Category Archives: events
PGA of America Announces 2024-’25 PGA LEAD Class
FRISCO, Texas – The PGA of America has selected 15 PGA of America Golf Professionals for the 2024-’25 PGA LEAD class, the program’s ninth cohort.
PGA LEAD, established in 2016, is the Association’s leadership development program, created to identify, mentor and progress PGA of America Members from diverse backgrounds along a guided path to volunteer leadership roles at the Chapter, Section and National levels of the PGA of America. The program also helps PGA of America Members who have a desire to serve on nonprofit boards in the communities where they work and live.
This 18-month program reinforces the PGA of America’s commitment to create a game, workforce and industry supply chain that better mirror America’s demographics. The Association is committed to inclusive governance, environments, systems and structures that create the opportunity for all PGA of America Golf Professionals to develop, grow and lead.
“It has been tremendous to see PGA LEAD participants grow into leadership positions across the Association at both the Section and National levels,” said PGA of America President John Lindert, PGA Director of Golf at the Country Club of Lansing in Lansing, Michigan. “This program continues to help bring talented PGA of America Golf Professionals to the forefront of the golf industry, which will help position the PGA of America’s overall mission of growing the game for years to come.”
PGA LEAD is a complement to PGA WORKS – a strategic initiative designed to diversify the golf industry’s workforce. Leadership positions held by PGA LEAD alumni include one National Board of Directors member, three PGA Section presidents, three Section vice presidents, two Section secretaries, 19 Section board members and 19 national committee members.
2024-2025 PGA LEAD Class Members
Adam Roybal, PGA – General Manager, UNM Championship Golf Course – Albuquerque, New Mexico – Sun Country PGA Section
Alexander L. Cavaliere, PGA – Teaching Professional, Lyman Orchards Golf Club – Marlborough, Connecticut – Connecticut PGA Section
Amanda Davis, PGA – Retail Manager & Assistant Professional, Essex County Club – Beverly, Massachusetts – New England PGA Section
Claudia Ferrini, PGA – Director of Golf Operations, Williamsburg National Golf Club – Williamsburg, Virginia – Middle Atlantic PGA Section
Connor Lynch, PGA – First Assistant, Meadow Park Golf Course – Puyallup, Washington –
Pacific Northwest PGA Section
Cortney Shrout, PGA – Head Professional, South Hills Country Club – West Covina, California –
Southern California PGA Section
Daniela Anastasi, PGA – Southern California PGA Section
Eva Rogers, PGA – Director of Junior Golf, Medinah Country Club – Bloomingdale, Illinois –
Illinois PGA Section
Jessica McClellan, PGA – Head Golf Professional, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort – Bandon, Oregon – Pacific Northwest PGA Section
Lisa Schwinden, PGA – Director of Instruction, Fargo Country Club – Fargo, North Dakota – Minnesota PGA Section
Megan Marie Leineweber, PGA – Lead Assistant Professional, TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm – Gaithersburg, Maryland – Middle Atlantic PGA Section
Sally Krystyn, PGA – Head Golf Professional, Brookridge Golf & Fitness – Leawood, Kansas –
Midwest PGA Section
Stephanie Molloy, PGA – Metropolitan PGA Section
Tony Chavez, PGA – Director of Golf, Los Serranos Country Club – Indio, California –
Southern California PGA Section
Trish Holt, PGA – Head Golf Professional Omni PGA Frisco Resort (Fields Ranch) – Frisco, Texas – Northern Texas PGA Section
PGA WORKS Fellowship Program Adds Five Positions in 2024; Alumni Thriving in the Golf and Sports Industry
FRISCO, Texas – The PGA of America REACH Foundation, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America, has announced that the PGA WORKS Fellowship program has added five new positions in 2024, reaching a total of 28 different PGA of America Sections along with the Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA Tour) and Intersport Detroit.
The new PGA WORKS Fellowships for 2024 will be added in the PGA of America’s Sun Country, New England, Gulf States and Central New York PGA Sections, further enhancing one of the Association’s most successful career development programs. Fellowship recipients will be announced this summer.
Additionally, the Nebraska Section added a PGA WORKS Fellowship for 2024. The Fellowship is funded by Dormie Network Foundation, charitable arm of Dormie Network, a Nebraska-based company that provides a national network of private destination golf clubs. The Dormie Network Foundation, provides in-kind and cash grants to benefit organizations within the Foundation’s four giving pillars: youth golf, environmental initiatives, military/first responder organizations and healthcare/humanitarian efforts. The new position has been filled for the 2024 season.
