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If you are aged 55 or more and want to settle down and settle into a community that has virtually every amenity in the book including a wonderful, unique and challenging golf course – Chambers Creek just north of Houston more than checks every box. Chambers Creek, set on 1,100 acres of rolling land billed as the “Houston Hill Country,” is located less than a mile off I-45 in Willis, near The Woodlands and 30 minutes from the northern confines of the Bayou City. We took a trip over there to look over the community and tee it up on the marvelous nine-hole golf course designed by PGA Tour Champions player and 1996 Open Championship winner Tom Lehman and came away uber-impressed. Lehman, who has nearly a dozen courses on his design resume, has fashioned a deceptively challenging links-style track that sports elevation changes aplenty, long-range views, rolling terrain and a routing that’s defined by oak and pine trees, creeks and wide Zoysia fairways. “Chambers Creek is truly a one-of-a-kind development that offers a setting that is extremely rare," Lehman said. “We've created a unique golf course that features some of the most amazing holes in all of golf. I believe any level of golfer will feel challenged, yet still have fun playing the game.” Lehman designed the course (called Lehman Park) to place the holes in a more natural way and they certainly blend into the land. There are just seven bunkers throughout the routing but they are positioned well and are not missed or needed to create difficulty. At first examination, Lehman Park looks easy, with few forced carries and generous openings to its huge putting surfaces. Playing it is a whole different story as four of the holes features blind tee shots and positioning on the lightning-fast greens is paramount. The course begins and ends with par 5s – the first hole’s green is played downhill and is reachable in two while the ninth is entirely uphill and made more difficult with into the prevailing wind. In between those holes are two target par 3s, a drivable par 4, two long and tough two-shotters and the eighth, who’s green is angled away from the tee box and is protected by a lake and a huge mound. In short, Lehman Park is a blast to play and will only get better with seasoning. It’s carded at 3,376 from the back set of four tees so players can bite off as much as they want to chew. A unique feature of the course is that each hole also has a dedicated, artificial turf tee so that it can be played as a par 3, with no hole longer that 150 yards. Chambers Creek ‘s other golf amenity is a cool 18-hole putting course of just over one acre that provides golfers the opportunity for shorter rounds, more informal play, a chance to play games, or place side-bets. A lifestyle inspired by health, wellness, longevity and fun There’s plenty more than golf offered at Chambers Creek, which bills itself as a “community with a golf course” rather than a golf course community. Chambers Creek is being developed by Caldwell Communities, which for more than three decades has delivered highly sought-after communities for people at every stage. Chambers Creek is one of the first communities in the U.S. specifically designed for electric vehicles including designated golf cart paths, specialized parking and homes equipped with garage charging. The community supports and encourages alternative means of transportation. Other amenities in Chambers Creek are a 300-boat-slip private marina with access to Lake Conroe via a private canal, more than 20 miles of hiking/biking trails, pickleball and tennis courts for racquet enthusiasts, a social and wellness center, Bocce Ball, horseshoes and cornhole areas, a resort-style pool, dog parks, open green spaces and a community garden. There’s also a two-acre vineyard of crimson cabernet grapes that serves as a charming setting for an alfresco dinner or a delightful backdrop for a special occasion. Five premier homebuilders offer single-story designs with a mix of classic and contemporary features equipped with the convenience of smart technology. Designs are priced from the $300,000s to more than $2 million, giving buyers a wide selection of floor plans that fit any lifestyle and budget.

FRISCO, Texas -- More than two dozen Texas Golf Hall of Fame inductees and hundreds of friends and supporters celebrated the grand opening of th e new Texas Golf Hall of Fame Anchor Site & Digital Museum Sunday at the Northern Texas PGA Headquarters. Some of the greatest names in Lone Star golf and many generous fans and Texas golf lovers from all over the state enjoyed a night of living Lone Star history which was hosted by former Texas resident and University of Texas golf star Brandel Chamblee and included a panel discussion from Dallas native Lee Trevino and transplanted Texans Bruce Devlin and David Graham. “This is my first time out here and it’s incredible, it really is. I just appreciate the sacrifice of those who came before me and those who are here now,” Trevino said. “It’s being part of a legacy,” added 42-time LPGA winner Fort Worth’s Sandra Haynie. “It’s what motivated me when I was playing and still does. “ The night included the ribbon cutting for the new digital museum which will ultimately catalog every member of the largest state golf of fame in the country for future generations to see and learn about. On hand for the ribbon cutting was North Texas anchor sponsor Veritex Bank CEO Malcom Holland, Fin Ewing, Ewing Auto Group, Insperity HR Services, The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship & Whispering Pines Golf Club. “There is no other state that has the enduring golf history Texas does, that’s why these legends all came tonight,” said Reid Meyers, Chairman of the Texas Golf Hall of Fame Board of Directors “This is one step further so we will have a chance to preserve their stories for many generations to come. “Having an anchor site on this site at the Northern Texas PGA in Frisco means so much to the people here.” The Texas Golf Hall of Fame began in The Woodlands and already has an anchor site in San Antonio at the historic Brackenridge Park golf course where the inductee plaques are located and will be doing its bi-annual induction in Houston in 2024. “It’s really cool to have an anchor site here in North Texas where people can see the great players in Lone Star Golf past, present and future,” said 2020 inductee Ryan Palmer. Chamblee, who does national golf commentary for the Golf Channel, said there was no other state than where he grew up and learned to play the game which has as many great players as Texas.“Only the nation of England has more players in the World Golf Hall of Fame than Texas. It literally makes the hair stand up on my neck to be here and see the greats of the game on this new anchor site. “I can only think of Australia and Texas as the two places who have given more to the game with players, teachers and events. It’s a magical night of living golf history.” The mission of the Texas Golf Hall of Fame is to celebrate the rich and diverse history in the great State of Texas by honoring its golfers, its teachers and those who have contributed to the game in a wide variety of ways, recently appointed TGHOF executive director Alli Jarrett was honored for her work at the anchor ceremony along with outgoing executive director Katie Manor while longtime coordinator Mary Carriker was selected as the first winner of the namesake Texas Golf Hall of Fame Mary Carriker Volunteer of the Year award.

