Northern Texas PGA Announces Foundation Name Change, Launches Updated Website

The Northern Texas PGA is taking new steps towards furthering our commitment of growing the game in North Texas by renaming our Foundation to the Northern Texas PGA Foundation.

The renaming comes as the Section is expanding its Foundation programs beyond junior golf. The five pillars of the Northern Texas PGA Foundation now include – junior golf, college scholarships, fellowships, inclusion and military & veterans.

“Over the past 36 years, our Foundation’s primary focus has been on junior golf, and the impact has been tremendous,” said Ronny Glanton, President of the Northern Texas PGA. “However, as our influence continues to grow and expand, particularly with the recent announcement of PGA Frisco, it was becoming very apparent that we could and needed to do more to continue to grow the game and positively impact lives.”

In 1983, the Northern Texas PGA established the Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization with the purpose of growing the game of golf among juniors in the area. The NTPGA Junior Golf Foundation was committed to promoting and growing the game of golf to a diverse group of kids in North Texas and instilling in them the positive, character developing traits for which the game is so well known.

“Growing the game through junior golf is a major component of what we do and it will always be what we are laser focused on,” said Mark Harrison Executive Director / CEO of the Northern Texas PGA. “With the demographics in North Texas changing every day, our sport needs to become more welcoming and inclusive, therefore, inclusion is a new pillar of our Foundation.”

“Our mission is to serve our PGA Members and grow the game,” Harrison continued. “We are incredibly excited to also announce that we are adding a fifth pillar of our Foundation that targets military and veterans through PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere).”

PGA HOPE is the PGA of America’s flagship military initiative that introduces golf to military and veterans to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. For the last several years, the Northern Texas PGA has piloted a PGA HOPE program at Cedar Crest Golf Course in Dallas, that has been led by PGA General Manager Ira Molayo.

“The programming was so successful and the impact being made was so significant, that our Board of Directors made the decision to add inclusion and also military and veterans to the Foundation’s pillars, hence, the Foundation’s name change,” said Mark Harrison.

PGA HOPE programming will be expanded in Dallas and new locations will be added in Plano, Trophy Club, Odessa and Amarillo this spring. Programming will be conducted by PGA Professionals, several of whom are veterans themselves. There is no charge for active military and veterans to participate in PGA HOPE.

The expansion was made possible primarily through the support from a military fundraising event called “The Salute” that was hosted and conducted by the members at Bent Tree Country Club in Dallas. The event raised funds for David Feherty’s Troops First Foundation, the Defenders of Freedom and also the Northern Texas PGA Foundation’s PGA HOPE programming.

Along with the Foundation transformation, the Northern Texas PGA is also excited to announce the launch of our newly redesigned website found at www.ntpga.com.

This new design boasts an updated look, an improved layout to better serve our visitors as well as a dedicated space for the Northern Texas PGA Foundation.

“We knew that along with these changes to our Foundation, its programs and outreach, that we would need an enhanced space to showcase these initiatives,” said Harrison. “That is exactly what the new ntpga.com helps us do.”

Having reached countless people through the game of golf since the Section was established, the Northern Texas PGA’s Board of Directors, staff and membership at-large are excited for the new expansion and what the next 50 years hold for the Section, Foundation and golfers in the northern Texas area.

“While the Foundation’s name has changed to reflect its scale, reach and growth, our core focus of growing the game of golf holds true,” said Ronny Glanton. “As we expand the scope of our initiatives, we are confident that under our new name, Northern Texas PGA Foundation, we will continue to be synonymous with exceptional service, programming and a dedication to the game for which we are known.”

For more information on the Northern Texas PGA Foundation, please visit the Section’s redesigned website at www.ntpga.com.