Available in 28 of the PGA of America’s 41 Sections nationwide, the PGA WORKS Fellowship, established in 2017, provides the opportunity for a one-year paid immersion in a PGA Section’s Foundation operations. PGA Sections oversee the 41 regions of the PGA of America across the United States and help create the network of communication and community for PGA of America Golf Professionals and amateur golfers nationwide.
The PGA WORKS Fellowship is one of the most valuable, entry-level opportunities for individuals from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds to gain experience in all facets of the golf industry, offering an over 80% job placement rate. The Fellowship gives recent college and university graduates a first-hand look at everything that a career in the $102 billion golf industry can provide.
“We’re incredibly proud of the job placement rate we’ve seen PGA WORKS Fellows achieve after successfully completing their Fellowships across the country,” said PGA of America REACH Foundation Senior Director of Impact Kennie Sims, PGA. “Our PGA WORKS Fellowships not only open doors to career opportunities within the thriving golf industry, but also provides a platform for our Fellows to make an immediate impact within the communities they serve.”
To complement the experience gained through the Fellowship, the PGA WORKS staff stays closely connected to alumni from the program, while offering valuable programs and panels to share knowledge and experiences. At the 2024 PGA Show in Orlando, Fla., golf’s longest running and largest global business gathering, the most recent class of PGA WORKS Fellows had the opportunity to take part in a PGA WORKS Fellows Alumni Panel, hearing from previous Fellows who have since gained full-time positions in the golf industry.
PGA WORKS Fellows Alumni Benjamin Vasquez, Event Coordinator, PGA TOUR First Tee; Danielle Monas, Foundation Director, Northern Ohio PGA Section; Rachel Nowak, Programs Coordinator, PGA TOUR First Tee; and Ximena Davila, Foundation Coordinator, Southern Texas PGA Section, discussed the experiences they had during their respective Fellowships and answered questions from current Fellows.
During the event, Davila shared, “I was around golf growing up, but had never played. I had never imagined a career in golf until I came across the PGA WORKS Fellowship. It opened me up to so many different opportunities within the game, and I am now happily employed.”
Additionally, five PGA WORKS Fellows have landed jobs working for the Association at the Home of the PGA of America in Frisco, Texas: Cameron Dinkins, PGA WORKS Leader; Iyannei Miranda, PGA WORKS Program Coordinator; Telvin Walker, PGA Jr. League Lead; Caroline Riggs, PGA REACH Events Coordinator; and Rachel Goetz, Championship Volunteer Operations Coordinator.
For more information on the PGA WORKS Fellowship, and for application opportunities, click here.
A Celebration of Soul, Jazz and R&B Comes to Benton Harbor May 22 to Kick Off the 2024 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship
Benton Harbor, Michigan – Southwest Michigan residents and visitors will be treated to a spectacular musical evening during this year’s highly anticipated KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship being hosted at Harbor Shores. The community concert will take place at 7 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 22 and will feature R&B legend Jeffrey Osborne, alongside sensational jazz artists Gerald Albright and Kim Scott.
The concert, sponsored by the KitchenAid SrPGA, is free to the public. No tickets required. Local food trucks will be on-site with fan-favorite cuisine available for purchase. All golf fans, music lovers and community members are invited and encouraged to attend. Bring your own chair or blanket!
“We are thrilled to bring these iconic artists to our Southwest Michigan community to help celebrate the 2024 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship,” said Jerry Price, chairman of the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship Community Showcase Committee. “At previous years’ community concerts, we’ve had thousands of attendees, and we would love to see more this year. It’s an opportunity for music fans to experience the depth and breadth of soul, R&B and jazz all in one night. We can think of no better way to kick off the excitement of the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship weekend than with an evening of outstanding performances from Kim Scott, Gerald Albright and Jeffrey Osborne.”
Meet the Performers:
Headlining the concert is legendary R&B and soul vocalist Jeffrey Osborne who is known for his rich, emotive voice and timeless hits that continue to resonate with audiences of all ages. The four-time Grammy nominee started as the drummer then became the lead vocalist for L.T.D. before launching a successful solo career that includes classics such as “On the Wings of Love” and “Stay with Me Tonight.”
