Fort Worth Junior Boys
and Girls Golf Association

Dates set for FWJGA Girls and Boys City Junior Championships The dates for the 2012 FWJGA Girls and Boys Fort Worth City Junior Golf Championships have been set. The girls will play their three-day tournament on July 9-10-11 and the boys will play on July 16-17-18-19. More details will be announced in the next few weeks, including the courses that will be played. Please note: The girls tournament will abide by the same eligibility rules as the boys. Girls must live in Tarrant County and surrounding towns to be able to participate. A list of towns is on the Eligibility page. Registration will begin May 1. *** Ben Hogan Center opens Wendell Conditt, second from left, who has been responsible for the continuation and success of the Fort Worth Junior Golf Association's junior tournaments since the early '70s, attended the opening of the new First Tee Ben Hogan Center at Rockwood Golf Course. The FWJGA will have a presence at the center. With Wendell are wife Harriet, Bill Hatley, one of the FWJGA's officers, and Mr. and Mrs. Mike Moncrief. Mr. Moncrief is the former mayor of Fort Worth and a big supporter of junior golf.   FWJGA receives donation from Colonial's charities The Fort Worth Junior Golf Association was one of the organizations to receive a donation from the Colonial Country Club Charitable Fund of the Community Foundation of North Texas. The donations are made possible by Colonial, the Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts and the PGA Tour. The FWJGA junior boys tournament has been conduction since 1936 and the girls tournament since 1972. Neither has charged fees for participants to play and the FWJGA relies on donations, such as this one those made possible by Lee Trevino and Marty Leonard, daughter of the founder of the boys tournament Marvin Leonard. FWJGA President Charles Birkhold, center, receives a donation from the Colonial Country Club Charities in December. Presenting the check are Colonial President Vance Minter, left, and Tournament Chairman Chuck Scherer. Colonial and the FWJGA celebrated their 75th anniversaries in 2011.   *** Lee Trevino and Lee Hughes make Nov. 3 a day to remember See a slideshow (Adobe Flash is needed to view) Thanks to Lee Hughes (right), the Managing Partner of Maverick Homes, and golfing great Lee Trevino, four young golfers enjoyed what possibly could be their golf outing of a lifetime. The Texas Wesleyan golf program held its annual scholarship fundraising tournament in 2011 and offered a package for four players to play 18 holes with Mr. Trevino at Diamond Oaks Country Club on Nov. 3. Mr. Hughes won with a $20,000 bid and donated the four playing spots to deserving young golfers. These four were selected not just for their playing ability or economic privilege, but for their work and involvement in the community. The four selected -- from left between Mr. Trevino and Mr. Hughes are Adam Austin, Dalton Martin, Nicholas Narcisse and Daniel Dahlinger -- are members of the Junior Advisory Committee for The First Tee of Fort Worth program and have been involved with the program for several years. Proceeds from the event benefit the Lee Trevino Endowment for Golf at Texas Wesleyan and the Fort Worth Junior Golf Association. Mr. Trevino helped the boys at the practice range before they ate lunch. After lunch, they played 18 holes with Mr. Trevino offering many tips during the round. At lunch, Trevino told the boys that to be successful in any endeavor, they must have passion. And, he stressed, they must give themselves options in life. ''I wasn't educated,'' he said. ''I had no options (other than golf). But I had a passion for it. I spend 18 hours a day (playing and practicing).'' His hard work and talent paid off as he became one of the better players in the world. He said, though, an injury could have ended that career at any time. That's why a person should have an education so he/she will have options. Trevino then tried to pass on some of the knowledge about the golf swing he has gained over the years. He began playing on traditional courses and developed his swing and game to those type of courses, where often a player could roll the ball on the green if necessary. Then the newer courses came along where players often had to hit higher, soft shots into the greens, and he adapted his game to those courses. Although he showed each of the four boys several things to improve their swings, he focused on their grips because that's a player's extension to the golf club. ''Their grips aren't very good,'' he said. He showed them why and how they needed to change. ''Now, it's up to them.'' Afterward, the boys agreed they had learned a lot and appreciated the opportunity to play and learn from Mr. Trevino. Danny, a freshman at North Crowley High School, added that ''Playing with Mr. Trevino has been a wonderful experience. I'll never forget it.'' Dalton, a