2022, the third edition of the Texas Adaptive Golf Championship took place last year over the historic Cedar Crest Golf Course in Dallas, with Issa Nlareb of Cameroon and Bailey Bish of Tucson, Ariz., winning the men’s and women’s overall titles respectively, and Mark Manion of Eugene, Ore., capturing the men’s senior overall. The TGA has been a proud supporter of this important event from the beginning, providing staff members, rules officials, and volunteers to assist with tournament administration.

For more on the 2025 Texas Adaptive Golf Championship, click here.

HOW TO MAKE GOLF COURSES MORE ACCESSIBLE [USGA]

Making courses more accessible for adaptive golfers can make golf more enjoyable for other players as well

Adaptive golfers can face many challenges when it comes to getting around golf courses and enjoying the game – but they are not alone in that. Beginning golfers, senior golfers and many others routinely encounter obstacles on golf courses that make the game less fun, less safe, or that prevent them from playing golf at all.

The good news is that awareness of these issues is growing and there are design and maintenance solutions that can help more people enjoy our great game. Increasing accessibility also brings us closer to the ideal that golf should be inclusive and equitable – a game anyone can enjoy throughout their life.

To read more about How To Make Golf Courses More Accessible, click here.

GOLF GENIUS TM SPOTLIGHT: YOUR RYDER CUP ESSENTIALS

With the 2025 Ryder Cup Matches at Bethpage Black in New York fast approaching, many clubs are looking forward to getting in on the excitement by hosting their own team match-play competition. A Ryder Cup format tournament, known for its high-stakes competitive spirit and team camaraderie, can be a highlight event of the season for club members.

Golf Genius Tournament Management (GG TM) provides the necessary tools and features to take your Ryder Cup-style event to the next level. With intuitive, automated solutions for setup and scoring, the GG TM platform frees your staff from tedious tasks and allows you to focus on delivering the “WOW” event participants will long remember.

To assist with your preparation, GG TM has built a key reference page containing useful tips and information to help ensure a successful Ryder Cup tournament, starting with:

Your Guide to a Flawless Setup

For a Ryder Cup event, a flawless setup is essential. The GG TM step-by-step tutorial guides you through the entire process, giving you the confidence that everything will run smoothly before, during, and after the event.

• Setup: Get teams set up and create pairings with ease.
• Calculations: Ensure the leaderboard calculates team points accurately.
• Confidence: Feel confident knowing that everything will work as expected with no surprises.

For more on Your Ryder Cup Essentials, including a list of FAQs, click here.

TGA TO HOST ADAPTIVE GOLF CLINIC AT PRAIRIE LAKES GOLF COURSE

As one of the features of its new partnership with the City of Grand Prairie to enhance adaptive golf programming and opportunities for people with disabilities, the TGA will host an Adaptive Golf Clinic on Tuesday, October 9, at the city’s Prairie Lakes Golf Course.

The complimentary group clinic, the last of two the TGA will stage at Prairie Lakes this year, will provide individuals with physical and cognitive challenges the opportunity to learn and enjoy the game of golf in a supportive environment. Participants of all ages and skill levels are welcome, and a trained instructor and volunteers will be on hand to offer personalized coaching and modified equipment tailored to each individual’s needs. The one-hour session is intended to not only emphasize skill development, but also confidence-building and social interaction.

In addition to the clinics, the city will also make available the highly acclaimed Prairie Lakes Golf Course to serve as the host venue for the 2025 Texas Adaptive Golf Championship, scheduled for Oct. 20-22.

For more information about the Adaptive Golf Clinic on October 9, click here. For more information about the 2025 Texas Adaptive Golf Championship, click here.

TEXAS GOLF HOF 2025 GATHERING OF EAGLES CELEBRATION

The Texas Golf Hall of Fame will be hosting its 2025 Gathering of Eagles Celebration on Wednesday, October 22, at Austin Country Club. This year’s tribute event will be honoring Harvey Penick through his students Tom Kite, Ben Crenshaw and Sandra Palmer, as well as recognizing other Hall members through 100 years of University of Texas Golf.

The festivities start at 5:15 p.m. at Austin Country Club and will include a welcome reception and dinner, followed by storytelling, anecdotes, and lively conversations with noted golf broadcaster David Marr III serving as emcee. The public is cordially invited to attend this can’t-miss evening featuring a trio of Texas golf icons talking about one of the greatest and most beloved teachers of all time.

For more details about the 2025 Gathering of Eagles Celebration, including ticket information and sponsorship opportunities, click here.

TAILORED TO YOU [CMAA]

How Personalizing Experiences Strengthens Membership Loyalty

In today’s competitive hospitality environment, creating a personalized membership experience is no longer optional – it’s essential. Clubs that go beyond offering excellent amenities and instead focus on meaningful engagement are seeing stronger member retention and satisfaction. By tailoring experiences to individual preferences, fostering intergenerational connections, and integrating new members seamlessly, clubs are redefining what it means to belong.

There are a number of innovative ways clubs are elevating member engagement, from membership microsites to new member welcome boxes, which highlight the evolving landscape of personalized club experiences.

In a feature article for Club Management Association of America’s digital magazine, author Jennifer McNally takes a closer look at how some clubs from across the nation are refining their approach to personalized experiences to create deep, meaningful connections with their members. 

To read more on Tailored To You, click here.

GOLF GENIUS TM: GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR BRACKET EVENTS

Bracket-style events are popular in many sports, and, of course, are a popular format for golf tournaments. The excitement of advancing in a bracket (and the heartbreak of being eliminated) is why bracket events are played at virtually every club.

There are numerous features and recommended best practices in Golf Genius Tournament Management (GG TM), some of which are outlined below, that will help you not only set up and efficiently manage these types of events, but also elevate the quality of your event.

Seed and fill your bracket with results from a qualifying round

Brackets always need to be seeded and filled in some manner. A common way of populating brackets is by using the scores from a qualifying round. For convenience and efficiency, GG TM automatically fills brackets using the qualifier results. Furthermore, both the qualifying results and bracket(s) can be included in one event, thus keeping everything in one portal.

Spice it up with some side games

Match play is the primary competition in bracket events (e.g., the Club Championship) but it doesn’t have to be the only competition underway. With GG TM, you can add side games to your event without the hassle of manually scoring them independently of bracket management.

While Skins tournaments may be the most popular side game played in bracket events, other games can be added like birdies tournaments, stroke play tournaments, and user-scored tournaments (e.g., Closest to the Pin, Longest Drive, etc.).

Keep your members engaged with consolation brackets

The “win or go home” mentality may be exciting, but not the best for a weekend of player camaraderie (or club revenue). The solution to this problem is consolation brackets. When a player or team loses a match, send them to the consolation bracket to keep the playing experience going. While they may not be competing for the big prize anymore, they will still be enjoying themselves on the golf course, in the bar and enjoying the company of all participants. Creating and managing consolation brackets with GG TM is very easy and, once created, will fill and update automatically as matches are won or lost.

Customize your printed brackets using Publisher templates

There is always an option to use standard backet printing in GG TM. However, there are also many other options available in GG TM to customize printable brackets (e.g., larger text, different colors, logos, etc.) with a wide array of Microsoft Publisher templates to choose from.

Make your brackets come alive with live scoring

Like all golf events managed with GG TM, live scoring takes the excitement of your tournaments to a whole new level. Whether your members are watching the matches on the TV Leaderboard in the clubhouse or the event portal at home, they can get instant updates on the status of matches.

For more on Getting The Most Out Of Your Bracket Events, click here.

PENN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM IS ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES

For the past nine years, the TGA Foundation’s Bill Penn Internship Program has been connecting deserving high school students to paid summer internships with TGA member clubs. The program not only helps teenagers to earn a paycheck while gaining valuable early work experience, but also introduces them to the numerous and rewarding career opportunities in the golf industry.

Each summer, a select group of students are chosen to intern at member clubs in their respective hometowns. During the approximately 10-week period, interns work on a rotating schedule providing them with opportunities to work in multiple areas of club operations. By working closely with professional staff in various departments, interns learn the importance of teamwork, gain self-confidence, and develop positive skill sets.

This year, the TGA Foundation was excited to have 16 young boys and girls from diverse backgrounds and 13 member clubs across the state take part in the Bill Penn Internship Program. It represents another rewarding summer for participation, both in terms of the number of students and member clubs.

The 2025 Bill Penn Interns and Participating Member Clubs are:

Evan Boukadoum (Sugar Tree Golf Club), Grant Edelbrock (River Oaks Country Club), Andrea Emorli (Royal Oaks Country Club), Drake Frost (Hurricane Creek Country Club), Lucas Gutierrez (Quail Valley Golf Club), Donn Hayes (Quail Valley Golf Club), Felipe Hinojosa (River Oaks Country Club), Margaret Kerr (Magnolia Creek Golf Club), Simon Lessard (Oak Lawn Golf Course), Rylee Lovette (Tempest Golf Club), Derek Neal Jr. (Cedar Crest Golf Course), Rex Miller Pinney (Canyon Creek Country Club), Lyla Ratsamy (Rockwood Golf Course), Henry Sevier (Mira Vista Country Club), Kristopher Thomas (Cedar Crest Golf Course), and Saera Thomas (Hermann Park Golf Course).

In addition to providing high school students with paid summer employment and practical work and life experience, the Bill Penn Internship Program also has long-term benefits in developing and encouraging the game’s next generation of leaders and achievers.

To learn more about the Bill Penn Internship and the many other TGA Foundation programs and initiatives, click here.

2026 USNDP GRANT APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN [USGA]

The 2026 U.S. National Development Program (USNDP) Grant application process is now open. The USNDP Grant provides up to $15,000 in reimbursements for families of competitive junior golfers demonstrating financial need and exceptional potential to progress through the USNDP Development Pathway.

Selected families are reimbursed for qualifying athlete expenses—tournament fees, travel, equipment, practice/green fees, and coaching. Recipients also receive free access to Accel Golf stat-tracking app and exclusive athlete development webinars led by the USNDP Coaching and Athlete Development team.

For more information about the 2026 USNDP Grant Application, including detailed overview, FAQs, eligibility requirements and application instructions, click here. The application period will be open through October 31.

CREATING A CULTURE OF CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT [CMAA]

The Power of Member Feedback

In the ever-evolving world of private clubs, member satisfaction is the lifeblood of success. Clubs thrive on fostering a sense of belonging, and one of the most effective ways to do so is by implementing structured feedback loops. The best strategies involve leveraging technology, strategic surveys, and open communication to gather feedback and use it to enhance the member experience.

For club managers, understanding members’ evolving needs is crucial. Traditional feedback mechanisms, such as suggestion boxes and informal conversations, are still valuable, but today’s clubs are integrating technology-driven solutions to refine their approach. By gathering structured feedback and implementing changes based on data-driven insights, clubs can ensure that their programming, amenities, and dining experiences remain relevant and engaging.

Feedback loops allow clubs to continuously evolve, fostering an environment where members feel valued and heard. Rather than making assumptions about what members want, clubs can rely on direct input, ensuring that decisions are based on actual member preferences. This enhances retention and strengthens loyalty, as members appreciate when their voices lead to meaningful changes.

In a feature article for Club Management Association of America’s digital magazine, author Jennifer McNally takes a closer look at how some clubs from across the nation are embracing feedback as a tool for innovation and engagement to ensure they remain not just a place to visit, but a true home away from home for their members.

To read more on Creating a Culture of Continuous Improvement, click here.

TGA DONATES TO TEXAS FLOODING RELIEF; HOW YOU CAN HELP

The Texas Golf Association extends its heartfelt thoughts and prayers to all those affected by flooding in the Texas Hill Country.

To support recovery efforts, the TGA donated 100% of entry fees from the recent 11th Women’s Stroke Play, which took place July 11–13 at Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort, to the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund. Please join us by visiting the link below to donate directly to those impacted by the flooding.

