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Just north of Dallas, nestled alonga 23 miles of shoreline, you’ll find a uniquely tranquil getaway complemented by metropolitan luxuries. The Colony offers a variety of outdoor excursions, world-class restaurants and lively entertainment you won’t find anywhere else in Texas. This summer, hit the road and learn why The Colony is where you go to play! Swing through three award-winning golf courses, complete with scenic lake views and greens honoring the sport’s historic past. The Tribute Golf Links, listed as one of the top five courses in Texas by Golf Magazine, is an homage to the legendary courses of Scotland. Nearby Old American Golf Club features natural contours and native grasses as it evokes the “golden age”of American golf course architecture. In October the course hosts Texas’ longest running LPGA tournament event. Rounding out courses in The Colony is the 9-hole Stewart Peninsula Golf Course featuring double greens and challenging play along 65 acres of lake views. The extended warm season creates plenty of opportunity for recreation along Lewisville Lake. Enjoy the steady breeze off the lake while you traverse trails on a mountain bike, bird watch along acres of nature preserve or cast a line past the sandy shores for a moment of calm. The lake is easily accessible from one of The Colony’s two lake parks, Stewart Creek Park and Hidden Cove Park and Marina. The Colony is a growing hub for first-to-market restaurants and attractions, offering experiences not available anywhere else. Many restaurants within Grandscape, the city’s premier indoor-outdoor entertainment, shopping and dining destination, feature seasonal specialties crafted with regional produce for an exclusively local taste. Eat your way through dozens of culinary adventures, ranging from elevated Italian steaks to authentic Indian curry and more. Make plans for entertainment the whole family can enjoy, whether you’re competing for first place at Andretti’s, scoring points at Topgolf, taking in the sights from atop the Grandscape Wheel or stepping into a virtual world at Immersive Gamebox. For the 21 and up crowd, Puttery provides the perfect mix of craft cocktails and immersive modern mini golf with its Instagram worthy courses. The Colony is constantly bringing new attractions to the area. Visit Red Phone Booth, an exclusive speakeasy only available to those with the password, and keep an eye out for the latest golf experience designed by Tiger Woods, PopStroke, coming soon. Experience Texas-sized retail at NFM, the nation’s largest home furnishings store, and SCHEELS, the world’s largest all sports store. For something truly unique, shop within The Homestead and find expertly crafted goods including handmade jewelry, bath and body products, boutiques and made-to-order desserts. In the evenings, The Colony comes alive with a vivid live music and micro brewing scene. Kick back with nightly entertainment ranging from rock and country concerts at Truck Yard to touring national acts headlining the Lava Cantina stage. Each venue serves small-batch brews on tap and specialty cocktails featuring native ingredients. Whether you escape to the outdoors or discover unparalleled entertainment, The Colony is the ultimate year-round destination.

Survival and success attributed to hard work, the fostering of relationships and attention to detail A lot has changed about golf in Texas since 1998 and Texas Golf Insider magazine (and its earlier renditions) has been there all along to chronicle those changes.The much-awarded magazine you are now holding in your hands – or reading online – has been a constant in the Lone Star State’s golf landscape for a quarter of a century, and it’s never been better. Owner and publisher Mike Ratchman deserves the lion’s share of the credit for the continued success of Texas Golf Insider. Through the years Ratchman has adapted with the times and flourished by making his customers and supporters understand their importance. The people that have had their courses profiled and publicized byTexas Golf Insider over the past 25 years are quick to credit Ratchman’s work ethic, his stick- to-itiveness, his attention to detail and his never-wavering creed to always keep his word as both rare and welcome in the publishing business. Ratchman and his publication are sur- vivors in a world where the weak are cut from the flock. It says a lot thatTexas Golf Insider is Texas’ only statewide golf publication, with magazines placed in golf shops and clubhouses from Amarillo to South Padre Island, from Beaumont to El Paso, and out of state in golf travel destinations such as Louisiana, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Adam Grosch, director of golf at Vaaler Creek Golf Club in Blanco, credits Ratchman for developing and nurturing a marketing plan that has helped his course’s success.“I’ve known Mike almost from the start ofVaaler Creek Golf Club back in 2007,” Grosch explained. “In the begin- ning, all of our marketing was focused on Rockin’ J Ranch land sales, but Mike put together a package for us to start a little advertising in his magazine. I got quite a few comments from new customers saying that they had seen us in the magazine when they picked it up at other courses, and actually a bunch that had picked it up at Hooters.” It wasn’t long before we got involved in the radio show and what has evolved into the podcast show. Over the years we have seen a lot of benefit with partnering with Mike Ratchman, the magazine, the online presence and the Golf After Hours Show.” Ratchman and his magazine have been awarded by the SouthernTexas PGA for their contribution to golf in southTexas. And just last year, Ratchman was asked to be on the prestigious voting panel to choose honorees for theTexas Golf Hall of Fame.“Mike has been a big supporter of golf for many years, saidThomas Hutton, the executive director of the SouthernTexas PGA. “The STPGA appreciates his sup- port in sharing our story of the hard work that our members do each day and all the initiatives that the STPGA is involved in to grow the game.”About the only thing more impressive thanTexas Golf Insider magazine is Ratchman’s enthusiasm and constant optimism, sometimes in the face of disasters like hurricanes and pandemics and obstacles such as recession, supply chain issues, the lack of paper and shortages in the work forces. “Mike is one of the few people I know who can match my intensity,” said Bo LeHew, the Golf Club of Texas’ General Manager an COO of Fortune Golf Management. “He’s good people. From the moment I met him I knew we would be friends.We love doing business with him because he cares and he does what he says he will do. “And his magazine gets results for us. There have been challenges for us all, but he’s always been there. That means a lot.” Without being too self-serving, we sat down with Ratchman as he was