junior at Saginaw High School, echoed Danny's sentiments. ''It's just been a good day of learning from one of the best players to have ever played golf.'' Nicholas, a freshman at Mansfield High School, said, ''Its been a really fun day. I really enjoyed the experience of playing with Lee Trevino. I've learned a lot actually.'' Besides the swing tips, he added that ''I've learned not to take golf as serious...well, take it seriously but to have fun also.'' Adam, a senior at Western Hills High School, said ''This day has been just incredible experience. I'll never forget it. This is an event that can never be replaced. I don't know of anything I'd rather be doing right now.'' *** Marty Leonard inducted into Texas Golf Hall of Fame Marty Leonard, one of the Fort Worth Junior Golf Association's most ardent supporters, was inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame on Oct. 10. Ms. Leonard was inducted for Distinguished Service. She is the daughter of Marvin Leonard, who started the free city boys' championship in 1936 and was the founder of Colonial and Shady Oaks Country Clubs. The boys FWJGA's championship trophy is named after him. Ms. Leonard said, ''Texas golf has been special to me since my dad took me out to my first Lone Star course as a young child. This would make him very happy, as it does me.'' She also operates Leonard Golf Links and Starr Hollow, a nine-hole course in Tolar. She is involved in numerous organizations and her support helps the FWJGA's boys and girls city championship to be free for all participants. Congratulations Marty. Also, Colonial Country Club, site of the boys championship the in 2010 and 2011, was elected to the Texas Registry of Historic Golf during the club's 75th anniversary in 2011. Colonial conducts an annual PGA Tour event and has been host to the 1941 U.S. Open, the 1975 Tournament Players Championship and the 1991 Women's U.S. Open. The annual tournament is the second oldest on the PGA Tour to be conducted at the same venue. The late Ralph Plummer, who designed Colonial among many other courses, was elected to the Pioneer Category. ***, Thanks to everyone The Fort Worth Junior Golf Association wishes to thank the players and their parents for making this a great 75th year for the boys tournament. We also want to express our thanks and gratitude to the City of Fort Worth for providing their courses and the country clubs -- Colonial, Shady Oaks, Mira Vista, River Crest, Ridglea, Glen Garden, Diamond Oaks and Woodhaven -- for allowing the juniors to play their courses, which helps make this the most unique free junior tournament anywhere. And, of course, the tournament wouldn't happen without our many volunteers and sponsors, who are listed below. We hope to have another successful event next year. Volunteers and sponsors: Jim Barrett, Darren Baucom. Chuck Birkhold, Randy Cairns, Arlene Clark, Charles Clines, Leslie Clines, John Conditt, Wendell Condit, Rudy Flores, Jim Ford, Bill Hatley, Jim Hilton, Brain Hutchins, Diane Johnson, Marty Leonard, Martha V. Leonard Fund, Kevin Long, Ben Matheson, Dr. Don Matheson, Larry Nelson, Marcus Newton, Dee Norris, Orville Persons, Chad Potts, Pat Ryan, Dale Thelen, Lee Trevino, Cameron Webb, Mike Wells. The volunteers who help with the girls championship include: Donna Berry, Ann Brown, Frances Busch, Arlene Clark, Gere Cozby, Vada Cushman, Pat Evans, Suzi Gallemore, Melissa Gower, Gail Hitt, Diane Johnson, Gere Johnson, Gay Joyner, Debbie Martinak, Dee Norris, Mike Pennell, Nancy Pennell, Darrell Peters, Pat Peters, Roberta Reeves, Sandra Ryan, Barbara Smith, Karen Stepp and Mary Stembridge. *** Champions gain AJGA exemptions For the first time in its 75-year existence, the 2011 winners in the FWJGA's boys and girls Championship Flights earned an exemption to an American Junior Golf Association tournament. The 2011 FWJGA City Junior Golf Championship will be recognized with Performance Based Entry status, announced Chandler Sweat, Director of Player Services. *** *** FWJGA is a non-profit organization Though the Fort Worth Junior Golf Association, which consists of volunteers, has always operated as a non-profit organization, we became a 501(c)(3) organization in 2009 to allow our sponsors and other contributors to benefit from tax laws. Because there are no fees to enter or play in our boys and girls tournaments, we rely mainly on sponsors and others who contribute funds, advertising and/or products. Also, because of the generosity of the City of Fort Worth and the city's country clubs for the use of their courses it's possible for the FWJGA to continue this tradition. We incur many expenses, including trophies, conducting this tournament and would welcome any contributions. Donations of any size can be sent via check to the FWJGA, P.O. Box 820133, North Richland Hills, TX 76182. For convenience, a donation also can be made through PayPal by clicking the Donate button.