Joining Osborne are two remarkable talents in the jazz world: saxophonist Gerald Albright and flutist Kim Scott. With a career spanning over three decades, Gerald Albright has earned acclaim for his smooth melodic dexterity, and jaw-dropping jazz virtuosity. Albright’s impressive discography includes numerous chart-topping albums, and he has worked with major artists such as Anita Baker, The Temptations, Phil Collins and Whitney Houston.
Kim Scott has emerged as one of the most innovative and exciting figures in contemporary jazz music. Known for her exceptional tone, intoxicating melodies and flawless technique, Scott has captivated audiences worldwide. Her chart-topping singles and albums have solidified her place as one of the top flutists in the country, making her performance a must-see for music lovers.
For more information about the 2024 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship that will be held at Harbor Shores May 23-26, and for future community announcements surrounding the Championship, visit SRPGA.com.
Five Elected to USGA Executive Committee
Respected leaders in business and golf join the all-volunteer policymaking board; Engelbert elected to second three-year term
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Andrew Biggadike of Ho-Ho-Kus, N.J.; David Dorton of Atlanta, Ga.; Virginia C. Drosos of Dallas, Texas; David Leitch of Earlysville, Va.; and Andy North of Madison, Wis., were elected to serve on the USGA Executive Committee yesterday at the Association’s Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tenn.
Additionally, Cathy Engelbert of Berkeley Heights, N.J., was elected to her second three-year term on the 15-person volunteer committee that provides strategic and financial oversight as the Association’s policymaking and governance board.
USGA Annual Meeting Photo Link
“I think I speak for the entire Executive Committee when I say that we are thrilled to welcome our newest members, whose careers and accomplishments speak for themselves,” said Fred Perpall, USGA president. “Their insights and experience will be incredibly valuable toward our mission to support this game for which we all share a deep passion.”
The newly elected committee members are distinguished leaders with extensive experience in the game of golf from both playing and administrative perspectives. They join a board tasked with guiding the organization’s efforts and initiatives for the good of the game, which include unifying the golf community, showcasing the game’s best, governing without bias and advancing golf by creating a more inclusive and sustainable game.
“The USGA is fortunate to have such an incredible roster serving on our board and guiding our important work to leave this game in a better place for future generations,” said Mike Whan, USGA CEO. “The common thread through each of our new committee members, and all those who play and work in golf, is a strong passion for the game, and I’m looking forward to working with each of them.”
Biggadike, an accomplished amateur golfer and USGA volunteer since 2016, currently serves as a director of research & development software for Broadcom. He has served as a Rules official at 13 USGA championships and six international team matches, among his extensive volunteer roles in golf.
A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy who earned his MBA from Harvard University, Dorton is a former Home Depot executive who now serves as senior partner and leader of the Global Operations Transformation Practice at McKinsey & Company.
Drosos is CEO of Signet Jewelers, Ltd., the world’s largest retailer of diamond jewelry, who previously served as president and CEO of Assurex Health and group president of Global Beauty Care at Procter & Gamble, where she spent 25 years.
Leitch is a former global general counsel and vice chair for Bank of America and former group vice president and general counsel for the Ford Motor Company who served as deputy counsel and deputy assistant to the President of the United States from 2002-2005.
A two-time U.S. Open champion and 15-time winner on the professional level, North enjoyed a storied playing career and has been a longtime analyst and reporter for ESPN’s golf coverage. He’s well-known for his charitable work and has supported cancer research through the Andy North and Friends Initiative since 2008.
Per association bylaws, Biggadike, Dorton, Drosos and Leitch have been elected for one three-year term beginning this year, with the potential for reelection to a second and final three-year term in 2027. North has been elected to a two-year term with the potential for reelection to a second and final three-year term in 2026.
In addition to Engelbert and the new electees, current USGA Executive Committee members include Tony Anderson of Chicago, Ill.; Sinclair Eaddy Jr., of Baltimore, Md.; Kevin Hammer of Boynton Beach, Fla.; Leslie Henry of New Orleans, La.; Bryan Lewis of Pinehurst, N.C.; Deborah Platt Majoras of McLean, Va.; Michael McCarthy of San Francisco, Calif.; Courtney Myhrum of Pittsburgh, Pa.; and Perpall of Dallas, Texas, the USGA’s 67th president, who begins the second year of his three-year term as president.
