Iowa is launching a state junior team that will expand the pipeline for elite local golfers as part of the U.S. National Development Program (USNDP), an initiative launched in 2023 by the United States Golf Association (USGA) to create critical development, competitive, and talent identification opportunities for golfers ages 13-18. 

Iowa is one of 20 states to join the USNDP’s state junior team program in 2027. The initiative launched in January 2024 with seven pilot states and continues to grow steadily with nine states in 2025 and 14 in 2026. With the 20 states joining in 2027, the USGA has officially reached their goal to establish a team in every state working in close partnership with allied golf associations, the PGA of America and its sections, and local junior golf programs. 

“The growth of the state team program in year three is an important step in building the national player pathway,” said Heather Daly-Donofrio, USGA managing director, U.S. National Development Program. “This program is about more than competition. It gives young players the opportunity to develop together, build relationships with teammates and proudly represent their home states, all while gaining greater access to resources that can support their growth. These experiences will strengthen junior golf locally and deepen the overall pool of talent nationwide.” 

The Team Iowa committee has been created to oversee team selection criteria, and the operation of Team Iowa based on the guidelines provided by the USNDP. The committee is composed of representatives from the IGA, Iowa PGA Section, and other individuals knowledgeable about junior golf in Iowa. There are eleven committee members from across the state of Iowa. The committee is currently working on finalizing a points list for select events and additional selection criteria for the team. The final details will be released by December 1, 2026. 

While Team Iowa is being announced today, there will not be athletes on the team until 2028. In 2027, athletes will have the opportunity to play their way onto the team by earning points in select events. In November of 2027, eight boys and eight girls will be named to Team Iowa by a combination of automatic selections from the Team Iowa points list and committee selections. Team Iowa athletes will begin programming in 2028. 

To be eligible to compete on Team Iowa, a player must be a U.S. Citizen and resident of Iowa. Each eligible player must be 13 years old by Nov. 15, 2027, have not reached their 19th birthday by July 15, 2028, and must not be enrolled in college for the 2027-2028 school year. A Handicap Index® is also required. 

Additional information on Team Iowa can be found here: https://iowagolf.org/teamiowa/ 

Announced in February of 2023, the USNDP is designed to ensure that American golf is the global leader in the game by focusing on six key pillars: talent identification, access to competition, national teams, athlete resources, player development and relations and athlete financial support. The Team Iowa program will focus on creating a developmentally appropriate, aspirational pathway for athletes within Iowa to compete at higher levels of the game. Members of Team Iowa will have access to elite developmental resources within our state through team camps and meetings as well as team apparel. 

More information about Team Iowa will be released in the coming months. Please email IGA Director of Development, Paige Hoffman, with any questions at [email protected].

The app evolves into a playing companion that golfers use before, during and after every round

The United States Golf Association (USGA) today unveiled the next iteration of the GHIN® mobile app presented by Sentry, featuring a comprehensive refresh of the design and innovative new features. The updated user experience focuses on a more streamlined, easier to use navigation flow, while keeping the familiarity and main purpose of the app – score posting – front and center.

Upon updating the GHIN app, users will immediately see a cleaner, more intuitive and consistent design. The user’s Handicap Index® takes center stage, with both starting a round and posting a score prominently featured as well. Using the GHIN app as a playing companion includes a dramatically simpler setup, faster scoring and stat tracking and enriched course graphics.

“Organizationally, we’re committed to evolving GHIN, with a goal of becoming the best overall golf app on the market,” said Tom Padula, managing director, GHIN. “Leveraging both modern design principles and direct golfer feedback, this redesign marks a foundational step that paves the way for an exciting future. We can’t wait for GHIN users to update their app and be delighted with the new visual experience and expanded feature set.”

The new Stats section, a key development in the GHIN app, shows players how different aspects of their game and performance are trending over time. Born out of the popular GHIN Rewind, which annually shows users how they fared during a calendar year, Stats is designed to help golfers engage more deeply with their scores and stats through better data visualization, meaningful metrics and an improved layout on a year-round basis.

Key Stats features include:
– New Stats Tab Navigation: Streamlined interface with dedicated subtabs to simplify discovery and highlight different aspects of your game.
– Overview: View key activity trends at a glance – rounds played, frequency and recent score patterns, while also adding relevant stats like birdies and three-putts per round.
– Scores: Modernized score history with cleaner visuals and sortable, interactive rounds.
– Handicap Index: A focused view on H.I. progress, including Differentials and milestones.
– Hole-by-Hole: Reimagined visualization of hole performance to spot patterns and opportunities.
– Advanced: New charts to track dispersion, putting performance and round trends.
– Courses: Course-specific insights including rounds played and average score per hole.

