NTPGA's Top 10 Moments from 2018

The Northern Texas PGA had a wonderful 2018, and our Section staff is looking forward to seeing what 2019 has in store for us! However, now that the holidays are over, we wanted to take a look back in chronological order at our favorite moments from 2018.

#1. Ronny Glanton Elected as NTPGA’s 28th President

The Northern Texas PGA held their 50th Annual Meeting on Monday, February 19 at The Westin Galleria Dallas. During the meeting, the membership elected new section leadership, including the 28th Northern Texas PGA President Ronny Glanton. Glanton was also the 22nd President of the NTPGA. Read more.

#2. Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation Awards Record $307,500 in Scholarships

The Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation is dedicated to continuing its charitable commitment to educational services. In 2018, 43 students earned scholarships totaling $305,000, the most ever given in a single year by the Foundation. Of the scholarships awarded, 69% were based on financial need, academic performance, extracurricular activities and community involvement, while 31% were awarded based on academic performance, extracurricular activities and community involvement. Also included in this number were five Fairway To Success scholarship recipients who were awarded $20,000 to continue their education. With these students, the Fairway To Success program reached $1 million given to DISD students in 11 years! Read more. *Please note that after this article was published in June, we were able to give out an additional $2,500 bringing the total to $307,500 for 2018.

#3. NTPGA Foundation Has Record-Breaking Summer Camp Attendance

The NTPGA Summer Golf Camp Program provides children ages 6-12 with an opportunity to be introduced to the game of golf. In the summer of 2018, 891 kids across 18 different locations spent five days learning the fundamentals of golf including full swing, putting, chipping, rules and safety. Along with the instruction from PGA Professionals, each camper received a new set of clubs, a hat, water bottle, golf balls, tees and free access to select golf courses. The future of Northern Texas is bright as more and more kids are introduced to golf through this great program! Learn more.

#4. PGA Member Wins Texas State Open for the First Time Since 1987

Ben Kern of Georgetown, Texas, and PGA head professional at Georgetown Country Club, captured the 48th Tanos Exploration II / Patterson-UTI Drilling Texas State Open by playing solid, and at times spectacular golf, with rounds of 70, 64, 62 and a final round of 70. He finished the Championship two strokes ahead of the competition at 14-under par 266 for 72-holes. Following the Texas State Open, Kern went on to claim Low PGA Professional honors at the 100th PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club, St. Louis, MO. Read more.

#5. NTPGA Junior Golf Three-Peat at Ben Hogan Junior Cup Matches

Shady Oaks Country Club, the Northern Texas PGA and the Southern Texas PGA hosted the 3rd Annual Ben Hogan Junior Cup Matches at Shady Oaks Country Club on Tuesday, August 7 – Wednesday, August 8. The Northern Texas PGA retained the Ben Hogan Junior Cup, finishing the event 13 – 11 over the Southern Texas PGA for a three-peat. With the victory, the Northern Texas PGA team now has a 3-0-0 record in the Matches. Read more.

#6. Former NTPGA Junior Tour Member Wins First Major

In September of 2018, Angela Stanford, a Fort Worth native and NTPGA Junior Tour Member from 1990 to 1994, captured her first major championship at the Evian Championship in Évian-les-Bains, France. The Championships website notes, "After a rollercoaster final sprint, the American Angela Stanford wins the Evian Championship 2018. The 40-year-old American had not won on tour since 2012. She is the first stars and stripes player on the shores of Lake Geneva since Natalie Gulbis in 2007." Read more.

#7. Cameron Doan Receives PGA of America Award

In August 2018, The PGA of America announced that Cameron Doan, PGA head professional at Preston Trail Golf Club in Dallas, was awarded the Bill Strausbaugh Award. This award is presented to those PGA Members who by their day-to-day efforts have made significant contributions through mentoring of PGA Professionals. The award also considers the integrity and character of the PGA Member, their service to the Association, involvement in community and charitable activities. Read more.

#8. Ewing Charity Classic Event Sets New Record

The 13th Annual Ewing Charity Classic, a fundraising golf tournament conducted by the Northern Texas PGA for the benefit of the Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation, took place at Brook Hollow Golf Club in Dallas on Monday, November 26, 2018. The event raised a record high of $230,000. The Ewing Charity Classic, formerly the Westcott Pro-Am, is widely considered one of the most special and unique events in the country with $4.29 million raised during the past 23 years for the benefit of the Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation's broad-based community outreach programs. Read more.

#9. PGA of America and NTPGA Headquarters Moving to Frisco

At the end of November 2018 at a special called meeting by the Frisco City Council, the Council approved a new development that includes the PGA of America relocating its headquarters to the City of Frisco. In addition to the headquarters campus, the development will also include an Omni resort, 45-holes of golf, 18-holes of which will be designed by Gil Hanse. The facility will be called PGA Frisco. What is very exciting for the Northern Texas PGA is that PGA Frisco will also become the home of the Northern Texas PGA! Read more.

#10. NTPGA Reaches 10,000 Through its 2018 Events and Programs

More important than any of these moments is the fact that we feel that we were able to truly serve the members and grow the game of golf this year. We estimate that we impacted the lives of 10,000 of people in the northern Texas community through golf, and that is for what we are always striving to do!

As you can see, 2018 set the bar high for 2019! But, as we reflect on these great memories, we know that this New Year will bring many more record-breaking and memorable moments. Best wishes for a prosperous 2019! Now, #getgolfing