Scholarships

The Southwest PGA Foundation will be accepting applications for our scholarship grants for the 2025/2026 academic year. Scholarships are available to the children, grandchildren, spouses, nieces, nephews, and employees of Southwest PGA Member Professionals in good standing or JGAA, SAJGA, or PGAJL qualified. This year’s application process will flow through the Southwest PGA Foundation directly. There will be no need to create an account. Further details will be included in the initial Scholarship Application notification.

IMPORTANT DATES
May 15th, 2026 – Application Live
July 20th, 2026 – Application Deadline
July 31st, 2026 – Notification of Selection Results
August 2026 – Funds Distributed

The Southwest PGA Foundation scholarship program provides financial assistance for the families of Southwest Section member professionals. The Southwest PGA Foundation is a publicly supported 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Over the past three years, the foundation has granted $228,000 in scholarship assistance.

For questions on the Southwest PGA Foundation Scholarship program, please get in touch with Foundation CEO/Executive Director Michael Haywood, PGA, mhaywood@pgahq.com.

Southwest Section Foundation Scholarship Criteria & Outline:

Applicant must be a child, grandchild, spouse, niece, nephew, employee (full or part-time), of a Southwest Section PGA member in good standing or JGAA, SAJGA, or PGAJL qualified. Applicants must have completed (or plan to complete) high school by September 1st of the current year and enroll as a full-time student at an accredited college or university.

JGAA – SAJGA – PGAJL Qualification

1. Meeting the entire Southwest PGA Foundation Scholarship criteria is mandatory.
2. In addition, for JGAA – SAJGA – PGAJL applicants, a letter of recommendation is required.
3. The letter of recommendation must be provided by either:
   • Scott McNevin from the JGAA
   • Judy McDermott from the SAJGA
   • The lead golf professional who conducted and coached your PGAJL team.
4. The letter of recommendation should:
   •   Include the date of issue.
   •   Confirm your participation in good standing with the program.
   •   Provide insight into your junior golf journey.

Southwest PGA Foundation Scholarship Criteria:

A full-time student is defined as one who is taking twelve (12) or more hours in a course of study leading to a traditional Associate (2-year) or Baccalaureate (4-year) degree at an accredited college or university located in the United States. The Southwest PGA Foundation Scholarship Selection Committee will review class ranking, grade point average, either ACT or SAT test scores, and extracurricular activities in determining scholarship recipients. Extracurricular activities will assist the Committee in further evaluating the candidate’s interests and abilities. Contributions to the community may be demonstrated by involvement in local clubs, organizations, or associations. These activities should be documented, and attested, by type and year involved. Any distinguished honors or awards should be noted on the application.

Scholarship recipients will be determined by July 31st and will be notified by the Southwest PGA Foundation. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified and if eligible, will be encouraged to apply the following year.

All Scholarship recipient names and photos may be placed on the Southwest Section Foundation PGA website (www.swspgafoundation.org), social media pages, and included in an official press release following formal notification. All scholarship awards will be issued directly to the college/university of the recipient’s choice.

IMPORTANT DATES

December 9, 2025 – Application Live
April 9, 2026 – Application Deadline
June 2026 – Notification of Selection Results
July 2026 – Funds Disbursed

The PGA Financial Assistance Fund Scholarship application for the 2026-2027 school year will be available Thursday, December 9, 2025. You can access the application by clicking this link.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must be children or grandchildren of a PGA member who is in good standing with the association (the PGA member may be living or deceased). Children or grandchildren of Class “F” PGA members are not eligible. The applicant is eligible to apply for one scholarship per school year. The number of scholarships a student can earn per school year is not based on the number of PGA members they are related to, nor is it based on the involvement and achievement of the PGA member. It’s one application, one student and one award.

MAXIMUM TWO SCHOLARSHIPS

The PGA Financial Assistance Fund Scholarship is for the first four years only. A student can receive one scholarship per school year; not to exceed the limit of two scholarships for the first four college years. A student who has received two scholarships becomes ineligible to apply. Two is the maximum number of scholarships a student can receive.

About the PGA Financial Assistance Fund

The PGA Financial Assistance Fund was established in 1986 and provides college scholarships to the children and grandchildren of PGA of America Members based on evidence of academic achievement during high school or college. All funding for the scholarships comes from contributions made by the PGA Members. Since its inception, the PGA of America has awarded a little over 4,500 scholarships totaling $9,997,500.00. For the 2024-26 school year, 185 students were awarded academic scholarships totaling $400,005.