A new beginning for junior golf that is founded on mentorship, family, and fun
FRISCO, Texas – The Northern Texas PGA Foundation, in partnership with Scottie and Meredith Scheffler, is proud to announce the creation of the Randy Smith Tour, a new, no-cost level of the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour established for children ages 6-12 to learn tournament golf.
The tour honors Randy Smith, PGA. Smith is a legendary PGA of America Golf Professional, mentor, and coach whose impact has shaped generations of players, including Scheffler, through his lifelong commitment to developing both great golfers and great people.
A Tour Built on Values
The Randy Smith Tour is not about competition at this entry level of our Junior Tour; it is about fun, family, and mentorship. Modeled after the values that defined the Scheffler family’s own journey in junior golf, the mission of this tour is to offer a joyful step into the game, where every child feels welcomed, supported, and celebrated. The Randy Smith Tour aims to deliver mentorship and shared experiences.
“This tour is about giving kids the same gift Randy gave me,” said Scottie Scheffler, three-time Ryder Cup team member, four-time major championship winner and former Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour member. “He taught me that golf is about more than just scores. It’s about character, respect, and the people who help you along the way. That’s the legacy that Meredith and I are excited to pass on. We are proud to help start the Randy Smith Tour.”
Tour Highlights
- No charge to play
- Ages 6-12, divided into age groups (6-9 and 10-12 for boys and girls)
- Par-3 courses utilizing 6 or 9-hole formats
- 4-player teams (play your own ball)
- Trained high school golfers to guide each group teaching etiquette, safety, introductory rules and sportsmanship
- Events emphasize fun, learning, and the basics of tournament golf
- Parents are invited and encouraged to spectate, but they are not permitted to caddie
- Non-competitive “stamp scoring” system celebrating effort and teamwork
- End-of-round ice cream celebrations for every participant and their family
Starting in the late spring of 2026, the Randy Smith Tour will initially conduct 10-12 events across East Texas, North Texas, and West Texas, growing to 20-25 events annually starting in 2027. This will add to the nearly 500 Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour events the Foundation already runs each year for kids ages 6-19.
Through the generosity of the Scheffler family and others who believe in the tour’s mission, the Randy Smith Tour will remove financial barriers that at times prevent families from getting involved in the game. Events on the Randy Smith Tour will be free of charge to ensure that every child, regardless of background, can experience the joy of golf in a positive and welcoming environment.
“This is about where it all began,” said Randy Smith, PGA Head Professional Emeritus at Royal Oaks Country Club. “Scottie and his family are proof that when kids are surrounded by support, great things can happen. I’m humbled and grateful that they want to pay that forward, and I am beyond excited about the countless kids that will be introduced to the game through this new addition to the Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour.”
“Randy’s fingerprints are all over our Foundation and have been for more than four decades. He’s been the connective tissue behind so many relationships and milestones that help define who we are today,” said Mark Harrison, CEO of the Northern Texas PGA. “In 1983, he started a yearly fundraiser that has raised more than $2.3M for our growth of the game initiatives. Randy then introduced us to Justin Leonard, our first Junior Tour spokesperson nearly 30 years ago, and to Fin Ewing III, whose partnership through Ewing Automotive has powered both the Ewing Charity Classic and our Junior Tour for 20 years.
“About a decade ago, Randy also connected us with Dr. Bill Blair, whose impact on our Foundation has been extraordinary. The Growth of the Game Pavilion on our campus is the Randy Smith & Dr. Bill Blair Who’s Next Pavilion. Along with Scottie and Meredith, Dr. Blair was instrumental in helping us endow this new level of our Junior Tour. When I think of Randy, I think of junior golf. It is only fitting that our new tour bears his name.”
About the Northern Texas PGA Foundation
The Northern Texas PGA Foundation’s mission is to positively impact lives and communities through golf. From junior golf and scholarships to internships, inclusion, and military programs, the Foundation serves more than 10,000 kids and veterans each year through its broad-based community outreach.
The Randy Smith Tour will be added to the Foundation’s Ewing Automotive NTPGA Junior Tour player pathway that includes:
- The Prep Tour (9-hole individual events)
- The Medalist Tour (18-hole individual events)
- The All American Tour (36-hole individual events)
A Legacy That Lasts
The creation of the Randy Smith Tour establishes a lasting endowment that will ensure future generations of young players begin their golf journey with joy, mentorship, and purpose. It’s a tribute to Smith’s great legacy, and a reminder that golf’s greatest impact comes not from trophies, but from the lives it touches.
For more information, please contact Mark Harrison at 214-420-7421 or mharrison@ntpga.com.