Texas PGA Tour Players Blast Sudden, Shocking Merger With LIV Golf Longtime North Texas PGA Tour pro Ryan Palmer was finishing up a relaxing family vacation to Costa Rica recently when he woke up to his cell phone ringing enough times to make him think either the country was under attack or someone in his family was in serious trouble. All the calls had the same question, what did Palmer, a longtime PGA Tour loyalist, think of the shocking PGA/LIV Golf merger after two years of fighting, legal maneuvering and casting asper-sions on each other? “I had four immediate thoughts,” Palmer said, three of them printable and one not so much. “I felt sadness, disappointment, anger and who gives a ...............”San Antonio’s Jimmy Walker was at home in the Alamo City when he got the news, but had no less a strong reaction. “I don’t think they (PGA Tour) could have handled it any worse. The merger with LIV golf was just horrible. ”While in his Dallas home recovering from back surgery, which will likely keep him out of action the rest of the year, Will Zalatoris had a similar reaction when he heard the news from social media. “It’s frustrating because the Tour told us to stay loyal and not make a move, and now we’re told we’re merging with who we were told not to merge with.” He confirmed the reports that he was offered $75 million from LIV golf, but said that was spread over six years and decided not to take it. Palmer said he was also offered millions (what he called “Pat Perez money”) to go to LIV, but firmly chose to remain on the PGA Tour, rejecting the presented opportunity as did Tom Hoge. “I heard the commissioner say that those who stayed and remained loyal would be rewarded. My question is, who is ‘they’? I think I’m part of ‘they’. They told me to stay loyal, now how do you reward those players?” Only Texas golf legend Lee Trevino preached patience from his home in Dallas. “People may not remember Jack (Nicklaus) and I led a revolt against the PGA of America in the 1960s to form the PGA Tour we know today. That turned out pretty good. Let’s just see what happens with this.”’ While Trevino took a wait-and-see attitude, Walker and others were hurt to discover the PGA Tour’s sudden shift in direction through social media, rather than being informed directly. “I think I’m disappointed more than anything else,” said Walker, who has six PGA Tour wins including a PGA Championship victory. “We’re supposed to be a player led tour, that’s what they tell us all the time, but then they do this.” I mean, you didn’t tell Tiger or Rory in advance,” said Palmer, “but why not let me know. I’ve been out here for 20 something years. In the long run it’s probably better for the game of golf for everybody to be together. Maybe I can play in some LIV tournaments, in off weeks, but the way they did it was terrible.” Palmer said golf’s new world order could affect Texas PGA Tour players in other ways. While LIV golfers could now play in regular PGA Tour events when they are given permission, golfers like Palmer, Walker and others could go the other direction. “If I’m off a week and there is a LIV golf tournament nearby that week, I’d be pretty foolish not to try and go and play.” Although Zalatoris made the best decision for himself, it’s natural for him to feel a sense of disappointment and frustration with the outcome.“My whole life I wanted to be a PGA Tour golfer, this is just not the way I thought it would turn out.”