getting the Spring 2023 edition of this maga- zine ready for publication.We had a few questions for him about how the magazine started, how he’s kept it at the forefront of the attention of the state’s golfers and some of the secrets of his success. Oh, man that goes back 25 years. I was running a driving range in San Antonio and all I used to get was people making phone calls wanting to know which golf course in town to go play. It was a part-time job of mine – I only did that so I could hit free buckets of balls – and I loved it. It got to a point where I would tear out a sheet from the telephone book and put it down by the phone. I’d ask the caller where they were in town so I could tell them what would be the closest golf course that they could go play. Meanwhile, I told my buddy after we were hitting balls and having a couple of beersonenight,“youknow,IthinkIspend more damn time on the phone telling people where to go play golf. My buddy said somebody needs to come up with some sort of directory of some kind,” and that’s how it all started. I found an inves- tor who ran a real estate magazine in San Antonio and he knew someone that might be interested in investing in something like that.Within six months we were doing analysis of the market. (A guide for) San Antonio just couldn’t cut it by itself and one for the Hill country couldn’t either. But a magazine that would support Austin- San Antonio and the Hill Country made sense. So in 1998 we published our first magazine. The rest is history. I was there for pretty close to 15 years. It was called “The Golfer” at the very be- ginning, but then the Golfers Guide came in and bought up all the print contracts that we had withThe Golfer magazine. And those guys wined and dined us, flew us to Vegas, you know, and really gave us a deal that we couldn’t refuse. Man, they were in 37 different markets, they had a print company, and they took care of us really well.They had online services that we never had as a small company.And they did very, very well by us.And so we stuck with them for a long time. I was an inde- pendent so I wasn’t company owned. About 10 years in, my partner investor told me he wanted to sell his part of the magazine and gave me a price I couldn’t refuse. And so for a year after that I stayed with Golfers Guide magazines, and when that went away, I went ahead and decided to pick up the mantle asTexas Golf Insider magazine. All the relationships that I had had from the Golfers Guide magazine went over into theTexas Golf Insider.That was 10 years ago – I can hardly believe it’s 10 years. Now we’re the only statewide publication that’s left out there. It’s been a lot of fun, but it’s not an easy business. You have to work this to make it all happen, and it’s a lot of hard work.We’ve had a lot of people you know...all the writers areTexans, all the distributors are from Texas, our printer is from Texas. My wife Ava is our editor, my daughter is our office manager and my grand kids do distribution so this company isTexas born and raised. What we went through in 2008 was a test because the economy just went in the toilet. Fortunately, you know, we’re a very conservative company.We worked hard, we played hard and we saved hard, you know, so we were the ones that were left standing when it was over. Once everything settled I had several customers throw me a bone so I could keep my lights on. And we’ve had to endure a hurricane or two.That was a very rough time because not only did we lose advertisers in Houston, but we also lost all of our equipment over there.We lost all of our (magazine) racks.That was rough. Then in 2020 the pandemic hit and you would think that was going to take me to my knees, you know, that I’m going to be done.There’s no way I’m getting out of this one. But who would have thought that someone would say “this virus does not like the heat or sun, so go for a bike ride or walk. And if you’re going to walk you’re going to play golf.” And you know what happened? Everybody who used to play golf got back into it, then everybody who played golf played more because they’re working out of their home and now they could work their schedule around their tee times. And it still has not slowed down. How long that’s going to last I don’t know, but we’re all enjoying it right now. You know, so coming around to the 25th anniversary, sure we’ve been up and down but you know, I think a company that works with as much pas- sion for the game as we do is going to get through it.We were lucky enough to figure it out. It really does come down to when you say you’re going to do something, you do it and you do it to the best of your ability. If you do it really well, it travels pretty quickly in our industry. It really does.You know, I have had some great relationships over the last 25 years, and I’m still in contact with them all, whether they are an advertiser or not. People will call and say “hey, I’m at a new place and I need to get my information out.” It’s always good to hear from old friends. I also think our success has to be attributed to that fact that every place they go they see our magazine in some form, whetherit’ssittingatacounter,it’sina bathroom, or it’s on their way out the door. And let me tell you when there’s an empty rack, that’s a good thing.There’s a lot of people that call me and say, “we need more magazines,” and that’s a plus.That means people are picking it up. You’ve had to make decisions about continuing as a print publication in an age when most are going to a digital only format. How did you decide on that balance? I think the digital book does have a place in our market.There’s no doubt. I mean, because of some of the younger folks that are coming into the game, you know, have something right on the phone. Their phone is an extension to their hand now, so we have to be there.We have a more enhanced digital magazine that plays really well into the internet market. Our digital platforms are going to be more interactive than they ever have been before, with videos, commercials and recorded interviews. Readers will have links to all of our customers websites to purchase products and make tee times. That’s going to be launched right at around when the magazine comes out fortheSpringissue.AndIwillsaytothis day that I have checked with many of my customers in reference to if I just went completely digital and that didn’t fly. I think the combination compliments each other.There’s something psychological about having something in your hand to read. I’m that guy, and I think many of my customers and readers are too.It has really been nothing other than people picking up the magazine, and they wouldn’t do that if we were not giving them information about golf inTexas and about what’s going on in the golf industry. As long as people keep picking it up, and customers keep taking my phone call,you know I’m probably going to stick around for a while longer.