The new committee members assume seats vacated by retiring members Chuck Brymer of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.; Kendra Graham of Winter Park, Fla.; Tony Petitti of Irvington, N.Y.; and Sharon Ritchey of Longboat Key, Fla.
Tiger Woods Named USGA’s 2024 Bob Jones Award Recipient
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. – The United States Golf Association has selected Tiger Woods as the recipient of this year’s Bob Jones Award, the USGA’s highest honor, in recognition of his commitment to sportsmanship and respect for golf’s time-honored traditions.
Woods, a 15-time major champion and nine-time USGA champion, has redefined the game of golf in the modern era, overcoming physical and personal challenges by displaying the characteristics of tenacity, mental strength and perseverance.
“This award goes beyond playing performance, recognizing the lasting impact of one person’s journey that has forever changed the image and growth of golf,” said Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA. “There are very few who stand alongside Tiger Woods in terms of on-course accomplishments, and he is in a class of his own when it comes to the impact he has made on the game and future generations who will play it.”
His journey, from junior phenomenon to young star, achiever to ambassador, player to mentor and golf innovator to entrepreneur, is marked by a rich and deep story defined not just by trophies, but by triumphing over near-impossible obstacles and emerging stronger beyond them. Always rising to the occasion, Woods continues to play the game without compromising his drive or his respect for it.
His dedication to fair play and longstanding commitment to excellence are among the traits embodied by the award’s namesake, Robert Tyre Jones Jr., one of golf’s greats, a fellow nine-time USGA champion and one of the most respected players in the game’s history.
“Bob Jones was a pillar of our game because of the integrity with which he played it, and I’m truly humbled to receive the award that bears his name and join the many who have received it before me who continue his legacy,” said Woods. “It’s especially fitting to receive this honor from the USGA, which has meant so much to my career and the entire game of golf.”
Woods’ charitable endeavors and significant impact off the golf course are integral to his living legacy. Founded in 1996 with his father, Earl, the TGR Foundation provides opportunities to help change the trajectories of students’ lives through access to college- and career-preparation resources, along with STEM-based experiential learning via the TGR Learning Lab.
A transcendent talent and one of the most accomplished players in history, Woods is credited with inspiring a generation of golfers to take up the game through his decades of dominance at every level of the sport. His nine USGA titles, matched only by Jones, include three consecutive U.S. Junior Amateurs (1991-1993), followed by three straight U.S. Amateurs (1994-1996) and an overall USGA match-play record of 42-3. His record 15-stroke victory at Pebble Beach in the 2000 U.S. Open and his captivating playoff win on a broken leg at Torrey Pines to claim the 2008 U.S. Open are among the most memorable performances in the championship’s history.
“Throughout his playing career and along with his incredible work outside the ropes, Tiger Woods has quite literally changed the game, and he has done it while embodying the characteristics recognized by this award and shared by others who have received it,” said Fred Perpall, USGA president. “His impact on the game is incalculable, and there is no doubt that golf would not be the same without Tiger in it.”
Past recipients of the Bob Jones Award include Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Mickey Wright, Francis Ouimet, Byron Nelson, Nancy Lopez, President George H.W. Bush, Patty Berg and Annika Sorenstam.
Woods will be recognized on Wednesday, June 12, 2024, at a ceremony in the Village of Pinehurst during the week of the U.S. Open Championship.
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club to Host Both U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally in 2036
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. – The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that in 2036, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, in Southampton, N.Y., will play host to both the 136th U.S. Open and 91st U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally, with the championships taking place in consecutive weeks.
“Few places can match the historic importance of Shinnecock Hills to golf in the United States,” said John Bodenhamer, USGA chief championships officer. “As an organization, we felt that this iconic venue would be an ideal stage for both our men’s and women’s premier championships. It will offer the perfect opportunity to bring the game’s best to one course and provide fans the chance to watch them compete for a national championship in back-to-back weeks.”
This will mark the third time that the USGA’s two most significant championships have been held at the same location in consecutive weeks. The first came in 2014 at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 2, with the North Carolina venue set to host back-to-backs again in 2029. This will be the first time that Shinnecock Hills Golf Club hosts the U.S. Women’s Open and the seventh time the club will host the U.S. Open. Most recently, Shinnecock Hills served as the site for the 2018 U.S. Open, won by Brooks Koepka. The club will also host the 2026 edition of the championship.