Travel Louisiana Although the Cajun French version of “let the good times roll” was developed in the French Quarter of New Orleans... I felt compelled to borrow this term for your trip around Louisiana and the joie de vivre (joy of living) that truly explains our love of the game of golf. Louisiana is a “Sportsman’s Paradise” for fishing or hunting, but golfers have nothing to fear when it comes down to ample quality, challenging golf – all around the state. The Louisiana GolfTrails was developed to connect golfers with other experiences in Louisiana. Look... we all know that golf is a simple 4-hour game (that might be think- ing a little too optimistically, or to share some of my personal sarcasm), so what do you do with the balance of your time? The well-knownAudubon GolfTrail consists of 16 golf courses around the state and covers all 3 regions of Louisiana.This original “GolfTrail” has connected those 16 courses with 6 other opportunities for you to experience the culture around Louisiana. I would call the Louisiana GolfTrails “GOLF &”. “Golf and Fishing Trails” – Not just a hobby to pass the time – fishing is a way of life. From their lakes, rivers and marshes to the deep blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana has the fisherman in you covered. Check out the Cypress Bend Golf Course in Many, LA. At this location you are literally minutes away from completing your challenging round on their mind-blowing golf course and dropping your line in the water with a guide that knows where the hot spots are on Toledo Bend Lake. “Golf and GamingTrails” – Known as “LasVegas South” – you find yourself chipping in on the 5th hole at Koasati Pines in Kinder, LA, and throwing the dice on tables at Coushatta Casino Resort. LOOK...I have never heard a golfer yell “7 come 11” on the first tee at any golf course, especially when we play for money. But I did hear one of our players yelling “give me an easy 4” on the first hole atTamahkaTrails Golf Course that is part of Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville, LA. “Golf & CulinaryTrails” - Really... do we need to explain this one? A study not long ago found that Louisiana was the nation’s happiest state.Want to make me happy? Serve up some fresh Gulf seafood or boudin, or even andouille sausage gumbo... and although I may have just shot well above my normal score on the golf course, I am going to have a smile on my face as I bite into a fresh hot Beignet. Enough said! “Golf & Craft BeerTrails” – Imagine a great round of golf... a great Cajun dinner an d you are strolling through a small town and find a Craft Brewer. You settle in for a cold one and enjoy their unique flavor and vibe that sets them apart from the next. Maybe it’s the water, maybe it’s the other ingredients, or maybe it’s just the atmosphere that takes you away as you listen to the history of their special town. Those problems that you may have had on the golf course seem to melt away. Preparing you for the next round on the golf course. “Golf and Music” – Say what?The birthplace of jazz, zydeco, Cajun, and swamp pop, music is engrained in the soul of Louisiana. From the main stage at the lavish casinos right down to the Street Performers... Louisiana Music can be found everywhere. I’ll bet the next day on the golf course you will be hearing those tunes filtering through the trees. “Golf and Distillery” Now we are talking.The Big Easy? – No, those legal “Speakeasies” – where you nestle up to the bar talking about your heroic shots of the day and sipping on some “World Class” bourbon being distilled in the back room.Take a tour, see how it is done. Okay... so the golf that day just got a little easier to take, while preparing for the next day. The folks of the Louisiana GolfTrails made it easier for all of us.They have estab- lished 3-day itineraries that truly fit all of these “Golf &’s” that you have been reading about. Check them out at: LouisianaGolfTrails.com Laissez les bon temps rouler

Golf Channel and traditional TV networks crush it when it comes to televising PGA and LPG A TOUR events. We tune in on Sundays, probably on Saturdays, too, and occasionally sneak away for some early-round coverage. But critics note there’s a shortfall in non-competition golf video content. Despite a plethora of golf instruction and even equipment reviews in living color, where are shows highlighting the on- and off-course fun golf brings to golfers and non-golfers alike? That’s the void the new Golf Nation fills and, based on early reviews from Texas golfers, the streaming channel will be a fan favorite for a long time to come. Golf Nation sneak peaked in early December 2022 as the first and only producer of original golf-lifestyle shows with the ability for viewers to instantly purchase items via “buy bars” popping up while never leaving the screen. Folks, Netflix Meets Home Shopping Network” has come to golf. Each commercial-free episode is five to 30 minutes and specials may be longer. Shows are free on www.golfnation.com and will be available via mobile app, connected-smart TVs, Apple TV, Android, Fire TV and Roku in early 2023. Original series include “Ambush with David Feherty” and his hidden-camera hijinks; “Golf Unseen” that takes viewers to exotic courses with cultural experiences; “Tee Shots” where golfers drink, chat and swing with famous mixologist Bill Binder; “Watch. Buy. Play.” highlighting the planet’s hottest golf products; and “Don’t I Know You?” based on the 1980s-1990s TV hit “The Newlywed Game” with the first episode featuring Zach and Kim Johnson. If you think this content-to-commerce format won’t fly, think again. NBTV Channels and its NBTV Studios production arm also produce Spirits Network that sells countless products inside “Cocktail History,” “Tales from the Cask,” “Sipping Point” and “Science of Spirits” and other series of shows. And we thought the largest crossover audience to golf is professional sports. Not so much. More than 60% of Spirits Network viewers count golf as a passion. “Golf Nation is off to a solid start,” says Suzy Whaley, President of Golf Nation. “The sneak-peak shows are well received and brands selling their offerings on our channel are thrilled.”

