PGA REACH Southern Texas August Recap

October was a month of preparing for the future and celebrating the impact of golf across Southern Texas. From gearing up for the launch of our annual Online Auction and welcoming a new class of PGA HOPE Trained Professionals to supporting Veterans through the HOPE 4 Heroes campaign and gathering feedback to strengthen our Junior Golf programs, there are plenty of exciting things happening across PGA REACH Southern Texas. Take a look at this month’s edition to see what’s ahead, meet the partners helping us grow the game, and discover how your support continues to create meaningful opportunities through golf.

September was a busy month for PGA REACH Southern Texas, with a strong mix of events, fundraising milestones, and opportunities to support our four pillars. From celebrating the success of our inaugural Birdie Bash and funding another year of Charlie Epps Scholarships to providing new equipment for six PGA HOPE Veterans, it was a month filled with meaningful impact across Southern Texas.  Take a look at what’s happening across PGA REACH Southern Texas and see how your support continues to help us impact lives through golf.

Austin, Texas (September 25, 2026) — PGA REACH Southern Texas celebrated the success of its inaugural Birdie Bash on Thursday, September 24, raising more than $80,000 for PGA REACH Southern Texas and Dell Children’s Medical Center through an exciting day of golf, fundraising, and community impact. Held at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa’s Crenshaw Cliffside Golf Course, the event brought together 21 two-person teams of PGA Professionals and Associates for a 72-hole birdie challenge. Collectively, participants recorded an impressive 864 birdies, turning every birdie into an opportunity to support two important causes. Inspired by Play Yellow, Birdie Bash was designed to bring the golf community together to support pediatric cancer care while furthering the mission of PGA REACH Southern Texas. Teams and donors pledged support based on the number of birdies made throughout the event, creating a unique fundraising experience that connected on-course performance with meaningful impact. The inaugural event also celebrated standout performances both on the course and through fundraising efforts. Congratulations to Team Jamie Smith and Tyler Boer for conquering the leaderboard with an impressive 62 birdies! Special recognition also goes to Top Fundraisers Team Camille Close and Alex Rhyne, who raised $13,054 in donations to support the event’s beneficiaries. Their efforts exemplify the enthusiasm, generosity, and competitive spirit that made the first Birdie Bash such a success. “We are incredibly proud of the success of our first Birdie Bash and grateful to everyone who helped make this event possible,” said Sarah Lummus, Foundation Manager of PGA REACH Southern Texas. “To see 21 teams come together, make 864 birdies, and raise more than $80,000 for PGA REACH and Dell Children’s is an incredible accomplishment. This event is a testament to the generosity of our donors, the support of our partners, and the power of the golf community to make a difference. We are so excited to build on this momentum in the years ahead.” The event would not have been possible without the support of Play Yellow and Dell Children’s Medical Center, whose commitment to improving the lives of children and families helped inspire Birdie Bash. PGA REACH Southern Texas is proud to partner with Dell Children’s in supporting the important work of pediatric healthcare and giving back to the Central Texas community. PGA REACH Southern Texas extends its sincere appreciation to the Omni Barton Creek team for their hospitality, partnership, and support in hosting the inaugural event. A special thank-you also goes to the participating PGA Professionals and Associates, whose time, enthusiasm, and fundraising efforts made the event such a success. Their commitment to the challenge and the causes behind it helped turn 864 birdies into meaningful support for the community. Finally, PGA REACH Southern Texas is deeply grateful to its generous donors, sponsors, and supporters. Every contribution, pledge, and show of encouragement helped make this milestone possible. The success of Birdie Bash reflects what can happen when the golf community comes together around a shared purpose.  As the inaugural Birdie Bash comes to a close, PGA REACH Southern Texas looks forward to continuing to grow the event and create even greater impact through the game of golf. To view photos from the event and our final leaderboards, check out the links below.