There’s never been a doubt about the quality and playability of the course at the Golf Club of Texas, and that has not changed. But over the past year the southwest San Antonio facility has enjoyed a surge in popularity because of its renewed attention to detail and a series of new programs designed for players to get the most bang for their buck. The Golf Club of Texas has always been considered the “friendliest course in Texas.” Now that its course and facility conditioning has been upgraded and its player-friendly attributes enhanced, it has become the “go-to” course for players in the booming section of the Alamo City off Highway 90. Under the direction of Bo LeHew, the Golf Club of Texas’ General Manager & COO of Fortune Golf Management, improvements are in place with many more underway. Those include the first thing players encounter when entering the property – the leveling and repaving of the road to the clubhouse and the parking lot, a move that immediately shows visitors that things have changed, and for the better. “And that’s not all,” LeHew explains. “We’ve also made a ton of improvements on the course itself, including new sand in the bunkers, new Zoysia sod to repair areas where it was needed and the little things that make a golfer’s round special, like cleaning up places on the edges of the course to esthetically enhance the experience." “We are literally leaving no stone unturned out there.” One thing that’s always set apart the Golf Club of Texas is the way a golfer is treated on the course and while using the facility’s cool amenities after the round. Because of that the facility had already earned a spot in our hearts and a place on the list of “must plays” in South Texas.“We all take great pride in what we have here,” said LeHew, whose enthusiasm and outgoing and friendly personality set the standard for his team. “Our staff is amazing and their efforts to provide our guests the best experience possible allow the Golf Club of Texas to stand out.” The facility has also received the confirmation of a new fleet of Yamaha golf carts, a prize in today’s world of supply chain challenges. The course has always been great The course at the Golf Club of Texas, located on a 1,900-acre site on the edge of the Hill Country, incorporates the rugged South Texas landscape at the edge of a lush, sprawling flood plain. It has always been a showcase and turns up the fun factor a notch or two with its Roy Bechtol-designed, links-style course that’s turfed throughout with different strains of Zoysia grass. The Golf Club of Texas was originally designed by Bechtol, the Austin-based golf course architect and master planner, as a Lee Trevino- signature track. It opened in 1999 and in 2014 was renovated, reworked and re-routed, with the nines switched. Four-holes wide in spots and following a meandering creek, the course provides a core-golfing experience at its best. Indigenous plants are juxtaposed against surprisingly wide fairways and mostly large and challenging greens. “You really have the feeling of isolation when you are on the course, and I know that’s what was wanted from the start,” LeHew said. “But that attribute is rare in this region where neighborhoods are sprouting up every day. I love the way our course plays and the sensation that you are constantly surrounded by golf and nature.”There’s the feeling at the Golf Club of Texas that golf was the most important aspect of the site.And while the course is challenging, it is rarely punitive, allowing the golfer to play to his or her strengths.There are places you can miss a shot or two, but the routing provides ways to get those shots back with good execution. One of the calling cards at the Golf Club of Texas is that it’s the only course in the United States whose putting surfaces are Zoysia, an experiment that was embraced nine years ago when it was renovated.The grass makes every lie in the fairway seem like it’s on a tee and it repels pitch marks on putting surfaces while allowing the greens to remain receptive to approach shots. Golfers will also love the facility’s expanded practice area, which includes a dual-sided driving range and a private teaching area.Two lighted practice putting greens have also been fashioned in the shadow of the updated clubhouse, one with some challenging slopes that acts as its own place for fun and competition. New food options and member perks The circular outside bar is adjacent to the clubhouse and driving range and is the perfect place to recap the day on the course, to settle up bets, and enjoy a few more minutes with friends, both those you knew before the round and those you’ve made during your stay.The Golf Club of Texas has added to its food offerings with a new half- pound hamburger on the menu made with fresh, never-frozen Angus beef. LeHew couldn’t stop raving about the burger, saying his customers are calling it “the best in San Antonio.” LeHew has also upped the ante for the club’s members, scheduling monthly tournaments in which participants earn points toward the end-of-year grand prize of a Royal Caribbean cruise for two. “We want to encourage participa- tion, of course, but we also feel our members deserve something big for being a part of our club and its success story,” LeHew said. The bottom line is that the Golf Club of Texas is, in itself, something big. And that’s why we keep coming back. Check out https://golfclubtexas.com.

The Golf Club of Texas There’s never been a doubt about the quality and playability of the course at the Golf Club of Texas, and that has not changed. But over the past year the southwest San Antonio facility has enjoyed a surge in popularity because of its renewed attention to detail and a series of new programs designed for players to get the most bang for their buck. The Golf Club of Texas has always been considered the “friendliest course in Texas.” Now that its course and facility conditioning has been upgraded and its player-friendly attributes enhanced, it has become the “go-to” course for players in the booming section of the Alamo City off Highway 90. Under the direction of Bo LeHew, the Golf Club of Texas’ General Manager & COO of Fortune Golf Management, improvements are in place with many more underway.Those include the first thing players encounter when entering the property – the leveling and repaving of the road to the clubhouse and the parking lot, a move that immediately shows visitors that things have changed, and for the better. “And that’s not all,” LeHew explains. “We’ve also made a ton of improvements on the course itself, including new sand in the bunkers, new Zoysia sod to repair areas where it was needed and the little things that make a golfer’s round special, like cleaning up places on the edges of the course to esthetically enhance the experience.” “We are literally leaving no stone unturned out there.”One thing that’s always set apart the Golf Club of Texas is the way a golfer is treated on the course and while using the facility’s cool amenities after the round. Because of that the facility had already earned a spot in our hearts and a place on the list of “must plays” in South Texas.