GHIN users in seasonal score-posting areas can now look forward to offseason play this year, with a forthcoming update that will allow players to save scores in the GHIN app for personal tracking, even if the area of the country they’re playing is not in an active score-posting window.

The Apple Watch experience has also been fully redesigned to mirror the updated look of the new mobile app and is now available for all users. General users can view yardage to the middle of greens, whereas Enhanced GPS users get distances to the front, middle and back of greens, as well as key yardages to hazards and layups. Players can now leave their phone in their pocket or bag and rely on the Apple Watch alone, with a cleaner interface built specifically for the smaller screen.

For public players, GHIN Challenges offers Allied Golf Associations the ability to create interactive leaderboards at golf courses within their communities. Designed to connect more golfers with a Handicap Index, GHIN Challenges offer a fun way to encourage friendly competition and show players of differing abilities how they stack up against each other.

AGAs can set up a GHIN Challenge at any course within their jurisdiction, as long as it has a Course Rating and Slope Rating. This feature was designed with public golfers in mind, allowing those playing at daily-fee or municipal courses to use their Handicap Index to compete fairly on virtual leaderboards using their net scores.

GHIN Challenges are now active and available to all AGAs, which can begin to set up leaderboards at golf facilities in their respective regions. Thirty-six AGAs are already participating, with over 750 Challenges created and more than 30,000 golfers involved.

Presented by Sentry, the GHIN mobile app is fully integrated with the World Handicap System and the Rules of Golf, which the USGA oversees in its governance function, to ensure fair and equitable play for all golfers. Those interested in a Handicap Index can download the GHIN app and sign up.

The GHIN app also offers a 30-day free trial for golfers who want to track progress but don’t yet have a Handicap Index; however, those wanting to participate in Challenges need to have an official GHIN number. More than 3.6 million golfers in the U.S. alone maintain a Handicap Index, representing a wide range of playing abilities.

The app redesign is being rolled out gradually to users over the next few weeks. GHIN.com is also scheduled to undergo a redesign in the coming months.

Download the GHIN app now on iOS or Android, and for more information about the app and its features, please visit www.GHIN.com.

The Class of 2026 Iowa Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place at Echo Valley CC on Thursday, October 15th
Special Golf Event at Wakonda earlier in the day to benefit the Hall of Fame and Museum efforts.

The Iowa Golf Hall of Fame will add three members in 2026, bringing the total number in the Hall of Fame to 108.  Join us in honoring all of Iowa’s golf legends during a special day of celebration, connection, and recognition on Thursday, October 15th. Hosted by the Iowa Golf Association Foundation, this is a tribute to those who’ve made a lasting impact on the game in our state. The Class of 2026, which will be inducted that evening, includes Ross deBuhr, Jason Knutzon and Denmar Miller.  Click here to read more about Ross, Jason, Denmar and their accomplishments

Thursday, October 15th will feature a full day of Hall of Fame festivities. New this year will be the opportunity to play in a Benefit Tournament at Wakonda Club during the day with the induction ceremony in the evening held at Echo Valley CC and Golf House Iowa. Also new will be a breakfast at Wakonda open only to members of the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame. Funding from the golf event will go to support the ongoing expense of operating the Hall of Fame and Museum at Golf House Iowa.

Here is the complete schedule:

📍 Location:

• Benefit Golf Outing: Wakonda Club

• Ceremony: Echo Valley Country Club (deadline to register – October 7th at 5 p.m.)

• Reception & Tours: Golf House Iowa
  (3150 Echo Valley Dr., Norwalk, IA 50211)

🕔 Schedule (Thursday, October 15):

• 9:30 a.m. – Hall of Fame breakfast (HOF Members only)
• 11:00 a.m. – Benefit Golf Outing at Wakonda Club (Lunch included)
• 5:30 pm – Reception at Golf House Iowa & EVCC begins
• 6:30 p.m. – Dinner buffet line opens at EVCC Clubhouse
• 7:30 p.m. (approx) – Induction ceremony at EVCC Clubhouse begins
• 9:00 PM – Wrap-up & photos

The cost for a ticket to the evening ceremony is be $75/person and can be purchased online here to sign up to attend.  The cost to play in the Golf Benefit Outing at Wakonda Club is $300 per person and you can use this link to sign up to play. Additionally, if you have any troubles you can call the Iowa Golf Association office at 515-207-1062.

