"Remember that it all begins with PGA of America."
That is the inscription at the front entrance of the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA of America) headquarters, which this reporter visited on Wednesday local time. The phrase reflects the pride of the American golf community, which was founded in 1916 and has since led the global golf world.
PGA of America's headquarters sits in Frisco, near McKinney, Texas, close to where the PGA Tour's The CJ Cup Byron Nelson was held. Unlike the PGA Tour, which is the organization for tour professional players, PGA of America is an association for golf industry workers, including professionals who manage and operate golf courses as well as golf instructors. It has approximately 30,000 members and oversees the Ryder Cup, the golf showdown between the U.S. and Europe, along with the major championships PGA Championship and the KPMG Women's PGA Championship.
The interior of the headquarters was filled exclusively with facilities dedicated to golf. Upon entering through the front door, visitors are greeted by more than 10 classrooms designed to train personnel for golf course management and operation. Even in the early morning hours when this reporter visited, dozens of people had gathered to attend lectures and discussions.
Next to those classrooms are swing and putting practice areas equipped with state-of-the-art simulators such as TrackMan and FlightScope, along with bunkers and greens that allow training even in rainy weather. These facilities for developing teaching professionals and players host thousands of trainees each year.
The space displaying trophies from tournaments hosted by PGA of America was particularly striking. Under special lighting, the Wanamaker Trophy of the PGA Championship and the Ryder Cup trophy were on display, exuding an overwhelming presence.
Stepping outside, an expansive landscape unfolds. There are driving ranges and approach practice areas where trainees can practice anytime. Next to the practice grounds stands a 36-hole championship course called Fields Ranch, built to host actual professional tournaments. The KPMG Women's PGA Championship, an LPGA Tour major, was held there last year, and the 2027 PGA Championship is also scheduled to take place at the venue.
What stopped this reporter on the way to the championship course was an artificial turf practice green that allows year-round putting practice. The facility is open for anyone to use freely, with no admission ticket required. At the time of the visit, a family with two children had come with their own putters and were absorbed in practice.
"Thanks to facilities like these, designed so that children can enjoy golf like play from an early age, world-class players have continuously emerged across generations," a PGA of America official said. "From the moment we planned the headquarters in Frisco, we envisioned facilities that local residents could use freely," the official added. "We will continue to build a foundation that allows golf to become part of people's lives, just as we originally intended."