“We all take great pride in what we have here,” said LeHew, whose enthusiasm and outgoing and friendly personality set the standard for his team. “Our staff is amazing and their efforts to provide our guests the best experience possible allow the Golf Club of Texas to stand out.” The facility has also received the confirmation of a new fleet of Yamaha golf carts, a prize in today’s world of supply chain challenges. The course at the Golf Club of Texas, located on a 1,900-acre site on the edge of the Hill Country, incorporates the rugged South Texas landscape at the edge of a lush, sprawling flood plain. It has always been a showcase and turns up the fun factor a notch or two with its Roy Bechtol-designed, links-style course that’s turfed throughout with different strains of Zoysia grass. The Golf Club of Texas was originally designed by Bechtol, the Austin-based golf course architect and master planner, as a Lee Trevino- signature track. It opened in 1999 and in 2014 was renovated, reworked and re-routed, with the nines switched. Four-holes wide in spots and following a meandering creek, the course provides a core- golfing experience at its best. Indigenous plants are juxtaposed against surprisingly wide fairways and mostly large and challenging greens. “You really have the feeling of isolation when you are on the course, and I know that’s what was wanted from the start,” LeHew said. “But that attribute is rare in this region where neighborhoods are sprouting up every day. I love the way our course plays and the sensation that you are constantly surrounded by golf and nature.” There’s the feeling at the Golf Club ofTexas that golf was the most important aspect of the site. And while the course is challenging, it is rarely punitive, allowing the golfer to play to his or her strengths.There are places you can miss a shot or two, but the routing provides ways to get those shots back with good execution. One of the calling cards at the Golf Club of Texas is that it’s the only course in the United States whose putting surfaces are Zoysia, an experiment that was embraced nine years ago when it was renovated. The grass makes every lie in the fairway seem like it’s on a tee and it repels pitch marks on putting surfaces while allowing the greens to remain receptive to approach shots. Golfers will also love the facility’s expanded practice area, which includes a dual-sided driving range and a private teaching area.Two lighted practice putting greens have also been fashioned in the shadow of the updated clubhouse, one with some challenging slopes that acts as its own place for fun and competition. The circular outside bar is adjacent to the clubhouse and driving range and is the perfect place to recap the day on the course, to settle up bets, and enjoy a few more minutes with friends, both those you knew before the round and those you’ve made during your stay. The Golf Club of Texas has added to its food offerings with a new half- pound hamburger on the menu made with fresh, never-frozen Angus beef. LeHew couldn’t stop raving about the burger, saying his customers are calling it “the best in San Antonio.” LeHew has also upped the ante for the club’s members, scheduling monthly tournaments in which participants earn points toward the end-of-year grand prize of a Royal Caribbean cruise for two. “We want to encourage participa- tion, of course, but we also feel our members deserve something big for being a part of our club and its success story,” LeHew said. The bottom line is that the Golf Club of Texas is, in itself, something big. And that’s why we keep coming back.

If you are aged 55 or more and want to settle down and settle into a community that has virtually every amenity in the book including a wonderful, unique and challenging golf course – Chambers Creek just north of Houston more than checks every box. Chambers Creek, set on 1,100 acres of rolling land billed as the “Houston Hill Country,” is located less than a mile off I-45 in Willis, near The Woodlands and 30 minutes from the northern confines of the Bayou City. We took a trip over there to look over the community and tee it up on the marvelous nine-hole golf course designed by PGA Tour Champions player and 1996 Open Championship winner Tom Lehman and came away uber-impressed. Lehman, who has nearly a dozen courses on his design resume, has fashioned a deceptively challenging links-style track that sports elevation changes aplenty, long-range views, rolling terrain and a routing that’s defined by oak and pine trees, creeks and wide Zoysia fairways. “Chambers Creek is truly a one-of-a-kind development that offers a setting that is extremely rare," Lehman said. “We've created a unique golf course that features some of the most amazing holes in all of golf. I believe any level of golfer will feel challenged, yet still have fun playing the game.” Lehman designed the course (called Lehman Park) to place the holes in a more natural way and they certainly blend into the land. There are just seven bunkers throughout the routing but they are positioned well and are not missed or needed to create difficulty. At first examination, Lehman Park looks easy, with few forced carries and generous openings to its huge putting surfaces. Playing it is a whole different story as four of the holes features blind tee shots and positioning on the lightning-fast greens is paramount. The course begins and ends with par 5s – the first hole’s green is played downhill and is reachable in two while the ninth is entirely uphill and made more difficult with into the prevailing wind. In between those holes are two target par 3s, a drivable par 4, two long and tough two-shotters and the eighth, who’s green is angled away from the tee box and is protected by a lake and a huge mound. In short, Lehman Park is a blast to play and will only get better with seasoning. It’s carded at 3,376 from the back set of four tees so players can bite off as much as they want to chew. A unique feature of the course is that each hole also has a dedicated, artificial turf tee so that it can be played as a par 3, with no hole longer that 150 yards. Chambers Creek ‘s other golf amenity is a cool 18-hole putting course of just over one acre that provides golfers the opportunity for shorter rounds, more informal play, a chance to play games, or place side-bets. A lifestyle inspired by health, wellness, longevity and fun There’s plenty more than golf offered at Chambers Creek, which bills itself as a “community with a golf course” rather than a golf course community. Chambers Creek is being developed by Caldwell Communities, which for more than three decades has delivered highly sought-after communities for people at every stage. Chambers Creek is one of the first communities in the U.S. specifically designed for electric vehicles including designated golf cart paths, specialized parking and homes equipped with garage charging. The community supports and encourages alternative means of transportation. Other amenities in Chambers Creek are a 300-boat-slip private marina with access to Lake Conroe via a private canal, more than 20 miles of hiking/biking trails, pickleball and tennis courts for racquet enthusiasts, a social and wellness center, Bocce Ball, horseshoes and cornhole areas, a resort-style pool, dog parks, open green spaces and a community garden. There’s also a two-acre vineyard of crimson cabernet grapes that serves as a charming setting for an alfresco dinner or a delightful backdrop for a special occasion. Five premier homebuilders offer single-story designs with a mix of classic and contemporary features equipped with the convenience of smart technology. Designs are priced from the $300,000s to more than $2 million, giving buyers a wide selection of floor plans that fit any lifestyle and budget.

