JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2026
Official publication of the Virginia State Golf Association as a service to its more than 80,000 members.
THE CENTURY SO FAR: THESE 25 THINGS DEFINED GOLF IN VIRGINIA IN THE 21ST CENTURY
PICKING UP THE PADDLE: HOW WINTER PICKLEBALL CAN
SHARPEN YOUR SWING FOR SPRING
WARM UP YOUR GAME: TRADE SNOW FOR SUNSHINE
ON FLORIDA’ S FAIRWAYS
Contents
JAN / FEB 2026
FEATURES
18
The Season Ahead
A look at 2026 schedules for the VSGA and USGA, along with major professional tours.
26
Golf in the 21st Century
What’ s defined golf in Virginia so far this century?
30
Warm Up Your Game
Trade the cold for winter golf on Florida’ s sunny coasts.
AROUND THE COMMONWEALTH
NEWS AND NOTES
5 Vetted Volunteers
Meet the four service award winners being honored by the VSGA.
COLLEGE PREVIEW
8 The Time is Now
For UVA’ s men’ s golf team, one lofty goal remains— a national championship.
TURF TALK
10 Sustainable Sprayers
How Virginia Tech’ s GPS-guided sprayers protect turf and the environment.
DEPARTMENTS
THE RULES
11 Bad Habits to Avoid How to prevent common mistakes in tournament play.
GREAT HOLES
12 No. 18 at Bull Run The closing hole at this popular public course features a variety of challenging obstacles.
INSTRUCTION
34 The Second Arrow Free your mind and free your game.
FIT FOR PLAY
36 Picking Up the Paddle Maintain your golf swing through winter with pickleball.
EQUIPMENT
38 New Year, New Gear Start 2026 off with tech and clubs worth swinging.
Virginia Golfer inside
MY TURN
40 Pro Golf in the Commonwealth Exploring the historic revolving door of professional golf in Virginia.
THE NEW AGE OF
GOLF
Virginia-based CapTech is powering TGL through data and technology
ON THE COVER: The TGL’ s second season began in late December and continues through the winter
( Associated Press)
ASSOCIATED PRESS
2 V IRGINIA G OLFER | J ANUARY / F EBRUARY 2026 vsga. org