>> Kerr County Flood Relief Fund

EDUCATE AND COMMUNICATE THE RULES OF HANDICAPPING TO MEMBERS

How well players comply with the Rules of Handicapping depends, to a large extent, on how well their responsibilities are communicated to them and their understanding of the potential consequences of not fulfilling those responsibilities. An effective Handicap Committee will continually provide the education and information the players need.

The Handicap Committee should concentrate its education efforts on the key features of the Rules of Handicapping that are most relevant to players, so that they understand:

• which scores are acceptable.
• the timeframe for submitting scores for handicap purposes.
• how to calculate a maximum hole score for handicap purposes.
• how to post scores when fewer than 18 holes are played.
• how to convert the Handicap Index into a Course Handicap.
• the concept of handicap allowances for different formats of play.
• where to find the scoring record.
• how the Handicap Index is calculated.
• the Handicap Committee’s ability to post penalty scores.
• the process of a handicap review.

This can be achieved through the golf club’s website, newsletters or policies and procedures documents. The Handicap Committee might also consider holding a member’s information meeting as part of the overall communication and awareness process.

The Handicap Committee should be accessible to answer members’ questions and should contact Mary Harrison, TGA Senior Director of Handicapping & Membership, by email at mharrison@txga.org or by phone at (214) 468-8942, if they are unsure about how to proceed.

BECOME A YOUTH ON COURSE PARTNER AND HELP GROW THE GAME

Thanks to dedicated supporters and participating member clubs, the TGA Foundation (TGAF) has been able to continue to make great strides in broadening the reach of Youth on Course throughout Texas.

This is the sixth year of the TGAF’s partnership with Youth on Course, a national non-profit grow-the game initiative that allows kids and teens ages 6-18 to play golf for $5 or less, plus opportunities for paid internships, caddie programs, and college scholarships. The collaboration initially began in January 2020 as a pilot project in the San Antonio area with 11 courses, including all eight that comprise the Alamo City Golf Trail.

Currently, there are now more than 80 courses across the state that are part of the Youth on Course community. While the progress made in expanding the footprint of Youth on Course thus far is promising, the two organizations are working diligently to encourage more facilities to open their doors to the life- changing program.

Course partners that provide a nurturing atmosphere where Youth on Course members feel welcome to play golf, have fun, learn, and grow, are helping to ensure the long-term future of the game. They are also realizing an immediate benefit as well.

Because course partners are in full control and decide when Youth on Course members can play the course at the special rate, they are able to fill their tee sheets with enthusiastic young golfers during normally slow times. In addition to receiving a monthly check for the subsidized rounds, course partners report that at least 60% of the time, a parent or guardian joined the junior golfer and paid full price for their round. That means additional revenue from green fees, cart fees, pro shop merchandise sales, and food and beverage purchases.

It’s a proven win-win relationship between Youth on Course members and course partners that has worked incredibly well since the program’s inception in 2006. There are currently nearly 300,000 Youth on Course members that have access to over 2,000 courses throughout the United States, Canada, and Australia where they can play a round of golf for $5 or less. Over the years, Youth on Course members have played more than four million subsidized rounds of golf while the organization has helped generate in excess of $9 million in tee-time revenue reimbursed back to individual golf courses.

For more information about the benefits of becoming course partner with Youth on Course, click here. If you have any questions about joining the Youth on Course community or need assistance getting started, please email Kelly Kilgo, Managing Director of Outreach/TGA Foundation, by email at kkilgo@txga.org, or call (214) 468-8942.

2026 USNDP GRANT APPLICATION SET TO OPEN MID-JULY [USGA]

The 2026 U.S. National Development Program (USNDP) Grant application process is scheduled to open mid-July. The USNDP Grant provides up to $15,000 in reimbursements for families of competitive junior golfers demonstrating financial need and exceptional potential to progress through the USNDP Development Pathway. Selected families are reimbursed for qualifying athlete expenses—tournament fees, travel, equipment, practice/green fees, and coaching. Recipients also receive free access to Accel Golf stat-tracking app and exclusive athlete development webinars led by the USNDP Coaching and Athlete Development team.

Four identical webinars will be held throughout the summer to give families across the country multiple opportunities to prepare for the application, learn more about this opportunity and participate in a live Q&A. Families are invited to attend whichever session fits their schedule and can register here.  For more information about eligibility requirements, application process, and program benefits, click here. 

5 WAYS TO INCREASE PLAY [GOLF INC.]

Golf course operators are getting creative when it comes to attracting more players and keeping the tee sheets full. Here are some innovative ideas to consider.

A round of golf in 75 minutes.

Not bad.

And for today’s younger golfer or first-timer, that may be very appealing.

How about a mobile pizza oven that drives around the golf course, offering handmade pizzas made to order?

Sign me up.

Or a fun game of night golf under the lights? Or how about hitting some balls at a Toptracer Range?

Check and check.

These are examples of how golf course operators are amping up their offerings to increase play.

Golfers are getting younger and cooler, and that requires strategic thinking about how to attract them to your course.

To read more on 5 Ways To Increase Play, click here.

REMINDER: USGA HANDICAP REVIEW TOOL – PHASE  2 RELEASE

The TGA would like to remind all its member clubs that Phase 2 of the USGA Handicap Review Tool has been released.

About Handicap Review

One of the requirements for a golf club to be authorized to use the World Handicap System™ in the United States is to have a Handicap Committee. The Handicap Committee plays a vital role in the successful administration of a player’s Handicap Index®, ensuring that it represents the player’s demonstrated ability. One of the ways to accomplish this is by conducting a handicap review for members and adjusting a Handicap Index upward or downward when appropriate.

To support the Handicap Committee in these responsibilities, and to ensure that players are treated fairly and consistently from golf club to golf club, in July 2024, the USGA released Phase 1 of a new data-driven handicap review tool available exclusively to authorized golf clubs. It is used to identify players who are scoring above/below their expected scoring range more often than anticipated or have other abnormalities within their scoring record over a defined period of 12 months. In these instances, a recommended adjustment to the player’s Handicap Index is provided to the Handicap Committee. With Phase 1, a handicap review is limited to a single player at a time.

Description of the USGA Handicap Review Tool – Phase 2

The USGA Handicap Review Tool is continuing to roll out in a phased approach, and we are pleased to announce that Phase 2 has been launched. Below is a brief description of Phase 2:

• A Handicap Committee can run a handicap review across its club’s roster.
• When a club-wide review is run, only home club golfers will be eligible for a recommended adjustment. Non-home club golfers will remain eligible for an individual review. For golfers whose Handicap Index is active at more than one club, the home club is the primary golf club designated by the golfer.
• A golfer must have a full scoring record (20 scores) to be eligible for a recommended adjustment.
• An upgraded Details Modal will be available for any golfer that receives a review.
• The Handicap Committee will have 14 days from the time of the review to apply or deny a recommended adjustment, after which the recommendation will expire.

Phase 3, which will offer a flexible handicap review timeframe, enriched reporting, and automated notifications, is planned for release in fall 2025. More details about Phase 3 will be communicated by the TGA as the projected launch date approaches.

To learn more about Phase 2 of the USGA Handicap Review Tool, click here. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Mary Harrison, TGA Senior Director of Handicapping & Membership, by email at mharrison@txga.org or by phone at (214) 468-8942.

INCREASE REVENUE, GROW CLUB BRAND BY HOSTING TGA MEMBER EVENT

The TGA’s Member Event Series (formerly Fun Golf Series) was established in 2015 to engage a broader spectrum of its membership with an annual schedule of one-day events that provide a casual, enjoyable day on the course for golfers of all ages and handicap ranges.

The eight-month series, which features more than 30 events at public and private courses around the state, has been an enduring hit with more and more golfers signing up each year to participate in these laid-back outings. And it’s easy to see why these events have continued to grow in popularity with serious and recreational players alike because one, they have a good time and two, they get to travel and play great courses they may not otherwise get to experience.

Hosting an event can help TGA member clubs generate additional revenue through green fees, cart fees, range balls, food and beverage, and merchandise sales. It’s a great opportunity for clubs and courses to attract new players and build recognition, to showcase the facility in a positive light, make personal connections, and much more.

If you’re interested in learning more about the Member Events Series or hosting a future outing, please contact Brian Fry, Direct of Outreach/TGA Foundation, by phone at (214) 468-8942 or by email at bfry@txga.org.

FEMALE GOLFERS FUEL CULTURAL SHIFT [NGF]

Golf has a new face, and it’s younger, more diverse, and increasingly female.

Women and girls have quietly become the driving force behind golf’s post-pandemic resurgence, accounting for 60% of growth in on-course participation since 2019. This surge has pushed the female golfer count to a record 7.9 million – shattering the previous high of 7.1 million set in 2006, before the Great Recession disproportionately devastated women’s participation in the sport (female participation declined 28% from 2007 to 2011, compared to a 9% drop among male golfers).

The turnaround has been striking. A decade and a half ago, women represented just 1 in 5 “green grass” golfers. Today, they account for 28%. They’re also now a third of all golf participants when factoring off-course engagement like Topgolf, simulators and driving ranges.

What makes the growth particularly significant is its youthful energy. More than half of net participation gains among women have come from those under 30, and just under half of all women playing traditional golf are now under 35 – compared to roughly one in three male golfers. The average female on-course golfer is 4 years younger than her male counterpart. This generational shift is bringing new energy and expectations throughout the industry.

To read more on Female Golfers Fuel Cultural Shift, click here.

THE GREAT EVOLUTION [CMAA]

Catering to the Next Generation of Club Members: Balancing Tradition with Innovation

Clubs are full of rich history and traditions that are often the reasons people become members. However, as clubs work to attract and retain the next generation of members, they need to find ways to embrace innovations that resonate with a new, diverse membership base.

Clubs are dynamic communities that must cater to a wide swath of members – younger families, health-conscious professionals, and those who have been members for decades. All of these various demographics are looking for flexibility, creative experiences, and authentic engagement.

One of the most significant challenges facing clubs today is how to balance tradition with modernization. Industry experts concur that the next generation of members expects a more casual, flexible engagement, which means clubs must adapt without compromising the heritage and longstanding values that have defined them for decades.

In a feature article for Club Management Association of America’s digital magazine, author Jennifer McNally talks to industry leaders about the challenges and highlights how some clubs from across the nation are harmonizing tradition with modernity by creating diverse events that are inclusive, dynamic, and reflective of both the past and the future.

To read more on The Great Evolution, click here.  

GOLF GENIUS TM: 4 WAYS TO GENERATE MORE REVENUE FOR YOUR OUTINGS

For many golf operations, outings play a significant part in generating additional revenue. Outings are also an opportunity to showcase the quality of a golf course and the welcoming hospitality of the golf staff.

Because outings are so important, host clubs naturally focus on how to make every event a fun and memorable experience for every participant. Securing outings can be a very competitive process among neighboring clubs. From a business standpoint, it’s smart to differentiate the golf experience you offer to prospective outing customers.

Using Golf Genius Tournament Management (GG TM) can be a game-changer when it comes to setting your club apart from the rest. By implementing some innovative features that will delight outing participants, GG TM can make your golf club the destination of choice for outing clients and thereby increase your outing revenue.

To learn about the “4 Ways to Generate More Revenue for Your Outings” in GG TM, click here.

NEW TEXAS GOLF ECONOMIC IMPACT REPORT

A recently released economic impact study reports that the Texas golf industry is fueling major economic growth with $14.2 billion in total economic output, supporting more than 107,000 jobs, and labor income of nearly $4.8 billion for the state. In recognition of the industry’s statewide importance, Texas legislative leaders have issued a proclamation declaring May 6 as Texas Golf Day, honoring golf’s contributions to the economy, communities, and quality of life across the Lone Star State.

