PHOTOS: PGA of America Tees Up the Future of Golf in Frisco

Four years in the making, the Home of PGA of America opened its doors for a "Welcome Home Celebration" on Monday. The state-of-the-art building at PGA Frisco is a symbol of the future of the organization and the game of golf.

PGA President Jim Richerson and PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh on stage at the Welcome Home Celebration at PGA Frisco.

On August 22, PGA President Jim Richerson and PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh hosted the official opening of the 106,621-square-foot building at PGA Frisco that will be the “Home of the PGA of America.” 

The PGA’s $33.5 million, four-story HQ is a “symbol of the future of the organization and the game of golf,” the group says.

“Our vision for our new Home of the PGA of America at PGA Frisco is to serve as the ultimate support system for our Members,” said PGA President Jim Richerson. “It will be a first-of-its-kind golf laboratory that offers the best in professional development for our nearly 28,000 PGA Professionals.”

PGA President Jim Richerson and PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh

Stakeholders, local dignitaries, and officials from the PGA, Frisco ISD, and the city of Frisco were among the 600 attendees getting an early look.

Dallas sports legends Tony Dorsett, Drew Pearson, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, and World Golf Hall of Famer Kathy Whitworth were among those to hit ceremonial first tee shots. Guests also had their pictures taken with the PGA’s championship trophies.

Players pose after hitting opening tee shots at the Welcome Home Celebration.

Other special guests for the opening included PGA Pros from across the U.S., board and committee members, PGA past presidents, Northern Texas PGA Section Members, PGA Associates, City of Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney, Frisco City Council Members, Economic Development Council Members, and TRT Holdings’ Blake Rowling, along with many friends and partners of the PGA of America.

“PGA Frisco is much more than a new home for the PGA of America,” said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh. “Aligning with world-class partners in a world-class location is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create the Silicon Valley of Golf from a commercial perspective. 

The 600-acre PGA Frisco campus, which features two 18-hole championship golf courses, will open to the public in Spring 2023. The development is currently the largest under construction in North America. It’s projected to drive $2.5 billion of economic impact over the next 20 years.

For a fly-through tour and to read more about the PGA’s innovative space, go here.

Here’s a look at the event:

All photos courtesy of PGA of America

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R E A D   N E X T

  • If you think it's just an office building, better tee up another ball. The new PGA of America headquarters aims to be a "first-of-its-kind" golf laboratory and a destination for the future of golf, with indoor training facilities, driving range simulators, state-of-the-art education facilities, a video studio, and more. Take a look inside. The new HQ is just part of the new 660-acre PGA Frisco campus. Two championship golf courses, a new 510-room Omni Resort, a performance center, and other attractions are expected to drive $2.5 billion in economic impact over the next 20 years.

  • Part of PGA Frisco's $500M+ "Silicon Valley of Golf," the championship-level courses will feature an East Course designed by Gil Hanse that's primed for marquee PGA tournaments. The West Course, designed by Beau Welling, is destined for smaller tournaments, PGA of America members, and everyday public duffers.

  • Joining Elysian Park Ventures—the private investment arm of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ ownership group—PGA of America has formed EP Golf Ventures, LLC. Its first two investments include mobile golf simulator Dryvebox and 3D motion-capture coaching app startup Sportsbox AI. “Through EP Golf Ventures, we'll be able to identify and invest in the most promising businesses within the golf industry to support both innovation and the growth of the game,” says PGA CEO Seth Waugh.

  • Dallas-based Invited is the #1 owner and operator of private golf and country clubs in the U.S. CEO David Pillsbury tells Dallas Innovates the trend toward tech and golf entertainment is attracting millennials, "democratizing" the sport, and growing his business. Now an $80M arrangement with VICI Properties is fueling a "steep" growth curve for Invited's BigShots venues.

  • Plus, Fort Worth's Harvest Returns raises new fund; new Ryan acquisition makes 2022 its most active M&A year; OpTic Gaming acquires Dallas chatbot startup; Dallas legal education firm boosts digital content library; and Fort Worth's Novaria Group acquires firm with giant aerospace clients.