The PGA of America is planning to relocate its national headquarters from West Palm Beach, Fla., to Frisco, Texas, according to a Golf.com report.
The move, reportedly five years in the making, could potentially pave the way for Texas to host a major championship for the first time since Julius Boros won the 1968 PGA Championship at Pecan Valley Golf Club in San Antonio.
According to the report, the PGA of America will leave its current setup – where its roots extend back to 1965 – for a new development called Panther Creek in Frisco, a northern suburb of Dallas. The site is expected to become the home of two “semi-public” courses, one designed by Gil Hanse and the other by Beau Welling.
“Last year we issued a request for proposal to a number of markets that are potentially well suited and interested in developing a new headquarters campus for us. The due diligence phase is ongoing and no decisions have been made,” the PGA of America said in a statement to Golf Channel.
The prospects of Texas hosting a PGA Championship were likely bolstered by the organization’s decision last year to shift its marquee event from August to May, a change that will go into effect in 2019 and should open up the possibility of taking the tournament to new parts of the country. Future host sites for the tournament are currently booked through 2024, with 2027 and 2028 also spoken for.
According to the report, Hanse is expected to design the “championship course” which plans to open by 2020 and could potentially host a PGA or a Ryder Cup, the latter of which is booked for U.S. dates until 2028. The deal is reportedly not yet official but expected to be announced “within weeks.”
