Shortly after assuming the role of President of the Chicago District Golf Association back in December 2023, I authored a short note in this publication. In that note, I pointed out that it was a great honor to be elected to fill this role. I also documented how membership and programming at the CDGA had grown significantly over the prior decade and touched on some of the new tournaments, programs and initiatives that were coming to the CDGA. As I complete my term as president of this great organization, I am thankful that the Association remains very strong and continues to grow in both size and programming for all of our members.
The past two years have seen the CDGA grow from 106,000 individual members to 119,000. These increased membership numbers are indicative not only of the popularity of golf but also of the efforts made by the CDGA to expand the programming and services it offers to its members throughout the District. In 2024, the CDGA added the Illinois State Women’s Amateur Championship to its list of Championships, a tournament previously run by the Illinois Women’s Golf Association. The CDGA also added additional qualifiers for the CDGA Mid-Amateur, CDGA Amateur Four-Ball and Illinois State Mid-Amateur Championships. These inclusions to our tournament lineup have resulted in more than 2,000 entries into our Championship events.
Our CDGA Social Competitions continue to be hugely popular with all of our members. In 2025, the CDGA hosted 46 Social Competition qualifiers, Championships, Member Days and other casually-competitive events. These are enjoyed by both men and women members with high and low handicaps.
Our excellent Course Rating team completes approximately 50 course ratings per year throughout the District. Course ratings take place on a regular schedule for each course in the District, as well as for new member courses and courses that have undergone renovations since their last rating.
With funding support from the CDGA Foundation, CDGA Sunshine Programs have grown greatly over the past two years, providing expanded golfing opportunities for veterans, those with physical and intellectual disabilities, and our youth golfers.
In 2025, the CDGA organized 68 Sunshine Through Golf Camps in partnership with golf facilities and clubs and 23 Special Recreation Associations. These Sunshine Through Golf Camps reached more than 900 individuals. The CDGA also sponsored 65 Veteran Golf Clinics in partnership with RevelationGolf, 10 outings for visually impaired veterans through the Hines VA Blind Rehabilitation Center and the CDGA VGA Two Person Veterans Cup Series, consisting of three qualifiers and the Championship in October. During my term, the CDGA also partnered with the United States Adaptive Golf Alliance to sponsor 36 six-week adaptive golf clinics at local middle schools and high schools. This program has grown greatly in just one year.
The CDGA also hosted the first two annual Chicago Adaptive Opens. This year’s iteration was held in June at Fox Bend Golf Course featuring 78 competitors from 24 states and four countries.
Finally, our CDGA Foundation awarded 10 $5,000 scholarships to college students in the District and $2,000 grants to women’s golf teams at 12 colleges and universities in Illinois.
As I complete my term, I want to commend the entire staff at the CDGA for the work they do to coordinate all of our tournaments, Social Competitions, Course Ratings and the many Sunshine Programs offered. We are blessed to have a wonderful staff that is committed to our mission. Their expertise and dedication are the heart and soul of the CDGA and make all of our programming possible. I would also like to thank my fellow Blue Coats who donate countless hours as volunteers to make our tournaments, ratings, philanthropic programming and other services run as smoothly as possible.
I have enjoyed my time as the President of the Chicago District Golf Association and look forward to continuing to work with the CDGA long into the future.
Jack Childers was elected president of the CDGA in December of 2023. He is a member of Elgin Country Club and has served on the CDGA Board since 2009.
