Texas Golf Insider - Fall/Winter 2026 by Digital Publisher

Golf Insider TEXAS

Fall/Winter 2026

The Official Guide to Golf in Texas

Vaaler Creek Golf Club at Rockin’ J Ranch Celebrates 20 Years, And a Rich History Inside: Score Big this Holiday Season Shop Edwin Watts

Home Sweet Home

The PGA Championship returns to Texas

Trade Winter

for The Tryall Club

Texas Golf Insider says Fairwell! But we are far from over

For puttermaker Doug DeBerry, the journey began at an antique store some 10 years ago. The 60-year-old industrial gas specialist saw his first “Basakwerd” putter that was on sale for $6. “I was intrigued so I bought it and started putting with it,” DeBerry said. “It was a blade but toe shafted and it worked. I started making some putts with it and later a spark hit me that maybe we can sell this.Why should I be the only one using this magic wand?” Inspired, DeBerry began working on a mold for the putter head in his spare time and finally came up with his prototype that is now available in a beautiful brass head or stainless steel. It is similar to many putters available that have “gimme retriever” on the back side of the face and with a black shaft and grip, it is one pretty putter that is sure to “spook” your opponents on the links. DeBerry has two sons who have joined him in this family endeavor that has an interesting name and website – Reaper Golf and reapergolf.com. The putters are American made in Frisco and are priced at $255, very reasonable in today’s club marketplace and DeBerry sweetens the deal with a “no questions asked, 30-day return policy.” “We will even pay for the shipping if you don’t like it and want to send it back,” DeBerry said. “And we can ship our orders the next day because our putters are already shafted. We offer lots of combinations including two different grips – solid black and black/white harlequin.” Starting the company in 2023, DeBerry exhibited at this year’s DFW Golf Show in Plano and had a lot of traffic at his exhibit. “People stopped by and were intrigued with it,” DeBerry said. “Most folks set it down incorrectly before getting their bearings. But when they stroked a few, their interest level spiked.” That was my experience. I remembered, vaguely, the old Basakwerd putters from the 1980s. DeBerry reminded me that great players like Gene Littler and Johnny Miller once used the Basackwerd. The older putters were offset but not so with DeBerry’s Reaper, named such because the sleek model resembles a sickle or scythe used by the “Grim Reaper.”

CONTENTS| Vaaler Creek Golf Course

WINTER 2026

4 One & Done TGI Golf League 8 Vaaler Creek GC

34 Llano River Park GC

18 Say Farewell

46 NTPGA

20 Home Sweet Home

54 TX Golf Hall of Fame Gathering of Eagles

27 Edwin Watts

62 STPGA

Celebrates 20 years

2027 PGA Championship Score Big This Holiday

36 GENERAL DIRECTORY 38 MAP 39 COURSE DIRECTORY

41 The Tryall Club Golf with a Sense of Place A Full Circle Summer

But Far From Done

Central Texas

Welcomes Winter Texans

Celebrates Historic Wins

Dallas/Fort Worth 58 GENERAL DIRECTORY 60 MAP 60 COURSE DIRECTORY

Houston

66 GENERAL DIRECTORY 67 COURSE DIRECTORY| MAP

Texas

GOLF INSIDER Mike Ratchman

Publisher Office: 830-964-2152 mike@thetexasgolfinsider.com

Pat Wheeler DFW Marketing Director North Texas Office: 404-556-7114

pat@thetexasgolfinsider.com

DAVID OGRIN GOLF ACADEMY 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM 7 Days a Week*Open to Public

1357 Wald Road New Braunfels, TX 78132 Phone: 830-660-3998 Email:ogringolf@gmail.com David Ogrin

Director of Everything and Lead Coach 1996 Valero Texas Open Champion

COVER STORY

Colonel Roper’s vision and moxie set the stage for Rockin’ J Ranch’s success By Steve Habel, Contributing Writer

l to r: J.R. Newman, Colonel Roper, & Mike Lowry

Community and its golf course celebrate 20 years as the place to be, and tee it up, in the Texas Hill Country There was a time – not so long ago it seems – that a trip north on Highway 281 from San Antonio to the sleepy town of Blanco on the edge of the Texas Hill Country was made via a unhurried twolane road with little but prairie and hills and rock defining the landscape.

It took vision and moxie to see the promise of the land that lined the sides of that long, gray ribbon of asphalt and a man like Colonel Lee Roper to make that vision come to fruition. The fruits of that labor stand today as Rockin’ J Ranch, one of the most successful and desirable

l to r: J.R.Newman, Colonel Roper, the Spur’s Coyote, and Pro Football Hall of Famer Bob Lilly,

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

COVER STORY

Windmill At the beginning

communities in the region, and in Vaaler Creek Golf Club, the neighborhood’s much ballyhooed centerpiece. Vaaler Creek Golf Club at Rockin’ J Ranch celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.When Rockin’ J first opened its gate in 2004, there were about 1,800 lots plotted across the neighborhood’s 1,064 acres when ground was first broke for the community about four miles south of the square in Blanco, and about 150 of those parcels are all that’s left.There are about 650 homes that have been built in the neighborhood.

Roper, who passed away in February 2026 at the age of 97, leaves behind an undeniable legacy and an unshakable impact on the tens of thousands of people who now richly live in the communities he founded. “We have a saying, and that is that we feel that everything we do needs to be enjoyable and profitable,” Roper was fond of saying. “If it isn’t both, it needs to be a whole lot of one of them.” Turning Rockin’ J Ranch into the desirable neighborhood it has become wasn’t always easy, but

It wasn’t much

But Look At Us Now

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

COVER STORY

Colonel Roper and the Rockin’ J Ranch Crew

Roper – through his company Rinco of Texas, Inc. – had a template in his early developments around nearby Canyon Lake. Roper, a 24-year Army veteran, came to the Hill Country from El Paso as a businessman in 1980 and staked his claim, eventually marshaling the development of 30 different communities in the area. He was entranced by the land and thought other folks would feel the same way, and he was correct in so many ways. “There’s no doubt that Col. Roper will be remembered for his vision and determination to see that vision turned to reality,” said Ryan Brubaker, Director

Pool and Outdoor Pavillion

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

of Sales at Rockin’ J Ranch. “What set him apart were his values and his true belief in people and that what we’re doing with his communities was good for those people. “We strive to do what we say and put others first. That sounds easy, but it’s rarer than you think. The Colonel made sure we toed that line. He was like a second father to me – I miss him every day.” Rockin’ J Ranch feels like home – but that was the plan Roper, himself a battlefield hero, subscripted another Texas legend from a different type of skirmish, to help promote Rockin’ J Ranch in its infancy.

COVER STORY

Hole # 12 Before

The image of Dallas Cowboys legend Bob Lilly, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, peered down at drivers from huge billboards positioned around the region, asking folks to give the fledging community a visit and enticing folks to head to the outskirts of Blanco to see what all the fuss was about. Rockin’ J Ranch is a fully gated community with a presence of the site’s original ranch preserved by incorporating a handful of 150-year old homes and landmarks into the community’s clubhouse and the golf course design. Located less than an hour north of San Antonio and just a half-hour further

drive from Austin, the development stands apart from others in the area. Rockin’ J Ranch is surrounded by sprawling family tracts made special by a level of serenity and isolation that’s becoming just a bit too scarce these days. The community was laid out on a wide series of hills and plateaus amongst rolling fields of flowers and stands of oak and cedar trees. All the streets in the neighborhood are named for Texas Rangers, and the natural land offers habitat to all kinds of wildlife, perfect for great photography, seclusion, and a desired quality of life that’s hard to match. One of the unique and crucial features of Rockin’ J Ranch is its use of a centralized water and sewer system rather than the well water and septic fields demanded in the majority of other Hill Country developments.That matters because water is a precious resource and so scarce in the region – even more so now than when Rockin’ J Ranch first came on line.

Hole # 12 After

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

COVER STORY

Hole # 14 Before

Rockin’ J Ranch continues to be a melting pot of residents from across Texas and from coast to coast. “They are coming because of the beauty of the Hill Country,” Brubaker said. “Everyone wants a little piece of the heaven we have here, and we try to help them. Our location is one of our greatest selling points and has become even more so over the life of this community.” Children in the neighborhood are schooled in the Blanco ISD, which is considered one of the highest-performing districts in the region. You can still buy land at Rockin’ J Ranch land on a handshake agreement

Hole # 14 After

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

and – if you put 50 percent down – take three years to pay off that parcel with zero interest. And there’s no deadline on building a home on your property here because Rinco is in the land business and is not a home builder. If you want to buy a lot for future investment purposes, you have that option. Roper’s ultimate vision for the future of Rockin’ J Ranch was a balance of the delicate Hill Country lifestyle with amenities that families desire for comfort and convenience.To those purposes, the community also enhanced its off-course attractions, including condos for purchase or rental located adjacent to the golf course’s 10th tee, a gleaming pool, ponds for canoeing and fishing and a pavilion for after-golf dining, entertaining and special events. The unique livability of Rockin’ J Ranch helps residents get away from it all while sacrificing nothing. Kudos to Vaaler Creek GC as well.