Fields of Ranch East & West at PGA Frisco Texas has golf courses, lots and lots of golf courses, 800-plus in fact. Lots of great courses, private enclaves, plus top- rated resorts in Austin-San Antonio, but great public golf, especially in the North? Not so much.That’s what makes the soon to open two public championship courses in Frisco, 40 minutes north of downtown Dallas, such a golfing game changer. Located at the new, modern PGA of America headquarters on 660 acres of former North Texas farm land, hence the official name Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco, East and West Course. Owned and operated by Omni Hotels, which will have a massive 550- room resort here, the PGA will oversee golf operations on City of Frisco land. Every spare inch of this new Texas golfing utopia will be open to the public, from the largest putting green in the US of A (the Dance Floor), to the 10-hole Short Course (The Swing), to the resort and two courses, the East designed by Gil Hanse and the West, a Beau Welling Design. Heck, even the Northern Texas PGA will have an awesome synthetic putting and chipping complex here open to the public when not in use for NTPGA activities. With nearly a dozen eating, drink- ing and shopping establishments over- seen by a huge electronic TV screen, plus a three mile walk/bike/pet trail, you’ve got a golfing paradise no matter if you’re a thoroughly hooked hacker, a casual golfer or just somebody who wants in on the non-stop action. PGA Frisco Golf Complex is for you, Joe or Judy Q. Public. “We were always going to make everything public here, because that fits into the PGA of America’s mission of attract- ing golfers and non-golfers to the sport,” said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh. Rendering of Hotel Entrance The East Course, which will host 26 major golf championships starting with the PGA Seniors Championship in May, two future PGA Championships and likely a Ryder Cup., includes a drivable par 4 on both the front (No. 7) and back nine (15). There is a nearly a 300-yard par 3, (No. 13 from the championship tees) along with the largest green on the course followed by the smallest, just to confuse golfers’ already confused minds. Then a bunkerless par 4 16th hole which seems simple, but is anything but! Then for the closing act, there is a dangerous 17th hole par 3 at 141 yards, the shortest on the course, plus a par 5 18th hole with a large stream and a hard dogleg right, plus a 10-foot earthen wall you’ll to hit over to reach the final green after crossing Panther Creek for the final time. “I think you could have some fire- works there,” Hanse said in a bit of an understatement in a fireside interview with co-designer Welling at the Omni Frisco Resort. The West Course by Welling ,who did Bluejack National with Tiger Woods outside Houston, did the more player friendly course with lots of wide open North Texas prairie spaces, elevated views and some truly funky greens. It’s a course to be ridden for sure, but one to take in the scenery with risk and reward challenge.Welling said the two courses are not identical sisters but in the same family. “It’s more like cousins, I’d say. I wanted to be able to bring my mother out here who may not be as good as I am, but still have a good time.” The public, which will get its first chance to play here in the spring of 2023, will make up more than 80% of the rounds on the Hanse East course. Hanse designed the course to be player friendly, but certainly not pain free if you don’t hit the correct shot from the correct tee. Hanse said one of the things he learned from designing the Olympic Golf Course in Brazil. The course can easily play more than 7,800 yards from the back ribbon, but PGA officials said the length will rarely, if ever, be used on a daily basis. Playing the correct set of tees will be critical to resort player enjoyment for the triple figure rates which will be charged to Omni Hotel guests and general public play.The opening hole on the East Course is a par 5 with a dogleg right, which PGA FriscoWest Course,#5 features some thick rough and the first appearance of native Panther Creek. A less than optimal shot could mean the first lost ball early despite the best effort of the caddies, which will allow for walking by guests.In fact, whenWoods opened his private Bluejack National course three hours south- east of here, he said he hoped most players could play his course with a single ball.If an amateur plays PGA Frisco East with single ball, they might be drug tested or sent straight up to the PGA Tour, Holes 10-12, all par 4, play in full view of the Huge Omni Resort, making them prime spots for tournament watch- ing, but players of all skill levels will have their full attention captured when they get to the par 3 13th hole. Panther Creek cuts across the fairway and curls up the left side, and it will be one of the most attractive features on the back side. The par 4 15th is another up- hill drivable par 4 which is surrounded by bunkers to embrace the risk-reward fac- tor. It’s public drama open to all in the new home of professional and amateur golf in Texas and all of America.