Congratulations to each inductee and welcome to the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame! We look forward to seeing you there!

SIGN UP TO ATTEND THE CEREMONY ($75 per person)

SIGN UP TO PLAY IN THE BENEFIT OUTING AT WAKONDA CLUB ($300 per person)

There is a high likelihood you have noticed golf courses have been under more stress than normal this year. We are lucky to have Dr. Adam Thoms, Associate Professor – Turfgrass Management and Sports Turf from Iowa State University help shed some light on what our golf course superintendents have been dealing with.

SPECIAL REPORT FROM DR. ADAM THOMS, Associate Professor – Turfgrass Management and Sports Turf from Iowa State University

This past year has been full of challenges for golf course superintendents. As I have traveled and visited with superintendents, I have seen many of the problems they are fighting. Depending on where you live in the state, you might feel that course conditions are a little less aesthetically pleasing this year compared with other years. Weather has thrown many curveballs at golf course superintendents, making it hard to manage turfgrass here in Iowa.

We have seen extreme conditions from January to the present day across the state. This winter, we had record-low temperatures without snow cover, which caused some golf courses to experience winterkill of turfgrass. Normally, snow acts as an insulation layer to prevent low temperatures from freezing the growing point of the plant. Turfgrass species such as perennial ryegrass, Poa annua, and tall fescue are not as cold-tolerant as creeping bentgrass or Kentucky bluegrass. Direct exposure to cold temperatures caused many plants to freeze and die.

Moving into the spring, drought conditions developed across large parts of Iowa. Whenever a plant is breaking dormancy and starting to grow, it needs water. We also rely on water to incorporate preemergence herbicides to prevent weeds, such as crabgrass. Without adequate water, these herbicides are much less effective. The lack of water during this critical time also limits root growth, which is necessary for summer survival.

Summer has provided little relief from the early-season challenges across large areas of Iowa, especially in western and central Iowa. Many parts of the state have received a month’s worth of rain in a matter of hours. Flooding, coupled with high temperatures and humidity, has caused additional stress on turfgrass plants.

When humidity is elevated, creeping bentgrass often experiences an increase in thatch. This increase in thatch can cause scalping from mowers, and superintendents may need to topdress more frequently with sand or vertically mow more often to combat the problem. These practices can disrupt the putting surface, but they are necessary to prevent scalping and the potential loss of creeping bentgrass.

Additionally, elevated humidity and temperatures have increased disease pressure across large portions of the state. Fungicide applications that normally last 14 days may only last 7–10 days before disease breaks through due to the high disease pressure. This can strain the superintendent’s budget because of the need to reapply fungicides so quickly.

Finally, all the rain this summer has also shortened the efficacy of preemergence herbicides, and we are starting to see crabgrass and other annual weeds in areas where they are normally prevented from growing. The rain speeds up the breakdown of herbicides in the soil, allowing weeds to move in. With limited budgets, these weeds are often not treated this late in the season, as that money is instead spent on fungicide applications to limit disease damage.

Please give your golf course superintendent some grace this season as they continue to battle the weather and challenging conditions while trying to provide you with the best playing surface they can. Also, know that no two courses will respond exactly the same during a growing season because of differences in soil and microclimates on each course.

This fall, some golf courses will be reseeding areas, while others will be aerating and topdressing putting greens in an effort to recover from this summer’s stress. Allow superintendents time to address these issues so they can provide you with the best course possible next year.

Continue to support your golf course superintendent, and know that they see the problems and are often more frustrated by them than you are.

From left – Rob Christensen, Grant Smith and Mike McCoy.

Grant Smith turned in a dominant performance to win The Classic at Elmwood Country Club in Marshalltown, capturing the open division with 90 points in the two-day, 36-hole event.

Played using Modified Stableford scoring, The Classic rewarded aggressive play, and Smith took full advantage. He recorded nine birdies and an eagle over the two rounds to finish eight points clear of the field.

Case Ruckman finished runner-up in the open division with 82 points after making seven birdies and an eagle during the championship. Connor Peck finished third with 81 points, followed by Nate McCoy with 80 and Drew Munson with 79 to round out the top five.