COVER STORY

Ryan Brubaker, Colonel Roper and Adam Grosch

Vaaler Creek Golf Course is the community’s top amenity and one of the region’s most enjoyable golf courses. It’s been a constant in ranking of the best public tracks in Texas over the past 15 years. All real estate sales at Rockin’ J Ranch include basic membership for the course. The course debuted as a nine-hole track in 2007 and came into its own when it was expanded to a full 18 holes two years later. As the course has matured and the community in which it’s entrenched has taken shape on its edges,Vaaler Creek GC has won over players in droves – there is scarcely a day without a full tee sheet. “The great thing that sets us apart is that the golf course itself is always in immaculate condition,” said Adam Grosch, Vaaler Creek GC’s general manager and head PGA professional, who has also been a part of the community and the course since Day 1.“We’ve got great water rights and a great maintenance crew, and the course is a phenomenal layout.We try to make it a very fun experience.” The course was the first signature design by Michael Lowry, who fashioned a much-tougher-than-its-carded 6,874-yard, par-72 track among live oak and cactus. Lowry routed the layout along the rolling,

scrub brush-filled prairies and along the round a golfer will play through many cool features such as ponds, sand hazards of various sizes, elevated tee shots and wavy, tree-lined fairways. Both nines offer far-reaching views of the famed surrounding region and the generous homesite setbacks mean that the houses near the course are mostly out of sight and unobtrusive, adding to the course’s isolated feel. “Vaaler Creek GC is a great place to come out for the day,” Grosch said. “You get out of the grind of San Antonio or Austin, get away from the city a little bit. You get out here and it’s very calm. It’s very relaxing.” Much like the neighborhood surrounding it,Vaaler Creek GC was destined to succeed because of the plan set in motion when it was founded – and because there has been continual work to improve the course over the past 20 years. The attention to detail at the course and the hospitality and downright Texas-ness from the staff shine through. It’s not hard to envision Roper looking down from his now lofty porch, giving an approving nod to America, to Texas, to the Hill Country, and to the success of Rockin’ J Ranch and Vaaler Creek Golf Course. TheTexasGolfInsider.com

COVER STORY

What a Difference Vision and

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COVER STORY

a Couple of Decades Make

HelicopterView Of The Beginning

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SWING INTO WINTER

HERE.

Top 10 Golf Course to play in Texas “Dallas Morning News” 2025

228 Jeﬀ Vaugh, Blanco TX Vaalercreekgolfclub.com

FEATURE STORY

Texas Golf Insider Says Farewell… But We’re Far From Done By Mike Ratchman, Publisher

There are moments in life when you look back at the road you’ve traveled and realize just how far you’ve come. As I write this farewell to The Texas Golf Insider magazine, I find myself reflecting on nearly three decades of work, passion, innovation, and connection. It’s hard to believe that almost 30 years have passed since we first launched what would become the longest running statewide golf magazine in Texas history.That legacy is something I will always be proud of, and something I will always carry with me. When we started this journey, the world of golf media looked very different. Print was king, and golfers across Texas waited eagerly for each new issue to hit their mailbox or pro shop counter.We were determined to bring something fresh, something bold, something worthy of the great state of Texas. And we did.We were the first to introduce a four color, high gloss magazine to the Texas golf market.We were the first to launch a golf and travel website dedicated to Texas golfers.We were the first to deliver a digital magazine straight to your cell phone, complete with links to tee sheets across the state. Every step of the way, we pushed the boundaries. We stayed ahead of the curve.We were never afraid to try something new. That spirit of innovation is what kept us relevant for nearly 30 years. It’s what made The Texas Golf Insider a trusted name in golf information. It’s what allowed us to grow, evolve, and stay connected to golfers TheTexasGolfInsider.com

from Amarillo to Brownsville, from Houston to El Paso, and everywhere in between. We’ve always been a trendy company, a forward thinking company, a company that listened to its readers — and later, its viewers and listeners. But the world has changed.The pace of information has changed.The way people consume content has changed.Today’s marketplace moves faster than print ever could. Customers want to see a return on their investment. Golfers want instant information.Viewers and listeners want to engage, interact, and be part of the conversation. Everything — and I mean everything — is leading to the device people are attached to all day long: their cell phone. This has not been an easy decision. Closing the magazine is something we’ve been evaluating for several years.We didn’t rush it.We didn’t take it lightly.We looked at trends, we listened to our audience, and we paid attention to where the world is heading. And while I absolutely believe there is still a place for a golf magazine in Texas, the trend — the momentum — is leading our company toward the fastest growing information industry in the world: podcasting. So let me say this clearly: We are not going away.We are simply making a very big shift. We are moving full speed into live podcasting, where viewers and listeners can receive their golf and travel information on every digital platform they already use — Facebook,YouTube, Instagram, Spotify, X, Apple Podcasts, TikTok, and more. This is where people get their daily information. This is

FEATURE STORY

where engagement happens. This is Insider brand is not going anywhere.We where conversations come alive. are expanding, evolving, and stepping Our readers have become viewers. Our boldly into the future of golf media. viewers have become listeners. And our To everyone who has supported us — listeners want to interact, respond, and be advertisers, golf courses, resorts, readers, part of the show. and friends — thank you.Thank you for This evolution didn’t happen overnight. believing in us.Thank you for growing It began years ago, during our 13 year run with us.Thank you for helping us build a of golf radio on ESPN.When COVID hit, legacy that will always be part of Texas golf we were locked out of the studio. Our history. producer introduced us to Zoom, and And now, we invite you to join us in suddenly we found ourselves experimentthis next chapter.Tune in.Watch. Listen. ing with something new. Before long we Engage. Be part of the conversation became the first live evening golf and travel by tuning into “Golf After Hours” on podcast in Texas, “Golf After Hours”. At the Wednesday Nite at 7 pm CST.We’re time, hardly anyone knew what a podcast delivering a full hour of live podcasts, reels, was. It was a slow road, full of trial and clips, shorts, and interactive programming error. But we stuck with it. And today, across every major digital platform.The podcasting has become the fastest growing Insider isn’t disappearing — it’s becoming information market in the world. more accessible, more dynamic, and more You, our readers, viewers, and listenconnected than ever before. ers — led us in this direction.You showed For more information on programming us what you wanted.You showed us how and sponsorships, contact: you wanted it delivered. And you showed Mike Ratchman (830) 964-2152 us that the future of golf media is digital, mike@thetexasgolfinsider.com interactive, and immediate. In 2026 alone, www.thetexasgolfinsider.com we surpassed 1.1 million views, and the Thank you for nearly 30 incredible momentum continues to grow. years. Now let’s take the next step — People often ask, “Why don’t you together. just sell the magazine? The magazine has been up for sale for the past 18 months. We’ve had several inquiries, but nothing solid enough to move forward. Our contract with our broker runs out on March 1, 2027.We will make a true Texas Side Step — and fully embrace the fast moving world of AI and podcasting.” This farewell is not an ending. It’s a transition. It’s a new chapter built on the foundation of everything we’ve accomplished over the past 30 years.The Texas Golf Insider magazine may L to R: Dave Roberts & Mike Ratchman be closing, but The Texas Golf “Golf After Hours” Podcast

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

Home Sweet Home:

The 2027 PGA Championship Returns to Texas

By Art Stricklin, Contributing Writer

In the traveling circus that is professional golf, players are traveling from one end of the globe to the other in search of golfing glory, victories and riches, and the notion of a “home game,” especially in one of golf’s four majors, is a fleeting thought. But in May 2027, for the first time in 64 years, Texas professional golfers are finally getting a major championship

Fields Ranch East

pionship at its new home, before tens of thousands of Lone Star golf fans and millions of TV viewers, than the Texas golfers themselves. “Who doesn’t want a home game for a major?” said 2002 PGA Champion Rich Beem, who has lived in Central Texas for more than two decades and can’t wait to return in May for a chance to reclaim his

May, 2027 marks the long-awaited return of a men’s Major Championship to the Metroplex after nearly 64 years! in DFW, adjacent to the headquarters of the PGA of America, no less. Fields Ranch East will play host to the PGA Championship on the Gil Hanse designed championship course, May 20-23, 2027. No one could be more excited for the PGA of America’s decision to bring Texas a long- awaited major golf chamTheTexasGolfInsider.com

PGA title, perhaps for the last time. “To be able to jump in my car and travel 3 ½ hours will be great,” said Beem. “ I know I will have a lot of people there who will be watching or who want to come and see.” The proud golf state of Texas has nine living PGA Championship winners,

FEATURE STORY

(14 overall) by far the most of any state in the U.S., with a third already committed to play in their home state, including World No. 1 Dallas’ Scottie Scheffler. The week-long major will expose the passionate golfing state to the new modern home of golf at the PGA Frisco campus. The days of golfers showing up for a major championship in a pristine, but often inaccessible location, sitting through miles long traffic, playing the course and trying to get back in time to find something for dinner late at night, only to have to repeat the process for seven days, will be banished in May when players and fans see the new facilities. “The Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa is spectacular, just a phenomenal place. Everything you need is right there or just one to two blocks away,” said Beem. “You can practice more, sleep in more, even disappear into all the facilities they have. It’s a world class facility for players and fans and the PGA of America and Omni [PGA Frisco Resort & Spa] certainly did it right.” The idea of the PGA of America hosting its golf major at the headquarters in Frisco,Texas, 40 minutes north of Dallas, was always in the plans when this 660-acre tract was just in the dream stages more than a decade ago. After opening in May 2023, and using the Senior PGA and KPMG Women’s PGA Championships as test runs, Fields Ranch East stands ready for the spotlight. “I don’t know any better facility for the PGA anywhere, it’s massive,”

Jack Nicklaus, 1963 PGA Champion

said 1974 and ’84 PGA Championship winner Dallas’ Lee Trevino. “I think PGA Frisco will cater directly to the fans.” “The restaurants throughout the property are superb, the resort is incredible. I went to [Trick Rider] and that is as good as I’ve eaten anywhere. They have some of the best BBQ anywhere in Texas at Ice House. It will be easy for people to get in and out with the entrances they have there.You have State Highway 121 leading directly to the airport. It’s really great.” “I think it’s just a magnificent piece of property for North Texas,” added 1977 PGA Championship winner Lanny Wadkins, also from Dallas. “There is a lot of movement on the grounds. The resort is magnificent and Omni Hotels & Resorts did a great job with the presentation.” It will be the first PGA Championship held in North Texas since the 1963 PGA Championship, where Jack Nicklaus dueled a power-packed field during triple figure TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

The Omni PGA Frisco Resort & Spa

heat at Dallas Athletic Club to claim the first of his five PGA Championship titles. It will also be the first major championship of any of the four majors in Texas since the 1969 US Open was held at Champions Golf Club in Houston.The May 2027 PGA Championship at Fields Ranch East comes 100 years after Walter Hagen captured the fourth of his four straight PGA Championship wins at Dallas’ Cedar Crest Golf Club. “It’s great that a major is coming back to Texas. It’s long overdue,” said 1983 PGA Championship winner, Hal Sutton who currently lives in the Texas Hill Country. “It’s a proud moment for Texas golf. We haven’t had a major in a long time and I’m glad it’s in the spotlight where it belongs on Texas golf,” added 1996 winner Mark Brooks, a Fort Worth resident and native, who is proud to say he has never resided outside the Lone Star State. “The restaurants are great, the facilities are top-notch and the viewing areas are superb. It’s better than anything I’ve seen at the Ryder Cup,” Brooks said. TRYALL TheTexasGolfInsider.com

What the pros chasing the massive Wanamaker trophy, currently held by Aaron Rai, really want to know is what about that Hanse designed layout? That, according to the living Texas PGA Champions is another matter altogether.