Visit GulfShores.com First off, let’s make this perfectly clear, Gulf Shores-Orange Beach – a community sandwiched between Pensacola, FL. and Mobile, AL. and not far from the Mississippi state line – offers a lot more than golf. But we will get to those other nice things later. Gulf Shores is a unique spot for golfers. Not only are its courses good, but they’re also not far from each other.The Gulf Coast and Orange BeachVacation Guide lists 15 courses in the area with three of the best especially close together. “We’ve got an island that is 32 miles long in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach,’ said Easton Colvin, public relations coordinator for Gulf Shores-Orange Beach Kiva Dunes Resort Tourism. “In it there’s 32 miles of pretty, white sand beaches and 20 miles of golf, if you add the yardages of the courses there together. All of our courses are public. You can schedule a tee time on your own at every one of them.’We also learned that full-service golf packages can be booked by a division of Troon, which owns three of the courses, called Coastal Alabama Golf. The three courses on the island part of Gulf Shores form a tasty trio. Kiva Dunes has earned the most accolades. It’s a links-style layout 200 yards off the beaches. Jerry Pate, working with good friend and developer Jim Edgemon, designed it. Pate was a hot commodity as a player before Kiva opened in 1995. He starred for the University of Alabama golf team, winning the U.S.Amateur in 1974. His pro career started with a bang too. In 1976, his rookie season on the PGATour, he won both the U.S. and Canadian Opens. Six years later he wonThe Players Championship. Those are pretty good titles to have on a playing resume, and Pate won five other times before shoulder and knee problems slowed his playing career down.With Kiva being one of his first designs, Pate converted to being a successful course designer, developer and businessman while settling in Pensacola. The Jerry Pate-designed Kiva Dunes is clearly the most decorated of Gulf Shores’ 15 area golf courses. In its early years Kiva hosted the second stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying School three times and was named the No. 1 public course in Alabama in 2017. Located on the Fort Morgan peninsula, the facility has condominiums and beach houses to rent plus four swimming pools, two on-site restaurants and over a mile of waterfront. Gulf Shores Golf Club Kiva has gained recognition far beyond its home state, and it’s our choice as Gulf Shores’ best – but not by all that much. Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club is pretty darn good, too. This facility also opened in 1995, with Earl Stone designing its 27 holes on 800 acres. Peninsula has some things that Kiva Dunes doesn’t have. It has three nines – the Lakes, Cypress and Marsh – and the facility also has an 8,000 square foot fitness center, eight tennis courts and indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Third of the island courses is Gulf Shores Golf Club, the oldest course at the destination. It was built by the father-son team of Jay and Carter Moorish in the early 1960s and they also handled a fullscale renovation there in 2005.The course was hit by Hurricane Sally in 2020 and is still somewhat in recovery mode but its sharp doglegs and numerous water hazards make for a challenging test. The biggest of the Gulf Shores facilities isn’t on the island, but is just 5 minutes up the road. Craft Farms has 45 holes with its Cotton Creek and Cypress courses and a nine-hole par-3 layout. Those two 18-holers, along with Lost Key in nearby Perdido Key, comprise the only Arnold Palmer designs in Alabama. (Lost Key is in Florida) The legendary Palmer was just starting to dabble in course design when he developed a close friendship with Robert Craft. They worked together for the 1987 opening of Cotton Creek and the 1993 debut of the Cypress course. Craft passed away in 2006. His son has been the mayor of Gulf Shores since 2008. Though some seasons are better than others weather-wise, there’s pride in what Gulf Shores has to offer golfers. “Gulf Shores in November is as good a place to play golf as you’ll find anywhere,’ said Dan Dorrough, now the head superintendent at Gulf Shores Golf Club after stints as an assistant at Kiva Dunes and Craft Farms.We made our first trip to Gulf Shores in 2012 and played the same four courses community looked a lot different this time, though. Now there’s more new, or at least expanded, attractions. For starters there’s Gulf Shores State Park with its 6,150 acres creating a haven for hikers, cyclists and Segway tours.The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail spans all of the park’s 28 miles and connects both Gulf Shores and Orange Beach to the park. There’s also a nature center, over two miles of uninterrupted pristine beachfront and a lodge (actually a 350-room Hilton hotel that was rebuilt in 2018) featuring the Perch Restaurant. Our favorite dinner spot was Big Fish, a great place featuring seafood and a sushi bar but steak, pasta and sandwiches are available too. Lucy Buffett’s LuLu’s, located on the IntracoastalWaterway, also has good food along with live music, a fun arcade, a three-story climbing ropes course and children’s activities.The owner is the sister of one of my all- time favorite singers, Jimmy Buffett. Sassy Bass CookoutTiki Bar has a somewhat hidden location between Kiva Dunes and Peninsula, but the food, served in hot iron skillets, was delicious in addition to having a unique presentation. And then there’s the sprawling Flora-BamaYacht Club with its world famous Flora-Bama Lounge, Package & Oyster Bar. Craft Farms, Cotton Creek Course waterfront dining and a lot more.This is a legendary place near Orange Beach that appeals to all ages with its music, interesting decor and numerous bars. Though it was hit by numerous hurricanes over the years, Flora-Bama remains a must visit no matter the duration of your stop in the Gulf Shores-Orange Beach area. You don’t have to just play golf and eat in Gulf Shores, either. On rainy days you can still play miniature golf indoors – at the glow-in-the-dark Jurassic dinosaur adventure. It has a unique 5,000 square foot prehistoric setting and was a nice diversion for even the most serious golfers in our group. Most all of them however, preferred the SailWild Hearts’ relaxing two-hour sunset cruise in a 53-foot open-ocean catamaran. For more information, visit gulfshores.com.

