STPGA and Susie Redman, PGA Win National Awards

The PGA of America announced the 2023 class of National Award winners during PGA Show Week in January, and the Southern Texas PGA is honored to be recognized as the 2023 Herb Graffis Award recipient.

The Herb Graffis Award is designed to recognize a PGA of America Section for extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements in the area of Player Development. This award considers local initiatives designed to grow the game, impact the next generation, and involve Section PGA Professionals and the STPGA is honored to receive this award.

The Southern Texas PGA, led by President James Brown, PGA and Executive Director Thomas Hutton, PGA, has seen the importance of growing junior golf since the Section Foundation’s inception in 1994. Now, the STPGA has an established player pathway on how to become a lifelong golfer. All STPGA programming is designed to drive revenue and exposure to STPGA Professionals and their facilities. Junior Golf programming provides a minimum of a $14 million economic impact each year towards golf in Southern Texas, with over 4,100 juniors taking part in the STPGA Junior Golf program.

The Section prides itself on the fact that a junior can start off with a lesson from a PGA Professional and work their way up to a 36-hole Championship with college coaches watching, utilizing the STPGA Junior Golf Journey.

In partnership with PGA of America programs, the STPGA is also proud that 29 STPGA Junior Golfers have made it to the Drive, Chip and Putt Finals since the program started, 1,400 juniors participated in PGA Jr. League in 2022, and 300 Veterans went through PGA HOPE programs last year.

Along with earning the Herb Graffis Award, the Southern Texas PGA is excited to announce Susie Redman, PGA Teaching Professional at The Woodlands Country Club, as the 2023 PGA Youth Player Development Award winner!

The PGA Youth Player Development Award bestows special recognition on a PGA Professional who has displayed extraordinary and exemplary contribution and achievement in the area of Youth Player Development. All 41 Sections that make up the PGA of America nominate deserving winners from across the country for this award and the STPGA is extremely proud that one of our own won this award.

Susie spends her days working to grow the game among junior golfers and lives by her philosophy to “make a difference, one youth, one swing at a time.” As a proud PGA Class A Member for 23 years and

Life Member of the LPGA for 38 years, Susie understands the importance of Youth Player Development and always aims to bring fun, enthusiasm, knowledge, and diversity to the sport.

Excelling in the area of Youth Player Development requires a Professional to lead by example and Susie does this through her self-described leadership style as a servant leader. As a Youth Player Development coach, Susie has direct contact with many people from children, parents, other coaches, PGA Professionals, and more, and her goal is to impact everyone in a positive and transformational way.

On a personal and professional level, Susie has taken the holistic “kaizen” approach of continuous improvement. This approach has led her to an impressive continuing education resume centered on girls and women in golf, coaching, and the American Development Model (ADM) through which she earned her ADM PGA Coach Certification in 2019.

The Southern Texas PGA is excited to congratulate Susie Redman as the 2023 National PGA Youth Player Development

Award recipient. Susie and the Southern Texas PGA will be honored throughout the year in various ways with the culmination happening at the PGA of America Awards Banquet on November 7, 2023 at PGA Frisco in Frisco, TX.

The STPGA wants to thank all the parents, juniors, volunteers, staff members, and PGA Professionals for supporting junior golf and our STPGA programs. It is only fitting that both a PGA Professional and the entire Section get recognized together for growing this great game in Southern Texas!

Summer with the STPGA Junior Golf Program

STPGA Junior Golf is ready for a big summer of golf! This year’s Houston Area Chevy Dealer Summer Series will kick off on May 13 and run through July 20, culminating in the Houston Area Chevy Dealer STPGA Junior Championship at The Woodlands Country Club (Palmer Course) on Monday, July 24 – Wednesday, July 26.

Registration for the Houston Area Chevy Dealer Summer Series will open on Tuesday, April 4 for our Little Linksters, Junior Links, and Junior Tour and includes all tournaments from May - July, as well as the August Summer Series. To find out more information, head to www. stpgajuniorgolf.com

Southern Texas PGA Scholarships Program

The STPGA is excited to announce that the 2023 Scholarship Applications are now open to all applicants! This is an exciting opportunity for 2023 High School graduates and current college students who grew up in the Southern Texas Region, as well as played in the STPGA Junior Golf program.

In 2022, the PGA REACH

Southern Texas Scholarship Program awarded a total of $168,000 to 36 individuals, helping to continue their academic career. In 2023 we have over 30 scholarships to give out and antici- pate an even greater increase in scholarship funds from the previous year.

Since 1999, the PGA REACH

Southern Texas Scholarship Program has awarded more than 425 scholarships and over $1,480,500 to young adults seeking higher education. Each of our scholarship names help continue a tradition of giving back and honoring an individual or organization that believes in the next generation.

All applications will be due on Friday, March 17.

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