STPGA Q2 UPDATE Member Outreach, Mentoring, and More

Dr. Rich Ballinger, PGA • July 14, 2025

Dear STPGA Members,


I hope this message finds you well and enjoying a wonderful summer!


Following our second board meeting on July 10th, I wanted to provide you with some important updates. We're incredibly enthusiastic about a few new initiatives we're rolling out, building upon the strong foundation of our existing successful programs. Below are three key areas we focused on during the meeting:


Member Outreach Program: Your Voice Matters

We have launched a new Member Outreach Program designed to ensure your voices are heard directly by our leadership. Before each quarterly board meeting, every board member will personally contact three STPGA professionals. These assignments will rotate, allowing us to connect with a diverse group of members over time.


The goal of these calls is simply to have an informal, open conversation to understand what's on your mind. At the start of each board meeting, we summarize the key themes and feedback gathered. This direct input will be invaluable in shaping our decisions, enhancing our programs, and ultimately better serving all STPGA professionals. Please don't be surprised if a board member reaches out, and we truly encourage you to share your thoughts!


New Associate Development and Mentoring Initiative
The STPGA is thrilled to announce the launch of our new Associate Mentoring initiative, which the board thoroughly discussed and voted to approve. This program will focus on three key goals:

  1. Enhanced Onboarding Communication: We'll be sending updated and more in-depth communications to all new and transfer-in associates, providing comprehensive information about the Section and all available resources.
     
  2. Pro-Associate Events: We're introducing two new Pro-Associate events, with the first scheduled for October. These events aim to introduce Level 1 associates to the STPGA, featuring guest speakers, sharing best practices, and providing essential information about the PGA of America and the STPGA. Our goal is to keep their excitement for the golf industry high and maintain their motivation. Following this, Level 1 associates will have the unique opportunity to play golf with an existing PGA member, helping them expand their network and gain a valuable mentor.
     
  3. Associate Orientation Program: We will also implement a new, mandatory Associate Orientation program. This orientation will educate associates on the STPGA and the PGA of America, reinforcing their motivation within the industry. It's also a great way to introduce them to our dedicated STPGA staff, ensuring they know who to contact for support. Completing this orientation will be a prerequisite for associates to participate in any STPGA golf tournaments.


Strategic Plan Refresh Underway
The board of directors had a very robust and constructive conversation about our strategic plan. This plan has been an incredibly valuable tool for our staff and board, guiding our initiatives over the past several years. We've identified some exciting ideas to improve it further and will be sure to share these with you once they are finalized.


Lastly, our thoughts and prayers remain with everyone affected by the flooding in the Hill Country. If you know of a facility or PGA Member or Associate that has been directly affected, please reach out to either me or Thomas Hutton, our Executive Director. The PGA of America remains committed to the PGA Medical and Disaster Relief Fund that provides assistance to members who are faced with temporary financial problems due to serious medical emergencies or the impact of natural disasters.

 

Thank you for your ongoing support and engagement. Please know that I am always available and welcome any comments or concerns you may have.