The study, conducted by Radius Sports Group and commissioned by the Texas Alliance of Recreational Organizations (TARO), found the golf industry produced a direct impact of $7.7 billion and contributed nearly $1 billion in state and local taxes, reinforcing its vital role in Texas’ fiscal health and economic development. The report was produced in collaboration with the Texas Golf Association, the Northern and Southern Texas PGA Sections, the Texas Lone Star Chapter of the Club Management Association of America, the Texas Golf Hall of Fame, and the Lone Star Golf Course Superintendents Association.

“Golf in Texas delivers far more than rounds played – it drives jobs, tourism, and community impact,” said Ken Goryzcki, president of TARO. “Texas supported close to $1.5 billion in golf tourism and generated $300 million from major tournaments and associations. We’re proud to see the industry play a vital role in the state’s economic engine.”

Texas ranks among the top five states nationally in total number of golf courses, with 821 courses and 706 facilities. Nearly 70% are open to the public, and 38% of public facilities are municipally operated – well above the national average. These city-run courses provide affordable access to golf for Texans of all ages and income levels. The state ranks second nationally for on-course golf participation, with 1.89 million golfers in 2023 – a figure that could fill AT&T Stadium 23 times.

To read the full press release, click here. To access the full Texas Golf Economic Impact Report, click here.

REGISTER FOR 2025 PGA BUYING SUMMIT JULY 28-30 AT OMNI PGA FRISCO

Registration is now open for golf industry professionals to attend the 2025 PGA Buying Summit, returning to the award-winning Omni PGA Frisco Resort and the Home of the PGA of America from July 28–30.

Golf industry executives are invited to experience the industry’s premier midseason business event designed to inspire and connect PGA of America Golf Professionals and buyers across the expansive PGA Frisco campus. The Summit begins with expert-led education sessions, followed by two days of access to more than 150 emerging and established global brands showcasing 2026 spring apparel, innovative products, and cutting-edge solutions. Evenings feature a welcome reception, a vibrant fashion show, and the unforgettable Summer Jam—a fun golf festival across the expansive PGA District.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to expand your network, gain industry insights, and stay ahead of trends.

For more information about the 2025 PGA Buying Summit, including event registration and hotel reservations, click here.

LOYALTY: THE NEXT INNOVATION FRONTIER? [NGF]

We live in an era where customer loyalty feels increasingly ephemeral – people switch allegiances with a swipe, viral trends reshape preferences overnight, and corporate longevity continues to decline. The power dynamic between brand and consumer has fundamentally shifted, making loyalty harder to earn and easier to lose than ever before.

Against a backdrop of weakening consumer bonds, the golf industry faces a particularly striking paradox: in a moment of unprecedented success – record engagement, surging revenues and evolving demographics – research from the National Golf Foundation (NGF) suggests most Core golfers feel like “just another customer,” claiming only shallow, transaction-based relationships with golf businesses, who they believe fail to recognize them and reward their loyalty. It’s a notable disconnect that feels especially acute given the industry’s self-image as a relationship-driven business.

For more insights from the NGF’s “Loyalty: The Next Innovation Frontier?” article, click here.

ADVANCE PLANNING FOR A COMPETITION UNDER THE WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM™

To assist golf course operators and club committees with conducting competitions under the World Handicap System, the USGA has produced a one-page guide that gives a brief overview of key areas.

In summary, for ease of competition administration and to ensure scores made during the competition will result in acceptable scores for handicap purposes, club committees should consider the following items while preparing for an event: 

1. Ensure the golf course(s) being considered have a valid Course Rating™ and Slope Rating® for each set of tees for the appropriate gender(s). 

2. Ensure that all players have a valid Handicap Index®. 

3. Set and clearly communicate the Terms of the Competition. Important Terms to communicate include: 

• Handicap Index eligibility and limits,
• The effective date of the Handicap Index to be used,
• The tees to be played,
• The format(s) of play and the handicap allowance(s) to be used,
• The stroke index allocation(s) to be used,
• If flights will be used and, if so, how they will be determined,
• How ties will be resolved, and
• Who is responsible for posting scores.

To read more on Advance Planning for a Competition under the World Handicap System, click here.

TGA PARTNERS WITH CITY OF GRAND PRAIRIE TO ENHANCE ADAPTIVE GOLF PROGRAMMING

The TGA is excited to announce a new partnership with the City of Grand Prairie that will enhance adaptive golf programming and opportunities for people with disabilities. 

The partnership will make available the resources and facilities necessary to engage a greater number of people with disabilities and introduce them to the game of golf and the many social and mental health benefits associated with the sport, while fostering a vibrant and welcoming culture. The collaboration will play a pivotal role in championing accessibility and enabling individuals with cognitive, health, physical and sensory challenges to participate in the game and share in the joy and excitement golf provides with others. 

“The TGA is delighted to be working together with the City of Grand Prairie to deliver enhanced adaptive golf programming for those who are interested in learning how to get started in the game, as well as emerging players looking for a space to develop and thrive,” said Kelly Kilgo, Managing Director of TGA Foundation/Outreach. “We know that the City shares the same core values of our Adaptive Golf Program that aims to advance opportunities for golfers with disabilities and will help to make this a very successful initiative.” 

Ray Cerda, Director of The City of Grand Prairie Parks, Arts & Recreation Department, added, “Bringing adaptive golf programs to Grand Prairie is about more than just the game – it’s about accessibility, connection, and community. This partnership allows us to showcase how our facilities can serve all golfers while inspiring others to embrace the sport in new and meaningful ways. We’re thrilled to be part of something new, and as we like to say, we’re ‘Grand Prairie Proud!’” 

As part of its support, the City will provide space at its Prairie Lakes Golf Course for the TGA to stage complimentary, one-hour group adaptive golf clinics in May and October and will also make available the highly acclaimed 27-hole facility to serve as the host venue for 2025 Texas Adaptive Golf Championship this fall. 

To read more on the TGA and City of Grand Prairie Partnership to Enhance Adaptive Golf Programming, click here.

USGA RELEASES WATER CONSERVATION PLAYBOOK TO GOLF INDUSTRY

The United States Golf Association (USGA) has released its Water Conservation Playbook to the golf industry, a comprehensive effort to provide courses with the latest tools and techniques to more effectively manage water utilization. 

The digital publication, written by the USGA with 12 contributing experts, can be downloaded at usga.org/water, free of charge. It is a noteworthy, tangible outcome of the USGA’s 15-year, $30 million investment to help golf courses reduce their overall water usage. 

“Golf is currently in a time of great growth, but the threat of water availability and cost, combined with changing weather patterns, poses long-term threats to our playing fields,” said Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA. “We want to put the best intelligence into the hands of those who are making decisions and working on courses every day, and spur innovation toward a more sustainable game.” 

The book combines the USGA Green Section’s 100+ years of expertise in agronomy with research from leading universities and the working knowledge of superintendents, architects and golf course maintenance workers. Its practical approach gives operators insight to better inform decision-making at every level, while maintaining the best possible playing conditions. 

To read more on the Water Conservation Playbook, click here.

THE TRAINING ADVANTAGE [CMAA]

Enhancing Careers and Culture in Clubs with Training and Development Programs 

As anyone in the club industry knows, the member experience is paramount. Behind every extraordinary member experience is a team of skilled, motivated, and engaged employees. Developing effective training and development programs is essential to building this foundation. The best training and development programs provide not just tools for better performance but pathways for career growth and satisfaction. 

To achieve sustainable success, clubs must commit to evolving their training and development programs continually. A strategic focus on employee growth ensures that clubs stay competitive in an industry where member expectations are constantly rising. By prioritizing mentorship, fostering leadership, and integrating innovative learning methods, clubs can transform their workforce into their greatest asset. 

In a feature article for Club Management Association of America’s digital magazine, author Jennifer McNally talks with industry leaders and examines in-depth case studies that highlight best practices for creating impactful training programs that drive employee success and elevate club operations. 

To read more on The Training Advantage, click here.  

GET READY FOR UPCOMING SEASON WITH GOLF GENIUS

Season preparation is a critical part of tournament operations at golf clubs and facilities. Whether you are gearing up for your first season using Golf Genius Tournament Management (GGTM) or transitioning from a prior season to a new season, there are important steps and practices to follow that will help you run your season more smoothly, as well as help you transition to future seasons.

The customer support team at GGTM has created a “Steps to Prepare for Your Season” tutorial to get you started off on the right track. Among the topics covered in the tutorial include adding and deactivating staff members as customer managers, reviewing default settings for events and leagues, creating and adding new events and leagues, updating master roster, adding or updating course details (e.g., Slope Rating, Course Rating, handicap holes, yardages) and verifying World Handicap System™ compliance, and much more.

To view GGTM’s “Steps to Prepare for Your Season” guide along with easy-to-follow instructions, click here.

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR 2025 BILL PENN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

The TGA Foundation is now taking applications for the 2025 Bill Penn Internship Program (BPIP).

The BPIP is a paid summer internship that provides an introduction for young people from different backgrounds to the vast network of jobs, mentors, and interests that the golf community provides. The TGA Foundation works to carefully select motivated high school students aged 16 and older for the program and connect them with participating TGA member clubs and facilities in their area. Prospective interns complete a thorough application process detailing their interests and goals and are then interviewed by a representative from both the TGA Foundation and potential club.

Once hired, interns are assigned a rotating schedule over the course of the approximately 10-week program providing them with opportunities to be exposed to various areas of club operations. By working closely with professional club management and staff, interns will learn the importance of teamwork, gain self-confidence, and develop positive skill sets that will enable broader career options in the future.

If there is a high school student aged 16 or older at your club or facility who loves the game and is personable and motivated, the TGA Foundation would like to encourage you to let them know about the internship opportunity and have them submit an application before the May 1 deadline.

To learn more about the Bill Penn Internship Program, click here.

GOLF PARTICIPATION – GROWING & DIVERSIFYING [NGF]

The face of golf may have changed more in the past five years than the previous 50.

Golf’s latest participation numbers reveal unprecedented diversity in the game.

Year-end data for 2024 complied by the National Golf Foundation (NGF) shows that more than one-quarter of green-grass golfers in the U.S. are women and girls or People of Color, two distinct but overlapping segments that have historically been underrepresented in the sport.

Among the 28.1 million Americans who played golf on a course in 2024 (the most since 2008), 28% were female and 25% were Black, Asian or Hispanic, both representing the highest proportions ever recorded. These numbers – not mutually exclusive — reflect the continued evolution of the sport’s participant base, particularly when compared to historical benchmarks.

To read more on Golf Participation – Growing & Diversifying, click here.

THE POWER OF PERSONALIZED MEMBER EVENTS [CMAA]

How Clubs Are Celebrating Member and Club Milestones

Making sure members feel valued is essential to long-term success in the club industry. Member appreciation events go beyond the typical service model, offering exclusive, tailored experiences that can forge deeper connections and solidify loyalty.

Member appreciation events can take different approaches depending on the club and locale. Some foster camaraderie, some celebrate milestones, and all of them create memories for the members and staff personnel alike.

In a feature article for Club Management Association of America’s digital magazine, author Jennifer McNally takes a closer look at how some clubs from across the nation planned and hosted personalized, well-thought-out events that were designed to strengthen bonds and increase member satisfaction and retention.

To read more on The Power of Personalized Member Events, click here.

REMINDER: DEADLINE TO UPDATE CLUB GHIN ROSTER IS FEB. 28

The TGA would like to remind all its member clubs’ GHIN contacts, head professionals, and golf shop staff that the end of February is the deadline for updating their GHIN roster.

This is your opportunity to make sure all golfers, including new members, are included in your GHIN roster as active members no later than 11:59 p.m. (CST) on February 28. Your club’s March billing will be based on the number of active GHIN golfers in your GHIN roster after that date and time.

Please review your club’s GHIN roster for the following prior to the deadline: 

• Ensure all golfers who wish to participate in the GHIN service for 2025 are listed as active.
• Verify all Junior/Minor golfers are coded correctly as “J” type with their correct Date of Birth, and Minors have been linked to a Guardian. Juniors and Minors not coded as such by February 28 will be charged the regular member rate.
• For clubs participating in the Online Join/Renew (OJR) program, golfers added via OJR have already paid and should be left in your club roster as “active.”
• Any credit amounts will be indicated on your club’s September billing summary.

