Twenty-four of the best junior golfers from across Texas will soon gather for a rousing salt-air adventure when the Jackie Burke Cup makes a stop at one of the most celebrated cities on the Gulf Coast.
The 21st edition of the annual Ryder Cup-style event between North Texas and South Texas will be held Nov. 15-16 at storied Galveston Country Club in Galveston. The North Texas team won the 2024 event in a decisive manner – setting the stage for another spirited contest as an eager South Texas squad looks to take back the cup on their home ground.
“We are honored to be at Galveston Country Club for this year’s Jackie Burke Cup and to be a part of the club’s rich history,” said Scott Davidson, Tournament Director for the Legends Junior Tour. “We are appreciative of all the club does to support amateur golf, and we know the players are going to enjoy the incredible atmosphere and competing on this fantastic course.”
Founded in 1898, Galveston Country Club is situated on the shores of Lake Como, between West Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Originally located in an area called the Denver Resurvey, the club relocated three times in the early 1900s before settling into its present address on Stewart Road in 1946. Texas Golf Hall of Fame member Ralph Plummer designed the 18-hole course, which opened for play in the fall of 1947. The course was razed and rebuilt in 1961 after Hurricane Carla, and in 2003 the architectural team of Peter Jacobson and Jim Hardy oversaw a comprehensive renovation project that touched on every element of the course.
The creative par-72 layout weaves through a scenic landscape of native grassy areas, marshes, inlets, and stately palm trees. Measuring just over 6,500 yards from the back tees, the course is not long but it packs a punch of a different kind with narrow fairways, lightning-fast greens, numerous bunkers and water hazards, and an ever-present breeze that can make scoring well a difficult task.
“This is a really fun course to play but it can be very challenging, especially when the wind gets up,” Davidson said. “It is going to be a great stage for this unique competition which is sure to feature a lot of exciting moments and compelling matches.”
Players earn their way onto their respective Jackie Burke Cup teams by accumulating points throughout the year in designated LJT and Texas Junior Golf Alliance tournaments. North and South regions are defined as either being above or below the 31’ parallel, which passes through the city of Salado. The final rosters will be determined after the conclusion of the Texas Junior Golf Alliance Invitational to be held Oct. 25-26 at The Bearkat Course at SHSU in Huntsville.
The two-day team competition begins with six four-ball matches Saturday morning followed by six foursome matches in the afternoon. On Sunday, the teams face off against one another in 12 singles matches. Matches are worth two points each, with ties split one point apiece, for a total of 48 possible points to be earned throughout the weekend.
The North Texas team ended a three-year winless streak at the 20th Jackie Burke Cup in 2024 when they defeated the South Texas team, 29-19, at Hurricane Creek Country Club in Anna. With the victory, North Texas evened up the all-time series, 10-10.
For more on the 21st Jackie Burke Cup, click here.
