Meet the Member: Lonny Alexander, PGA
Lonny Alexander, PGA – Faith, Family, and Fairways
Born in San Marcos, Texas, Lonny Alexander grew up with a deep appreciation for the outdoors—and an even deeper appreciation for family. His father worked for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as a fish hatchery manager, relocating the family to several different hatcheries across the state. Watching his dad spend his career doing what he loved had a lasting impact on Lonny.
“My dad was instrumental in me finding my passion and then finding a way to make a living at it,” he said. “He always told me that if you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life. That’s something I’ve carried with me ever since.”
Lonny graduated from high school in Mineral Wells and, like his father, developed a love for the outdoors. He grew up hunting, fishing, and competing in every sport that would let him, from football to baseball to basketball. But once golf entered his life, it consumed him completely.
“When I fell in love with golf, I really fell in love with it,” he said with a laugh. “I poured everything I had into the game—probably to an unhealthy extent—but I’ve always been a grinder. Golf’s the one sport where you lose more often than you win, and that pushed me to work even harder.”
That drive led Lonny to his first job at a golf course at just 14 years old. Even through college, he kept working part-time at courses, soaking up every bit of experience he could. When he graduated, his boss at the time asked him to come aboard full-time as an assistant professional. Lonny agreed, becoming an apprentice in the PGA’s old-school program—long before the online modules of today.
“It really was like going back to college,” he recalled. “Six years of seminars, bookwork, and learning every side of the business. I worked under John Ferguson Jr., who was tough as nails but one of the best mentors I could’ve asked for. At the time, I thought he was just a hard boss, but later I realized he was preparing me for everything this business demands.”
That apprenticeship shaped not only Lonny’s professional path, but his character. He credits Ferguson for teaching him the value of hard work and accountability, lessons he now passes down to the next generation of golf professionals.
“This industry isn’t for the clock-punchers,” he said. “It’s early mornings, late nights, and everything in between. If you’re in it just to get by, golf will expose that real quick. But if you love it, it’s the best career in the world.”
While his career in golf has taken him far, his journey hasn’t been without challenges—and through it all, Lonny’s faith has been the foundation that carried him forward.
“My Lord and Savior gave me a miracle, and that miracle turned my life around,” he shared. “I’ve always believed, but I wasn’t always practicing my faith the way I should. Now I’m chasing the Lord more than I’m chasing the golf ball, and that’s been the greatest change in my life.”
It’s a message that he lives daily, guided by a favorite verse, Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you’re working for the Lord and not an earthly master.”
“That verse reminds me to give my best in everything—from being a husband and a father to being a golf pro,” he said. “If you’re cutting corners, you’re missing the point. I want people to say that Lonny Alexander loves the Lord and does his best, whatever the situation.”
In 2025, Lonny will bring that same faith and passion into his role as Captain of Team STPGA for the Levy Cup Matches. The honor is one he takes to heart—not for personal recognition, but for what it represents.
“I love the STPGA,” he said. “This Section has given me so many opportunities—from PGA HOPE and Junior League to Drive, Chip & Putt and even getting the chance to play in the Houston Open and Texas Opens. Being named captain is special because it lets me give back to an organization that’s given me so much.”
And while stepping into a leadership role means trading in his clubs for a clipboard, the competitor in Lonny hasn’t gone anywhere.
“It’s hard for me not to be out there playing,” he admitted, smiling. “But I’m proud to lead this team. I want our players to be prepared, to play for each other, and to represent the STPGA with pride. And of course, I want to win—because I always want to win.”
Whether on the lesson tee, in competition, or in quiet moments of reflection, Lonny Alexander continues to live by the same principles that shaped him as a kid in San Marcos: work hard, love deeply, lead with purpose, and put your faith first.