“Shinnecock is deeply proud of our founding association with the USGA and our role in setting the course of history for golf in America,” said Brett Pickett, Shinnecock Hills club president. “And we are extremely excited to build on that legacy through this historic, back-to-back presentation of men’s and women’s major championship golf in Southampton in 2036.
“The seventh U.S. Open at Shinnecock will be played 140 years after the first, as we continue to be the only club to have hosted the U.S. Open in three different centuries. And our first U.S. Women’s Open will build on our proud history of advancing the women’s game in America, which began when Shinnecock was the first golf club in the U.S. to have women members in 1891. We look forward to working closely with our friends at the USGA and with the Southampton community to develop these special weeks in Southampton in the years ahead.”
One of the five founding member clubs of the USGA, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club is the oldest incorporated golf club in the United States, having been founded in 1891. The club has a long and illustrious history of hosting USGA championships.
It served as the host site for both the second U.S. Amateur and second U.S. Open in 1896. The latter saw John Shippen make history, becoming the first African American to compete in a major championship, finishing fifth. Not only was Shinnecock Hills the first club in the U.S. to admit women as members from its 1891 inception, but it also played host to the sixth U.S. Women’s Amateur in 1900. The club would later host the 1967 U.S. Senior Amateur and 1977 Walker Cup Match.
In 1986, the U.S Open returned to Shinnecock Hills following a 90-year absence. Raymond Floyd, at age 43, became the oldest player at the time to win the championship after a back-and-forth final round in which 10 competitors held at least a share of the lead. Corey Pavin’s 4-wood to the 18th green – a 228-yard approach that finished 5 feet from the flagstick – sealed his lone major victory in 1995 and is considered one of the greatest shots in U.S. Open history. Retief Goosen captured his second U.S. Open in 2004, needing just 11 putts over the final nine holes to withstand a challenge from Phil Mickelson. Finally in 2018, Koepka became just the third golfer to defend his U.S. Open title since World War II and the first in 29 years. His final-round 68 edged Tommy Fleetwood by one stroke.
This will mark the 23rd time the U.S. Open will visit the state of New York and the sixth visit by the U.S. Women’s Open. The last U.S. Open in New York was won by Bryson DeChambeau in 2020 at Winged Foot Golf Club, and the last U.S. Women’s Open winner in New York was Inbee Park, who captured her second title just down the road from Shinnecock Hills at Sebonack Golf Club in 2013.
USGA Museum and Library Receives Donation of Dr. Charlie Sifford Memorabilia
America’s preeminent golf museum continues its mission to preserve and celebrate the history of golf through latest acquisition of historical collection
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. – The USGA announced today that it has received a donation of memorabilia related to Dr. Charlie Sifford, a pioneer of the game who was the first Black player to compete on the PGA Tour and the first Black member inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. As part of the USGA’s commitment to preserve and celebrate this critical part of golf history, Dr. Sifford’s artifacts will be on display at the USGA Museum and Library in Liberty Corner, N.J., and at the World Golf Hall of Fame in Pinehurst, N.C.
Dr. Sifford, who died in 2015 at the age of 92, is often compared to baseball’s Jackie Robinson thanks to his relentless pursuit of civil rights on the golf course and around the country. Dr. Sifford’s desire to play the game and to continue to pave the way for future Black golfers, despite enduring tireless vitriol, hatred and discrimination during the mid-to-late 20th century, continues to inspire future generations. The preservation of his story is imperative to the USGA’s mission of chronicling the history of golf and sharing it with generations to come.
The collection of more than 200 artifacts related to Dr. Sifford’s professional career and personal life includes correspondence, photographs, clothing, medals, awards, golf clubs and personal effects. The collection will be housed at the USGA Golf Museum and Library in Liberty Corner, N.J. Select items from the acquisition will be on display in Charlie Sifford’s locker at the new World Golf Hall of Fame, which will open on the USGA’s campus in Pinehurst, N.C., later this spring.
Since its founding, the USGA Golf Museum and Library has been a trusted repository for players, families and donors who want to ensure their legacies are preserved for generations to come. With this acquisition, the USGA has solidified the collection as the world’s greatest related to Sifford’s career in golf. As a centralized repository for artifacts related to Dr. Sifford’s legacy, the USGA Golf Museum and Library can now share memorabilia with other institutions committed to sharing his story.
