The term “mid” has become a popular way for people (mainly teenagers on social media) to describe something that is average or poor quality. Look at the comment section on any sports video on social media these days and you will see ‘mid’ being thrown around.
Although the word can be used in less negative ways, such as to describe an album or movie as overrated, context is crucial because it is often considered slightly negative to use it to describe someone.
In the golf world, the word ‘mid’-am is not describing an amateur golfer that is just so-so. Instead, it means that he or she is 25 years of age or older.
When the 40th Texas Mid-Amateur at Midland Country Club takes place Sept. 29 – Oct. 1, the field will be anything but average. This tournament has produced a notable list of winners that have had success on the local, state, and national levels.
Past champions include John Grace (1991-1994), Kyle Coody (2001), Mike Booker (2003), Clay Hodge (2013), Chris Wheeler (2019), and defending champion Ryan O’Rear (2020, 2022).
Grace, who was elected to the Texas Golf Hall of Fame in 2012 and has qualified for over 40 USGA Championships and finished runner-up in the 1974 U.S. Amateur, won the Texas Amateur in 1998, four consecutive Texas Mid-Amateur titles from 1991 to 1994, the West Texas Amateur in 1996, the Texas Senior Open in 1998, and the Texas Senior Amateur in 2010.
Coody is the son of Masters Champion Charles Coody and was an accomplished golfer at the University of Texas.
Booker is also a member of the Texas Golf Hall of Fame (Class of 2019) and has qualified for 14 USGA Championships and 5 R&A Championships. He won a national championship with the University of Houston in 1977 and was the first and only golfer to be named Athlete of the Year, Houston Sports News (2002).
More recent champions Hodge, Wheeler, and O’Rear are all golfers with a plethora of accolades and still at the height of their games. Needless to say, the Texas Mid-Amateur past champions list is a who’s who of Texas golf.
There is every reason to believe the starting field and eventual champion of the 40th edition will further solidify this event as one of the best mid-am tournaments in the nation.
Contrary to its’ name, the host site for this year’s Texas Mid-Amateur, Midland Country Club, is also anything but average. In fact, it’s one of the hidden gems in the state.
The club has previously hosted the Texas Amateur in 1965 (won by Randy Petri), 1971 (won by Bruce Lietzke), 1997 (won by Ed Brooks), and 2021 (won by Austyn Reily).
Additionally, Midland Country Club welcomed the 2020 Women's Four-Ball (won by Faith Delagarza and Amari Smith) and the 2019 West Texas Amateur (won by Jackson Markham). The club also hosted the Web.com Tour's WNB Golf Classic from 2002-14.
Originally a nine-hole golf course with sand greens, Midland Country Club was established in 1927 close to the city center. Early in the 1950s, it moved to its current location with the 18-hole championship course created by Ralph Plummer. The course was renovated in 1988 by Ault, Clark, and Associates. In 2017, Weibring-Wolfard Golf Design finished a significant makeover in preparation for the club's 90th birthday. The $8.9 million project, which included new tees, bunkers, lakes, and greens, took months to complete.
The imposing 7,438-yard, par-72 course is spread out across 350 acres, providing plenty of room for the ever-present West Texas winds to pick up speed and deflect even the most high-tech golf balls.
One hole to keep an eye on during the championship will be Hole No. 6. This 481 yard par-4 typically plays downwind. It's a slight dogleg-left with trees on the left and a large fairway bunker on the right. Players must decide whether to try and carry the trees on the left or play short of the fairway bunker. The green is flanked by a bunker on the left side, which many players will have to carry on their approach shots if they choose to cut the corner on their tee shot.
Another pivotal hole in determining the champion will be Hole No. 8. Take a look at the 228 yard par-3. It plays directly into the predominant south wind. The green size is generous, but winds can create a beast of an already long par-3 for players. Accuracy is at a premium as the green is well guarded by a gaping bunker on the left and a smaller one on the right.
And finally, on Sunday afternoon of the final round, Hole No.15 will be a key hole to watch as the leaders come down the home stretch. The 601 yard par-5 provides a challenge for even the longest hitters. The bunker that hugs the left side of the fairway is a must-miss, but players will need to have command of their ball flight because when the wind is from the south it knocks the ball towards the bunker. Power players can try and blast one over the bunker, but a miss left or right will end up in the thick native areas. Few players will be able to reach the green in two, but an accurate layup shot between three fairway bunkers will leave players with a short approach and great opportunity for birdie.
Whether it’s the field or the course, it’s evident that the 40th Texas Mid-Amateur will be far from average. Expect an exciting championship on an elite course that will crown a worthy champion.
For more information on the 40th Texas Mid-Amateur, click here.