If you have any questions or need assistance accessing your GHIN roster, please contact Mary Harrison, Senior Director of Handicapping & Membership, by email at mharrison@txga.org or by phone at (214) 468-8942.

PROJECT MUNI GRANT PROGRAM NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS

The TGA Foundation has announced it is now accepting applications for Project Muni 2025 grants.

Now entering its third year, Project Muni was created to grant funds to assist member club municipal facilities across the state with implementing new agronomy projects and practices, particularly those designed to improve course conditions, enhance the playing experience, or make the game more accessible for all backgrounds and abilities.

Since its inception in 2023, Project Muni has awarded a total of $175,000 across 33 municipal facilities, with $100,000 directed towards 17 facilities in 2024. Building on the momentum over the past two years, the grant funding available for 2025 has been increased to $135,000.

“Project Muni grants have had a significant impact for numerous facilities thus far and we are committed to investing even more to help support and strengthen the municipal golf course community in Texas,” said Kelly Kilgo, Managing Director of Outreach/TGA Foundation. “This grant program can be a great outside resource for assistance in funding a wide range of improvement projects, and facilities of all sizes are encouraged to apply.”

The Project Muni Grant Program is dedicated to investing in municipal courses so they can overcome budgetary challenges and move forward with proposed agronomy improvement plans and practices. The two-part grant funding program provides: 1) fund grants for every municipal facility to cover the cost of a USGA Course Consulting Service (CSS) once every 5 years and 2) matching fund grants (up to $10,000) to a facility wanting to implement CSS recommendations or to make other improvements that will support sustainability, enhance player experience, or make the game more accessible.

To be eligible for the grant program, municipal facilities must be a current member club in good standing of the TGA. The Project Muni Grant Program is funded by the TGA and administered by the TGA Foundation.

For more information regarding the Project Muni Grant Program and to submit an online application, click here. For questions or assistance with the application process, contact Kelly Kilgo at kkilgo@txga.org.

COURSE ECONOMICS IN THE EXPERIENCE ERA [NGF]

The economics of a golf course business flows from a simple but powerful principle: every tee time represents perishable inventory that, once lost, can never be recovered. In golf, as with restaurants and other fixed-capacity businesses, this reality has two interlinked dimensions to consider.

First is the pure financials of unused capacity. When a tee time goes unfilled, the facility doesn’t just lose the green fee – it loses all the revenue accompaniments that would have come with it (food, drinks, range balls, hat, glove, etc.). For the average 18-hole public facility, the National Golf Foundation (NGF) estimates total revenue per occupied tee time (“RevPOTT”) to be roughly 45% above playing fees alone, which is perhaps a more significant lift than one might have guessed.

Consider, then, the impact of no-shows at golf courses. Recent analysis by an NGF Executive Member with visibility into more than 500 U.S. courses and 10 million rounds revealed a no-show rate of 9%, which would add up to about $1 billion in lost opportunity annually.

The scale of the issue is significant, and so is the sensitivity. Just as a restaurant can lose 5% of its income in one dinner service from a six-person no-show, golf facilities can see their margins eroded from only a few missed tee times.

To read more on Course Economics In The Experience Era, click here.  

BUILDING A STRONGER TEAM [CMAA]

Fostering a cohesive and motivated staff is essential in the fast-paced world of club management. Providing exceptional member experiences is the cornerstone of a club’s success, and a strong staff is the backbone of a successful club.

Annual staff retreats have become a cornerstone strategy among clubs to celebrate achievements, foster team bonding, and strategically plan for the future. These offsite retreats are not just events – they are thoughtfully curated experiences designed to align staff values, strengthen relationships, and create a roadmap for continued success.

In a feature article for Club Management Association of America’s digital magazine, author Jennifer McNally takes a closer look at how some clubs from across the nation organized and hosted staff retreats that blended thoughtful planning, impactful activities, and opportunities for reflection and growth to cultivate teams that are not only high-performing but also deeply connected.

To read more on Building A Stronger Team, click here.  

GOLF GENIUS TM: GIVE YOUR GOLFERS FLEXIBILITY WITH “PLAY WHEN YOU CAN” TOURNAMENTS

When it comes to club events, it’s impossible to accommodate every golfer’s busy schedule. Many members will have conflicting obligations that prevent them from playing in a particular event. Luckily, with Golf Genius Tournament Management (GG TM), you can easily set up events without having assigned tee times and pairings.

This type of event has some notable advantages:

• Set up fun competitions like optional skins games for players on the daily tee sheet.
• Increase tournament participation by giving players the flexibility to play golf with whomever they want when they can (whether or not the other players are part of the competition).
• Maintain an open tee sheet, allowing non-tournament play throughout the day.

If you are looking for ways to free up your tee sheet while still running a tournament, consider implementing the flexibility approach and let players come to the course and play whenever they’d like during the day.

For more on how to set up “Play When You Can” Tournaments in GG TM, click here.

2025 TEXAS LEAGUE PLAY REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

It’s the beginning of a new year and that means the start of Texas League Play is right around the corner. Now entering its 19th season, Texas League Play provides an opportunity for TGA member clubs to play against each other in an exciting team match-play format. Held during the springtime, these organized interclub matches promote friendly competition, camaraderie, and team spirit in a fun atmosphere.

Regional conferences for Texas League Play can be established anywhere in the state where there are four member clubs in the same geographic area interested in competing against each other. During the 10-week regular season, the four clubs in each conference play a home-and-away series for a total of six matches. Following the regular season, regional conference winners earn a spot to compete for the statewide title in the Championship Playoffs, a thrilling single-elimination bracket tournament to be held this year at Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort in Boerne from May 29-31.

Texas League Play is primarily a handicap team event to make it more inclusive, and a club’s staff professional is also encouraged to participate along with the members. The format for the matches is four-ball match play with a Nassau scoring system. Eight players are needed for each match, but there is no limit to how many players a club can have on its team roster.

For more information or questions about putting a team together for Texas League Play, email Justin Guthrie, TGA Senior Tournament Director, at jguthrie@txga.org.

USGA GOLF SCORECARD PROVIDES 2024 SNAPSHOT OF THE RECREATIONAL GAME

The USGA recently released its 2024 Golf Scorecard, the organization’s first data report that highlights domestic golfer participation trends using information from scores posted under the World Handicap System™ (WHS). With 3.35 million golfers posting over 77 million scores in 2024, the WHS™ contains first-person data that offers a one-of-a-kind snapshot of how the game was played this year at a macro level. The report also compares data going back to 2020 to reveal trends about the recreational game.

To read more on the 2024 USGA Golf Scorecard, click here.

MEMBER PROGRAMMING THAT SHINES [CMAA]

In today’s competitive landscape of private clubs, the secret to fostering member satisfaction and retention lies in creating engaging, memorable experiences. The days of simply offering basic amenities like dining and golf are long gone.

To stand out, clubs need to deliver tailored programming that reflects the diverse interests of their membership. By crafting dynamic events and experiences, clubs can drive member engagement, reinforce a sense of community, and ensure their place as essential social hubs.

Signature events have become the cornerstone of many clubs’ programming, with members eagerly anticipating unique, immersive experiences. These events not only foster engagement but also create lasting memories, reinforcing the emotional connection members have with their club.

In a feature article for Club Management Association of America’s digital magazine, author Jennifer McNally takes a closer look at how some clubs from across the nation are innovating and adapting their programming to create a vibrant, inclusive environment that keeps members engaged and loyal.

To read more on Member Programming That Shines, click here.  

GOLF GENIUS TM: USING EMAIL WITH GOLF GENIUS

The Golf Genius Tournament Management (GG TM) system provides extensive support for using email to communicate with players. As a manager, you control when, how, and what emails are sent.

In order to effectively email players, it is vital to have accurate email addresses in the system. If players are added to events and leagues from your Master Roster, ensure that up-to-date player emails are in your master roster. Similarly, if you want to upload players to an event or league via spreadsheet, check to make sure that their current email addresses are in the spreadsheet.

Below is a list of scenarios where emails can be used in the GG TM system:

Send custom emails to players: Compose and send custom emails (e.g., rain delay, event information, link to the event portal, event results, etc.) to any players you would like.

Round Signup Invitations: If managing a league, you can email round invitations for players to sign up for rounds in the league. 

Automated Emails: There are many automated emails players can receive due to an action they have taken. Some examples would include event registration confirmation, signing up for a round, and cancelling event registration.  

Email Tee Sheet: Email a round’s tee sheet to all of the players in the event/league or only the players confirmed for that specific round.

Players sending emails to other players: You can optionally provide the ability for players to send emails to other players in the same event/league.

Daily Email Digest: Managers for your account can receive daily emails on activity within their leagues and events.

For more detailed information on Using Email with Golf Genius Tournament Management, click here.

TEXAS YOUTH PLAYS THE FOUR MILLIONTH YOUTH ON COURSE ROUND IN SAN ANTONIO

Youth on Course – the nonprofit organization providing youth with access to life-changing opportunities through golf – recently announced a historic milestone of four million rounds played by its members. This landmark achievement marks the fastest growth in the organization’s 18-year history, with the last million rounds played in less than a year.

This achievement represents a remarkable acceleration for Youth on Course and the increasing demand for affordable access to golf. It took 14 years to reach its first million rounds played in 2020. Since then, the pace has accelerated dramatically, with the second million achieved in just over two years, the third million in 17 months, and the fourth in an unprecedented 11 months. The organization’s growth demonstrates its significant impact on youth development and its pivotal role in expanding the sport’s reach to new generations.

 Central to this achievement is Joshua Jackson, the Youth on Course member who played the four millionth round at Willow Springs Golf Course in San Antonio. A senior in high school, Jackson joined Youth on Course in November 2023 through the Texas Golf Association (TGA). His milestone round underscores the importance of partnerships like the one with Willow Springs Golf Course, a Youth on Course partner since 2019. The course has provided more than 2,000 affordable rounds to young players in the local community, fostering opportunities for youth to develop a lifelong love for golf.

Managing Director of the TGA Foundation, Kelly Kilgo expressed, “Reaching four million rounds played is more than a milestone—it’s a testament to the impact of Youth on Course. Every swing, every putt, and every round represents an opportunity for young golfers to learn, grow, and fall in love with the game. I’m especially thrilled that the four millionth round happened in Texas!”

To read more about the Four Millionth Youth on Course Round, click here.

For more information about the benefits of becoming a Partner Course with Youth on Course, click here. If you have any questions about becoming a Partner Course or need assistance getting started, please contact Kelly Kilgo by email at kkilgo@txga.org or by phone at (214)-468-8942.

REGISTER NOW FOR 2025 CMAA WORLD CONFERENCE AND CLUB BUSINESS EXPO

Registration is open for the Club Management Association of America’s 2025 World Conference and Club Business Expo, scheduled for February 5-9, at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Fla. It is a chance to join club management professionals from around the world at the only event that focuses on the business of running a club. 

The industry’s largest annual gathering provides a multitude of opportunities to chart a new course and forge ahead, including presentations by stellar business and industry experts, discussion forums, meeting certification goals, networking, finding new talent, idea sharing, and exploring products and services offered by more than 250 companies showcasing cutting-edge trends and innovations in the industry. 

Additionally, with over 65 concurrent sessions scheduled across all 11 competencies essential for success in club management, the robust professional development offerings will provide inspiration for leadership journeys and insights for today’s management challenges. 

For CMAA 2025 World Conference and Club Business Expo online registration and details, including a list of featured speakers and schedule of events, click here.

BENEFITS OF CREATING AN ANNUAL CLUB EVENTS CALENDAR [CMAA]

One of the biggest benefits of having an annual events calendar is the elimination of scheduling conflicts. By meticulously planning and scheduling events ahead of time, you can ensure that there are no overlaps with significant club activities such as golf tournaments and weddings. This foresight prevents logistical headaches and guarantees the availability of staff and resources when needed. 