Rich Beem, 2002 PGA Champion

FEATURE STORY

Look-out Lounge at the Omni

“It’s a very good golf course, but it’s complicated,” said Beem. Meaning? “It will throw some people off because they can’t figure it out the first time. It certainly is not straight forward. You can’t figure it out at first.” “ I think Augusta National is complicated. I mean, why does a first time player never win at the Masters? Because it’s complicated and takes a while to figure out. I think the same is true of PGA Frisco.” “There is a lot of movement out there and a lot of run off areas where you can miss your shot.” Jimmy Walker, the 2016 Championship winner who has lived most of his life in the San Antonio area, said where the pros miss at the 2027 PGA Championship will be as important as where they have success. “I’ve played at PGA Frisco before and one of the bigger factors will be the Bermuda rough. It’s a lot more difficult than rye grass rough. They play some of that at the Colonial and Byron Nelson tournaments, but it’s still a lot tougher.” “The tight rough and the wind will be a big factor. I think Texans can use it to their advantage for those who live and play in Texas.” No Texas natives hope to take advantage more than Dallas residents Scheffler and Jordan Spieth. Spieth needs Lodge Interior

only the PGA Championship to become the seventh professional golfer to complete the career grand slam. “It all really depends where we are playing. If we’re at PGA Frisco, I might have a big advantage,” added Spieth, who has two top three finishes in the PGA Championship. “The course is interesting,” said Scheffler, the 2025 champ, who took a guided cart tour of the Hanse layout before it was finished and has returned to see the facility since it was completed. “With two par 5s in the first three holes, you’re really going to be able to get off to a fast start here.” Brooks has made more than a dozen visits to PGA Frisco since it opened, playing and staying at the resort, and he said

andgrand 3rd Hole Jordan Spieth, hopingThe for1st career slam

TheTexasGolfInsider.com

FEATURE STORY

John Mahaffey, 1978 PGA Champion

players will need two areas of their game to be sharp to have success in May. “First, get your sight lines right. Depth perception can be a problem there with the lack of trees. Second, the greens can be pretty interesting with the movement they have. Learn where you can miss and recover.You can have flags which seem pretty easy and then you switch it around and you think, ‘wow,’ that’s a totally different hole. You’ve got to be careful where you are putting on the greens.” Another unknown factor for the first visit to the Home of the PGA of America is the Texas springtime weather. Anything from high heat, strong winds, or steady rain could all be factors over the 72 holes of competition. “It could be hot as hell, but good players can adjust to anything. That is all part of the game,” said 1978 winner John Mahaffey who lives in The Woodlands outside of Houston. TheTexasGolfInsider.com

“You’ve got to play so well to win a major, it doesn’t matter with the elevated pressure. A major championship is for terrific players. It was a life changer for me. To compete in Texas makes you tough.” Sutton said he will never forget walking up the 18th fairway at Riviera Country Club seeking his first PGA Championship title and seeing his boyhood idol Jack Nicklaus waiting behind the green. A scene that could be repeated next May as a challenger and a champion await on the par 5 18th at Fields Ranch East. Trevino knows something just as important for the 2027 PGA Championship. “I can’t wait to get up there. I really can’t. I know the route.” So do tens of thousands of Texas golf fans and dozens of professional players. After 64 years, the PGA Championship is finally coming home to Texas.

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C-130 Cart Bag - $324.99 ea Pure Golf Tri-Glide Push Cart • Lightweight Aluminum Frame • 2 Step Fold to Compact Siz • Hand Brake • Umbrella Holder • Magnetic Rangefinder/Towel Holder attachment • POP Hangtag included

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31 Bushnell Wingman HD • The visuals pop and the beats drop with the Wingman HD. Featuring a 3.5” color HD touchscreen, premium 360˚ audio, audible and visual front/center/back and hazard distances.

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Bushnell Tour Hybrid Rangefinder • Experience Slope distances like never before with the Tour Hybrid. Our first device to feature Slope compensated laser distances AND Slope compensated GPS distances. Confidently make club selections with both lasered distances to the pin as well as GPS-powered front/center/ back yardages right in the display.

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Rapsodo MLM2XPro Launch Monitor • Dual-camera vision + Doppler radar processing for precision accuracy. • Simulation at 30,000+ golf courses with putting, scoring, multiplayer and multiple tee boxes • 15 total ball and club metrics - including carry distance, ball speed, spin rate, spin axis, club path and angle of attack • R-Cloud – full session history, shot videos and progress synced across devices • Compatible with supported iOS/Android devices and PC (Windows)

MLM2XPro - $899.99 ea Adidas Codechaos 27 Golf Shoes • Balanced stability • Adaptive fit • Maximum traction • Energized comfort

Codechaos 27 Spikeless Golf Shoes $149.99 pr

Available at Edwin Watts Golf Shops and WorldwideGolf.com

Titleist Pro V1 & Pro V1x Golf Balls • Pro V1 is recommended to players who are looking for mid-trajectory flight, very low long game spin and maximum short game spin, with softer feel. • Pro V1x is recommended to players who are looking for high-trajectory flight, low long game spin with maximum short game spin, and firmer feel.

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Callaway Chrome Family • Chrome Tour is engineered for outstanding performance with exceptional speed, consistent flight, incredible spin, and greenside control. • We’ve engineered Chrome Tour X to provide outstanding distance, workability, and spin so you can experience your best performance from tee-to-green. • Chrome Soft provides outstanding performance with faster ball speeds, a new seamless Tour Aero to optimize your ball flight, increased greenside control, and soft feel.

Chrome Family Golf Balls - $57.99 dz 2 DZ for $100 - Valid 11/5/26 - 12/31/26

TaylorMade TP5 & TP5x Golf Balls • The TP5 delivers a notably softer feel and enhanced spin around the green, with lower driver spin. It is engineered with a new Speed Wrapped Core that delivers a softer sound while promoting a faster, more responsive overall design. For golfers who prioritize touch and feel in their short game, the TP5 provides precision greenside performance. • TP5x prioritizes ball speed for golfers seeking increased velocity off the clubface. It delivers lowspin performance with driver and long irons for more distance, while maintaining exceptional greenside control.

TP5 & TP5x Golf Balls - $57.99 dz 2 DZ for $100 - Valid 11/5/26 - 12/31/26

Available at Edwin Watts Golf Shops and WorldwideGolf.com

BEST IN CLASS SERVICE BACKED BY OUR LEGENDARY

We’ve been fitting our customers for over 60 years Custom fitting at Worldwide Golf is the best way to improve your game and play better golf

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FEATURE STORY

Llano River Golf Course

offers a thrill-a-shot round in cool setting

By Steve Habel, Contributing Writer

There’s a whole lot to like about the thrill-a-shot experience produced at Llano River Golf Course, and that’s what makes it so fun. The 6,295-yard, par-71 track hard on the banks of the wide Llano River, is really two courses in one. The front nine starts on the banks of the water and winds through an up-and-down, mostly open prairie defined at times by stands of trees and a small creek. The back nine begins on the flatland and immediately dives into forest that narrows holes with overhanging trees. It’s a much tighter and more difficult challenge, demanding accuracy and the ability to move the ball both ways. There are no sand bunkers at Llano River Golf Course, but the mostly small

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and always undulating Bentgrass putting surfaces are guarded by grass swales and humps and are far from easy to putt. The course is punctuated by three holes on the river: there’s a downhill 412-yard par 4 16th; a 165 yard par-3 No. 17; and a 442-yard closer, which is –by far – the longest two shotter here. To get to that final trio, the golfer must tackle two 200-plus-yard par-3s on the front nine and the stirring 480-yard par-5 15th, which is played uphill on the final two shots to the highest point at Llano River Golf Course. Don’t sleep on this course. Llano River Golf Course is far from a normal municipal. It’s in great shape, it’s affordable and it’s highly memorable. That all makes for a really nice round of golf.