Mike McCoy claimed the Senior Division title with 88 points, putting together an impressive two-day performance that included 13 birdies.

First-round leader Jeff Panek finished second with 79 points, while Troy Underhill placed third with 75 points.

Rob Christensen came out on top in the Super Senior Division, finishing with 70 points. Ron Peterson was the runner-up with 68 points, and Tim Peters took third with 67 points.

The Classic featured 36 holes of Modified Stableford competition at Elmwood Country Club, with players in each division battling throughout two rounds for the championship.

Complete Results

The Iowa Golf Association (IGA) is proud to announce that Charlie Taylor (right) has been named the Honorary Captain of the Iowa Team for the 2026 Iowa Cup, to be contested at Des Moines Golf & Country Club, Sept. 29-30.

Taylor’s lifelong passion for golf and unwavering commitment to growing the sport in Iowa make him a fitting choice to represent the IGA Team during one of the state’s premier competitions.

Introduced to golf by his late father, Heinrich, in the mid-1960s, Taylor developed a love for the game that has only grown stronger over the past six decades. A fine player in his own right, Taylor has long been respected not only for his competitive ability but also for the way he carries himself on and off the golf course. A true gentleman of the game, he genuinely enjoys every opportunity to play, is always willing to encourage and support others, and consistently puts the best interests of Iowa golf ahead of his own. Fellow competitors and friends alike speak highly of his sportsmanship, integrity, and character, making him one of the most admired ambassadors for the game in the state.

In recognition of those contributions, Taylor was honored with the Iowa Golf Association’s George Turner Distinguished Service Award in 2023. Named after legendary Iowa golf ambassador George Turner, the award recognizes individuals whose exceptional service has made a lasting impact on the game in Iowa. Since its inception in 1985 and its renaming in 2003, it has become one of the Association’s highest honors.

Taylor has served the Iowa Golf Association Foundation for more than a decade and has played a key leadership role in advancing the vision of Golf House Iowa, helping turn the long-held dream of a dedicated home for Iowa golf into a reality.

The Iowa Golf Association is honored to recognize Charlie Taylor’s remarkable service, leadership, and love for the game by naming him the 2026 Iowa Cup Honorary Captain. His dedication to golf, commitment to serving others, and lasting impact on the Iowa golf community embody the values of the Iowa Cup, and the Association looks forward to celebrating his contributions during this year’s competition at Des Moines Golf & Country Club.

By RICK BROWN
Special to the Iowa Golf Association 

Zach Johnson’s climb up golf’s ladder has reached the final step. He knows it. He even thinks about that on occasion. 

“There are thoughts of, “Hey, what would I do if I didn’t play?,’ ” the two-time major champion and Iowa Golf Hall of Famer (Class of 2016) said. “I don’t know. I’d have to be busy. I don’t know what it would be.” 

But that’s not a thought that Johnson wrestles with on a daily basis. 

“The thought is brief,” he said. “It enters and leaves pretty quickly, because I’m still a competitor and I have an amazing opportunity to compete. I’m operating where my feet are. I’m able to go out and compete at 50 years old on an amazing tour with a bunch of golf dorks like myself.” 

The last step on golf’s most elite ladder is the PGA Tour Champions, which Johnson became eligible for when he turned 50 years old on Feb. 24. He’s made the most of his new home. 

Johnson returned to Iowa last weekend and won the Principal Charity Classic at the Wakonda Club in Des Moines. He also won the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational in his first start, and has finished eighth or better in each of his eight tournaments so far. 

Wakonda was a comfort zone of sorts for him. Zach played there as a member of the Drake golf team as a collegian. The course has undergone a major renovation since he last played it, but it still felt like home. And the feeling was mutual. 

The Wakonda Club became even more of a home-court advantage because of the overwhelming fan support Johnson received on every shot. And the old adage that membership has its advantages? 

On the eve of the tournament, the Wakonda Club presented Johnson with an Honorary Lifetime Membership. The following words will be put on a sign and displayed in the Wakonda Clubhouse: 

“The Board of Directors of the club hereby recognizes and honors Zach Johnson for his extraordinary achievements in the game of golf, his leadership and sportsmanship, and his lasting contributions to the traditions and values of the game. In recognition of these accomplishments and with deep appreciation to the example he has set both on and off the course, Wakonda Club proudly awards Zach Johnson this Honorary Lifetime Membership. Presented this 10th day of June 2026.”