“We are honored that Charles Sifford Jr. and his family have entrusted Dr. Charles Sifford’s legacy to the USGA,” said Hilary Cronheim, senior director of the USGA Golf Museum and Library. “Fundamental to our work is to preserve the story of each legend of the game in a multi-dimensional way, speaking to the breadth and depth of an individual’s life, character and impact. Sifford fought tirelessly to desegregate professional golf and paved the way for the future of equity in the sport. This acquisition and partnership with the Sifford family ensures that future generations will appreciate him as a pillar for the game’s history and the history of African American advancement in this country.”
In addition to his impact outside the ropes, Dr. Sifford saw success on the golf course for many years. He owns two PGA Tour victories: the 1967 Greater Hartford Open Invitational, which was won by one stroke over Steve Oppermann, and the 1969 Los Angeles Open, which was won in a playoff. From 1952-1975, he won 12 non-PGA Tour events, including the 1957 Long Beach Open and 1963 Puerto Rico Open. He also competed in 12 U.S. Opens from 1959 to 1978, missing the cut just three times and earning a career best T21 finish in 1972 at Pebble Beach. Dr. Sifford went on to compete in seven U.S. U.S. Senior Opens as well. His best performance came in his event debut in 1980, when he finished fourth at the inaugural U.S. Senior Open at Winged Foot Golf Club in New York. President Barack Obama awarded Sifford with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014.
“The Sifford family is extremely honored to entrust to the USGA Golf Museum memorabilia reflecting the life and legacy of Dr. Charles L. Sifford,” said his son, Charles Sifford Jr. “This collection of artifacts represents the grit and perseverance of an African American man’s struggles and successes during an era of racial tension and segregation. My father challenged racial barriers, changing American history and paving the way for future golfers such as Tiger Woods. We are equally proud that the USGA Golf Museum will use this collection to enable future generations to reflect on the key tenets of social equity and commemorate the significance of my father’s contributions to all mankind.”
Specific highlights from this acquisition include:
- PGA card from March 1960 when Sifford became the first African American to be granted membership on the PGA Tour
- First set of contract clubs used during the 1960 season
- Miniature Presidential Medal of Freedom pin and program from the 2014 Presidential Medal of Freedom ceremony
- Contestant badges from the 1969 United Golfers Association Tournament and the 1960 Open Championship
- Qualifying medals from the 1959 and 1962 U.S. Opens
- Contestant badges from the 1965, 1971, 1975 and 1978 U.S. Opens
- Shadowbox with five PGA Tour artifacts, including the medal from the 1967 Greater Hartford Open
- Scorecards from the 1967 Greater Hartford Open
- Seagram Vanguard Trophy given annually to the champion of the United Golfers Association National Open Championship, given to Sifford permanently following his win in 1955
- 1980 U.S. Senior Open qualifying medal and bag tag
The USGA Golf Museum and Library is the nation’s oldest sports museum and the world’s leading institution for the collection, preservation, interpretation and dissemination of golf history. It is the most trusted repository for preserving the legacies of the game’s greatest champions. The USGA Golf Museum and Library is also committed to elevating diverse perspectives. The Museum is particularly dedicated to preserving and celebrating the African American experience in golf by collecting artifacts and library materials, uncovering stories, producing exhibits and symposia, and creating the African American Golf History Archive to thoughtfully chronicle this history.
In Celebration of Black History Month, PGA of America Golf Professional Ira Molayo Leads by Example
FRISCO, Texas – Ira Molayo was introduced to golf at seven by his mother at Cedar Crest Golf Course in Dallas, Texas. Today, 40 years later, he is a PGA of America Golf Professional, Director of Golf at Cedar Crest and the newly elected Vice President of the Northern Texas PGA Section (NTPGA).
He’s the first Black PGA of America Golf Professional to serve as an Officer (Secretary, Vice President, President) for the NTPGA. He’s in line to become President in 2026.
His focus on and off the course is based upon inclusion.
Molayo started getting more involved in the NTPGA in 2013. He joined the teaching & coaching committee, which led to his involvement in the junior golf, education, awards and PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) committees.
“When I got on committees and started working with other PGA of America Members, it made the sport bigger in my head,” Molayo said. “It wasn’t just me and my facility, it was other talented people trying to do the same thing, all because we love golf.”