DIRECTORY SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN

COURSE TYPE AUSTIN: Avery Ranch Golf Club Semi-Private Falconhead Golf Club Semi-Private Grey Rock Golf Club Semi-Private Hancock Park GC Public Jimmy Clay/Roy Kizer GC Public Lions Municipal GC Public Morris Williams GC Public Riverside Golf Club Public BANDERA: Flying L Ranch Golf Course Resort BASTROP: Colovista Golf Club Semi-Private Hyatt, Lost Pines Resort Resort Pine Forest Golf Club Public BLANCO: Vaaler Creek Golf Club Semi-Private BOERNE: Tapatio Springs Resort Resort BURNET: Delaware Springs GC Public CANYON LAKE: Lakeside Golf Club Public CASTROVILLE: Alsatian Golf Course Public COMFORT: Buckhorn Golf Course Public CONCAN: Frio Valley Ranch Semi-Private DEVINE: Devine Golf Course Public FLORESVILLE: River Bend Golf Club Public FREDERICKSBURG: Lady Bird Johnson GC Public HORSESHOE BAY: Blue Lake Golf Club-9 holes Public Horseshoe Bay Resort Resort Apple Rock Resort Ram Rock Resort Slick Rock Resort HUTTO: Golf Club at Star Ranch Semi-Private KERRVILLE: Scott Schreiner Municipal GC Public KINGSLAND: Legends Golf Course Public KYLE: Plum Creek Golf Course Public LAGO VISTA: Lago Vista Golf Course Semi-Private LAMPASAS: Hancock Park Golf Course Public LEANDER: The Golf Club at Crystal FallsPublic LLANO: Llano Golf Club Public

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PHONE

WEBSITE

(512) 248-2442 (512) 402-1558 (512) 288-4297 (512) 978-2330 (512) 974-4653 (512) 477-6963 (512) 974-8333 (512) 223-6677

www.averyranchgolf.com www.falconheadaustin.com www.greyrockgolfandtennis.com www.austintexas.gov/department/hancock-course www.austintexas.gov/department/jimmy-clay-course www.austintexas.gov/department/lions-municipal-course www.austintexas.gov/department/morris-williams-course www.riverside-gc.com

(830) 796-7745

www.flyingl.com

(512) 629-4585 (512) 308-4770 (512) 321-1181

www.colovistagolf.com www.lostpinesresortandspa.com/golf www.pineforestgolfclub.com

(830) 833-0706

www.vaalercreekgolfclub.com

(830) 537-4197

www.tapatiosprings.com

(512) 756-8471

www.delawaresprings.com

(830) 899-3301

www.lakesidegolfclubinc.com

(830) 931-3100

www.alsatiangolfclub.com

(830) 995-5351

www.buckhorngolfcourse.com

(830) 834-9340

www.friovalleyranch.com

(830) 665-9943

www.devinegc.com

(830) 216-2800

www.southtxgolf.com

(830) 997-4010

www.ladybirdgolf.com

(830) 598-5524 (830) 598-8600 (830) 598-8600 (830) 598-8600 (830) 598-8600

www.bluelakegolf.com www.hsbresort.com www.hsbresort.com/golf/apple-rock www.hsbresort.com/golf/ram-rock www.hsbresort.com/golf/slick-rock

(512) 252-4653

www.starranchgolf.com

(830) 257-4982

www.golfkerrvilletex.com

(325) 388-8888

www.legendslbj.com

(512) 262-5555

www.plumcreekgolf.com

(512) 267-1170

www.lagovistagc.com

(512) 556-3202

www.lampasas.org/147/Golf-Course

(512) 259-5855

www.crystalfallsgolf.com

(325) 247-5100

www.golfllanoriver.com

SAN ANTONIO | HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN DIRECTORY

COURSE TYPE PHONE WEBSITE MANOR: Shadow Glen GC Semi-Private (512) 278-1304 www.shadowglengolf.com MARBLE FALLS: Hidden Falls Golf Club Semi-Private (830) 693-3300 www.hiddenfallsgolfcourse.com NEW BRAUNFELS: The Bandit Golf Club Public (830) 609-4665 www.banditgolfclub.com Landa Park Golf Course Public (830) 221-4340 www.landaparkgolfcourse.com PLEASANTON: Pleasanton Country ClubSemi-Private (830) 281-3486 www.southtxgolf.com PFLUGERVILLE: Blackhawk Golf Club Public (512) 251-9000 www.blackhawkgolf.com ROUND ROCK: Forest Creek Golf Club Public (512) 388-2874 www.forestcreek.com The Golf Club of Star Ranch Semi-Private (512) 252-GOLF www.starranchgolf.com TeraVista Golf Club Semi-Private (512) 651-9850 www.teravistagolf.com SALADO: Mill Creek Inn & Country Club Semi-Private (254) 947-5698 www.millcreekgolf27.com SAN MARCOS: Kissing Tree Golf Club Semi-Private (512) 749-1031 www.kissingtreegolfclub.com SAN SABA: San Saba River GC Public (325) 372-3212 www.golfsansaba.com SEGUIN: Starcke Park Golf Course Public (830) 401-2490 www.seguintexas.gov SPICEWOOD: Pedernales Golf Course Public (512) 264-1489 www.cutnputt.com SPRING BRANCH The Club at Rebecca CreekSemi-Private (830) 885-5168 www.rebeccacreek.com SAN ANTONIO: Brackenridge Park Golf CoursePublic (210) 226-5612 www.alamocitygolftrail.com Canyon Springs Golf Course Public (210) 497-1770 www.canyonspringsgc.com Cedar Creek Golf Course Public (210) 695-5050 www.alamocitygolftrail.com/cedar-creek-golf-course/ Gateway Hills Golf Course Public (210) 671-3466 www.jbsagolf.com/gateway-hills Golf Club of Texas Public (210) 504-2550 www.golfclubtexas.com Hyatt Hill Country Resort Resort (210) 647-1234 www.hyatthills.com La Cantera Golf Club Public (210) 558-4653 www.lacanteragolfclub.com La Loma Grande GC Public (210) 222-9386 www.jbsatoday.com/golf/ Mission Del Lago Golf Course Public (210) 627-2522 www.alamocitygolftrail.com/mission-del-lago-golf-course/ Northern Hills Golf Club Public (210) 655-4148 www.alamocitygolftrail.com/northern-hills-golf-course Olmos Basin Golf Course Public (210) 826-4041 www.alamocitygolftrail.com/olmos-basin-golf-course/ Randolf Oaks Golf Course Public (210) 652-4570 www.jbsatoday.com/golf/ Riverside Golf Course Public (210) 533-8371 www.alamocitygolftrail.com/riverside-golf-course/ Salado Del Rio GC Public (210) 222-9386 www.jbsatoday.com/golf/ San Pedro Range & Par 3 Public (210) 349-5113 www.golfsanpedro.com Silverhorn Golf CLub Public (210) 545-5300 www.silverhorngolfclub.com The Quarry Golf Club Semi-private (210) 824-4500 www.quarrygolf.com TPC San Antonio Resort (210) 491-5800 www.tpc.com/sanantonio/ Windcrest Golf Course Semi-private (210) 655-1421 www.windcrestgolfclub.net Willow Springs Golf Course Public (210) 226-6721 www.alamocitygolftrail.com/willow-springs-golf-course/ UNIVERSAL CITY: Olympia Hills Golf & Conf. Ctr Public (210) 945-4653 www.olympiahillsgolf.com UTOPIA: Utopia Golf Course Public (830) 966-5577 www.utopiagolf.com/www.utopiagolf.com/ VICTORIA: Riverside Golf Course Municipal (361) 573-4521 www.playriversidegc.com WIMBERLEY: Double J Ranch Golf Club Public (512) 847-9700 www.quicksandatwoodcreekwimberley.com

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Laredo

127

ConCan

Harper

Utopia

Castroville

1604

Comfort 473

Kingsland

1431

1604

42 725

73 73

Kyle

620

Marble Falls Leander

Spring Brand

87 87

2342

130 1825

6205/68.9/112

Practice Fac. Restaurant Banquet Fac. Pro Shop Instructions Ad on Page

Yardage /Rating /Slope

Landa Park Golf Course (830) 221-4340 M 18 73 180 Golf Course Rd., New Braunfels, TX 78130

Par

Type: M=Municipal, PR=Private, P=Public, SP= Semi-Private.

Type Hole

Map Number

SAN ANTONIO |HILL COUNTRY | AUSTIN COURSES 39

• • •

• • 2

71 6094/69.1/123

•

• • 35

72 6641/73.6/140

• • •

•

6902/ /119

•

• • 40

(830) 257-4982 M 18

70 6453/71.6/126

• •

(830) 833-0706 P 18

72 6864/73.0/140

•

www.landaparkgolfcourse.com

Llano River Golf Course

(325) 247-5100 M 18

78 2835 West Ranch Road 152, Llano, TX 78643 www.cityofllano.com

NorthShore Country Club (361) 643-1546 23 801 East Broadway Ave, Portland, TX 78374

SP 18

www.northshoretx.com

San Saba River Golf Course 85 723 C R 102, San Saba, TX 76877 www.golfsansaba.com

(325) 372-3212 P 18

Scott Shreiner Municipal Golf Course

17 1 Country Club Dr., Kerrville, TX 78028

•

• • 26

www.golfkerrvilletex.com

Vaaler Creek Golf Club

87 228 Jeff Vaughn, Blanco, TX 78155

•

• • 17

www.vcgc.golf

SHOPPING/SERVICES Edwin Watts | Map # 3 | Ad Page 27-33 1050 N.E. Loop 410, San Antonio, TX www.worldwidegolfshops.com | 210-822-4060 Edwin Watts | Map # 83 | Ad Page 27-33 4526 South Padre Island Dr., Corpus Christi, TX www.worldwidegolfshops.com | 361-852-0358

REAL ESTATE Rockin’ J Ranch | Map# 2 | Ad Page 8-17 288 John Price Blvd., Blanco, TX 78606 | www.rockinjranch.net | 830-833-2266

Golf After Hours Podcast| Ad Page 5 YouTube & Facebook Live - Wednesdays 7pm

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San Saba River Golf Course www.golfsansaba.com

Book your Tee Time

325.372.3212

Stay & Play at San Saba River Golf Course and RV Park 723 CR 102 San Saba TX 76877 1 mile East of town on HWY 190 turn left on CR 104 - 102 1/2 mile

TRAVEL

Trade Winter for the Tryall Club ...Championship Golf and Private Villa Living on Jamaica’s North Coast For Texas golfers watching the sun starting to set earlier, a Caribbean escape offers a welcome change of pace. At The Tryall Club, near Montego Bay, Jamaica, the invitation begins with golf and extends well beyond the final green. Set across 2,200 acres of coastal landscape and rolling hills, this private club and villa community brings together a championship course, distinctive accommodations and the warmth of Jamaican hospitality. A morning on the fairways can lead to an afternoon beside the sea, followed by dinner with family and friends. There is room here to make the vacation your own.