FRISCO, Texas -- More than two dozen Texas Golf Hall of Fame inductees and hundreds of friends and supporters celebrated the grand opening of th e new Texas Golf Hall of Fame Anchor Site & Digital Museum Sunday at the Northern Texas PGA Headquarters. Some of the greatest names in Lone Star golf and many generous fans and Texas golf lovers from all over the state enjoyed a night of living Lone Star history which was hosted by former Texas resident and University of Texas golf star Brandel Chamblee and included a panel discussion from Dallas native Lee Trevino and transplanted Texans Bruce Devlin and David Graham. “This is my first time out here and it’s incredible, it really is. I just appreciate the sacrifice of those who came before me and those who are here now,” Trevino said. “It’s being part of a legacy,” added 42-time LPGA winner Fort Worth’s Sandra Haynie. “It’s what motivated me when I was playing and still does. “ The night included the ribbon cutting for the new digital museum which will ultimately catalog every member of the largest state golf of fame in the country for future generations to see and learn about. On hand for the ribbon cutting was North Texas anchor sponsor Veritex Bank CEO Malcom Holland, Fin Ewing, Ewing Auto Group, Insperity HR Services, The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship & Whispering Pines Golf Club. “There is no other state that has the enduring golf history Texas does, that’s why these legends all came tonight,” said Reid Meyers, Chairman of the Texas Golf Hall of Fame Board of Directors “This is one step further so we will have a chance to preserve their stories for many generations to come. “Having an anchor site on this site at the Northern Texas PGA in Frisco means so much to the people here.” The Texas Golf Hall of Fame began in The Woodlands and already has an anchor site in San Antonio at the historic Brackenridge Park golf course where the inductee plaques are located and will be doing its bi-annual induction in Houston in 2024. “It’s really cool to have an anchor site here in North Texas where people can see the great players in Lone Star Golf past, present and future,” said 2020 inductee Ryan Palmer. Chamblee, who does national golf commentary for the Golf Channel, said there was no other state than where he grew up and learned to play the game which has as many great players as Texas.“Only the nation of England has more players in the World Golf Hall of Fame than Texas. It literally makes the hair stand up on my neck to be here and see the greats of the game on this new anchor site. “I can only think of Australia and Texas as the two places who have given more to the game with players, teachers and events. It’s a magical night of living golf history.” The mission of the Texas Golf Hall of Fame is to celebrate the rich and diverse history in the great State of Texas by honoring its golfers, its teachers and those who have contributed to the game in a wide variety of ways, recently appointed TGHOF executive director Alli Jarrett was honored for her work at the anchor ceremony along with outgoing executive director Katie Manor while longtime coordinator Mary Carriker was selected as the first winner of the namesake Texas Golf Hall of Fame Mary Carriker Volunteer of the Year award.

Texas PGA Tour Players Blast Sudden, Shocking Merger With LIV Golf Longtime North Texas PGA Tour pro Ryan Palmer was finishing up a relaxing family vacation to Costa Rica recently when he woke up to his cell phone ringing enough times to make him think either the country was under attack or someone in his family was in serious trouble. All the calls had the same question, what did Palmer, a longtime PGA Tour loyalist, think of the shocking PGA/LIV Golf merger after two years of fighting, legal maneuvering and casting asper-sions on each other? “I had four immediate thoughts,” Palmer said, three of them printable and one not so much. “I felt sadness, disappointment, anger and who gives a ...............”San Antonio’s Jimmy Walker was at home in the Alamo City when he got the news, but had no less a strong reaction. “I don’t think they (PGA Tour) could have handled it any worse. The merger with LIV golf was just horrible. ”While in his Dallas home recovering from back surgery, which will likely keep him out of action the rest of the year, Will Zalatoris had a similar reaction when he heard the news from social media. “It’s frustrating because the Tour told us to stay loyal and not make a move, and now we’re told we’re merging with who we were told not to merge with.” He confirmed the reports that he was offered $75 million from LIV golf, but said that was spread over six years and decided not to take it. Palmer said he was also offered millions (what he called “Pat Perez money”) to go to LIV, but firmly chose to remain on the PGA Tour, rejecting the presented opportunity as did Tom Hoge. “I heard the commissioner say that those who stayed and remained loyal would be rewarded. My question is, who is ‘they’? I think I’m part of ‘they’. They told me to stay loyal, now how do you reward those players?” Only Texas golf legend Lee Trevino preached patience from his home in Dallas. “People may not remember Jack (Nicklaus) and I led a revolt against the PGA of America in the 1960s to form the PGA Tour we know today. That turned out pretty good. Let’s just see what happens with this.”’ While Trevino took a wait-and-see attitude, Walker and others were hurt to discover the PGA Tour’s sudden shift in direction through social media, rather than being informed directly. “I think I’m disappointed more than anything else,” said Walker, who has six PGA Tour wins including a PGA Championship victory. “We’re supposed to be a player led tour, that’s what they tell us all the time, but then they do this.” I mean, you didn’t tell Tiger or Rory in advance,” said Palmer, “but why not let me know. I’ve been out here for 20 something years. In the long run it’s probably better for the game of golf for everybody to be together. Maybe I can play in some LIV tournaments, in off weeks, but the way they did it was terrible.” Palmer said golf’s new world order could affect Texas PGA Tour players in other ways. While LIV golfers could now play in regular PGA Tour events when they are given permission, golfers like Palmer, Walker and others could go the other direction. “If I’m off a week and there is a LIV golf tournament nearby that week, I’d be pretty foolish not to try and go and play.” Although Zalatoris made the best decision for himself, it’s natural for him to feel a sense of disappointment and frustration with the outcome.“My whole life I wanted to be a PGA Tour golfer, this is just not the way I thought it would turn out.”