Moreover, an annual calendar allows for better coordination and communication among various departments within the club. “Communication is the most important part of working together as a business in the club,” said Jamie Roberts, Member Experience Manager at Renaissance Golf Club in Haverhill, Mass. The events calendar serves as a central reference point accessible to both corporate and club personnel. This means that everyone involved, from the banquet team to the marketing team, can stay informed about upcoming events, ensuring seamless execution and marketing efforts. 

In a feature article for Club Management Association of America’s digital magazine, author Jennifer McNally takes a closer look at the steps involved in creating an annual events calendar that enhances the member experience and fosters a sense of community. 

To read more about the Benefits of Creating an Annual Events Calendar, click here.

BENEFITS OF THE USGA HANDICAP REVIEW TOOL

As a reminder to all TGA Member Clubs, Phase 1 of the new USGA Handicap Review Tool has been released. This important new feature serves as an added safeguard during the Handicap Review process, giving the Handicap Committee the ability to ensure the Handicap Index® of a player reflects their demonstrated ability.

Additional benefits include: 

• The analysis is data-driven – The USGA Handicap Review tool uses the player’s handicap data to compare posted scores to expected performance. 

• There continues to be a human element – A Handicap Index adjustment will be applied only at the discretion of the Handicap Committee, based on any other knowledge or evidence they have about the player and their ability. 

To access the Phase 1 USGA Handicap Review Tool User Guide, sign into your club’s GHIN Admin Portal and go to the ‘Tools & Resources’ link. To read the USGA Handicap Review Introduction Packet, click here. 

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Mary Harrison, TGA Senior Director of Handicapping & Membership, by email at mharrison@txga.org or by phone at (214) 468-8942.

TEXAS GOLF HALL OF FAME 2024 INDUCTION CEREMONY

The Texas Golf Hall of Fame proudly welcomed seven new members during the induction ceremony for the Class of 2024 held Oct. 21 at Houston Country Club. 

Among this year’s incoming class were three inductees with strong ties to the Texas Golf Association: Randy Sonnier (Amateur), three-time TGA major champion; C. Malcolm Holland III (Lifetime Achievement), past TGA President and Bob Wells Distinguished Service Award winner; and Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas (Historic Course), home club of current TGA President Lee Sandlin and host venue to numerous TGA championships. 

The other members of the Class of 2024 are Brent Buckman (Golf Professional / Teacher), D.A. Weibring (Professional Player), Mike Ray (Professional Services), and Dr. Marvin Ferguson (Posthumously – Professional Services). 

The 2024 inductees have left indelible marks on Texas golf and earned their places on the Texas Golf Walk of Fame. Their granite markers will stand as tributes at both Brackenridge Park in San Antonio and the Anchor Site at The Ronny Golf Park in Frisco, commemorating their contributions to the game for future generations to admire. 

To learn more about the Texas Golf Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024, as well as highlights from the induction ceremony, click here.

REGISTER NOW FOR 2025 PGA/USGA RULES WORKSHOPS

Registration is now open for 2025 PGA/USGA Rules Workshops. There are four different workshops being offered for interested participants.

Below is a brief overview of the Rules education options available in the upcoming months: 

• Traditional PGA/USGA Workshops: In-person, 3.5-day PGA/USGA Workshops will be conducted at 13 locations around the country from January 2025 through March 2025. These workshops include access to Virtual Rules School videos (approximately 20 hours of recorded content) and access to either the 80- or 100-question exam on the morning of the fourth day (or online on a date selected from the exam schedule).
• USGA Virtual Workshops: The USGA staff will be conducting four week-long virtual workshops from January 2025 through April 2025. These sessions include daily two-hour webinars Monday-Friday (10 hours total), access to Virtual Rules School and access to the 80- or 100-question exam (either online on a date selected from the exam schedule or in-person at a PGA/USGA Workshop site).
• USGA Introductory Workshops: These will be offered periodically throughout the 2025 calendar year and are conducted fully online. The workshop includes approximately four hours of on-demand video recordings and two one-hour webinars with expert instructors on the selected dates.
• Rules Exam Only: The exam can be taken online through an exam platform on selected dates, or in-person on the morning of the fourth day of a PGA/USGA Workshop site. 

The fee for the traditional PGA/USGA Workshop is $500, while the USGA Virtual Workshop is $375. The Introductory Workshop is $25, and the exam only is $100 (80-question test) or $150 (100-question test).

For more information and to register for 2025 Rules of Golf Workshops and Exams, click here.  

START SPREADING THE NEWS … ABOUT F&B AT CLUBS [CMAA]

Did you see that email about the special this week at the club? Check out that Instagram post about Trivia Night this week at the club… want to go? 

These are the questions club members are asking themselves in today’s digital age, when promoting food and beverage offerings at clubs has evolved dramatically. Gone are the days when traditional word of mouth and bulletin boards were the primary methods of communication. With the proliferation of social media and email marketing, clubs now have innovative ways to connect with their members, keeping them informed and engaged. 

Promoting food and beverage offerings at clubs requires a strategic blend of traditional and modern marketing methods. These new tools not only streamline communication but also enhance the overall member experience by providing timely updates and visually appealing content. 

In a feature article for Club Management Association of America’s digital magazine, author Jennifer McNally takes a closer look at how some clubs from across the nation are leveraging new technology and visually appealing materials to successfully create an inviting and memorable experience that members won’t want to miss. 

To read more on Start Spreading the News about F&B at Clubs, click here.  

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER CALCULATION

Many golf clubs and courses present an annual most improved player award as a way of recognizing a player’s achievement and dedication to the game. The USGA Handicap Committee Guide’s recommended method for determining a golf club’s most improved player at the end of a season, year, or custom time period is as follows:

Add 12 to the player’s Handicap Index® at the start date. This value is A. Add 12 to the player’s Handicap Index at the end date. This value is B.

Divide value A by value B, calculating to three decimal places. This is the improvement factor. The player with the highest improvement factor should receive the most improved player award.

Example:
Starting Handicap Index: 24.3
Ending Handicap Index: 16.2
Value A: 24.3 + 12 = 36.3
Value B: 16.2 + 12 = 28.2
A / B: 36.3 / 28.2 = 1.287
Improvement factor: 1.287

The player with the highest improvement factor is the most improved player.

Important Note: Players who had a Handicap Index adjustment (reset, frozen, withdrawn) during the selected date range should not be eligible for the most improved player.

JOIN THE TGA’S GALLERY CLUB AND RALLY FOR GOLF IN TEXAS

The Texas Golf Association is pleased to introduce the Gallery Club, a new philanthropic campaign that gives individuals the power to contribute towards building a rich legacy of a vibrant, diverse, and thriving golf culture in Texas. Through your participation in the Gallery Club, you will help the TGA continue to make the sport more accessible, enjoyable, and inclusive for current and future generations.

Membership in the Gallery Club is open to everyone who has a desire to give back to the game, including current members, returning members, those new to the TGA, and anyone who just wants to show their support so golf can continue to positively impact the lives of others.

Your $59 annual contribution will enable the TGA to continue to reinvest in golf in Texas with ambitious programs and initiatives that are designed to celebrate, elevate, and encourage golf participation across the state and at every level, everywhere the game is played.

To learn more and join the TGA Gallery Club and Rally for Golf in Texas, click here.

UPCOMING IAGA WEBINAR: ONBOARDING TRAINING SERIES

The International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA), along with the National Alliance for Accessible Golf, will be hosting a “Onboarding Training Series for Golf Facility Leadership and Staff” webinar at 2:00 PM (CT) on Tuesday, October 29.

Session Description

Dave Barton, PGA, Executive Director of the National Alliance for Accessible Golf, will provide an overview of the Onboarding Training Series for Golf Facility Leadership and Staff designed to provide the foundation for a welcoming, accessible and inclusive environment at your golf facility, and also for those who may be working with their state or region for adaptive golf competitions or programming. The Onboarding Training Series connects the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) to golf facility operations to simplify what operators need to know and do, including recommended policy templates for cart path only scenarios, service animals and more. This training is provided at no-cost on the Alliance Education Hub, participants earn a certificate of completion, and it is approved for PGA, LPGA, GCSAA and CMAA Education Credits.

Onboarding Training Series for Golf Facility Leadership and Staff
Date: October 29, 2024
Time: 2:00 PM (CT)

>> CLICK HERE TO REGISTER <<

THE EVOLUTION OF FOOD AND BEVERAGE OPERATIONS IN CLUBS [CMAA]

Branding, Mobile Applications, and New Culinary Offerings Help Clubs Update Their F&B Operations and Create Memorable Member Experiences

Clubs are embracing a new era as they reimagine their food and beverage operations. From branding multiple venues to embracing mobile and on-the-go ordering to revamping menu items, clubs are rethinking their operations to meet their members’ changing needs and expectations.

Branding is key to creating distinct culinary identities between multiple dining options in a club. Additionally, mobile and on-the-go ordering systems are revolutionizing the dining experience for members, providing convenience and personalized service. Furthermore, the introduction of new and diverse culinary offerings reflects a commitment to catering to the evolving tastes of members and enhancing the overall club experience.

In a feature article for Club Management Association of America’s digital magazine, author Jennifer McNally takes a closer look at how some clubs from across the nation are elevating their dining experiences to new heights.

To read more about The Evolution of Food and Beverage Operations in Clubs, click here.

USGA HANDICAP REVIEW TOOL – PHASE 1 RELEASE

The TGA is pleased to announce the Phase 1 release of the new USGA Handicap Review Tool.

Also, to better understand the scope of the data-driven tool and accompanying benefits, it is recommended to first read the USGA Handicap Review Introduction Packet, which is included below, that provides additional information regarding this important new feature that will help you and your club’s Handicap Committee properly administer a player’s Handicap Index®, ensuring that it represents the player’s demonstrated ability.

 >> CLICK HERE TO VIEW INTRODUCTION PACKET

To access the Phase 1 USGA Handicap Review Tool User Guide, sign into your club’s GHIN Admin Portal and go to the ‘Tools & Resources’ link.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Mary Harrison, TGA Senior Director of Handicapping & Membership, by email at mharrison@txga.org or by phone at (214) 468-8942.

WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM™ SURVEY

The R&A and the USGA have put together a survey about the World Handicap System (WHS™) and you are invited to participate.

Your honest feedback and insights are invaluable to the ongoing review of the Rules of Handicapping™ and the Course Rating System™, which have accuracy, consistency and equity as core principles – as well as enhancing the enjoyment of the game of golf for everyone. 

This is a global survey, and all individual responses are confidential and anonymous.

To start the WHS survey, click here.

DOES GOLF HAVE A CAPACITY PROBLEM? [NGF]

Golf is a bit unusual in that the dream scenario for many serious players is having your favorite course, grass freshly cut, and no other players on the property. That’s a fantasy not well-aligned to the success of the business.

The reality is that a greater number of golfers have played more rounds over the past several years and this means U.S. golf courses – broadly speaking — are busier than ever.

After all, while there are about 4 million fewer golfers today as there were during the high-water mark in 2003, there are also about 2,000 fewer golf facilities than two decades ago.

In a recent survey of golf course operators conducted by the National Golf Foundation (NGF), almost two-thirds indicated they were “at” or “near” playing capacity.

Now it’s important to define what exactly “capacity” constitutes.

It doesn’t mean that daily tee sheets are completely full. In this context, NGF is defining capacity as how much more play a facility can handle before it begins to have a negative effect on business – whether that’s due to staffing challenges or an overtaxed golf course that leads to poorer playing conditions and less satisfied customers.

To read more on Does Golf Have A Capacity Problem, click here.

OWNER’S ADVICE: MITIGATE CYBER ATTACKS [GOLF INC.]

How to protect your course and your customers’ personal information.

