Northern Texas PGA Elects New Board Members, Names David Ovard Honorary NTPGA Member

Molly Rawlins • February 19, 2019

The Northern Texas PGA conducted its annual Awards Banquet, Education Seminar and Business Meeting on Sunday, February 10 and Monday, February 11 at The Westin Galleria in Dallas.

On Sunday night, PGA Members, family and friends celebrated the 2018 Section Award Winners, including Northern Texas PGA Golf Professional of the Year, the Section's highest award, won by Jim Henderson, PGA director of golf at Stevens Park Golf Course.

Monday's event featured an outstanding panel of speakers that included: The PGA of America's Chief Operating Officer Darrell Crall and NTPGA’s Executive Director/CEO Mark Harrison; Founder and Visionary of Beau Welling Design, Beau Welling; PGA Golf Professional Emeritus at Bent Tree Country Club and Past Chairman of The PGA of America's Rules Committee, David Price and PGA Head Professional at Preston Trail Golf Club and 2018 National Bill Strausbaugh award winner, Cameron Doan.

During the Business Meeting, the membership elected two At-Large Directors, Leah Berst, PGA owner and director of instruction at The Golf Institute, and Chris Martinez, PGA general manager at The Lakes at Castle Hills. In addition, Eric Hunt, PGA assistant professional at Grapevine Golf Course, was sworn in as Metro Chapter President.

The Northern Texas PGA also named David Ovard, an attorney from Frisco, the Section's second-ever honorary PGA Member at the Annual Meeting on Monday. Ovard played a very significant and critical role while The PGA of America was making their decision to pursue a move of its headquarters to Frisco. The current and short list of NTPGA Honorary members include, Fin Ewing III, owner of Ewing Automotive Group, and now Mr. Ovard.

Ovard stated, "When Mark announced my Honorary Membership, I was extremely surprised and very humbled. Further, because the NTPGA is such an outstanding organization that does so much for so many people, I am sincerely appreciative of the honor."

"David and I worked together weekly for more than three years on the PGA Frisco project. The project took many different twists and turns over that time; however, one thing is for certain, without David Ovard's considerable contributions, there is absolutely no chance the project as we know it today would have ever happened. The NTPGA is excited to soon call PGA Frisco home, and we are looking forward to David being an honorary NTPGA Member," said Mark Harrison, Executive Director / CEO of the Northern Texas PGA.

About The Northern Texas PGA
The Northern Texas PGA is one of 41 Sections of the PGA of America and its geographic territory includes the State of Texas north of the 31st latitude, or just north of Austin. The Northern Texas PGA is comprised of approximately 850 PGA members and associates employed at more than 300 facilities.

The Northern Texas PGA has 16 full-time staff members and is currently headquartered in Dallas. The Northern Texas PGA will be joining the PGA of America national office relocation to Frisco in 2022 with its own state of the art headquarters on the PGA Frisco campus.

In addition to managing the day-to-day affairs of the Section, the Northern Texas PGA also operates a non-profit and charitable foundation that focuses on five pillars: junior golf, college scholarships, inclusion, fellowships and military and veterans.

Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour to PGA Professional: Spencer Dillard’s Journey to Success

By Sarah Jordan • February 11, 2025
Spencer Dillard’s rise from a young golfer to a devoted PGA of America Golf Professional is a story of passion and purpose. His love for the game began when he was gifted a Tiger Wood’s golf video game as a kid. Spencer, who is now an Assistant Golf Professional at Preston Trail Golf Club, reflects on a journey shaped by the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour. Spencer’s golfing journey began at the age of seven when his parents enrolled him in a small golf camp in McKinney, Texas. A year later, he discovered the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour and started competing in tournaments. These early experiences helped him develop both his skills and excitement for the game. Spencer’s first experience on the junior tour was memorable. “I think I shot 72 for my very first [Prep Tour] event,” Dillard shares. “By the end of that year, I shot a 46. I was so happy to go from shooting a 72 for nine holes to [shooting] in the 40s.” 

Northern Texas PGA Celebrates Award Winners, Conducts 57th Annual Meeting

By Molly Rawlins • February 3, 2025
FORT WORTH, TX – The Northern Texas PGA held their annual Awards Banquet on Sunday, February 2, at River Crest Country Club. The banquet celebrated the 2024 NTPGA award winners, which included Northern Texas PGA Golf Professional of the Year, the Section's highest award, won by Neil Lockie, PGA director of golf at Dallas National Golf Club. This is the highest honor given annually to a Northern Texas PGA Member, and is awarded for qualities of leadership, strong moral character and a substantial record of service to the NTPGA as well as the game of golf. The complete list of award winners can be found HERE . Congratulations to all!

Northern Texas PGA Receives 2025 Herb Graffis Award

By Sarah Jordan • January 22, 2025
Today, our Section was selected as the 2025 Herb Graffis Award recipient! The award is given annually to one of the 41 PGA of America Sections for tireless dedication to growing the game of golf and furthering player-development programming in the community. Thank you to all of our PGA of America Golf Professionals who are involved in so many of our Foundation programs, helping us to impact lives in the communities we serve in North Texas!  Led by President Cameron Doan, PGA, and Executive Director Kelly Gilley, PGA, the Section is backed by a membership of more than 1,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals who are employed at more than 300 facilities. The Section’s mission is to promote the enjoyment and involvement in the game of golf and to contribute to its growth by providing services to golf professionals and the golf industry. The NTPGA’s success is fueled by the Northern Texas PGA Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt organization dedicated to promoting and growing the game of golf among diverse groups of kids in North Texas, and instilling in them the positive, character-developing traits for which the game is known. Annually, approximately 10,000 children and their families are impacted through the Foundation’s full circle of programs and services. Today, based on the three key pillars of the PGA of America REACH Foundation—Youth, Military, Diverse populations—as well as pillars for college scholarships, internships and inclusion, the Foundation reaches a greater audience to promote and grow the game. The centerpiece of the Foundation’s golf programming is the Ronny Golf Park, a first-of-its-kind facility that features a two-acre, lighted golf park made entirely of fully synthetic turf. It can be enjoyed rain or shine, day or night. It is designed with junior golfers in mind, and led by the Section’s PGA-led staff, who offer a variety of programs for children ages 3-14. The Section will be formally recognized again later this year when the PGA of America hosts its Annual Meeting at PGA Frisco in November. Congratulations to all of the 2025 PGA of America award recipients! A full list can be found HERE .

PGA Jr. League #GameChanger Award Winners Honored at 2025 PGA Show

By Sarah Jordan • January 21, 2025
At this year's PGA Show, eight Northern Texas PGA Members and Associates were recognized as #GameChanger Award recipients! The #GameChanger Awards celebrate PGA Jr. League Coaches who go above and beyond to grow the game. The awards honor the 25 largest PGA Jr. League programs in the country as well as the largest programs in each of the 41 PGA of America Sections. The ceremony at the PGA SHOW highlighted the efforts of PGA and LPGA Professionals who are leading the way for youth to enjoy and learn the game of golf. 
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