Travel Louisiana Although the Cajun French version of “let the good times roll” was developed in the French Quarter of New Orleans... I felt compelled to borrow this term for your trip around Louisiana and the joie de vivre (joy of living) that truly explains our love of the game of golf. Louisiana is a “Sportsman’s Paradise” for fishing or hunting, but golfers have nothing to fear when it comes down to ample quality, challenging golf – all around the state. The Louisiana GolfTrails was developed to connect golfers with other experiences in Louisiana. Look... we all know that golf is a simple 4-hour game (that might be think- ing a little too optimistically, or to share some of my personal sarcasm), so what do you do with the balance of your time? The well-knownAudubon GolfTrail consists of 16 golf courses around the state and covers all 3 regions of Louisiana.This original “GolfTrail” has connected those 16 courses with 6 other opportunities for you to experience the culture around Louisiana. I would call the Louisiana GolfTrails “GOLF &”. “Golf and Fishing Trails” – Not just a hobby to pass the time – fishing is a way of life. From their lakes, rivers and marshes to the deep blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana has the fisherman in you covered. Check out the Cypress Bend Golf Course in Many, LA. At this location you are literally minutes away from completing your challenging round on their mind-blowing golf course and dropping your line in the water with a guide that knows where the hot spots are on Toledo Bend Lake. “Golf and GamingTrails” – Known as “LasVegas South” – you find yourself chipping in on the 5th hole at Koasati Pines in Kinder, LA, and throwing the dice on tables at Coushatta Casino Resort. LOOK...I have never heard a golfer yell “7 come 11” on the first tee at any golf course, especially when we play for money. But I did hear one of our players yelling “give me an easy 4” on the first hole atTamahkaTrails Golf Course that is part of Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville, LA. “Golf & CulinaryTrails” - Really... do we need to explain this one? A study not long ago found that Louisiana was the nation’s happiest state.Want to make me happy? Serve up some fresh Gulf seafood or boudin, or even andouille sausage gumbo... and although I may have just shot well above my normal score on the golf course, I am going to have a smile on my face as I bite into a fresh hot Beignet. Enough said! “Golf & Craft BeerTrails” – Imagine a great round of golf... a great Cajun dinner an d you are strolling through a small town and find a Craft Brewer. You settle in for a cold one and enjoy their unique flavor and vibe that sets them apart from the next. Maybe it’s the water, maybe it’s the other ingredients, or maybe it’s just the atmosphere that takes you away as you listen to the history of their special town. Those problems that you may have had on the golf course seem to melt away. Preparing you for the next round on the golf course. “Golf and Music” – Say what?The birthplace of jazz, zydeco, Cajun, and swamp pop, music is engrained in the soul of Louisiana. From the main stage at the lavish casinos right down to the Street Performers... Louisiana Music can be found everywhere. I’ll bet the next day on the golf course you will be hearing those tunes filtering through the trees. “Golf and Distillery” Now we are talking.The Big Easy? – No, those legal “Speakeasies” – where you nestle up to the bar talking about your heroic shots of the day and sipping on some “World Class” bourbon being distilled in the back room.Take a tour, see how it is done. Okay... so the golf that day just got a little easier to take, while preparing for the next day. The folks of the Louisiana GolfTrails made it easier for all of us.They have estab- lished 3-day itineraries that truly fit all of these “Golf &’s” that you have been reading about. Check them out at: LouisianaGolfTrails.com Laissez les bon temps rouler

Golf Channel and traditional TV networks crush it when it comes to televising PGA and LPG A TOUR events. We tune in on Sundays, probably on Saturdays, too, and occasionally sneak away for some early-round coverage. But critics note there’s a shortfall in non-competition golf video content. Despite a plethora of golf instruction and even equipment reviews in living color, where are shows highlighting the on- and off-course fun golf brings to golfers and non-golfers alike? That’s the void the new Golf Nation fills and, based on early reviews from Texas golfers, the streaming channel will be a fan favorite for a long time to come. Golf Nation sneak peaked in early December 2022 as the first and only producer of original golf-lifestyle shows with the ability for viewers to instantly purchase items via “buy bars” popping up while never leaving the screen. Folks, Netflix Meets Home Shopping Network” has come to golf. Each commercial-free episode is five to 30 minutes and specials may be longer. Shows are free on www.golfnation.com and will be available via mobile app, connected-smart TVs, Apple TV, Android, Fire TV and Roku in early 2023. Original series include “Ambush with David Feherty” and his hidden-camera hijinks; “Golf Unseen” that takes viewers to exotic courses with cultural experiences; “Tee Shots” where golfers drink, chat and swing with famous mixologist Bill Binder; “Watch. Buy. Play.” highlighting the planet’s hottest golf products; and “Don’t I Know You?” based on the 1980s-1990s TV hit “The Newlywed Game” with the first episode featuring Zach and Kim Johnson. If you think this content-to-commerce format won’t fly, think again. NBTV Channels and its NBTV Studios production arm also produce Spirits Network that sells countless products inside “Cocktail History,” “Tales from the Cask,” “Sipping Point” and “Science of Spirits” and other series of shows. And we thought the largest crossover audience to golf is professional sports. Not so much. More than 60% of Spirits Network viewers count golf as a passion. “Golf Nation is off to a solid start,” says Suzy Whaley, President of Golf Nation. “The sneak-peak shows are well received and brands selling their offerings on our channel are thrilled.”