Sincerely,

Dr. Rich Ballinger, PGA
President, Southern Texas PGA


By Southern Texas PGA • October 16, 2026
The Wait Is Over: Your 2027 Southern Texas PGA Schedule Is Here!
By Sarah Lummus • October 14, 2026
SPRING, TX (October 14, 2026) – The Southern Texas PGA is proud to announce that Steve Termeer, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer of the University of Texas Golf Club, has been named the 2026 STPGA Golf Professional of the Year.  This prestigious honor recognizes Termeer’s more than 35 years of leadership in the golf industry, his commitment to developing the next generation of golf professionals, and his lasting impact on the game through his work at UT Golf Club, the Southern Texas PGA, and numerous charitable organizations. He leads a distinguished group of Section and Chapter award recipients who exemplify the leadership, service, and professionalism that define the Southern Texas PGA. Elected to PGA Membership in 1994, Termeer has built a career around the belief that golf provides an opportunity to positively impact people’s lives. Since the inception of the University of Texas Golf Club, he has served as the club’s General Manager and COO, playing an integral role in building and developing the operation from the ground up.
By Southern Texas PGA • October 9, 2026
MONT BELVIEU, TX (October 9, 2026) – Jay Jurecic of Crystal Falls, Michigan, delivered three days of consistent play at Eagle Pointe Golf Club, capturing the 30th Energy Transfer Texas Senior Open with rounds of 69-68-68 for a tournament total of 8-under-par 205. Entering Friday's final round tied atop the leaderboard with Jerod Turner of Aledo, Texas, Jurecic wasted little time separating himself from the field. Birdies on three of his first four holes gave him an early advantage, but a bogey on the par-4 sixth briefly slowed his momentum. Jurecic quickly settled back into his rhythm, adding another birdie on the ninth to make the turn at 3-under-par for the day, building a three-stroke advantage as the Championship headed into its closing stretch.
By Southern Texas PGA • October 7, 2026
Thirtieth annual event commences with Pro-Am raising $30,000 for college scholarships and junior golf MONT BELVIEU, TX (October 6, 2026) – The Southern Texas PGA is excited to start off the 30th Energy Transfer Texas Senior Open by announcing the winners of the Pro-Am that featured 25 teams representing companies from all over south Texas!
By Southern Texas PGA • September 30, 2026
Gray will lead 8 additional PGA Members to the 2027 PGA Professional Championship in April BEE CAVE, Texas (September 30, 2026) – Bret Gray, PGA Assistant Coach at Sam Houston State University, made history Tuesday evening at Spanish Oaks Golf Club, defeating Derrick Dixon, PGA General Manager at Briggs Ranch in a dramatic one-hole playoff to capture the 58th Southern Texas PGA Section Championship. At 23 years old, Gray became the youngest Section Champion in Southern Texas PGA history, adding his name to the Tommy Aycock Trophy after a championship finish that stretched into the sunset. For Gray, the victory also marked another chapter in a journey that has been closely connected to the Southern Texas PGA from the beginning. A product of STPGA Junior Golf program, Gray took every step within the STPGA’s journey from Little Linkster tournaments to Prestige Tour to attending Sam Houston State University and graduating from the PGA Golf Management Program to now being a Class A PGA Member. Gray entered Tuesday's final round one stroke off the lead after opening the Championship with a 1-under-par 70, sitting tied for second behind round one leader Dixon. He wasted little time making his move, recording birdies on Nos. 2, 3 and 7 to build a two-stroke lead early in the final round. Dixon responded as the round progressed, finding birdies on Nos. 8 and 10 before eventually reclaiming the lead on the back nine. A bogey at No. 9 proved costly for Gray, who steadied himself with pars the rest of the way. Dixon carried the lead to the 18th green with an opportunity to close out the Championship, but his final putt caught the edge and stayed out, sending the two back to No. 18 for a playoff as the sun began to set over Spanish Oaks. Both players found the middle of the fairway with their playoff tee shots before producing two strong approaches, each leaving a birdie opportunity from inside 15 feet on opposite sides of the hole. Dixon again saw his birdie attempt catch the edge and stay out, leaving Gray with an opportunity to end the Championship. Gray converted, rolling in the birdie putt to become the 58th Southern Texas PGA Section Champion. The Championship also determined eight qualifiers for the 2027 PGA Professional Championship. Gray will be joined by Derrick Dixon, PGA; Roman O'Rourke, PGA; Ben Willman, PGA; Gilbert Mendez, PGA; Robert Scott, PGA; Wilfredo Sanchez, PGA; and Bobby Gates, PGA.
By Southern Texas PGA • September 22, 2026
David von Hoffmann, PGA – The Journey Makes the Professional
By Southern Texas PGA • September 16, 2026
