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Earlier this year, 59 regional golf associations, including the Texas Golf Association, entered into a new relationship with the United States Golf Association to enhance the golfer experience at the state and local levels in the United States.
These Allied Golf Associations (AGAs), supported by the USGA’s five existing regional affairs offices, will administer the USGA Handicap and Course Rating Systems within defined geographic areas across the country. In addition, they will serve as the community’s primary resource for USGA services such as championship qualifiers, governance, golf facility support and programs that help grow and improve the long-term health of the game.
“We’ve always valued our relationship with the USGA and take great pride in being the governing body for amateur golf in Texas, as well as the administrators for all USGA Championship qualifiers in our state each year,” said Rob Addington, the Executive Director of the TGA. “In truth, not much will change for us in terms of daily operations. But we look forward to our new role as an AGA and will continue to set a high bar for serving golfers in Texas and growing the game at all levels.”
In addition to representing the USGA in Texas, the TGA also conducts more than 50 statewide and regional championships each year. The TGA offers playing opportunities for every type of golfer, including competitive events for men, women and seniors. Additionally, the TGA runs the Legends Junior Tour, part of the Texas Junior Golf Alliance and home of the highest level of junior golf competition in the state.
Recreational and casual golfers in Texas participate in the TGA’s Fun Golf Series, which provides laid-back, non-competitive outings at some of the state’s best courses for discounted green fees. The TGA Foundation is the charitable arm of the TGA and provides grants, college scholarships and administrative support of developmental programs. One of the Foundation’s missions is to create new avenues for deserving and underserved youth to learn some of life’s important lessons through exposure to golf.
“Regional golf associations are the lifeblood of the golf community and the USGA,” said Mike Davis, USGA CEO. “We felt that now was the best time to formalize this new alliance, in the spirit of working together on grassroots programs, improving how we serve golfers and providing a healthy foundation from which the entire golf community can grow.”
Newly recognized AGAs were identified through a nearly year-long discovery process that encouraged collaboration among existing golf organizations within each state and region, sharing best practices and leveraging programs that have made a positive impact.
The resulting relationship will enable AGAs to provide a variety of competitive playing opportunities that engage more golfers of all levels within their region. The AGAs will also serve as local experts for education on topics such as modernizing golf’s rules, the new World Handicap System and related governance functions.