Fields of Ranch East & West at PGA Frisco Texas has golf courses, lots and lots of golf courses, 800-plus in fact. Lots of great courses, private enclaves, plus top- rated resorts in Austin-San Antonio, but great public golf, especially in the North? Not so much.That’s what makes the soon to open two public championship courses in Frisco, 40 minutes north of downtown Dallas, such a golfing game changer. Located at the new, modern PGA of America headquarters on 660 acres of former North Texas farm land, hence the official name Fields Ranch at PGA Frisco, East and West Course. Owned and operated by Omni Hotels, which will have a massive 550- room resort here, the PGA will oversee golf operations on City of Frisco land. Every spare inch of this new Texas golfing utopia will be open to the public, from the largest putting green in the US of A (the Dance Floor), to the 10-hole Short Course (The Swing), to the resort and two courses, the East designed by Gil Hanse and the West, a Beau Welling Design. Heck, even the Northern Texas PGA will have an awesome synthetic putting and chipping complex here open to the public when not in use for NTPGA activities. With nearly a dozen eating, drink- ing and shopping establishments over- seen by a huge electronic TV screen, plus a three mile walk/bike/pet trail, you’ve got a golfing paradise no matter if you’re a thoroughly hooked hacker, a casual golfer or just somebody who wants in on the non-stop action. PGA Frisco Golf Complex is for you, Joe or Judy Q. Public. “We were always going to make everything public here, because that fits into the PGA of America’s mission of attract- ing golfers and non-golfers to the sport,” said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh. Rendering of Hotel Entrance The East Course, which will host 26 major golf championships starting with the PGA Seniors Championship in May, two future PGA Championships and likely a Ryder Cup., includes a drivable par 4 on both the front (No. 7) and back nine (15). There is a nearly a 300-yard par 3, (No. 13 from the championship tees) along with the largest green on the course followed by the smallest, just to confuse golfers’ already confused minds. Then a bunkerless par 4 16th hole which seems simple, but is anything but! Then for the closing act, there is a dangerous 17th hole par 3 at 141 yards, the shortest on the course, plus a par 5 18th hole with a large stream and a hard dogleg right, plus a 10-foot earthen wall you’ll to hit over to reach the final green after crossing Panther Creek for the final time. “I think you could have some fire- works there,” Hanse said in a bit of an understatement in a fireside interview with co-designer Welling at the Omni Frisco Resort. The West Course by Welling ,who did Bluejack National with Tiger Woods outside Houston, did the more player friendly course with lots of wide open North Texas prairie spaces, elevated views and some truly funky greens. It’s a course to be ridden for sure, but one to take in the scenery with risk and reward challenge.Welling said the two courses are not identical sisters but in the same family. “It’s more like cousins, I’d say. I wanted to be able to bring my mother out here who may not be as good as I am, but still have a good time.” The public, which will get its first chance to play here in the spring of 2023, will make up more than 80% of the rounds on the Hanse East course. Hanse designed the course to be player friendly, but certainly not pain free if you don’t hit the correct shot from the correct tee. Hanse said one of the things he learned from designing the Olympic Golf Course in Brazil. The course can easily play more than 7,800 yards from the back ribbon, but PGA officials said the length will rarely, if ever, be used on a daily basis. Playing the correct set of tees will be critical to resort player enjoyment for the triple figure rates which will be charged to Omni Hotel guests and general public play.The opening hole on the East Course is a par 5 with a dogleg right, which PGA FriscoWest Course,#5 features some thick rough and the first appearance of native Panther Creek. A less than optimal shot could mean the first lost ball early despite the best effort of the caddies, which will allow for walking by guests.In fact, whenWoods opened his private Bluejack National course three hours south- east of here, he said he hoped most players could play his course with a single ball.If an amateur plays PGA Frisco East with single ball, they might be drug tested or sent straight up to the PGA Tour, Holes 10-12, all par 4, play in full view of the Huge Omni Resort, making them prime spots for tournament watch- ing, but players of all skill levels will have their full attention captured when they get to the par 3 13th hole. Panther Creek cuts across the fairway and curls up the left side, and it will be one of the most attractive features on the back side. The par 4 15th is another up- hill drivable par 4 which is surrounded by bunkers to embrace the risk-reward fac- tor. It’s public drama open to all in the new home of professional and amateur golf in Texas and all of America.

Visit GulfShores.com First off, let’s make this perfectly clear, Gulf Shores-Orange Beach – a community sandwiched between Pensacola, FL. and Mobile, AL. and not far from the Mississippi state line – offers a lot more than golf. But we will get to those other nice things later. Gulf Shores is a unique spot for golfers. Not only are its courses good, but they’re also not far from each other.The Gulf Coast and Orange BeachVacation Guide lists 15 courses in the area with three of the best especially close together. “We’ve got an island that is 32 miles long in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach,’ said Easton Colvin, public relations coordinator for Gulf Shores-Orange Beach Kiva Dunes Resort Tourism. “In it there’s 32 miles of pretty, white sand beaches and 20 miles of golf, if you add the yardages of the courses there together. All of our courses are public. You can schedule a tee time on your own at every one of them.’We also learned that full-service golf packages can be booked by a division of Troon, which owns three of the courses, called Coastal Alabama Golf. The three courses on the island part of Gulf Shores form a tasty trio. Kiva Dunes has earned the most accolades. It’s a links-style layout 200 yards off the beaches. Jerry Pate, working with good friend and developer Jim Edgemon, designed it. Pate was a hot commodity as a player before Kiva opened in 1995. He starred for the University of Alabama golf team, winning the U.S.Amateur in 1974. His pro career started with a bang too. In 1976, his rookie season on the PGATour, he won both the U.S. and Canadian Opens. Six years later he wonThe Players Championship. Those are pretty good titles to have on a playing resume, and Pate won five other times before shoulder and knee problems slowed his playing career down.With Kiva being one of his first designs, Pate converted to