Tryall Golf Holes 1 and 3

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Golf with a sense of place Tryall’s 18-hole championship course gives golfers a close connection to the island’s landscape. Designed by Ralph Plummer, the layout moves between coastal holes and higher ground, with sea breezes adding another consideration to club selection. Rolling fairways, bunkers and changing elevations reward thoughtful play, while views of the Caribbean provide plenty of reasons to pause between shots. The seventh hole offers one of the course’s most distinctive encounters with history: a shot played through the stone

TRAVEL

pillars of an aqueduct that once supplied the estate’s waterwheel. It is a memorable detail on a course whose character comes from the land around it. Renovation work led by architect Andrew Green has refined the greens and bunkering while respecting Plummer’s original design. The Tryall Golf Academy adds another dimension to a Stella by the Sea golf getaway, with personalized instruction for players at areas, or a larger estate where several different stages of their game. Beginners generations can settle in comfortably. can build confidence, experienced golfers Shared spaces make it easy to spend time can work on specific skills, and children together, with the privacy of separate can discover the sport in a welcoming bedrooms when the day winds down. For setting.Winter and school-holiday clinics a golf group, that means somewhere to also create opportunities to learn alongcompare scorecards over drinks and plan side fellow players. For friends traveling tomorrow’s round. together, a lesson and a round can become Attentive villa staff bring Jamaican the starting point for a week of friendly hospitality into everyday moments, helpcompetition. ing guests feel at home throughout their A villa that fits your vacation stay. In estate villas, private chefs can tailor meals to guests’ preferences, making Accommodations are central to the breakfast before a tee time or dinner after Tryall experience. The collection ranges a beach day feel personal. Housekeeping from intimate one-bedroom retreats and laundry services ease the practical to expansive villas with as many as ten bedrooms, allowing couples, families and groups to choose a setting suited to their stay. Oceanfront homes put the water close at hand, while hillside estates offer broad views and space to gather. Each property has its own personality. Guests might choose a quiet hideaway for two, a home with generNative Area Landscaping beside Meadowbrook Hole 1 ous outdoor living OverlookVilla at the Tryall Club

TRAVEL

Livity Spa

side of traveling. Food and beverages are purchased separately from the standard villa rental, with shopping arranged around guests’ needs. Life beyond the fairways Tryall makes it easy for golfers and their traveling companions to enjoy different interests and come together again later. At the Beach Club, a palmshaded shoreline and an infinity-edge pool overlooking the sea invite an unhurried afternoon.Watersports offer a more active way to enjoy the coast, while a quiet beach provides space to read or simply take in the view.

Livity Spa

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Tennis and pickleball bring their own social energy to the club. Players can arrange instruction, enjoy a match or join organized play, with options for different ages and abilities. The appeal is as much the company as the competition: a chance to meet fellow guests and add another favorite activity to the week. For a gentler pace, Livity Spa by Tryall Club draws on Jamaican traditions and a philosophy of balanced living. Massages, facials, yoga and meditation offer ways to unwind between rounds or dedicate an afternoon to well-being. Nature walks and children’s activities broaden the possibilities for families, helping everyone find something to look forward to. Evenings at The Club Dining gives the Tryall day a natural gathering point. At Ooshan Bar & Restaurant, contemporary Jamaican influences and local ingredients meet an ocean-side setting. Sunset drinks can lead into dinner, with the sea providing a backdrop to conversations that continue long after the golf scores have been settled. The Beach Bar & Grill keeps things casual with wood-fired pizza, Jamaican jerk favorites and homemade ice cream. Guests can also arrange private dining in distinctive settings, including the beach or the historic waterwheel. A quiet meal

TRAVEL

in the villa, a relaxed lunch by the coast and an evening out each bring a different pleasure to the stay. That flexibility suits occasions of every size. A couples’ escape can feel intimate, a family reunion can revolve around shared meals, and a gathering of friends can move easily between golf and the wider club. Tryall also offers settings for weddings, celebrations and corporate retreats, pairing villa accommodations with opportunities to spend meaningful time together. Guests can leave space in the itinerary for those simple pleasures that make a holiday memorable: another

swim before dinner, a leisurely breakfast with an ocean view, or an afternoon spent catching up with friends on the veranda. More Caribbean Nights in 2027 For travelers already looking toward next summer, the Caribbean Nights Offer 2027 provides another reason to plan ahead. On select villa-only stays, guests can enjoy up to two complimentary nights and the flexibility of any-day arrivals for travel from May 1 through October 31, 2027. The offer also includes 10 percent off dinner at Ooshan Bar & Restaurant throughout the stay, including themed nights. The dining discount applies to food only and excludes beverages. Bookings must be made by January 31, 2027; offer terms and additional charges apply. Whether the next trip is a winter golf escape or a summer villa gathering, Tryall gives guests the freedom to build it around the people and pastimes they love. To explore accommodations and enquire about Caribbean Nights 2027, visit tryallclub.com/enquire-now/.

Ooshan Bar & Restaurant

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FEATURE STORY

A FULL CIRCLE SUMMER

NTPGA JuniorTour Alumni Sweep the 2026 NTPGA Section Individual Majors Sherrill Park Golf Course

The Northern Texas PGA’s 2026 Section major championship schedule produced four champions with a unique connection. Every victor this summer launched his competitive journey on the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour.

Corey Roberson, Chance Mulligan, Colton Hilburn, and Chase Walts each captured one of the four individual stroke-play majors this season. From the Eastern Championship in June to the Section Championship in September, the former NTPGA junior golfers completed a season-long sweep that demonstrates exactly where the NTPGA’s junior pathway can take you. The run began in June at Sherrill Park Golf Course, where Corey Roberson, PGA Director of Golf at Lakewood Country Club, captured the Prize Possessions | E-Z-GO Eastern Championship. Roberson secured a one-stroke victory to claim the first individual major of the year. “I remember when I was really young—9, 10, 11, 12—I feel like I won a lot of the junior tournaments. Then, as I got older, I started winning less and less. I only made it to state twice in high school, my freshman year and my senior year. Then, when I got into college, I didn’t win another golf tournament unYoung boyPGA runsDirector through of anGolf inflatable tunnel Corey Roberson, on his way to the first tee to begin his round til my junior year”, said Roberson. “It’s Lakewood Country Club

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FEATURE STORY

Corey Roberson, E-Z-GO Eastern Champion

kind of crazy going through it like that. It makes you appreciate playing well and winning more. When you get used to doing it, and then you don’t do it for a really long time, it was fun.” Two weeks later, Chance Mulligan continued the trend with a victory at the Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco. The win earned him a spot in the national PGA Professional Championship next spring. Another summer milestone to celebrate for Mulligan, he

was promoted from assistant to Head Golf Professional at Odessa Country Club. Mulligan’s connection to the NTPGA runs deep. He competed at every level of the Ewing Automotive Junior Tour, winning events on the Prep, Medalist, and All American Tours, before returning as a college intern to help run those same events. “Maybe I’m the example of what the Section staff means by progressing through all the different levels, loving golf enough to make it a career, and then still being okay at it,” Mulligan said.

Chance Mulligan, Head Golf Professional Odessa Country Club

Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco

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FEATURE STORY

and how you portray yourself are ultimately what you want to achieve.” Winning the Golf Pro Payments Western Championship was simply the cherry on top. Chase Walts, PGA Assistant at Trinity Forest Golf Club, completed the unique sweep in midSeptember by winning the Joyce Crane | Huntington Bank Section Championship at The Lakes at Castle Chance Mulligan, winner of Northern Texas PGA Professional Championship

The third individual major of the season headed west, where Colton Hilburn, assistant professional at San Angelo Country Club, returned to familiar territory. Growing up in West Texas, Hilburn played some of his earliest junior events at Midland Country Club. At these tournaments, he learned lessons in integrity that far outlasted any leaderboard success. “How you perform on the golf course and your scorecard at the end of the day do not define who you are as a person,” Hilburn said. “How you carry yourself, how you talk to others,

Midland Country Club

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Colton Hilburn,Assistant Professional San Angelo Country Club

Hills. With the victory, Walts earned a coveted exemption into the 2027 THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson. The win marked an original full-circle moment. In 2015, the first professional tournament Walts ever attended as a spectator was a Web.com Tour (now Korn Ferry Tour) event held at Castle Hills. Eleven years

REVIEW

learned earlier in life that my score doesn’t make me who I am. It doesn’t matter if I go out and shoot 59 or 99. When I go home at the end of the day, I’m still going to be the same person.” At first glance, the story of the 2026 NTPGA Major Champions is about a junior tour that successfully develops elite playing talent, but really it is how these four PGA Professionals approach the game. Colton Hilburn, winner of the Golf Pro Payments Western Championship

later, on that same course, he qualified for his first PGA Tour event. Despite the impressive achievement, Walts shared Hilburn’s grounded perspective, saying, “I wish I could have ChaseWatts, winner of the Joyce Crane | Huntington Bank Section Championship

ChaseWatts, PGA Assistant Trinity Forest Golf Club

Randy Smith poses with two young girls before they tee off

The Ewing Automotive Junior Tour is built to progress players through competitive golf while instilling core values that extend far beyond the fairways. In 2026, Roberson, Mulligan, Hilburn, and Walts proved that the pathway doesn’t just build great golfers; it builds great leaders.