Team STPGA takes home the Cup for the Fifth Year in a Row The SouthernTexas PGA team was victorious September 18th over the NorthernTexas PGA team at the11th Annual Texas Junior Cup.Matches presented byTCG Advisors by an overall point total of 18 to 6.Team STPGA led the matches by 5 points following the first day of competition and early on into day two of singles matches,Team STPGA secured the cup after winning 9 singles matches. Key victories forTeam STPGA on day one came from Aleah Shields-Rodipe and Dylan Knox during the 4-Ball Matches, who won their match 3&2 against Adrielle Miller and Lincoln Rubis from Team NTPGA. In the afternoon Scramble matches, five of the matches went down to the wire, each going to the final hole. Team STPGA won 4 out of these 5 matches, taking a strong lead of 8.5-3.5 after day one. “It really was all about the players this weekend.They did a fantastic job on the golf course.Their character and integrity was unparalleled,” said STPGA Captain Chris Westerdahl, PGA. “It was an honor to be their coach and to see them win.” Team STPGA secured the cup during day two of theTexas Junior Cup Matches after the first four groups won their singles matches, putting Team STPGA at 12.5 points, enough points to win the overall matches.Team STPGA proceeded to win five more matches and tie one, to finish the day at 9.5Team STPGA and 2.5Team NTPGA. The Texas Junior Cup Matches is an annual competition between the SouthernTexas PGA and the NorthernTexas PGA Sections. The Ryder Cup-style format features teams represented by 12 junior golfers under the age of 12 who earned their exemptions into this event through various tournaments in each Section.The teams competed in Four-Ball and Scramble Matches day one, and Singles Matches the final day. Chris Westerdahl, PGA Director of Instruction at Sterling Country Club served asTeam STPGA’s captain for the first time, and Vince Bove, PGA Program Lead - Drive, Chip and Putt served asTeam NTPGA’s captain for the fourth year. This year marks the 11th anniversary of the Texas Junior Cup Matches with the inaugural matches taking place in 2012 at Northwood Club in Dallas,Texas.After this year’s event, both teams now have a record of 5-5-1. The 2022 matches were contested at Sand Hill Farm Golf Course, a unique 9-hole private course created by the Tucker family, founders of Mustang Cat, and designed by former professional golfer, Peter Jacobsen.

Nine hole golf courses have been a backbone of the game and are enjoying a resurgence With time at a premium in the mod- ern world and the game of golf continuing to grow, we continue to see a renewed interest in the non-traditional round played on courses that are less than 18 holes. New facilities are opening across the country and throughout the state of Texas. The bottom line is that nine-hole courses have been a big part of the golf world since the game was invented. It took until 1974 for there to be more 18- hole courses in America than nine-hole facilities. Many of the nation’s premier golf clubs – with names likeThe Country Club in Boston, Merion in Philadelphia, and East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta – were founded with just nine golf holes originally in play. That list includes a number of the most ballyhooed courses inTexas, including the eponymous country clubs in the state’s four largest metropolitan areas. Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin all had nine-hole courses first before expanding to 18 holes.The National Golf Foundation lists 167 nine-hole, regulation-length golf courses in the Lone Star State. Sometimes, playing nine holes is enough golf for one day. If you have a hankering to double that amount, well you can play the course twice, often for the same price or just a few dollars more. The Texas Golf Insider has whittled down the state’s extensive list of nine-hole courses to a dozen of the best, with a little variety in the location of the courses to make sure you can find one near you. Dallas-Fort Worth area Timberlinks Country Club (Denton) This par 35, 3,043-yard course has it all: unique and interesting holes, very good conditions, reasonable rates, and great putting surfaces.The layout, designed by Lyndy Lindsey, is fair but challenging and will test course management and shot-making skills with its tight fairways, doglegs, dramatic elevation changes, several ponds and creeks, sand and grass bunkers, rolling fairways, risk/reward opportunities, and well- protected greens. Starr Hollow Golf Club (Tolar) Starr Hollow GC is an exclusive, uber-private golf course located on a 3,000-acre working ranch southwest of FortWorth.The course was designed by Joe Finger and founded and owned by Marvin Leonard in 1967, who also built Colonial Country Club and Shady Oaks. Starr Hollow is serene, scenic, loaded with wildlife, and home to a splendid variey of golf holes all kept in flawless condition. Many golf aficionados refer to the club as “Little Augusta.” Stewart Peninsula Golf Course (Lewisville) Designed by Tripp Davis, this fun and very demanding course was Inspired by both Scotland’s classic links architecture and California’s Monterey Peninsula coastal courses.The course has views of Lake Lewisville from almost every hole, with forced carries, downhill shots, doglegs, water, bunkers, tough approach shots and more demanding your best throughout.Two sets of tee boxes and two pins on each green make each nine a little different. Sand Hills Golf & Country Club opened in 1962 and features 3,045 yards of golf from the back tees for a par of 36, all with pristine Zoysia fairways. Three holes stand out on layout – the 470-yard fourth, a reachable-in-two par 5; the 270-yard, drivable par 4 sixth, and the 220-yard par 3 eighth, the most difficult hole on the course.Two sets of tees allow for an 