Texas Junior Golf Alliance Announced

January 18, 2012 -

 

The four organizations operating the state’s most prominent junior golf programs have formed the Texas Junior Golf Alliance, a new partnership that is designed to give junior golfers greater access to top tier competition statewide and ease the burden of travel expense.

Texas Golf Association (TGA), the Northern Texas and Southern Texas Sections of the PGA of America and the Houston Golf Association (HGA) have formed a group whose goal is to simplify qualifying for the Legends Junior Tour’s statewide high profile events. Collectively each year the four organizations provide playing opportunities to more than 6,000 junior boys and girls in 500- plus tournaments. The PGA Sections have been holding the Texas State Junior Championship since 1922.

Since 2006 the TGA and the two PGA Sections have grown the Legends Junior Tour, which offers boys and girls special events for more advanced players, including multi-day tournaments. Adding HGA, which has been promoting junior golf since 1957, allows an
even greater number of talented players into the mix.

Entry eligibility for Legends Junior Tour events will now be determined by a statewide points list, which will be available on each Texas Junior Golf Alliance member’s website.

Juniors will have dual membership in their respective programs and the Texas Junior Golf Alliance for a single membership fee. Each organization will offer a select number of Texas Junior Golf Alliance Points Tournaments in their respective 2012 schedule.

Northern Texas PGA (15 events), Southern Texas PGA and HGA (8 events each) and TGA’s Legends Junior Tour (14 events) combine to offer 47 points events. Competitors may also accumulate points in the seven open and one invitational events operated in Texas
by the national American Junior Golf Association (AJGA).

“The junior golf landscape in Texas can be intimidating and expensive to negotiate for beginning players and veterans alike,” said Rob Addington, Executive Director of the Texas Golf Association. “Everyone involved hopes this will clear the path toward advancement while reassuring them of the quality of the events they are competing in.”

“Growing the game and easing the financial burden and travel demands on players and their families can be nothing but a win-win situation,” said Steve Timms, President/CEO of the Houston Golf Association.

The STPGA has a beginner’s program for youngsters starting at age 6 and the NTPGA at age 7. While 6-11 year-olds will not be competing in statewide events, they will be educated in the opportunities afforded by the alliance. “Being in the program can serve as a roadmap to newcomers to the game,” said Mike Ray, Executive Director of the Southern Texas PGA. “In fact, it certainly will give them something to look forward to as they progress.”

“Kids in this program will no longer have to travel all over the country to participate in quality events,” said Mark Harrison, Northern Texas PGA Executive Director. “We’ll have outstanding competition, conducted at the highest level of administration, on a wide variety of exceptional golf courses. This is a great day for junior golf in Texas.”

Membership registration for the 2012 HGA Junior Golg Season is NOW OPEN. Tournament registration will begin February 15. SCHEDULE (subject to change)

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