Johnson was clearly touched by the support. He tipped his cap and patted his heart as he walked off the 18th green after a final-round 67 and 54-hole score of 17-under-par 199 left him four shots clear of the field. 

“Given this week and all that it entails being back home, then literally in a place I used to live, I felt like I had won before I teed off,” Zach said. “That honestly just gave me a lot of freedom to just play.” 

Johnson’s victory at Wakonda adds to a remarkable and overachieving career. A multiple winner and player of the year on the Korn Ferry Tour. A 12-time winner of the PGA Tour, including the 2007 Masters and 2015 Open Championship. Five Ryder Cup appearances as a player, one as a captain. A four-time Presidents Cup selection. And now a multiple winner on the PGA Tour Champions. 

“All expected,” Johnson said with a wry smile. 

He put his finance degree on ice and turned pro out of college, and faced overwhelming odds. He beat them all on that climb up the ladder. He got a boost along the way, especially from a group of investors in his home town who gave him the financial assistance he needed to gain traction. 

Johnson and his wife, Kim, and their three children make their home in Savannah, Ga. But you’ll never take the Iowa out of him. 

“I’m never going to forget my first 22 years in Iowa,” Johnson said. “It’s impossible. I relish it. There’s a lot of times I feel like if I could push rewind and come back and do exactly the same thing over and over again, I’d take full advantage of it.” 

When he’s announced on the tee at each tournament, it’s still Zach Johnson from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

“I live in South Georgia, but that (Cedar Rapids) is where it started for me,” he said. “That’s where everything was fostered, where everything was cultivated, where all the people were that poured themselves into me were. I’m a proud Iowan.” 

Johnson’s initial Principal Charity Classic appearance got off to a rocky start when he bogeyed the first hole in Friday’s first round, then made double bogey on the second. 

His career has been defined by a bulldog mentality. Keep grinding, never give up. He used that formula to rally and shoot a 3-under 69 that first round, added a bogey-free 63 on Saturday and a 67 on Sunday. He played his final 52 holes in 20 under par to collect another trophy and delight his hometown crowd. A week of nostalgia and reminiscing ended up in the winner’s circle.

“I was fully welcomed,” Zach said. “I’m very blessed, because it doesn’t have to be like this. And I know that.I don’t take it for granted.” 

A life without golf is closer than ever for Johnson, but it doesn’t live next door. “If my body is willing, I’m still going to give it a crack,” he said.

Nate McCoy

Defending champion Nate McCoy of Ankeny successfully defended his title at the Carroll Amateur, hosted by Carroll National, firing rounds of 66-66-67 for a three-round total of 199 (-11). McCoy’s consistent play throughout the championship earned him a two-stroke victory over Samuel Storey of Sioux City, who finished runner-up at 9-under-par.

McCoy recorded 15 birdies over 54 holes en route to the victory, marking his second win of the season after claiming the Lake Creek Amateur title earlier in May.

The championship race remained competitive throughout the final round, with Brock Snyder of Ames claiming third place at 8-under-par. Owen Sawyer of Cedar Falls delivered the low round of the tournament on Sunday, carding a remarkable 62 to surge into fourth place with a 7-under-par total.

In the Senior Division, Tony Newkirk of Des Moines put together a commanding performance to capture the title by six strokes. Newkirk posted matching rounds of 66-66 for a 36-hole total of 132 (-8), finishing well ahead of Terry Cook of Norwalk and Jeff Panek of Johnston, who tied for second at 2-under-par.

Newkirk’s victory was fueled by outstanding consistency, as he recorded nine birdies and just one bogey over the two-round championship, showcasing one of the most impressive performances of the week.

The Super Senior Division also featured a tightly contested finish, with Tom Schill claiming the championship by two strokes. Schill posted rounds of 71 and 70 to finish at 1-under-par (141) and secure the title over Andy Burton of Polk City.

Mark Gambaiana of Des Moines and Steve Jordan of Johnston shared third place, each finishing at 144 (+2).

The Carroll Amateur once again attracted a strong field from across Iowa, producing exciting competition in the Championship, Senior, and Super Senior divisions at Carroll National. McCoy’s successful title defense highlighted another memorable week of golf and continued his strong start to the 2026 season.

Complete Results