HOUSTON, Texas – September 16, 2026 – Jimmy Keener, PGA Associate at Briggs Ranch Golf Club, and Troy Schleicher, PGA Life Member, claimed victories at the 2026 Jet Access Tradition Championship following two days of competition at Lakeside Country Club in Houston. The championship featured 130 Southern Texas PGA Members and Associates and marked the fourth and final Major Championship of the season before the Southern Texas PGA Section Championship at Spanish Oaks Golf Club in Bee Cave, Texas. Keener entered the final round as part of a four-way tie for the lead at 4-under alongside Alden Wallace, PGA, Erik Knudsen, PGA, and Michael Milstead. He wasted little time making a move in the final round, recording an eagle on the par-5 third hole to jump-start his championship run. With the leaderboard remaining tight throughout the day, Keener delivered his biggest stretch when it mattered most, closing his round with three consecutive birdies on Holes 16, 17 and 18. The late charge gave Keener a two-stroke cushion coming down the stretch, but Alden Wallace, PGA Teaching Professional at ProMotion Golf Academy, kept the pressure on until the final hole. Needing an eagle on the par-4 18th to force a playoff, Wallace nearly delivered, with her second shot from the fairway skimming the hole before settling close. She would convert the birdie to finish one stroke back and cap a strong runner-up performance.
By Southern Texas PGA • September 11, 2026
Aaron Green, PGA – From Opportunity to Leadership
By Southern Texas PGA • August 26, 2026
CORPUS CHRISTI (August 25, 2026) – Bret Gray, PGA Assistant Coach at Sam Houston State University and Omar Uresti, PGA Life Member emerged victorious at the 2026 Player's Cup at Corpus Christi Country Club. Gray claimed the Open Division title at 9-under par, while Uresti won the Senior Division at 8-under after defeating Carl Baker, PGA Life Member, in a playoff. Gray and Uresti both opened the championship with bogey-free rounds to take control of their respective divisions. Gray finished Round 1 at 6-under to lead the Open Division, while Uresti put himself in a strong position atop the Senior Division leaderboard at 7-under to lead by three.  Conditions became more difficult during the second round as the wind picked up across Corpus Christi Country Club. Gray entered the final day knowing bogeys could happen in the tougher conditions, but remained committed to his game plan and focused on bouncing back whenever mistakes occurred. That approach helped him maintain his lead and complete a wire-to-wire victory at 9-under par. “Leading after the first round, I didn’t want to change my approach,” Gray said. “I knew that if I played my game, that would allow me to play my best. At the same time, I knew the winds were going to pick up and that bogeys could happen, so I was more focused on bouncing back and recovering when they did.” During the final round, Grey got off to a fast start with 4 birdies in the first seven holes but as he was expecting made a couple of bogeys on the back nine. His birdie on the reachable par-5 15 was critical to winning the title. In the Senior Division, Uresti carded four bogeys on the front nine of Round 2 and briefly surrendered the lead as Baker closed the gap. Baker birdied five out of six holes starting on hole seven to take the lead, but Uresti responded with four birdies on the back nine to eventually tie Baker. While both players had birdie putts on 18, extra holes were needed with Uresti making a birdie on the first playoff hole to secure the Senior Division title. “I had a rough start to the day, and Carl played great, so I knew I was going to have to play extremely well on the back nine to keep it within reach,” Uresti said. “Carl’s putting was lights out, and thankfully I started getting birdies to drop. It was a lot of fun out there today with some great competition.” The Southern Texas PGA extends its appreciation to Joe Mitchell, PGA Head Professional, and the entire staff at Corpus Christi Country Club for hosting the championship. The Section also thanks Vortex, Prize Possessions, Clubessential/ForeUP/BlueGolf, GT Golf Supply, Club Car, HUB, PRG, Hole-in-One USA, and AndersonOrd for their support of the Player's Cup. The STPGA would also like to thank the Port of Corpus Christi, Kleberg Bank, Buick GMC North, andAnderson Alexander Law for their support of our Pro-Am prior to the event and the overall championship.
By Julia Doucet • August 5, 2026
The Southern Texas PGA is proud to announce the launch of the STPGA Hall of Fame , established to honor PGA Professionals whose leadership, service, mentorship, competitive excellence, and instructional impact have helped shape the legacy of golf across Southern Texas. Candidates will be evaluated through five core pillars: Leadership Recognizing those who have inspired their peers, strengthened the profession, and maintained a distinguished professional reputation. Service Honoring PGA Professionals with a sustained record of service to the Association, their communities, and the growth of the game. Mentorship Celebrating those who have dedicated their careers to educating, supporting, and advancing fellow PGA Professionals. Competitive Record Recognizing individuals with a proven and sustained record of excellence in competitive play. Instructional Leadership Honoring those who have made a meaningful impact on player development and elevated performance at any level of the game.
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