18-hole round. On the weekends, the course is open only to members in the middle of the day. Central Texas Blue Lake Golf Club is set on the south shore of Lake LBJ on a portion of the former Wennmohs Ranch. Finger designed the 2,376- yard, par 32 layout without a sand bunker and with a routing that includes five par 3s, three par 4s and one par 5.The first course record (which might still be the record, according to club management) is 55 for two turns around track as set in 1964 by 1959 Masters champion Jackie Burke.The course features rolling terrain – level lies are a premium – Bermuda greens, doglegs, lots of trees and views of the lake from several tees and fairways. Adjacent toWillie’s re- cording studio and condos, it’s scenic and quiet, and there are few rules – sixsomes, beer, country music, and tee-shirts are common. A fun track to play and a relax- ing and refreshing divergence from the formal country club scene.The pro shop features all kinds of Nelson golf para- phernalia. East Texas Marshall Lakeside Country Club (Marshall) Lakeside is the oldest course in Mar- shall and one of the oldest in the state, dating back to 1923 when a routing by Gus Carter debuted. This traditional course plays at 3,131 yards and features tight, tree-lined fairways, tiny, raised and swerving greens, and a good amount of water. Celebrities such as Mickey Mantle,Y.A. Tittle, and Roy Clark have graced the fairways here.The course was renovated in the mid- 1950s, with Dallas-based architect Lee Singletary doing some work on the course over the years. West Texas Concho Springs Golf Course (Eden) Designed by Williams, Gill & Associ- ates, this 6,000-plus yard course tests even the best of golfers. Hardin Creek winds its way along and has a say in play on eight of the holes. Elevated tees on three holes add to the challenge, and the course’sTifEagle Bermuda putting surfaces sport an average square footage of 5,500 and are considered by some as the best greens in the region. Though hunting is not allowed, one should not be surprised to see deer, turkey or other wildlife roaming the course. South Texas Palmilla Beach GC, Port Aransas Palmilla Beach is a fun, fresh, fast play and Texas’ only “true links” course, with three holes right on the water. Originally designed by Arnold Palmer, Palmilla is now a 12-hole facility, including nine holes of regulation play plusThe Loop, a three-hole, family-friendly short course. The routing includes coastal sand dunes, open parkland and Paspalum turf that allows balls to “run” much further.The course is an amenity of the posh Palmilla Beach Resort & Golf Community, but ev- eryone is welcome.There is no member- ship required nor is there a dress code.Beeville Country Club, Beeville Country Club features a private 3,218-yard course with plush Bermuda grass from tee to green, dozens of Coastal Live Oaks, narrow, tree-lined fairways and small putting surfaces. No need to bring your sand wedge as there are no bunkers, and water also protects the front of the greens on holes 5, 7, and 8. Opened in 1944, the course has been voted among the top dozen nine-hole facilities in Texas and is fun to play from start to finish. Houston area Conroe Country Club, Conroe Conroe CC is a traditional, solid course with tree-lined fairways and tiny greens. Majestic oaks add character to the facility, which originally opened as the San Jacinto Country Club to provide recreation for residents in the oil business. A private facility designed by John Bredemus and opened in 1931, Conroe CC plays at 3,176 yards. It gained fame for its annual invitational golf tournament, which drew the likes of future PGA Tour players Miller Barber, Homero Blancas, Rocky Thompson and Dave Marr over the years.The course was renovated in 2010 with help of architect Jeff Blume but retains its Golden Age flavor. Big Easy Ranch, Columbus Set on land where the Texas Hill Country makes way for the Coastal Plain, the splendid nine-hole Chet Williams- designed course at Big Easy Ranch features all par 3s ranging from 65 to 251 (!) yards.With dramatic elevation changes and beautiful waterfalls, this isn’t your average par 3 course as whitetail deer and exotics freely roam the prop- erty, creating the perfect backdrop for a unique golf experience. Completing the golf amenities are a driving range, putting green, a short-game practice area and The Golf Academy. Big Easy Ranch has become widely recognized and lauded for its world-class hunting, wing shooting, state-of-the-art sporting clay course and trophy bass fishing as well as its golf, set- ting itself apart from other hunting and sporting clubs.

Scott Schreiner Golf Course Scott Schreiner Golf Course is an 18-hole course that is nestled among the rolling hills in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. Redesigned by renowned golf course architect Joe Finger in 1999, it is one of the best kept secrets of the southwest. The layout features mounded greens in a variety of sizes and shapes.The fairways offer generous landing areas, yet are tight enough to present a comfortable challenge. The signature hole is number 17, a 535-yard par-5.Water comes into play on the second shot, then again on the approach to the green, which is surrounded by water on three sides.A waterfall to the left of the green adds a pleas- ing aesthetic. Set against the beautiful hills and rustic Texas landscape, this course is fun for all. The course is located in Kerrville,Texas making it an easy drive from San Antonio or Austin. A putting green, driving range, chipping greens with sand bunker, com- plete pro shop, and available golf lessons are some of the amenities found at the course. Kerrville boasts over 900 acres of public spaces to paddle,bike and play in.Enjoy eclectic restaurants,local music and local breweries and wine during your stay.