When he ran for NTPGA Secretary in 2016, he lost.
“I was shocked I lost, because I don’t like losing,” he explained. “When I lost, it was really a good thing because it made me realize that I do love it. I wasn’t doing it because I wanted notoriety, I really enjoyed serving and felt like I had something to contribute.”
After serving three terms as an At-Large Director and working on various committees, Molayo ran again in 2022 and won. After two years as Secretary, he was elected Vice President on February 5, 2024, during the NTPGA Annual Meeting.
“You don’t get elected Secretary, honestly, if your peers don’t see you as President. Those are telling moments in my life. The membership electing me means they see me as an equal, they see me, period. In golf, that hasn’t always been the case. To elect me and give me the opportunity to be a steward in this position, makes me feel included.”
On the course, he’s helping youth in South Dallas learn to play golf, work in golf and earn scholarships to receive higher education.
Molayo’s I AM a Golfer Foundation, was established out of necessity in 2018 to be a catalyst for community renewal and transformation in South Dallas.
In 2015, Cedar Crest had the largest First Tee program in Dallas, working with junior golfers six days a week. Then the First Tee program was moved to nearby Trinity Forest Golf Club, leaving juniors wanting to stay at Cedar Crest in need of help.
“I had kids who could afford to pay for golf instruction and I had a group of kids who couldn’t. I would always use the First Tee program to introduce golf to them. When that didn’t exist, I did not have a way to engage those youth.”
Molayo took action to create his Foundation to provide lessons, clubs and access for those who couldn’t afford golf. It’s grown exponentially ever since.
The Foundation additionally helps preserve Cedar Crest and promotes the game through events like the Dallas Amateur Championship and the Southwest Airlines Showcase at Cedar Crest—a Black collegiate tournament televised on Golf Channel.
The Foundation’s youth programs have three pillars: I AM a Golfer, I AM an Intern and I AM a Scholar.
Since the Foundation’s inception, over 900 juniors have participated, 115 paid internships have been provided, $300,000 college scholarships have been awarded and over $1 million has been invested in Cedar Crest.
The Path to Pinehurst Resort & Country Club Begins
LIBERTY CORNER, N.J. – The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that online entry applications that began on Wednesday, Feb. 21st, at 9 a.m. EST, for the 124th U.S. Open Championship, to be played from June 13-16 on Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 2, in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C.
Thousands of golfers are expected to qualify for the championship through a two-stage process, with a final field of 156 players advancing to Pinehurst’s Course No. 2, where one will be crowned U.S. Open champion. Non-exempt players will compete in one of 109 local qualifiers hosted throughout the United States (with one in Canada) between April 22 and May 20.
Nearly 1,000 players will then compete in 36-hole final qualifying, scheduled at 13 sites worldwide. Final qualifying is set to be contested in England and Japan (May 20) and Canada (June 3) as well as 10 U.S. sites, one on May 20 and nine on June 3.
There are 23 categories for exemption into the U.S. Open, including four exemptions that were introduced last year: 2024 Latin America Amateur champion (must be an amateur), 2024 NCAA Division I men’s individual champion (must be an amateur), 2023 Korn Ferry Tour season points leader (using points earned in KFT Regular Season and points earned in KFT Tour Finals) and the top 5 players in the 2024 FedExCup standings as of May 20, 2024, who are not otherwise exempt. With final qualifying in England back on the schedule, the DP World Tour U.S. Open qualifying series has been discontinued.
Entry applications, along with a list of qualifying sites, can be accessed at champ-admin.usga.org, and entries will be accepted through Wednesday, April 10, at 5 p.m. EDT. To be eligible for 2024 U.S. Open qualifying, a player must have a Handicap Index® not exceeding 0.4, or be a professional.
Allied Golf Associations (AGAs) in the United States, as well as the DP World Tour, Japan Golf Association and Golf Canada, are working with the USGA to provide thousands of entrants from all backgrounds with the opportunity to compete for a spot in this major championship. This collaboration with AGAs allows for an open qualifying process in all five USGA Open Championships. Since 2004, the U.S. Open has averaged 74.2 players in the final field who have advanced through one or both stages of qualifying.