HOUSTON, TX (August 31, 2026) - PGA HOPE Southern Texas proudly welcomed 12 teams from across the Section to Hyatt Lost Pines Golf Club on Monday, August 31, for the 3rd Annual Southern Texas PGA HOPE Cup, an annual celebration of the Veterans and PGA Professionals who make the PGA HOPE Southern Texas program so impactful.

August has been another exciting month for PGA REACH Southern Texas, filled with impactful moments, major milestones, and plenty to look forward to this fall. From looking forward to celebrating our PGA HOPE Veterans at the upcoming 3rd Annual HOPE Cup to crowning 15 Junior Golf champions and building momentum for the inaugural Play Yellow Birdie Bash, there is a lot happening across our programs. Take a look at what’s happening across Southern Texas and see how your support continues to help us impact lives through golf.

July was a month of exciting milestones and unforgettable moments for PGA REACH Southern Texas! From welcoming our newest PGA HOPE Ambassador and cheering on one of our Miles Fore the Future runners as they crossed the Half-Marathon finish line, to building momentum for Birdie Bash and celebrating our Junior Golfers who competed on one of junior golf's biggest stages at the PGA Junior Championship, there's been no shortage of inspiring stories this month.  Take a look at our July recap and see the impact your support continues to make across Southern Texas.

PGA HOPE Southern Texas is proud to welcome James “Jim” Meade as our newest PGA HOPE Ambassador. A retired United States Army Brigade Sergeant Major, devoted husband and father, and passionate advocate for his fellow Veterans, Jim embodies the spirit of service that lies at the heart of PGA HOPE.

At PGA HOPE Southern Texas, our instructors are the heart of our program, creating welcoming spaces where veterans can find connection, camaraderie, and community. One of those instructors is Christopher Martinez, Director of Operations at Tierra Santa Golf Course in Weslaco, Texas. Christopher Martinez believes that golf is about more than the game itself—it's about creating connection, building community, and helping people find where they belong. As the Director of Operations at Tierra Santa Golf Course in Weslaco, Texas, Christopher oversees golf operations, instruction, player development, tournaments, and community programming. Before joining Tierra Santa, he spent 13 years working in the San Antonio golf industry at several premier facilities and founded the Golf Club of Texas Golf Academy. He played collegiate golf at the University of the Incarnate Word and recently earned his MBA from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. While Christopher's professional accomplishments are impressive, it's his passion for serving others that led him to PGA HOPE. A PGA HOPE instructor since 2022, Christopher was immediately drawn to the program's mission of serving veterans through the game of golf. With several family members who have served or are currently serving in the military, becoming involved with PGA HOPE was a meaningful way to give back. For Christopher, the program's greatest impact extends far beyond the golf course. "Golf is simply the vehicle," Christopher shared. "The real outcome is creating a community where veterans feel welcomed, supported, and connected." That sense of connection is at the center of everything he does. His goal is for every PGA HOPE graduate to feel that Tierra Santa is their home course—a place where they are welcomed long after the six-week program ends. One of Christopher's favorite examples of PGA HOPE's impact is veteran Joey Moore, a participant from his very first session. Through the program, Joey found friendship, purpose, and confidence, eventually returning to volunteer alongside Christopher and help welcome new veterans into the PGA HOPE community. When asked what growing the game means to him, Christopher's answer is simple: creating opportunities and making golf more welcoming for everyone. Whether he's introducing a veteran to the game, mentoring future PGA Professionals, or helping a junior golfer fall in love with golf, his mission remains the same—to make sure every person who steps onto the golf course feels like they belong. We are proud to have Christopher as part of the PGA HOPE Southern Texas family and grateful for the lasting impact he continues to make on veterans across the Rio Grande Valley. 

June turned out to be an incredible month of milestones and major moments for our PGA REACH Southern Texas community. Over the last few weeks, PGA REACH Southern Texas celebrated twenty remarkable new scholarship recipients, watched our own STPGA Junior Golf alumni take on the field at the 2026 U.S. Open, and rallied behind one of our Miles Fore the Future runners gearing up for a summer race. Dive into this month's recap to see how your support is driving the momentum forward!