MONKEY ISLAND, Oklahoma – In the book classic Lost Horizons, Shangri-La is described as a fictional, mystical, harmonious valley, full of wonder and mystery. Thankfully, for the traveling golfer, the is a very real place, with 27 holes of championship golf, a spectacular new par 3, The Battleground, hotel, and activity center all befitting a $100 million dollar-plus renovation which has produced a place full of wonder and mystery, wonderful scenery and laid back luxury. “I’ve been here long enough to see the good, the bad and now the very, very good,” said longtime condo owner Mike Williams, who now serves as VP-Communications and Government Affairs. Indeed, like many storied resorts, Shangri-La, located 90 minutes Northeast of Tulsa, Ok. on Grand Lake, has seen plenty of ups and downs in its nearly 50-year history. Once the favorite hangout for Oklahoma native, New York Yankees legend Mickey Mantle who played hundreds of rounds of golf here and still has a golf bag with his name on it in the pro shop, the resort hosted the 1982 National Governors’ Conference to bring in people from all over the country to see the resort. But there was a slow and steady decline after that through a series of owners which left Shangri-La more of a ghost town than a scenic resort. But all that changed in 2010 when Oklahoma’s Eddy Gibbs, who lives outside of Tulsa, bought the property and poured more than $100 million into the resort to restore the place to new heights of golfing grandeur. “When Eddy took over he was determined to do it right, not cut any corners and put out a spectacular resort product which appeals to the entire family,” said Shangri-La President & CEO Barry Willingham. Consider it mission accomplished when you see the latest version of the resort up close and personal. The old hotel was knocked down and a new modern multi-story facility was put in its place. There is a two-story modern stone golf clubhouse with the always hopping Buffalo Bar at the top. A new, very cold, Resort Pool came with a three-million dollar price tag along with a watery outdoor playground. The latest family attraction is The Anchor activities building which sits almost directly in front of the resort. It contains just about every kind of indoor and outdoor family attraction you could ask for. There are outdoor tennis and pickleball courts along with a large indoor sports bar, every kind of arcade and computer reality games including, Trackman, you could ask for, plus old school pop a shot and even Ping-Pong tables, the kind I begged my parents (with no success) to get when I was a kid. There is even an outdoor mini-Fenway Park Wiffle ball field, complete with its own green monster outfield wall and a LOVE’S outfield sign in tribute to the Oklahoma truck stop and convenience store company whose founding family has several places here. But golf was and still is the main attraction here. What was once 36 tired golf holes has been turned into 27 spectacular and scenic championship holes routed along the Oklahoma landscape with views of the lake and the rolling hills by architect Tom Clark. The newest attraction and one of the best anywhere is the Battlefield Par 3 Course. It covers 45 acres of very hilly and rugged territory with plenty of trees and water and 18 challenging short holes on the 3,000 yard course“I always thought this would be a great spot for a motocross track or a short par 3 golf course,” said Williams. Thankfully, the golf course won out, designed by Clark, and the grand opening this summer provided the golf exclamation point to a full links experience. “I can promise your game will get better by coming over here and playing and practicing,” said Battlefield assistant head pro Chad Dalton, who hit the pin, not once, but twice during our round together. You could walk The Battlefield, but the terrain is so steep at parts, a cart is the preferred method to soak up the full experience. There are five sets of tees plus the Felix set of tees named for Felix the Cat in the fairways and close to the greens to allow more short game practice. Each of the tee markers features a different Oklahoma War Hero. In addition, Gibbs has collected WWII vehicles from all over the world and displays them here. An armored personnel carrier is his latest addition on a special site on the Heritage golf course with a WWII tank next! The Championship golf features 3 nine hole layouts, Heritage, Legends and Champions. Each featuring plenty of elevation changes, lots of trees, views of the lake and pure white sand in the greenside bunkers. The Champions has the most views of Grand Lake with some of the early holes on the nine hole layout routed against the water. It might be the shortest from the back tees, but has more water and traps. The Legends Nine features the par 5 closing hole known as the Mickey Mantle Hole where the longtime member once made a double eagle here on one of his final rounds in the early 1990s. Willingham came within three feet of equaling the Mantle feat during our round. Food includes Doc’s inside the resort, Eddy’s where Oklahoma legendary singer Toby Keith has been known to come by and sing a few tunes, the Monkey Grind for an early morning coffee, The Anchor for pizza and burgers and The Summit in the clubhouse, as well as The Canteen at The Battlefield clubhouse. One other feature is the large on-site marina. If you didn’t happen to bring your boat on a visit to Shangri-La you can always rent one to see the lake. But it begs the question. When you discover this special Sooner State site, why would you ever want to sail away? The good times are back at Shangri-La and longtime visitors and members will tell you, they were never this good or this modern before. For more information, go to www.shangrilaok.com or call 918-257-4204.