Entry applications for three other USGA Open championships are also now available. The 79th U.S. Women’s Open Championship Presented by Ally will be played May 30-June 2 at Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club. The 44th U.S. Senior Open Championship will be contested June 27-30 at Newport (R.I.) Country Club, and the 6th U.S. Senior Women’s Open Championship will be held Aug. 1-4, at Fox Chapel Golf Club, in Pittsburgh, Pa. Entries for the 3rd U.S. Adaptive Open, which will be held from July 8-10 at Sand Creek Station, in Newton, Kan., will be available at 9 a.m. EST on Thursday, Feb. 22.
The U.S. Open was previously hosted by Pinehurst’s Course No. 2 in 1999 (won by Payne Stewart), 2005 (won by Michael Campbell) and 2014 (won by Martin Kaymer). As an anchor site, Pinehurst will also host the U.S. Open in 2029, 2035, 2041 and 2047.
PGA of America Golf Professionals Remember Dr. Charlie Sifford
FRISCO, Texas – Dr. Charlie Sifford will forever be known as the man who broke the color barrier in professional golf. In 1961, he became the first African American to earn membership on the PGA Tour (then run by the PGA of America). That was when the PGA of America also struck down its Caucasian-only clause.
Sifford also became the first Black golfer inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, in 2004, and his legacy influenced countless touring professionals, most notably Tiger Woods, who named his son Charlie in his honor. Sifford also influenced the PGA of America Golf Professional—on the lesson tee, in the pro shop and beyond.
The North Carolina native also received an honorary degree from the University of St Andrews as a Doctor of Laws in 2006 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014 by former president Barack Obama.
At the age of 92, Sifford passed away in 2015. Yet his impact on the game continues to be felt.
As the PGA of America celebrates and honors Black History Month, PGA of America Golf Professionals Renee Powell, Leonard Jones and Kennie Sims reflected on how Sifford’s career motivated their own.
Each has taken notes out of Sifford’s metaphorical yardage book for guidance on how to make golf more accessible.
PGA of America Golf Professional Renee Powell
While Sifford was the first African American member of the PGA Tour, Renee Powell was the first Black woman to become a Member of the PGA of America and the second Black professional to play on the LPGA Tour.
“Knowing the history of Charlie and what he went through in the ‘60s to play on the Tour, I think anyone when they are breaking barriers can always be a role model,” Powell said. “I went to the LPGA Tour in 1967, Charlie was playing on the PGA Tour in 1960, so he was an inspiration. I would talk to Charlie and some of the other African American golf pros and compare notes.”
Powell received the inaugural Charlie Sifford Award in 2022 from the World Golf Hall of Fame, which honors his groundbreaking achievements through perseverance, confidence, respect and adaptability.
PGA of America Golf Professional Leonard Jones
For PGA of America Lifetime Member Leondard Jones of Dallas, Texas, Sifford’s most important lesson was in perseverance.
“Charlie was the type of guy that wouldn’t take no for an answer,” said Jones, the longtime Head Professional at Cedar Crest Golf Course in Dallas. “What he had to go through, which I experienced some myself, I don’t think anybody but him could have done it. He was designated to be the one.”
Jones met Sifford while playing professionally for 12 years, mainly on the United Golf Association (UGA) Tour. In 1986, he became a PGA of America Golf Professional, working as Head Professional of L.B. Houston (now Luna Vista) and Cedar Crest Golf Courses in Dallas.
The Leonard Jones Minority Junior Golf Foundation, which he formed in 1997, provided access to underprivileged youth to learn, play and work at the two golf courses. He was also instrumental in bringing the First Tee initiative to Dallas at the two facilities he operated.
PGA of America Golf Professional Kennie Sims
Currently the Senior Director of Impact for the PGA of America Reach Foundation, Kennie Sims, PGA, has long been inspired by Sifford’s career.
Sims, a PGA of America Golf Professional since 1998, works to open more doors to the game and the industry through programs such as PGA WORKS. One of the four pillars of the PGA of America REACH foundation, PGA WORKS provides Fellowships, Scholarships and Championships to inspire and engage talent from diverse backgrounds.
“I am honored to be continuing the legacy of Dr. Sifford by working for the PGA of America, the institution he integrated in 1961. I am committed to continuing the work he started by providing equal opportunities for all people, especially those who look like me,” Sims said. “I find great satisfaction in knowing that I am contributing to these programs that align with the challenges Dr. Sifford faced and the courage and bravery he showed. He would be proud of what we are doing.”