Winter Classic to kick off 2026 LJT Season
As the calendar turns to a new year, the Legends Junior Tour will begin its 2026 season at a venue steeped in history, tradition and championship golf.
The Winter Classic, scheduled for Jan. 17–18 at Dallas Athletic Club, will usher in another highly anticipated season for the tour, bringing together many of the state’s top junior champions at one of Texas’ most storied clubs.
“We are very excited to be kicking off the 2026 season,” said Legends Junior Tour tournament director Scott Davidson. “We’ve spent a lot of time preparing for the year ahead, and the kids are just as eager to get back out there and compete for a full season of golf.”
Located just 20 minutes northeast of downtown Dallas, Dallas Athletic Club has long been a fixture in the Metroplex’s golf landscape. Founded in 1919, the club was envisioned by T.L. Morgan and W.E. Greiner as a downtown athletic hub for the growing city. Construction began in 1922, and the club officially opened its doors in 1925.
Golf became part of the club’s identity in 1944 following a merger with Lakes Golf and Country Club. The addition led to the purchase of 350 acres of what was once Chapman
Ranch and the creation of a 36-hole golf facility. Renowned architect Ralph Plummer was selected to design the courses, with construction beginning in March 1953 and major improvements following in 1960.
Dallas Athletic Club’s place in golf history was firmly established in 1963, when Jack Nicklaus captured the first of his five PGA Championship victories on the club’s grounds. Nicklaus returned two decades later to help renovate the Blue Course, which later hosted the 1997 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship and underwent further updates by Nicklaus Design.
“The history of this club is something special,” Davidson said. “For our junior players, it’s an incredible experience to compete on the same course where some of the game’s greatest names have played.”
The Blue Course, which will host the Winter Classic, stretches just over 7,000 yards from the championship tees. Known for its natural waterways, rolling terrain and mature trees, the Nicklaus-designed course presents a demanding yet scenic test. Bentgrass greens, 419 Bermuda fairways, waterfalls and a blend of white-sand and grass bunkers challenge players to think strategically while rewarding precision.
The 2026 Winter Classic will feature a select field of 84 players. 46 players in the field are champions on the Legends Junior Tour, NTPGA All-American Tour and STPGA Prestige Tour.
“The level of competition to start the year is outstanding,” Davidson said. “These players know each other well, and they thrive on the opportunity to measure themselves against other champions. That competitive energy really elevates the event.”
The 2025 edition at Dallas Athletic Club was shortened by extreme weather during the second round, but not before standout performances across multiple divisions. Andre Follmer of The Hills claimed the Boys Division title with a 3-under-par 69, his lone victory of the season, while adding three additional Top-10 finishes in 2025.
Stephanie De Marco of Southlake, the 2024 Girls Division Player of the Year, captured the girls division with a 3-over-par 75, finishing two strokes clear of the field and securing one of her two victories during the 2025 season.
In the Boys 14-and-under division, Grant Lobner of Dallas earned the title with an even-par 72, later adding multiple top finishes throughout the year.
The Legends Junior Tour operates under the Texas Junior Golf Alliance, a partnership between the Texas Golf Association, Northern Texas PGA and Southern Texas PGA. The alliance was created to provide junior golfers a clear developmental pathway, allowing players to progress from regional tours to statewide competition while preparing for the next level.
The 2026 Winter Classic will be contested over 36 holes of stroke play in a limited field of 84 players.
Round 1 is scheduled to begin Saturday, January 17, with tee times starting at 8 a.m. off the first and 10th tees on the Blue Course.
To learn more about the Winter Classic, click here. To learn more about Dallas Athletic Club, click here.