In January, the city of Jacksonville, Florida, experienced what it called a cybersecurity event. No sensitive personal information was compromised, but the cyberattack affected many city services, including the municipal golf courses. A patron at one of the courses’ driving ranges was unable to use the onsite computer to obtain range balls.

In the grand scheme of things, that was a minor inconvenience. It would have been far worse if the course’s customer database had been breached, exposing sensitive information.

Today’s game has changed in many ways, and many aspects of golf course management have moved online. Everything from tee-time scheduling to course maintenance and GPS-equipped golf carts have become integrated with the internet, bringing a host of new issues that course owners and operators need to be aware of.

Though no system is truly foolproof, there are plenty of ways to make it hard for cyberattacks to be successful, experts say.

In an article for Golf Inc.’s digital magazine, author Trevor Mason takes a closer look at what golf course owners and operators need to do when it comes to safeguarding business and customer information.

To read more about how to Mitigate Cyber Attacks, click here.

GOLF GENIUS TM: GOLF HUB LIVE WEBINAR

More than 2,000 facilities around the world are now using Golf Hub, a feature already included in your Golf Genius Tournament Management platform to grow participation in events, leagues, and clinics. These clubs have conducted more than 16,000 events using Golf Hub. And, later this year, Golf Genius we will be launching new features that will reach even more golfers.

To help facilities learn more about attracting new golfers using Golf Hub, the Golf Genius product experts will be conducting a series of 30-minute live webinars over the upcoming weeks. The webinars are always free, and PGA/LPGA members will receive (1) PDR credit for attending.

Among the Golf Hub topics and tricks covered in the webinar include how to reach an expanded audience and create broad awareness and excitement, promote your events to draw more participants and fill your events, register golfers and collect payments online, organize your entire calendar of events, and delight your sponsors and keep them coming back.

To sign up for one of the Golf Hub Live Webinars, click here. 

Upcoming Schedule (all times listed are EST)

> August 19, 11:00 AM
> August 29, 10:00 AM
> September 10, 2:00 PM

BILL PENN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM GIVES STUDENTS HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE

Since its inception in 2016, the TGA Foundation’s Bill Penn Internship Program has been connecting deserving high school students to paid summer internships with TGA Member Clubs. The program not only helps teenagers to earn a paycheck while gaining valuable early work experience, but also introduces them to the numerous and rewarding career opportunities in the golf industry.

Each summer, a select group of students are chosen to intern at a member club in their respective hometown. During the 10-week period, interns are assigned a rotating schedule where they get direct hands-on experience in multiple areas of club operations. By working closely with professional staff in various departments, interns learn the importance of teamwork, gain self-confidence, and develop positive skill sets. It’s not all work and no play, though. As part of the member club commitment, interns are provided with golf lessons and designated tee times so they can enjoy themselves out on the course.

This year, the TGA Foundation was thrilled to have 20 young boys and girls from diverse backgrounds and 16 member clubs across the state take part in the Bill Penn Internship Program. It represents the largest participation numbers, both in terms of students and member clubs, in the program’s 8-year history.

The 2024 Bill Penn Interns and Participating Member Clubs are:

Conner Anderson (Indian Creek GC), Sahil Desai (Sweetwater CC), Grant Edelbrock (River Oaks CC), Victoria Farkas (First Tee of Fort Worth), Elenor Fritsch (River Place CC), Pedro Gamboa (The Woodlands CC), Felipe Hinojosa (River Oaks CC), Nihaar Kanokolanu (Canyon Creek CC), Hubert Kim (Indian Creek GC), Jack Lapierre (The Bandit GC), Ray Long (Canyon Creek CC), Rylee Lovette (Tempest GC), Walker Merritt (Mira Vista CC), Nicole Mitchell (Hermann Park GC), Sabrina Nader (Sweetwater CC), Jackson Null (Sammons GC), Gillian Pulido (Northern Hills GC), JaJa Sanders (First Tee of Dallas), Luis Trejo (Cedar Crest GC), and Natalie Wagner (Fair Oaks Ranch G&CC).

In addition to providing high school students with paid summer employment and practical work and life experience, the Bill Penn Internship Program also has long-term benefits in developing and encouraging the game’s next generation of leaders and achievers.

To learn more about the Bill Penn Internship and the many other TGA Foundation programs and initiatives, click here.

MIDYEAR ROUNDS UPDATE: PEAK PLAY NUMBERS [NGF]

At the midway point of 2024, U.S. rounds are trending 2% ahead of the midyear total from 2023 — a year during which more rounds of golf were played at U.S. courses than any time in history.

It might seem like a modest year-over-year change, but the bigger picture reveals the demand for recreational golf continues to reside in record territory. And the numbers continue to reinforce that the industry is enjoying a “new normal” when it comes to play.

We’re now in our 50th month since pandemic-related restrictions on golf were lifted. In only three of the previous 49 months did rounds fail to outperform their pre-pandemic equivalents (using 2017-2019 monthly averages as the basis for comparison). It comes as little surprise that April was the culprit in all three of those underperforming occasions, as April is statistically the most variable month for rounds due to weather unpredictability.

To read more on the Midyear Rounds Update from the NGF, click here.

STRATEGIC APPROACHES TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CLUB INDUSTRY [CMAA]

Best Practices and Implementation

Pursuing capital improvements within the club industry is an intricate endeavor that necessitates a well-structured and collaborative approach. As clubs work to enhance their facilities and services, a comprehensive and strategic capital projects process is a must.

The Club Management Association of America’s Capital Improvements Handbook looks at the process and best practices and suggested procedures discussed at the CMAA Capital Improvements Symposium, emphasizing the significance of building high-performing project management teams and engaging various stakeholders, including club members, throughout the journey.

This handbook also delves into common pitfalls such as lack of strategy and leadership, unanticipated costs, and inexperienced project management. Emphasizing the necessity of time, patience, and strategic planning, this white paper aims to equip club decision-makers with the knowledge required to make informed choices, ensuring each capital improvement project contributes to the club’s long-term success and reputation.

To read more on the CMAA Capital Improvements Handbook, click here.

GOLF GENIUS TM: GOLF HUB FLYERS

One of the latest product updates in Golf Genius Tournament Management (GG TM) is a powerful new feature for creating polished promotional materials. Golf Hub Flyers is a robust design editing tool that allows you to easily create and distribute high-quality digital and physical marketing pieces, while also providing golfers with a simple way to register and pay online.

The Flyers tool allows anyone, regardless of ability or technical know-how, to create professionally designed flyers for every event, league, or clinic. Not only can they be produced in a matter of minutes, but every flyer also has an automatically generated QR code linking golfers directly to the Golf Hub Page for the event, giving them access to readily view information and sign up right away. Within Flyers, you can select from an array of expertly designed templates, which can be easily customized, or build one from scratch with a blank canvas using the comprehensive editor. Once completed, flyers can then be saved as a PDF file for printing or a PNG file for use on a web page or social media.

To learn more about the Golf Hub Flyers feature and how it can help take event promotion to the next level, click here.

ONLINE JOIN/RENEW LINKS ON TGA WEBSITE HAVE CHANGED

With the launch of the newly redesigned TGA website, Online Join/Renew (OJR) links for participating clubs have also been updated. Please note the only change to each link is that “membership” now replaces “www” in the OJR URL for each club, as shown in the example below:

Old OJR link format: www.txga.org/start/join/?cid=####; New OJR link format: membership.txga.org/start/join/?cid=####

The updated OJR links can be found on the TGA website in the Member Club Directory. To search for your club and locate your new OJR link, click here.

WOMEN & GIRLS FUELING GOLF’S GROWTH [NGF]

Some of the most noteworthy golfer gains in recent years have been among female participants.

Approximately seven million women and girls played golf on a course in 2023, the highest participation levels since 2006, which was an all-time measured high.

June was Women’s Golf Month, not to mention the peak of the golf season, and it’s notable that females now account for more than one-quarter (26%) of the on-course golfer population in the U.S. It is the highest proportion on record, and a jump from 20% in 2011.

That particular year, on the heels of the Great Recession, capped a span (2007-2011) during which there was a net decline of more than 4 million golfers as finances became tighter for many Americans, discretionary spending dipped and so did pay-for-play recreation. During that five-year window, the male golfer population declined by approximately 2.1 million and the number of female golfers dropped by about 2 million.

But as a proportion of the overall on-course participant base, the net golfer declines from 2007-2011 were -9% among males versus -28% among females.

The rebound since then had been gradual before accelerating during the post-pandemic era. Since 2019, the net gain among on-course female golfers is 1.4 million. Over that same time, the number of male participants has risen by 900,000.

To read more on the latest Female Golf Participation Update from the NGF, click here.

BUILDING THE FUTURE [CMAA]

Youth Programs are Shaping the New Family Club Experience

As the landscape of the club industry changes, the integration of robust and innovative youth programming has become a cornerstone for attracting and retaining family memberships. Clubs across the nation are reimagining their spaces and services to create a dynamic environment where every family member, regardless of age, can find enjoyment and a sense of belonging.

Clubs such as North Ridge Country Club in Raleigh, NC, Houston Racquet Club in Houston, TX, and Charlotte Country Club in Charlotte, NC, have developed unique approaches to youth engagement, reflecting a broader trend toward more inclusive and family-oriented club experiences.

In a feature article for Club Management Association of America’s digital magazine, author Jennifer McNally takes a closer look at how these clubs are shining a spotlight on youth programs, which is helping to transform traditional country club participation, attract new members, and create a vibrant community.

To read more about Building The Future, click here.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: DEADLINE FOR WHS™ CLUB AUTHORIZATION IS JUNE 30

In mid-January, the USGA kicked off the new year with several changes to the World Handicap System (WHS). Because of these changes, all TGA Member Clubs are required to complete the new education requirement to continue issuing Handicap Indexes® to golfers using the GHIN® service. The deadline to fulfill this requirement is June 30.

 Only one club representative (staff member or official) needs to view the online e-Learning course video and successfully pass the quiz. It only takes about 90 minutes, and the video can be viewed at any hour of the day or night.

 BEFORE PROCEEDING, CLUB REPRESENTATIVES PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

 Club representatives accessing the e-Learning course to fulfill the WHS education requirement MUST contact the Texas Golf Association to receive a unique link to the 20-question Club Authorization Quiz. This will ensure that your results are made immediately available to the TGA. To receive your club’s unique link, please contact Mary Harrison by email at mharrison@txga.org or Kristen Klein by email at membership@txga.org or call the TGA office at (214) 468-8942.

 >> CLICK HERE TO REVIEW THE 2024 WHS EDUCATION VIDEO FOR CLUBS

 After reviewing the e-Learning course video, click on your club’s unique link to take the online 20-question quiz. Be sure to verify your club’s name and edit/input the quiz taker’s name and email address in the designated fields.

 QUIZ NOTE: If you answer any questions incorrectly, the system will provide the correct answers at the end. Make a note of the correct answers and click the red “Back” button on the lower left to go back and correct your answers. Once completed, click the red “Submit” button on the lower right and the system will accept your revised score. Remember, this is an “open book” quiz so feel free to use the WHS Tools in the links below.  

 WHS Tools

>> WHS RESOURCES FOR CLUB ADMINISTRATORS

>> MORE WHS TOOLS

Please be sure to review the e-Learning course video and take the quiz with your club’s unique link before the June 30 deadline to fulfill this necessary education requirement so your club remains “authorized” to provide a Handicap Index to your golfers via the GHIN service. Handicaps for your golfers will change to “NH” or “No Handicap” for clubs that do not take the quiz and pass before the deadline.

TEXAS GOLF HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES 2024 CLASS OF INDUCTEES

Randy Sonnier, C. Malcolm Holland III, and Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas, all with strong ties to the Texas Golf Association, are among the newest members of the Texas Golf Hall of Fame.

The Texas Golf Hall of Fame recently announced its 2024 class of inductees. The honorees will be celebrated during a formal induction ceremony, which will take place this fall at the prestigious Houston Country Club on Monday, October 21. This year’s class represents a remarkable group of individuals who have made significant contributions to the game of golf in Texas.