The Lakes at Castle Hills

FEATURE STORY

The Tempest

An East Texas Masterpiece

By Pat Wheeler Contributing Writer

It was during a chat in the parking lot on a cool fall evening in 2018, having played and attended the grand opening of the Tempest Golf Club, that the late Craig Bivins made a most memorable statement. One that was perceptive and prescient. “We’re both East Texas guys who love what they have created here,” Bivins said. “It is so impressive, the lay of the land and the views. But the key is going to be the conditioning of the course. Can they make it pristine and keep golfers wanting to come here to play?” Erudite and never shy to share his opinion, Bivins was a native of Longview who passed away in May of 2020. Like a lot of us who love the hills and dells of East Texas, Bivins badly wanted the Tempest to excel and would be pleased with its recent course improvements. I remembered Bivins’ comments a few years ago when the Tempest team, headed by owner Joe Bruno and general manager Jason Crews, brought in Ken Bowman as its golf course superintendent. A veteran superintendent, Bowman brought extensive knowledge and a penchant for hard work to the job and even proffered a five-year plan for taking the course to an elite status. Bowman’s plan, now at the halfway mark since he was hired in January of 2024, fits nicely into the vision Bruno had from

the beginning that the Tempest be the best course in East Texas, and perhaps the best in Texas. The grandson of a Sicilian furniture craftsman, Bruno is a successful New Orleans attorney who inherited a keen sense of attention to detail that is evident in his tireless efforts to improve the course he obtained in 2006. He was busy with litigation after Hurricane Katrina, and the course property had also endured a torrential storm, so the name Tempest was a natural fit and emphasizes its uniqueness. Not a golfer, Bruno’s style is reflected more in the clubhouse where there is an ambiance of fine things. Several pieces of family antique furniture and art attest to his love of fine things and Louisiana, only an hour away to the east. A longtime associate of Bruno’s, Crews immersed himself into the operation of the Tempest. He began to take an active role in its management in 2023 and began participation in the PGA program later that year to get a better understanding of golf operations. Crews inherited a capable golf staff headed by an experienced Director of Golf, Randy Wade, who was hired by Bruno a year before the course opened.Wade manages a well-stocked golf shop and oversees the tournaments hosted at the course.

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Hole 4

FEATURE STORY

Hiring Bowman became an initial project for Crews and doing so became a catalyst for the Tempest evolving into the vision Bruno had from its outset. It was Bruno who first walked the property with Arlington Golf Course architect Jeff Brauer and they mutually discovered its natural beauty. Now, with Bowman overseeing the maintenance of the course, Crews looks forward to where the course can go from here. The work is showing.The Tempest is now ranked the 16th best public course in Texas and 67th overall. However, Crews insists they are not satisfied.They believe the sky is the limit for the Tempest. “The course is in the best shape it has ever been, and it will get better every year,” Crews said. “Ken built a five-year plan and we follow it.The fundamentals are where we want them, and we have a clear list of what comes next.” Crews said the good condition of the course gets the golfer out to play but the other amenities keep them coming back. “Golfers want a good course in great shape, and we are blessed with a dramatic piece of property just north of Interstate 20, but our aim has always been to do more than that,” Crews said. “We strive to give

Hole 3

our golfers that private club experience they don’t get back home at their public courses. So we invest in where golfers feel it; Neptune’s Grille, a brand-new cart fleet, and an exceptional staff that gives the kind of service where people remember you.The course gets you here.The rest is why you come back.” It was the fall of 2016, ten years ago, when I first looked at what Brauer was crafting at the behest of Bruno. I drove to the highpoint of the property, noticing the wide corridors carved through towering pines and took my first look at the rolling terrain below. It was mesmerizing! I coined a phrase that I still like to use – “East Texas golf as it was meant to be.” For more information, go to tempestgolfclub.com

Hole 16

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FEATURE STORY

A Rich Golfing History Fort Worth Golf By Pat Wheeler, Contributing Writer

Perhaps no other Texas city can match the golfing history of Fort Worth. Not only is it the hometown of legends Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan, two of the greatest players to ever grip a club, Fort Worth also is the site of the longest running PGA Tour event at the same site – Colonial Country Club, on the banks of the Trinity River. To enhance that history are a trio of city owned courses that offer a variety of beauty and challenge for golfers to enjoy at affordable prices. Meadowbrook Golf Course on the east side of Fort Worth near Interstate 30 is the most recent renovation to draw universal praise because of its new routing and superb course conditions. One of the oldest courses in Fort Worth dating back to the 1920s, Meadowbrook benefited from the efforts of Arlington-based John Colligan and his associate Trey Kemp. Colligan and Kemp also transformed Rockwood Park Golf Course near downtown, in 2017, and it remains a “venue with views” that draws both local regulars and visiting golfers. Rockwood is also steeped in history with its 1938 beginning designed by the same man, John Bredemus, who designed Colonial a few years earlier. On his team at both courses were revered golf course architects Perry Maxwell and Ralph Plummer. The third course in Fort Worth’s stable is Pecan Valley Golf Course near Benbrook Lake. It sports a notable history of its own, hosting for decades a large high school tournament. Opening in 1963, Pecan Valley

PecanValley Golf Course

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Meadowbrook Golf Course

offered 18 holes for play and then soon expanded to 27 holes and now has 36 holes with its Creek and Hills courses offering a variety of holes to intrigue golfers. Since 1998, the large high school tournament has been called the Bart Granger Memorial. Hosted by Paschal High School of Fort Worth, the event is named for the son of the late John Granger, who was an All America golfer at the University of North Texas. Bart died tragically in a car accident just two weeks after the tournament (then named the Paschal Invitational)in 1997. Along with many traditions enjoyed by the participants, the tournament features a marching band and pep squad for the opening ceremonies. “The Bart Granger is probably the best high school tournament anywhere,” Pecan Valley pro Henry Cagigal said. “You need to come out to see it next fall because the opening ceremony will send chills down your spine.” The renovations to Rockwood and Meadowbrook have acted as a catalyst for increased interest for both courses. Rockwood serves as the home course of the Fort Worth First Tee program. At its opening ceremony in 2018, an impressive sculpture was revealed at the back of the First Tee clubhouse.The hanging sculpture shows the golf swing of Hogan in phases with each phase used to highlight the nine core values of the First Tee.Those core values are honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgement. The courses, the history and even the sculpture illustrate Fort Worth’s commitment to quality golf and the people who play the greatest game.

FEATURE STORY

2026 Gathering of Eagles Celebrates Texas Golf Legends

The Texas Golf Hall of Fame celebrated its Class of 2026 with a memorable Gathering of Eagles on October 19th in San Antonio.The celebration honored Stacy Lewis, Colt Knost, Dale Morgan, Mark Harrison, and the late Dave Pelz, represented by his daughter Laura Pelz McGloughlin, along with River Oaks Country Club, represented by Club President Zach Fertitta.

George H.W. Bush and Don Cherry. In a special tribute to the game’s history, the inductees stepped up to the tee with Ben Hogan persimmon woods and launched their ceremonial drives. The tradition connects each new class with the generations of Texas golf legends who came before them. Following golf, the celebration continued with the official Pinning Ceremony, as Texas Golf Hall of Fame

On their way to the Driving In Ceremony

Family, friends, fellow Hall of Fame members, and supporters of Texas golf surrounded the inductees for a day filled with tradition, friendship, and celebration. The festivities began at historic Brackenridge Park Golf Course with the traditional “Driving In” Ceremony, established in 1995 by President TheTexasGolfInsider.com

Pinning Ceremony with Mike Booker and Stacy Lewis

FEATURE STORY

Chairman Mike Booker (Class of 2019) presented each inductee with their Hall of Fame pin. The group then gathered at the Texas Golf Walk of Fame for the unveiling of the Class of 2026 markers, permanently recognizing their contributions to the game and their place among Texas golf’s greatest figures. Their names will also be enshrined at the Hall of Fame’s anchor sites at The Ronny Golf Park at PGA Frisco and Memorial Park Golf Course in Houston, extending their recognition across the state. The day’s festivities culminated with the Gathering of Eagles Induction Dinner at San Antonio Country Club.

TGHOF Chairman Mike Booker at the Eagle Awards

Unveiling of the 2026 Marker

An impressive 30 Texas Golf Hall of Fame members, including three World Golf Hall of Fame members, joined 300 guests to welcome the newest class into the Hall of Fame. David Marr III served as master of ceremonies, guiding the evening’s program as guests celebrated the remarkable careers, accomplishments, and contributions of the 2026 inductees. A longtime golf broadcaster, Marr is the son of the late Dave Marr, the 1965 PGA Champion who entered the Texas Golf Hall of Fame in 1981. The Gathering of Eagles, presented by Huntington Bank, is more than an

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FEATURE STORY

The evening began with music from the Mariachi Band

induction ceremony. It is a reunion of Texas golf legends, a celebration of the people who have shaped the game, and a reminder of the rich history that makes Texas golf so special. During the banquet, the Gathering of Eagles auction raised money to support youth golf initiatives, digital museum Perhaps the winning bid preservation, daily

operations, and the organization’s endowment fund. The Class of 2026 adds another remarkable chapter to the Texas Golf Hall of Fame’s mission: Honor the Past, Celebrate the Present, and Inspire Future Generations of Texas Golfers. The class, the Hall’s 31st since its founding in 1978, honors a major champion, a U.S. Amateur winner, a teacher and club leader, a section executive, a short-game pioneer and one of the state’s most storied golf courses.

