Northern Texas PGA Unveils Namesake of Pavilion
New Building on NTPGA Campus at PGA Frisco to be Called the Randy Smith and Dr. Bill Blair Who’s Next Pavilion
Dallas, Texas – On Wednesday, May 4, the Northern Texas PGA’s Board of Directors and Executive Director hosted a luncheon at Royal Oaks Country Club. The luncheon’s purpose was to unveil the namesake of a second building that will be adjacent to the Northern Texas PGA’s offices located at PGA Frisco.
The building will be known as the Randy Smith & Dr. Bill Blair Who’s Next Pavilion. It is a 2,200-square-foot building specifically designed for the NTPGA Foundation’s community outreach and growth of the game programs, programs for which the Foundation is so well known.
It came as a great surprise to long-time NTPGA Member Randy Smith, Golf Professional Emeritus at Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas, that the building would bear his name alongside NTPGA Foundation supporter Dr. Bill Blair. It also features an image of Smith giving a lesson to a 3-year-old junior golfer Finley Ewing IV. A rendering of the pavilion is above.
“It was a complete surprise to me to see my name on the building,” said Smith through a few happy tears. “Thank you to my friend Dr. Blair for his significant contribution and to the NTPGA Board of Directors for this honor.”
Smith and Ewing IV were coaxed into appearing at the luncheon, being told it was an update for NTPGA Foundation supporters. Neither was aware of the name or image the pavilion would bear until it was announced by Northern Texas PGA Executive Director / CEO Mark Harrison.
“The picture that will be on the pavilion is my favorite picture from when I was a junior golfer and I am so humbled that I will be linked to Randy at the NTPGA’s new home forever,” said Finely Ewing IV.
Smith has been a PGA Member for 45 years and has received a multitude of accolades during that time. He was honored as the PGA of America’s Golf Professional of the Year in 1996 and the Northern Texas PGA Golf Professional of the Year in 1989. Smith is known as a top instructor coaching Justin Leonard, Ryan Palmer and the 2022 Masters Champion Scottie Scheffler from the age of seven. He has also been a great advocate for the game of golf and the NTPGA Foundation. In 38 years, the Royal Oaks’ Great 108 fundraiser has raised over $1.9 million dollars for the Foundation. Smith has also played a role in making many introductions to Foundation supporters like the Ewing family, Dr. Blair and others.
“It was such a truly special moment to surprise Randy with this announcement. He has been a great friend and champion for the Northern Texas PGA, the PGA professional and our junior golf growth of the game initiatives and there is no better person to bestow with this honor,” said Mark Harrison.
The Northern Texas PGA looks forward to opening the Randy Smith & Dr. Bill Blair Who’s Next Pavilion later this summer along with the new Northern Texas PGA Section office building and 2-acre synthetic turf, lighted golf park.
For a brief recap of the luncheon, check out the video
HERE.
About the Northern Texas PGA
The Northern Texas PGA is one of 41 Sections of the PGA of America and its geographic territory includes the State of Texas north of the 31st latitude, or just north of Austin. The Northern Texas PGA has approximately 900 PGA members and associates employed at more than 300 facilities. The Northern Texas PGA has 17 full-time staff members and is currently headquartered in Dallas.
The Northern Texas PGA will be joining the PGA of America national office relocation to Frisco in the summer of 2022 with its own state-of-the-art headquarters on the PGA Frisco campus.
In addition to managing the day-to-day affairs of the Section, the Northern Texas PGA also operates a non-profit and charitable foundation that focuses on five pillars: junior golf, college scholarships, inclusion, internships and military & veterans.
About the Northern Texas PGA Foundation
Founded in 1983, the nationally acclaimed Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization, was rebranded in 2019 as the Northern Texas PGA Foundation. The Northern Texas PGA Foundation focuses on five pillars: junior golf, college scholarships, inclusion, internships and military & veterans.
The Northern Texas PGA Foundation is governed by the Northern Texas PGA Board of Directors and is supported by the Northern Texas PGA Foundation Trustees.