 2024 Texas Golf Hall of Fame Inductees:

• Amateur: Randy Sonnier
• Historic Course: Royal Oaks Country Club (Dallas)
• Golf Professional / Teacher: Brent Buckman
• Lifetime Achievement: C. Malcolm Holland III
• Professional Player: D.A. Weibring
• Professional Services: Dr. Marvin Ferguson (Posthumously), Mike Ray

Each inductee will be commemorated with a granite marker on the Texas Golf Walk of Fame at the historic Brackenridge Park Golf Course in San Antonio, and at the Hall’s newest Anchor Site at NTPGA The Ronny Golf Park in Frisco.

To read more about the Texas Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2024, click here. The induction ceremony on Oct. 21 at Houston Country Club is open to the public, and tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

The Texas Golf Hall of Fame is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to honoring individuals and courses that have significantly impacted the game of golf in Texas.

THE CONVENIENCE FACTOR IS KEY IN 2024 [CMAA]

Members’ Desire for Convenience Creates a Tapestry of Technology- and Family-Focused Events in Clubs

In a world shaped by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, a singular theme has permeated all forms of hospitality and retail: convenience. People became accustomed to the ease of ordering anything from cocktails to clothing, either having it delivered to their doorstep or effortlessly retrieved through contactless drive-up services.

This trend has compelled private clubs to undergo a paradigm shift redefining the member experience to align with the ever-evolving needs of their communities. Drawing inspiration from the lessons learned during the pandemic, clubs are skillfully integrating convenience, technology, and family-focused events to provide a tailored and comprehensive experience for their exclusive memberships.

In a feature story for Club Management Association of America’s digital magazine, author Jennifer McNally takes a closer look at the some of the programs and approaches clubs from around the nation have implemented to navigate the changing landscape of member expectations.

To read more about The Convenience Factor is Key in 2024, click here.

RULES OF HANDICAPPING – APPENDIX D: HANDICAP REVIEW

The handicap review process gives a Handicap Committee the ability to ensure the Handicap Index® of a player reflects their demonstrated ability.

To assist this process, the World Handicap System™ software specifications set out a range of recommended reports, analyses and notifications which can be developed within the handicapping software used by Handicap Committees to administer members’ handicaps.

These tools will:

• Identify players who are consistently scoring above, or below, their ‘expected’ scoring range or where other abnormalities within a player’s scoring record exist, and
• Make a recommended adjustment to the Handicap Index of each player identified, up to a maximum of 2 strokes.

A recommended adjustment will be applied only at the discretion of the Handicap Committee, based on any other knowledge or evidence that they have about the player and their demonstrated ability.

The handicap review reporting tools compare a player’s Handicap Index, individual scores and scoring patterns against expectations using the following:

• The player’s expected score in their next round,
• The expected standard deviation of the player’s Score Differentials™,
• The player’s expected scoring range.

The number of abnormal scores in the player’s scoring record as a percentage of the total number will also be taken into account. The larger the number of scores in a player’s scoring record, the more scores above or below their expected scoring range are required for the player to be flagged for a handicap review.

To learn more about Appendix D: Handicap Review, including the other information that may also be considered during the handicap review process, click here.

INCREASE REVENUE, GROW CLUB BRAND BY HOSTING TGA FUN GOLF EVENT

The TGA launched the Fun Golf Series in 2015 to engage a broader spectrum of its membership with an annual schedule of one-day events that provide a casual, enjoyable day on the golf course for players of all ages and handicap ranges.

The Fun Golf Series has been a big hit with TGA Members and their guests, and each year more and more golfers sign up to participate in these laid-back outings. It’s easy to see why these events have continued to grow in popularity with serious and recreational players alike because one, they have a good time and two, they get to travel and play great courses they may not otherwise get to experience.

Hosting Fun Golf Play Days can help TGA Member Clubs generate additional revenue through green fees, cart fees, range balls, food and beverage, and merchandise sales. It’s a great opportunity for clubs and courses to attract new players and build recognition, to showcase the facility in a positive light, make personal connections, and much more.

If you’re interested in learning more about hosting a Fun Golf Play Day, please contact Brian Fry, Manager of Outreach/TGA Foundation, by phone at (214) 468-8942 or by email at bfry@txga.org.

2024 PGA BUYING & EDUCATION SUMMIT JULY 29-31 AT OMNI PGA FRISCO

The 2024 PGA Buying & Education Summit is returning this summer to the Omni PGA Frisco Resort in North Texas. The 2024 Summit is scheduled from July 29-31 and will provide an opportunity for PGA Professionals to meet with curated brands showcasing the latest fashion, products, trends, and innovations, learn transformative business strategies as part of the PGA Education Conference, and network with fellow industry members.

Following last year’s highly successful event launch at the new home of the PGA of America, the 2024 Summit will have use of additional campus facilities, including equipment and technology education sessions in the state-of-the-art PGA Coaching Center Powered by T-Mobile and the Welcome Reception and Live Fashion Show at the Panther Creek Pavilion. The three-day event will also feature the addition of a new golf retail education track to the PGA Education Conference, along with nightly networking and experiential golf events, including the event’s new Summer Jam, a nighttime concert and golf festival experience across golf, dining, and retail destinations of the Monument Realty PGA District.

For more information about the 2024 PGA Buying & Education Summit and to register online, click here.

THE EVOLUTION OF WORKFORCE BENEFITS [CMAA]

In the ever-evolving employment landscape, workforce benefits play a pivotal role in attracting and retaining top talent at clubs. Beyond salary and job security, employees today seek comprehensive packages that cater to their diverse needs and preferences. From millennials craving flexibility to baby boomers prioritizing retirement planning, each age demographic brings its unique set of priorities and expectations to the table.

According to the 2023 Workforce Benefits Study by LIMRA-EY US, the workforce has never been more heterogeneous and fluid and will only become more so in the future. Within a decade, Generation Z and millennials will make up a large majority of the workforce, while baby boomers will begin to retire, and Generation X will age into their 50s. For benefits providers, this demographic shift equates to a fundamental change in what these generations want.

Meeting the expanding and unique benefits needs across generations is critical to attracting and retaining talent, and clubs across the U.S. echo that sentiment. The competition for talent persists despite an uncertain macroeconomic landscape and changing workforce dynamics. Benefits remain a powerful tool for clubs to attract and retain the talent that they need to meet their objectives—and employers recognize that they need to offer more.

In a feature story for Club Management Association of America’s digital magazine, author Jennifer McNally takes a closer look at how some clubs are adapting their benefits packages to cater to the diverse and continuously changing needs and preferences of different age demographics.

To read more about The Evolution of Workforce Benefits, click here.

In addition to the more familiar stroke play and match play formats for single-round and multi-round tournaments, GG TM also features a wide range of alternative formats that are sure to freshen things up and enliven the experience for all.

Click on the links below to view setup instructions for just a few examples of the interesting and enjoyable tournament formats available in GG TM:

• ChaChaCha
• Lone Ranger
• Ringers (Eclectic)
• Silk Skins
• 9/9, 6/6/6 and 3/3/3
• Adjustable Quota
• Team Skins
• Team Wheels
• Treys Format

You can also create your own customized tournaments using the Advanced Balls option. To learn more about Advanced Balls, click here.

The goal of TGA Project Muni is to grant funds to member club municipal facilities in Texas to help overcome budgetary challenges so they can invest in agronomy projects and/or practices that will help improve course conditions and enhance a player’s experience and potentially create a larger number of committed golfers.

The project centers around a two-part grant funding program:

1) TGA provides fund grants for every municipal facility to cover the cost of a USGA Course Consulting Service (CSS) once every 5 years. The purpose of a CSS is not to tell anyone how to run a golf course or what products to buy. A CSS is tailored to a facility’s specific needs, assessing key concerns on-site, followed by a comprehensive report with actionable recommendations, and research-backed education materials.

2) TGA provides matching fund grants (up to $10K) to a facility wanting to implement CSS recommendations or to make other improvements that will support sustainability, enhance player experience, or make the game more accessible.

To learn more about the TGA Project Muni Grant Program and how municipal facilities can benefit from this new, strategic initiative, please contact Kelly Kilgo, Managing Director of Outreach/TGA Foundation, by email at kkilgo@txga.org or by phone at (214) 468-8942.

Industry representatives visited Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Fla., on March 19, Texas Southern University in Houston on March 26, and Paul Quinn College in Dallas on April 9. Additional HBCUs have been identified for events later this spring and during the Fall 2024 Semester. The events include meetings between golf industry representatives and university leaders, as well as an activation for students, inviting them to come and learn more about internships and careers in the golf industry.

Launched in 2021, Make Golf Your Thing is a collective movement across the golf industry working to accelerate the game’s evolution by making it more diverse and inclusive. A critical part of the ongoing efforts is welcoming more people from historically underrepresented backgrounds to the industry, shedding light on the extensive opportunities the industry provides across the U.S. In 2023, Make Golf Your Thing supported a career day at Alabama State University in Montgomery, Ala., and partnered with four additional universities to install golf simulators on campus as a way to stimulate interest in golf.

To learn more or get involved, click here to visit the Make Golf Your Thing website.

Experts advise on two recent trends that owners need to keep in mind when considering new insurance coverage — extreme weather events and cybersecurity.

When it’s time for annual insurance renewal, take the time to assess your coverage needs. What changes were made on the property in the last year? What’s new? Insurance may not be the most glamorous topic in the world, but it is an indispensable component of running a golf course.

The most important thing to know about your insurance is, quite simply, what’s in your insurance policy. That may sound overly simplistic, but many people haven’t taken the time to really dig into their policy and know what’s included in it, which can be a costly mistake.
Suzan Charlton, an insurance attorney for Covington and Burling in Washington, D.C., recommends that everyone take the necessary time to ensure they know the details of their policy.
“I would say when it’s renewal time, look carefully at everything that [your insurance company] is hitting you with,” she said. “Don’t be on autopilot. Be a more active consumer, and that means asking questions.”
At renewal time, you should find out about any changes in your coverage. Are there new exclusions you should ask your broker about? Are there additional coverages that might be available? If your premiums are going up, what are the new rates? How does your property value affect things?

In an article for Golf Inc.’s digital magazine, author Trevor Mason takes a closer look at what golf course owners and operators should be aware of when reviewing current insurance coverage or considering new coverage, including Additions and Improvements, New Trends, Replacement Cost Valuation Over Actual Cash Value, and Liability Issues With Third Parties.

To read more about Know Your Insurance Policy, click here.

GET READY FOR UPCOMING SEASON WITH GOLF GENIUS

Season preparation is a critical part of tournament operations at a golf club. Whether you are gearing up for your first season using Golf Genius Tournament Management (GGTM) or transitioning from a prior season to a new season, there are important steps and practices to follow that will help you run your season more smoothly, as well as help you transition to future seasons.

The customer support team at GGTM has created a “Steps to Prepare for Your Season” tutorial to get you started off on the right track. Among the topics covered in the tutorial include adding and deactivating staff members as customer managers, reviewing default settings for events and leagues, creating and adding new events and leagues, updating master roster, adding or updating course details (e.g., Slope Rating, Course Rating, handicap holes, yardages) and verifying World Handicap System® compliance, and much more.

To view GG’s “Steps to Prepare for Your Season” guide along with step-by-step instructions, click here.

BECOME A YOC COURSE PARTNER AND HELP GROW THE GAME

Thanks to dedicated supporters and participating member clubs, the TGA Foundation (TGAF) has been able to continue to make great strides in broadening the reach of Youth on Course (YOC) throughout Texas.

This is the fifth year of the TGAF’s partnership with YOC, a national non-profit grow-the game initiative that allows kids and teens ages 6-18 to play golf for $5 or less, plus opportunities for paid internships, caddie programs, and college scholarships. The collaboration initially began in January 2020 as a pilot project in the San Antonio area with 11 courses, including all eight that comprise the Alamo City Golf Trail.