Auctioneer and Hall of Fame member, Pat McMahan

L to R: Mark Harrison, Dale Morgan. Laurakay Pelz McGloughlin, Stacy Lewis, River Oaks Country Club Representative Zach Fertita, and Colt Knost

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FEATURE STORY

The Class of 2026 Stacy Lewis, Professional Player Raised in The Woodlands, Stacy Lewis overcame significant health challenges early in life before winning the 2007 NCAA individual national championship at the University of Arkansas. Her professional career produced 13 LPGA victories, including two major championships, more than 100 top-10 finishes and a climb to World No. 1, along with multiple Player of theYear honors. Lewis played on four U.S. Solheim Cup teams, served as an assistant captain in 2021 and captained the Americans in 2023 and 2024. Colt Knost, Amateur Pilot Point,Texas native Colt Knost put together one of the great amateur seasons of his era in 2007, winning both the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Amateur Public Links.That same year he earned the McCormack Medal as the world’s top-ranked amateur and helped the United States win the Walker Cup. Knost won seven times in college at SMU, and today he remains one of the game’s familiar voices as a broadcaster for CBS Sports. Dale Morgan, PGA, Golf Professional/ Teacher Dale Morgan has spent more than four decades building the game through leadership, mentorship and club operations. He is best known for a nearly 30-year tenure at Austin Country Club, where he carried forward one of the most storied traditions in Texas golf and shaped the careers of countless professionals and players. Morgan is a past President of the Southern Texas PGA and currently serves on the PGA of America Board of Directors. Mark Harrison, Professional Service Mark Harrison has spent nearly three decades with the Northern Texas PGA, becoming its third Executive Director in

2011 and its first CEO in 2016. He played a central role in the creation of PGA Frisco, developing the vision and business plan behind the partnership between the PGA of America, the City of Frisco and TRT Holdings. Under his leadership, the NTPGA has grown into one of the most influential PGA Sections in the country, with lasting impact on junior golf and philanthropy. Dave Pelz, Lifetime Achievement (Posthumous) A former NASA scientist turned golf pioneer, Dave Pelz changed how the game is taught. He was among the first to study golf performance scientifically, and his research found that nearly 80 percent of shots lost to par happen within 100 yards of the hole.That insight shifted instruction toward wedge play and putting. Pelz founded the Scoring Game School and wrote several best-selling books, making improvement more measurable for millions of golfers. His daughter, Laurakay Pelz McGloughlin, accepted the honor on behalf of her late father. River Oaks Country Club (Houston), Historic Course Established in 1923, River Oaks Country Club was originally designed by Donald Ross and later renovated by Tom Fazio. The club has hosted premier amateur and professional events and is tied to some of the game’s greatest names, including Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson and Babe Zaharias. It also played an important role in the legacies of the Burke and Harmon families, who shaped generations of champions and teachers. Their stories will also live in the Hall’s Digital Museum, with Class of 2026 exhibits made possible by a grant from the Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation. TheTexasGolfInsider.com

DIRECTORY DALLAS | FORT WORTH

ARLINGTON: Lake Arlington Golf CourseSemi-Private Tierra Verde Golf Club Semi-Private Texas Rangers Golf Club AZLE: Cross Timbers Golf Course Public BROWNWOOD: The Hideout Golf Club Semi-Private BULLARD: Eagles Bluff Country Club Private Emerald Bay Country Club Private BURLESON: Hidden Creek Golf Course Public Southern Oaks Golf Club Public CARROLTON: Maridoe Golf Club Private Highlands Performance G Public Indian Creek Golf Course Public DALLAS: Bear Creak Golf Club Semi-Private Buffalo Creek GC Public Cedar Crest Golf Course Public Cowboys Golf Club Public Keeton Park Golf Course Public Luna Vista Golf Course Public Preston Trail Golf Club Private Stevens Park Golf Course Public Tenison Glen Golf Club Public The Golf Club of Dallas Semi-Private Trinity Forest Golf Club Private DENTON: Denton Country Club Private Wildhorse GC at Robson RanchSemi-Private DESOTO: Thorntree Country Club Public EULESS: Texas Star Golf Course Semi-Private FAIRVIEW: Heritage Ranch Golf Course Public FERRIS: Old Brickyard Golf Course Public FLOWER MOUND: Bridlewood Golf Club Public Tour 18 Public FORT WORTH: Hawks Creek Golf Course Public Meadowbrook GC Municipal Pecan Valley GC Municipal Rockwood Golf Course Municipal The Golf Club-Champion Cir. Semi-Private The Golf Club at the Resort Public Whitestone Golf Club Semi-Private FRANKSTON: Pine Dunes Resort/Golf Club Public FRISCO: Frisco Lakes Golf Club Public Trails of Frisco Golf Club Public GARLAND: Duck Creek Golf Course Public Firewheel Golf Park Public GLADEWATER: Tempest Golf Club Semi-Private GLEN ROSE: Squaw Valley Golf Club Public GORDONVILLE: Rock Creek Resort GC Private

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(817) 451-6101 (817) 478-8500 (817) 275-5941

www.lakearlingtongolfcourse.com www.tierraverdegolfclub.com www.texasrangersgolfclub.com

(817) 444-4940

www.crosstimbersgc.com

(325) 784-4653

www.thehideouttexas.com

(903) 825-2999 (903) 825-3388

www.eaglesbluffcc.com www.emeraldbayclub.org

(817) 447-4444 (817) 426-2400

www.hiddencreekgc.com www.southernoaksgolf.com

(972) 416-2131 (972) 733-4111 (800) 369-4137

www.maridoe.com www.highlandspgc.com www.indiancreekgolfclub.com

(972) 456-3200 (972) 771-4003 (214) 670-7615 (817) 481-7277 (214) 670-8784 (214) 670-6322 (972) 248-8448 (214) 670-7506 (214) 670-1402 (214) 333-3595 (214) 646-3570

www.bearcreek-golf.com www.buffalocreekgc.com www.golfcedarcrest.com www.arcisgolf.com/clubs/cowboys_golf_club/home www.keetonpark.com www.lunavistagolf.com

(940) 464-0077 (940) 246-1001

www.dentoncc.org www.robsonranchgolfclub.com

(972) 296-2146

www.thorntreecc.com

(817) 685-7888

www.texasstargolf.com

(800) 579-3089

www.heritageranchgolf.com

(972) 355-4800

www.oldbrickyardgolf.com

(972) 355-4800 (817) 430-2000

www.bridlewoodgolf.com www.tour18golf.com

(817) 738-8402 (817) 457-4616 (817) 249-1845 (817) 624-1771 (817) 497-2582 (817) 750-2178 (817) 249-9996

www.hawkscreek.com www.fortworthgolf.org/golf/meadowbrook www.fortworthgolf.org/golf/pecan-valley www.fortworthgolf.org www.championscirclegolf.com www.resortgolfclub.com www.whitestonegolf.com

(903) 876-4336

www.pinedunes.com

(972) 292-3089 (972) 668-4653

www.friscolakesgc.com www.thetrailsoffriscogc.com

(214) 440-2229 (972) 205-2765

www.duckcreekgc.com/ www.golffirewheel.com/

(903) 732-1909

www.tempestgolfclub.com

(800) 831-8259

www.squawvalleygc.com

(903) 523-5357

www.ddresorts.com/rock-creek/

www.stevensparkgolf.com www.tenisonpark.com www.golfclubdallas.com www.trinityforestgc.com

DALLAS | FORT WORTH DIRECTORY GUNTER: The Bridges Semi-Private GRAND PRAIRIE: Grand Oaks Golf Club Semi-Private Prairie Lakes Golf Club Public Riverside Golf Club Semi-Private Tangle Ridge Golf Club Public IRVING: Cottonwood Valley GC Private Irving Golf Club Municipal TPC Las Conlinas Course Private KELLER: Sky Creek Ranch Golf Club Public LANCASTER: Country View Golf Course Public Country View Golf Course Public LINDALE: Hideaway Country Club Private LIPAN: Sugar Tree Golf Course Semi-Private Country View Golf Course Public LUFKIN: Crown Colony CC Private Country View Golf Course Public MESQUITE: Mesquite Golf Course Public MUENSTER: Turtle Hill Golf Club Public PLANO: Pecan Hollow Golf Course Public Ridgeview Ranch GC Public The Course at Watters CreekPublic POTTSBORO: Tanglewood Resort GC Semi-Private Country View Golf Course Public RICHARDSON: Sherrill Park Golf Course Public ROCKWALL: Buffalo Creek Golf Club Semi-Private ROWLETT: Waterview Golf Club Public RUNAWAY BAY: Runaway Bay Golf Club Semi-Private Country View Golf Course Public TYLER: The Cascades Private Pine Springs GC Public Willowbrook CC Private WACO: Bear Ridge Golf Club Public WAXAHACHIE: Country View Golf Course Public Waxahachie Country Club Public WEATHERFORD: Canyon West Golf Course Public Oeste Ranch Golf Course Public WEST TAWAKONI: Deer Run Golf Course Public WILLOW PARK: Squaw Creek GC Semi-Private WYLIE: Woodbridge Golf Course Public YANTIS: Links at Lands End Private

(903) 696-0022

www.bridgestexasgolf.com

(972) 264-6161 (972) 237-4156 (817) 640-7800 (972) 299-6837

www.grandoaksgc.com www.prairielakesgolf.com www.playriversidetx.com www.tangleridge.com

(972) 717-2525 (972) 438-4340 (972) 717-2525

www.cottonwoodvalley.com www.irvinggolfclub.org www.ritzcarlton.com

(817) 498-1414

www.skycreekranch.com

(972) 227-0995 (972) 227-0995

www.countryviewgolfcourse.com www.countryviewgolfcourse.com

(903) 882-6151

www.hideawaytexas.net

(817) 341-1111 (972) 227-0995

www.sugartreegolf.com www.countryviewgolfcourse.com

(903) 882-6151 (972) 227-0995

www.crown-colony.site www.countryviewgolfcourse.com

(972) 270-7457

www.mesquitegc.com

(940) 759-4896

www.playtheturtle.com

(972) 941-7600 (972) 390-1036 (214) 509-4653

www.pecanhollowgc.com www.ridgeviewgc.com www.watterscreekgolf.com

(903) 786-4638 (972) 227-0995

www.tanglewoodresort.com www.countryviewgolfcourse.com

(972) 234-1416

www.sherrillparkgolf.com

(972) 771-4003

www.buffalocreekgc.com

(972) 463-8900

www.waterviewgc.com

(940) 575-2225 (972) 227-0995

www.rbgolf.com www.countryviewgolfcourse.com

(903) 525-000 (903) 526-4653 (903) 592-8226

www.cascadescountryclub.com www.pinespringsgolf.com www.wbcctyler.com

(254) 848-7800

www.bearridgewaco.com

(972) 227-0995 (972) 937-3521

www.countryviewgolfcourse.com www.waxahachiegolfclub.com

(817) 596-4653 (817) 441-1044

www.canyonwestgolf.com www.oesteranch.com

(903) 447-2981

www.deergolf.com

(817) 441-8185

www.squawcreekgolfcourse.com

(972) 429-5100

www.wbgolfclub.com

(903) 383-3290

www.golflakefork.com

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COURSES

Practice Fac. Restaurant Banquet Fac. Pro Shop Instructions Ad on Page

Yardage /Rating /Slope

Type: M=Municipal, PR=Private, P=Public, SP= Semi-Private.