being a successful course designer, developer and businessman while settling in Pensacola. The Jerry Pate-designed Kiva Dunes is clearly the most decorated of Gulf Shores’ 15 area golf courses. In its early years Kiva hosted the second stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying School three times and was named the No. 1 public course in Alabama in 2017. Located on the Fort Morgan peninsula, the facility has condominiums and beach houses to rent plus four swimming pools, two on-site restaurants and over a mile of waterfront. Gulf Shores Golf Club Kiva has gained recognition far beyond its home state, and it’s our choice as Gulf Shores’ best – but not by all that much. Peninsula Golf & Racquet Club is pretty darn good, too. This facility also opened in 1995, with Earl Stone designing its 27 holes on 800 acres. Peninsula has some things that Kiva Dunes doesn’t have. It has three nines – the Lakes, Cypress and Marsh – and the facility also has an 8,000 square foot fitness center, eight tennis courts and indoor and outdoor swimming pools. Third of the island courses is Gulf Shores Golf Club, the oldest course at the destination. It was built by the father-son team of Jay and Carter Moorish in the early 1960s and they also handled a fullscale renovation there in 2005.The course was hit by Hurricane Sally in 2020 and is still somewhat in recovery mode but its sharp doglegs and numerous water hazards make for a challenging test. The biggest of the Gulf Shores facilities isn’t on the island, but is just 5 minutes up the road. Craft Farms has 45 holes with its Cotton Creek and Cypress courses and a nine-hole par-3 layout. Those two 18-holers, along with Lost Key in nearby Perdido Key, comprise the only Arnold Palmer designs in Alabama. (Lost Key is in Florida) The legendary Palmer was just starting to dabble in course design when he developed a close friendship with Robert Craft. They worked together for the 1987 opening of Cotton Creek and the 1993 debut of the Cypress course. Craft passed away in 2006. His son has been the mayor of Gulf Shores since 2008. Though some seasons are better than others weather-wise, there’s pride in what Gulf Shores has to offer golfers. “Gulf Shores in November is as good a place to play golf as you’ll find anywhere,’ said Dan Dorrough, now the head superintendent at Gulf Shores Golf Club after stints as an assistant at Kiva Dunes and Craft Farms.We made our first trip to Gulf Shores in 2012 and played the same four courses community looked a lot different this time, though. Now there’s more new, or at least expanded, attractions. For starters there’s Gulf Shores State Park with its 6,150 acres creating a haven for hikers, cyclists and Segway tours.The Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail spans all of the park’s 28 miles and connects both Gulf Shores and Orange Beach to the park. There’s also a nature center, over two miles of uninterrupted pristine beachfront and a lodge (actually a 350-room Hilton hotel that was rebuilt in 2018) featuring the Perch Restaurant. Our favorite dinner spot was Big Fish, a great place featuring seafood and a sushi bar but steak, pasta and sandwiches are available too. Lucy Buffett’s LuLu’s, located on the IntracoastalWaterway, also has good food along with live music, a fun arcade, a three-story climbing ropes course and children’s activities.The owner is the sister of one of my all- time favorite singers, Jimmy Buffett. Sassy Bass CookoutTiki Bar has a somewhat hidden location between Kiva Dunes and Peninsula, but the food, served in hot iron skillets, was delicious in addition to having a unique presentation. And then there’s the sprawling Flora-BamaYacht Club with its world famous Flora-Bama Lounge, Package & Oyster Bar. Craft Farms, Cotton Creek Course waterfront dining and a lot more.This is a legendary place near Orange Beach that appeals to all ages with its music, interesting decor and numerous bars. Though it was hit by numerous hurricanes over the years, Flora-Bama remains a must visit no matter the duration of your stop in the Gulf Shores-Orange Beach area. You don’t have to just play golf and eat in Gulf Shores, either. On rainy days you can still play miniature golf indoors – at the glow-in-the-dark Jurassic dinosaur adventure. It has a unique 5,000 square foot prehistoric setting and was a nice diversion for even the most serious golfers in our group. Most all of them however, preferred the SailWild Hearts’ relaxing two-hour sunset cruise in a 53-foot open-ocean catamaran. For more information, visit gulfshores.com.

Team STPGA takes home the Cup for the Fifth Year in a Row The SouthernTexas PGA team was victorious September 18th over the NorthernTexas PGA team at the11th Annual Texas Junior Cup.Matches presented byTCG Advisors by an overall point total of 18 to 6.Team STPGA led the matches by 5 points following the first day of competition and early on into day two of singles matches,Team STPGA secured the cup after winning 9 singles matches. Key victories forTeam STPGA on day one came from Aleah Shields-Rodipe and Dylan Knox during the 4-Ball Matches, who won their match 3&2 against Adrielle Miller and Lincoln Rubis from Team NTPGA. In the afternoon Scramble matches, five of the matches went down to the wire, each going to the final hole. Team STPGA won 4 out of these 5 matches, taking a strong lead of 8.5-3.5 after day one. “It really was all about the players this weekend.They did a fantastic job on the golf course.Their character and integrity was unparalleled,” said STPGA Captain Chris Westerdahl, PGA. “It was an honor to be their coach and to see them win.” Team STPGA secured the cup during day two of theTexas Junior Cup Matches after the first four groups won their singles matches, putting Team STPGA at 12.5 points, enough points to win the overall matches.Team STPGA proceeded to win five more matches and tie one, to finish the day at 9.5Team STPGA and 2.5Team NTPGA. The Texas Junior Cup Matches is an annual competition between the SouthernTexas PGA and the NorthernTexas PGA Sections. The Ryder Cup-style format features teams represented by 12 junior golfers under the age of 12 who earned their exemptions into this event through various tournaments in each Section.The teams competed in Four-Ball and Scramble Matches day one, and Singles Matches the final day. Chris Westerdahl, PGA Director of Instruction at Sterling Country Club served asTeam STPGA’s captain for the first time, and Vince Bove, PGA Program Lead - Drive, Chip and Putt served asTeam NTPGA’s captain for the fourth year. This year marks the 11th anniversary of the Texas Junior Cup Matches with the inaugural matches taking place in 2012 at Northwood Club in Dallas,Texas.After this year’s event, both teams now have a record of 5-5-1. The 2022 matches were contested at Sand Hill Farm Golf Course, a unique 9-hole private course created by the Tucker family, founders of Mustang Cat, and designed by former professional golfer, Peter Jacobsen.