It was a true honor to represent The Woodford Club as one of the two PGA rules officials at the National PGA Jr. League Championship, held at the stunning Fields Ranch Championship Golf Course at PGA Headquarters, Omni Resort. This national program, and championship event, which I used to oversee during my time at PGA of America HQ, brought together 96 talented young golfers and their families from across the country, creating an incredible atmosphere filled with excitement and camaraderie.
Being "inside the ropes" is always special for me, having done it many times at PGA Championships and Senior PGA events. But there's something uniquely inspiring about witnessing these young players encourage each other, strategize, and celebrate every great shot on the course. You hear them talk about everything from their favorite golfers and football teams to schoolwork and their little brothers and sisters who also play golf. It’s in those moments that you truly see the friendships and sportsmanship that golf fosters. No doubt, we've seen this PGA Jr League program create lasting friendships for kids around the country.
Parents were thrilled to see their kids compete, and my fellow PGA and LPGA professionals who coached the teams were having a blast as well. Not only are there life-long memories to be made on the golf course during the competition, but off the course creates fantastic experiences: One of which was when former NFL star QB Ben Roethlisberger, whose son was playing on the Pennsylvania team, was throwing footballs to the kids diving into the pool. While the parents certainly recognized him as a sports icon, the kids were just as excited to see some guy who could really throw a pinpoint pass!
It was also impressive to watch these young golfers play all day and then continue to practice on the par-3 course, driving range, chipping and putting. Their enthusiasm was boundless, and it was wonderful to see kids from different teams having fun together.
As the three-day championship was moving into the final day of semi final and final matches, it was amazing to see the level of composure displayed as the excitement and tournament pressure increased. And especially impressive to see how the kids acclimated to an even higher degree of intensity during the two-hole playoff was remarkable. They executed incredible shots under pressure. These kids were simply playing golf, hitting shots, and getting excited—all with the eyes of spectators and national TV cameras upon them.
Seeing the genuine emotions from the kids—tears after a tough semi-final match and then turning to smiles and joy as they dove into the consolation match—reminded me of what the PGA Jr. League is all about. It’s not just about winning; it’s about the journey, the experiences, and the friendships they make along the way.
I'm thrilled to see how the PGA Jr. League has grown since we started it back in 2012 at PGA Headquarters, when the CEO directed me to create a "little league of baseball for golf." The program's goal has always been to introduce as many kids as possible to this great game, and it's inspiring to see how far it has come. Who knows—maybe one day we'll see a team from The Woodford Club competing for the national championship!
I’m also excited to continue growing our youth golf programming at The Woodford Club. The experience at this championship has only strengthened my resolve to expand our team and provide more opportunities for our young golfers to shine.
Lastly, it was fascinating to watch the behind-the-scenes magic of an ESPN production on the golf course. Working with the cameras, crew, and studio team was a unique experience, even though there was a bit of pressure to get everything right and ensure that the kids’ performances took center stage.
Bob also got the chance to see PGA Tour star Tony Finau! Finau is an assistant coach for the Utah team and his son was a player on that team! What an incredible chance to watch a great golfer coach other great golfers!
Thank you all for your continued support of our youth golf initiatives at The Woodford Club. We’re looking forward to building on this momentum as we head into another exciting year of youth golf!