Par

DALLAS | FORT WORTH

Type Hole

Map Number

Meadowbrook Golf Club (817) 392-6191 M 18 13 1815 Jenson Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76112

6363/70.8/125 • •

• • 53

Pecan Valley Golf Course (817) 392-6490 SP 18 25 6400 Pecan Valley Dr., Fort Worth, TX 76132

6609/71.7/126 •

•

• • 53

Rockwood Park Golf Course (817) 392-6560 M 18 15 1851 Jackboro Hwy., Fort Worth TX 76114

•

• •

• • 50

www.fortworthgolf.org

6479/72/

•

• 53

www.fortworthgolf.org

Tempest Golf Club

35 568 E Wilkins Rd., Gladewater, TX 75647

(903) 984-5335 SP 18

7229/73.7/130 •

www.tempestgolfclub.com

ACCOMMODATIONS/DINING | SHOPPING/SERVICES | ACADEMY/INSTRUCTIONS

SHOPPING / SERVICES Edwin Watts | Map # 7 | Ad Page 27-33 5808 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 77107 www.worldwidegolfshops.com | 817-731-4441 Edwin Watts | Map # 10 | Ad Page 27-33 410 W SW Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701 www.worldwidegolfshops.com | 903-561-8851

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SHOPPING / SERVICES Golf After Hours Podcast| Ad Page 5 YouTube & Facebook Live - Wednesdays 7pm One & Done | Ad Pg 4 TGI Golf League | www.thetexasgolfinsider.com Reaper Golf | Ad Pg. 3 www.reapergolf.com The Texas Golf Hall of Fame | Ad Page 54-57 2315 Avenue B, San Antonio, TX www.texasgolfhof.org/ | 713-382-8723

GOLF SHOWS/INSTRUCTION PGA Championship| Ad Pg. 20-25 3725 PGA Pkwy., Frisco, TX 75033 www.pgachampionship.com NTPGA | Ad Pg. 46-49 12164 Championship Drive, Frisco,TX 75003 www.ntpga.com | www.ntpgajuniorgolf.com

NorthShore Country Club: A Coastal Golfing Tradition Welcoming Winter Texans

Championship Golf, Coastal Views, and a Warm Texas Welcome

For nearly four decades, NorthShore Country Club in Portland, Texas, has offered golfers a memorable experience along the beautiful shores of Corpus Christi Bay. With spectacular waterfront views, a rich championship heritage, and a welcoming atmosphere, NorthShore is an ideal destination for Winter Texans looking to enjoy the game they love. Designed by renowned golf course architects Bruce Devlin and Robert von Hagge, NorthShore’s 18-hole championship layout combines links-style characteristics, challenging forced carries, elevated greens, and four breathtaking holes overlooking Corpus Christi Bay. The coastal breezes add another dimension to a course that rewards thoughtful shot-making while remaining enjoyable for golfers of varying skill levels. NorthShore also holds a special place in professional golf history, having hosted the South Texas Open from 1990 through 1993, during the Ben Hogan and Nike Tour eras. Champions included Brad Bell, Roger Salazar, Brian Henninger, and Doug Martin. Beyond the fairways, golfers can sharpen their skills on the driving range and shortgame practice facilities, or simply enjoy the camaraderie that makes golf such a rewarding pastime. For Winter Texans escaping colder climates, NorthShore offers an opportunity to enjoy year-round coastal golf, meet fellow enthusiasts, and feel right at home. Flexible weekly and monthly Winter Texan memberships make it easy to become part of the NorthShore golfing community.

Come for the golf. Stay for the views, friendships, and coastal hospitality.

FEATURE STORY

Southern Texas PGA Celebrates Historic Wins, Record Impact and Continued Growth The Southern Texas PGA started off the fall season with a historic championship, a record-setting charitable effort and continued growth across one of the country’s largest junior golf programs, highlighting the impact of the game at every level throughout Southern Texas. At Spanish Oaks Golf Club, Bret Gray, PGA Assistant Coach at Sam Houston State University, made history by capturing the 58th Southern Texas PGA Section Championship in dramatic fashion. Gray defeated Derrick Dixon, PGA General Manager at Briggs Ranch Golf Club, in a one-hole playoff as the final moments of the Championship stretched into the sunset. At just 23 years old, Gray became the youngest Section Champion in Southern Texas PGA history and added his name to the Tommy Aycock Trophy. The victory also represented a full-circle moment for Gray, whose connection to the Southern Texas PGA began long before he became a PGA Professional. A product of STPGA Junior Golf, Gray progressed through the Section’s player pathway from Little Linksters to the Prestige Tour before attending Sam Houston State University

Spanish Oaks Golf Club

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and graduating from its PGA Golf Management Program. He now serves as an Assistant Coach for the Bearkats

Bret Gray, PGA 58th Southern Texas PGA Section Champion

Men’s Golf program and is a Class A PGA Member.

FEATURE STORY

Gray entered the final round one stroke behind Dixon after opening with a 1-under-par 70. He quickly made his move Tuesday, recording birdies on Nos. 2, 3 and 7 to build a two-stroke advantage. Dixon answered with birdies on Nos. 8 and 10 and eventually reclaimed the lead on the back nine. With the Championship on the line at No. 18, Dixon had an opportunity to secure the title, but his final putt caught the edge and stayed out, sending the two back to the 18th tee for a playoff. Both players found the fairway and followed with strong approach shots, leaving birdie opportunities inside 15 feet. Dixon’s attempt once again caught the edge before Gray converted his putt to secure the Championship. The event also determined eight qualifiers for the 2027 PGA Professional Championship. Joining Gray will be Derrick Dixon, PGA; Roman O’Rourke, PGA; Ben Willman, PGA; Gilbert Mendez, PGA; Robert Scott, PGA; Wilfredo Sanchez, PGA; and Bobby Gates, PGA.

Jesse Droemer, PGA will be joining the 8 qualifiers on the third-annual First Community STPGA Team, earning his exemption by his victory at the 2025 PGA Professional Championship. While some of the Section’s best players were competing for a championship, PGA Professionals and Associates were also using their games to make an impact away from the leaderboard. PGA REACH Southern Texas celebrated the success of its inaugural Birdie Bash on September 24, raising more than $80,000 for PGA REACH Southern Texas and Dell Children’s Medical Center. Held at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, the event featured 21 two-person teams of PGA Professionals and Associates competing in a 72-hole birdie challenge. By the end of the day, participants had combined to make an impressive 864 birdies. Inspired by Play Yellow, Birdie Bash connected competition with community impact, with teams and donors pledging support based on the number of birdies

BPGA Professional Championship Qualifiers: Left to Right - BretGray, DerrickDixon, RomanORourke, BenWillman, GilbertMendez, RobertScott,WilfredoSanchez, and BobbyGates

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FEATURE STORY

The Inaugural Birdie Bash, a one-day charity golf event where Southern Texas PGA Professionals play 72 holes in a single day to raise funds and make as many birdies as possible.

made throughout the event. Proceeds benefited pediatric healthcare through Dell Children’s Medical Center while also supporting the programs and initiatives of PGA REACH Southern Texas. Jamie Smith and James Boer topped the oncourse leaderboard with 62 birdies, while Camille Close and Alex Rhyne led all fundraising teams with $13,054 raised. “We are incredibly proud of the success of our first Birdie Bash and grateful to everyone who helped make this event possible,” said Sarah Lummus, Foundation Manager of PGA REACH Southern Texas. “To see 21 teams come together, make 864 birdies, and raise more than $80,000 for PGA REACH and Dell Children’s is an incredible accomplishment. This event is a testament to the generosity of our donors, the support of our TheTexasGolfInsider.com

partners, and the power of the golf community to make a difference.” PGA REACH Southern Texas also expressed its appreciation to Play Yellow, Dell Children’s Medical Center, Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa, participating PGA Professionals and Associates, and the donors, sponsors and supporters who helped make the inaugural event possible. That same commitment to growing the game continues through Southern Texas PGA Junior Golf, which has reached another milestone in 2026. The program has surpassed last year’s membership by more than 500 juniors, eclipsing 5,600 members this season. Growth in participation has translated directly to increased playing opportunities, with more than 22,000 competitive rounds played across the Little Linksters, Junior Links and Junior Tour programs alone.

FEATURE STORY

Together, those programs provide young golfers across Southern Texas with opportunities to learn the game, compete and progress through a structured pathway designed to support players at every stage of their development. The reach of that pathway continues well beyond the Section’s boundaries. STPGA juniors have STPGA Junior Golf Caddie with STPGA Junior represented Southern Texas on some of the biggest stages in charitable causes and record participation junior golf, including Augusta National among junior golfers, the closing weeks Golf Club at the Drive, Chip & Putt of September showcased the many ways National Finals and international team competition at the Junior Presidents Cup. the Southern Texas PGA continues to impact the game. Most recently, former STPGA junior Whether creating pathways for the Grant DeLorenzo helped Team USA next generation, supporting communities secure the Junior Presidents Cup, providing another example of the opportunities through PGA REACH Southern Texas or available to players who develop through providing championship opportunities for PGA Professionals, the Section conthe Southern Texas PGA Junior Golf tinues to use golf as a vehicle for compeprogram. tition, development and lasting impact From a historic Section Championacross Southern Texas. ship to more than $80,000 raised for

Omni Barton Creek Resort

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