Currently, there are now more than 70 courses across the state that are part of the YOC community. While the progress made in expanding the footprint of YOC thus far is promising, the two organizations are working diligently to encourage more facilities to open their doors to the life- changing program.

Course partners that provide a nurturing atmosphere where YOC members feel welcome to play golf, have fun, learn, and grow, are helping to ensure the long-term future of the game. They are also realizing an immediate benefit as well.

Because course partners are in full control and decide when YOC members can play the course at the special rate, they are able to fill their tee sheets with enthusiastic young golfers during normally slow times. In addition to receiving a monthly check for the subsidized rounds, course partners report that at least 60% of the time, a parent or guardian joined the junior golfer and paid full price for their round. That means additional revenue from green fees, cart fees, pro shop merchandise sales, and food and beverage purchases.

It’s a proven win-win relationship between YOC members and course partners that has worked incredibly well since the program’s inception in 2006. There are currently nearly 200,000 YOC members that have access to over 2,000 courses throughout the United States, Canada, and Australia where they can play a round of golf for $5 or less. Over the years, YOC members have played more than three million subsidized rounds of golf while the organization has helped generate more than $8.5 million in tee-time revenue reimbursed back to individual golf courses.

For more information about the benefits of becoming a YOC course partner, click here. If you have any questions about joining the YOC community or need assistance getting started, please email Kelly Kilgo, Managing Director of Outreach/TGA Foundation, by email at kkilgo@txga.org, or call (214) 468 8942.

APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR 2024 BILL PENN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

The TGA Foundation is now taking applications for the 2024 Bill Penn Internship Program.

The approximately 10-week paid summer internships assist in connecting TGA member clubs in need of extra help with qualified high school students interested in a career in the golf industry. The program, which typically runs from the first week of June to the first week of August, provides opportunities for young people to gain experience in the diverse areas of facility operations, including club, golf shop and turfgrass management.

It’s not all work and no play, though. As part of the member club commitment, interns are provided with golf lessons and designated tee times so they can enjoy themselves out on the course.

By working closely with golf professionals, club managers and golf course superintendents, interns will learn the importance of teamwork, gain self-confidence, and develop positive skill sets that will enable broader career options in the future.

If there is a high school golfer (16 years of age or older) at your club or course who loves the game and is personable and motivated, the TGA Foundation would like to encourage you to let them know about the internship opportunity and have them submit an application before the May 1 deadline.

To learn more about the Bill Penn Internship Program, click here.

GOLF PARTICIPATION UPDATE – BIGGER, YOUNGER AND COOLER [NGF]

The National Golf Foundation’s research on golf participation primarily focuses on the green-grass game, but it has also been observing, measuring, and reporting on golf engagement away from the course.

To better understand golf’s consumer base, the NGF looks at three different participant groups: on-course only (12.1 million in 2023), off-course only (18.5 million), and those who engage on both fronts (14.5 million).

The number of on-course golfers has now increased for six straight years, but also notable is that the demographic makeup of the base is changing – albeit gradually in a sport with over 26 million Americans who play recreationally.

The demographics of off-course only participants have looked more similar to the mix of the U.S. population overall, exhibiting a younger and more diverse representation (age, gender, race and ethnicity) than the on-course population.

To read more on the latest Golf Participation Update from the NGF, click here.

TGA/GHIN® MEMBER INACTIVATION DELETION DEADLINE IS FEB. 28

The TGA would like to remind all its member clubs’ GHIN contacts, head professionals, and golf shop staff that the end of February is the deadline for TGA/GHIN Member Inactivation Deletion.

All golfers no longer wanting to participate in the GHIN service must be inactivated in your club roster no later than 11:59 p.m. (CST) on February 28. Your club’s March billing will be based on the number of active GHIN golfers in your GHIN Roster after that date and time.

For those clubs participating in the TGA’s Online Join Renew (OJR) program, golfers added via OJR have already paid and should be left in your club roster as “active.” The credit amount (if applicable) will be shown on your club’s March bill summary.

Lastly, please take this opportunity to make certain all Junior/Minor golfers are coded correctly as “J” type with their Date of Birth and Minors have been linked to a Guardian. Juniors/Minors not coded as such by midnight on Feb. 28 will be charged the regular rate.

If you have any questions or need assistance accessing your player rosters, please contact Mary Harrison, TGA Senior Director of Handicapping & Membership, by email at mharrison@txga.org or by phone at (214) 468-8942.

REGISTER FOR UPCOMING WHSTM HANDICAP SEMINARS

The TGA will be conducting three World Handicapping System (WHS) Seminars over the next several weeks: Tuesday, February 20, at McAllen Country Club in McAllen; Wednesday, March 6, at Barton Creek Resort & Country Club in Austin; and Thursday, March 7, at Pecan Grove Country Club in Richmond.

These seminars will provide an opportunity to learn more about the WHS and renew your 2024 Club Authorization at the same time. The presentations are a comprehensive educational overview of the WHS with discussions and solutions to common situations.

Among the topics to be covered are:

• The basics of the Rules of HandicappingTM including how the Handicap Index® is calculated
• Key changes to the WHS for 2024
• Proper administration of handicapping at your club, including the important role of the Handicap Committee

Attendees are required to bring their own laptop, tablet, or mobile device. Prior to the presentation, attendees will be emailed their club’s unique link to the Club Authorization Quiz. After the PowerPoint presentation, attendees will take the open-book online quiz. A passing quiz score is required for all clubs to continue to use the WHS. PGA members receive 3 Education credits!

Attendees will receive a copy of the 2024 Rules of Handicapping Manual and the 2024 Handicapping Reference Guide. A digital copy of the 2024 USGA Handicap Committee Guide is available online.

The cost of each seminar is $45, which includes lunch and materials. Registration will start at 8 a.m. and the seminar will run to 2 p.m. Space is limited and will be confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis.

For those interested in attending one of these seminars, online registration is available through the links below or on the TGA website. Please join us for an informative and interactive seminar focusing on how to implement the WHS at your club successfully and to take the Club Authorization Quiz. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Mary Harrison, Senior Director of Handicapping & Membership, by email at mharrison@txga.org or by phone at (214) 468- 8942.

TGA PROJECT MUNI

The Texas Golf Association established ‘Project Muni” in mid-2023 as a multi-year financial commitment to investing in member club municipal facilities. In Texas and across the country, municipal facilities play a vital role in the overall health and well-being of the game by providing the most accessible entry point for those who are new to golf or want to get started in the sport.

The goal of TGA Project Muni is to grant funds to member club municipal facilities across the state to help overcome budgetary challenges so they can invest in agronomy projects and/or practices that will help improve course conditions and enhance a player’s experience and potentially create a larger number of committed golfers.

The project centers around a two-part grant funding program:

1) TGA provides fund grants for every municipal facility to cover the cost of a USGA Course Consulting Service (CSS) once every 5 years. The purpose of a CSS is not to tell anyone how to run a golf course or what products to buy. A CSS is tailored to a facility’s specific needs, assessing key concerns on-site, followed by a comprehensive report with actionable recommendations, and research-backed education materials.

2) TGA provides matching fund grants (up to $10K) to a facility wanting to implement CSS recommendations or to make other improvements that will support sustainability, enhance player experience, or make the game more accessible.

To learn more about TGA Project Muni and how municipal facilities can benefit from this new, strategic initiative, please contact Kelly Kilgo, Managing Director of Outreach/TGA Foundation, by email at kkilgo@txga.org or by phone at (214) 468-8942.

NOMINATIONS CLOSE FEB. 21 FOR TEXAS GOLF HOF CLASS OF 2024

Nominations for the 2024 Class of the Texas Golf Hall of Fame opened on Jan. 10. The public is urged to nominate qualified individuals before the deadline on Feb. 21.

Following the nomination deadline, the list of nominees will be screened by the induction nominating committee to be sure they meet the eligibility requirements of the specific category for which they were nominated. There shall be no more than eight total nominees per category per induction year. Not all public nominations are guaranteed a place on the official ballot.

Nominations for individuals and courses can be made in six categories: Amateur Player, Professional Player, Golf Professional/Teacher, Lifetime Achievement, Professional Service, and Texas Registry of Historic Golf Courses.

The 2024 Class will be announced in May and formally inducted this October in Houston. Tickets to the fall induction ceremony will be made available to the public as details become finalized.

For more information about the nomination process, categories and requirements for nomination and online nomination form, click here.

2024 WHSTM QUICK REFERENCE PLACEMAT FOR GOLF CLUB ADMINISTRATORS

The USGA and The R&A announced key changes to the World Handicap System (WHS) that will go into effect within the United States on January 16, 2024. The 2024 WHS Quick Reference Placemat resource is designed specifically for your staff and Handicap Committee to help address the questions you will most likely receive from your members and guests.

Among the topics covered in the placemat include new treatment of 9-hole scores, new treatment for holes not played, and scores made at shorter length courses. There is also a date-specific section for January 16 considerations that covers any player(s) with an uncombined 9-hole score in their scoring record as of January 16, and for clubs conducting a competition on January 16.

The USGA Handicap Committee Guide is now included within the digital version of the Rules of Handicapping (Section 6), which will be updated on January 16 to reflect the 2024 changes.

TEXAS LEAGUE PLAY: TEAM GOLF EXCITEMENT FOR TGA MEMBER CLUBS

Texas League Play was created in 2006 to provide an opportunity for TGA Member Clubs to play against each other in a team match-play format. Held during the springtime, these organized interclub matches, which utilize GHIN® handicaps, promote friendly competition and camaraderie in a fun atmosphere.

Eligibility in Texas League Play is open to all Member Clubs, both public and private, that own/ operate at least one 18-hole regulation length golf course with a current and valid USGA Course/ Slope Rating. To make scheduling easier and to reduce travel time, regional conferences are established anywhere in the state where there are four Member Clubs who are interested in competing against each other in a six-match regular season.

The team roster is open to male amateur golfers aged 21 and older that are full dues paying members of the club and maintain an active GHIN handicap. PGA Professionals who are full-time employees of the club are also encouraged to participate. Eight players are needed for each match, but there is no limit to how many players a club can have on its team roster.

A team match consists of four (4), four-ball matches: one (1) scratch and three (3) by handicap indexes arranged from low to high. Within each of the four-ball matches that make up one team match, there is one point awarded for winning the front nine, one for the back nine and one for the overall 18-hole match. A total of 12 points are available within each team match; at least 6.5 points are needed for a team victory.

Following the regular season, which runs from March 6-May 12, regional conference winners earn a spot to compete for the statewide title in the Championship Playoffs, a thrilling single-elimination bracket tournament to be held May 30-June 2 at Hyatt Hill Country Golf Club in San Antonio.

MAKE GOLF YOUR THING UNVEILS IMPACT ON ADVANCING INCLUSIVITY

Make Golf Your Thing, the collaborative movement reflecting the industry’s commitment to making the sport more diverse and welcoming, has released an update as it prepares to enter its fourth year. Highlights include investment of more than $1.8 million in 237 grassroots programs and steady growth in career and business opportunities for diverse candidates.

Led by PGA of America, PGA TOUR, LPGA and USGA and with financial support and participation from some of the leading corporations in golf, Make Golf Your Thing began taking shape in late 2020. Unlike anything done before in any sport, the collaborative, breakthrough movement is uniting allies across golf in support of a more inclusive game and industry, proactively welcoming people from historically underrepresented communities in the sport to make golf their game, their career, and their business.

Through Make Golf Your Game, players of all backgrounds, identities and abilities are encouraged to make golf their own. To date, the movement has invested in more than 155 unique organizations that are dedicated to increasing participation among people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, Veterans, and those with disabilities. Approximately 88 percent of adults and children reached through these programs are ethnically diverse, while 51 percent are female, and 80 percent are under the age of 18. Fifteen organizations have received the maximum grant possible, reporting an average of 21 percent growth in participants since 2021.

To read more about the Make Golf Your Thing impact update, click here.