The Texas High Tigers golf team won the district 15-5A championship on March 29 at the Tempest Golf Club in Gladewater. Team members are: Evan Sutton, Will Davis, John D. Patterson, Thomas Curry (holding trophy) Jackson Patterson, Jack Wilson, and Coach Ryan Huntze.

It all started with Texarkana Country Club.

What once was a 9 hole golf course with sand putting greens, the beloved Texarkana Country Club opened for business 108 years ago in 1914. Now with 18 holes –– and thankfully the removal of the sand greens –– an abundance of members continue to return to Texarkana’s oldest club, year after year.

Not too far behind TCC, in 1962, Northridge Country Club brought the love for tennis and golf to the Texarkana community. As you drive down “Bill Rogers Drive,” it doesn’t take long for the elegant clubhouse to come into view.

From Texarkana native Bill Rogers who won the 1981 Open Championship to Byron Nelson who now has PGA tournaments named after him in remembrance, the local country clubs have been the foundation of many pro golfers’ careers.

Pleasant Grove’s boys’ and girls’ golf teams both finished 5th at regionals with four teams going to state. Team members are: (front row) Kate Hindman, Haven Johnson Aly Bean, Morgan Formes, and Alia Seares; (back row) Coach Gina Clark, Junior Power, Parker Pruett, Saxton Lawrence, Kaiden Neeley, Corbyn Spry, Braden Asimos, and Coach Ryan Romero.

Even today, local districts such as Texas High School and Pleasant Grove High School continue to teach upcoming golf champions every season. Considering that his dad is the head golf professional at Texarkana Country Club, it didn’t take long for Pleasant Grove graduate Sean Romero to get into golf.

*Throughout his career, professional golfer Zack Fischer often reflects on advice that was given to him on Texarkana’s courses.*

After both a high school and college career fueled by the sport, Sean became a professional golfer in 2015 where he plays on the APT Tour. “If you want to go pro, you must work hard on your game and have total belief in yourself that you belong,” he says.

Just as Sean Romero was graduating from Pleasant Grove in 2011, Zack Fischer graduated from college and was eager to begin his professional golf career.

Graduating from Texas High in 2007, Zack continued to follow his passion for golf into college. Even throughout his professional career, he often finds himself reflecting on advice that was given to him on Texarkana’s courses. “My swing coach has always told me the same thing: everyday you go out to practice, whether it’s just playing nine holes with a friend, or you’re playing in the U.S. open,” he remarks. “Every day is just stacking one thing on top of another, so each day you go out to the golf course, you’re trying to make your wall a little bit stronger. Texarkana definitely prepared me and gave me a lot of bricks to put in the wall. If it wasn’t for Texarkana, I probably wouldn’t be where I am now.”

Today, there are many high school golfers who may soon follow in the footsteps of local professionals. In the past year at Texas High, the girl’s team has won two district championships, the boy’s team has won the district championship three years in a row –– finished runner-up in regionals twice –– while also making it to the state tournament two years in a row.

Thanks to his dad, Texas High School senior Thomas Curry has been exposed to golf throughout his childhood. However, Thomas said it wasn’t until he was 10 years old that he started enjoying the game himself. “Fortunately, I actually live off of Texarkana Country Club,” he admits. “I was a big tennis player growing up, and then one day my dad asked me to come golf with him and try it out. I was like, ‘Yeah, sure, why not?’ I went out that day, and then the next day and then the next, and the next. I just fell in love with it.”

Throughout high school, Thomas’ coaches have continued to help him improve his golf skills each day. Texas High’s head coach, Ryan Huntze, said he uses the school’s indoor golf facilities –– which is one of the best in the state –– and their own driving range to his team’s advantage. “Overall, I think our goal as a team is improvement,” he acknowledges. “We try not to focus on winning or losing, but just on becoming a better golfer. Each day, we try to find a way to get better than we were the day before. At the end of the year, we could look back and see how much everyone has improved.”

Recently, Pleasant Grove’s boys’ and girls’ golf teams both finished 5th at regionals with four teams going to state. PG head coach, Ryan Romero, said he has seen unbelievable growth in the team since the beginning of the year. “The main goal I want to get across to my players is to enjoy the game, and to enjoy the process of getting better,” he says. “Golf is about trying your best on every shot and accepting the outcome.”

As she watches their golfers grow with their patience and confidence, PG assistant golf coach Gina Clark said the team’s willingness to learn and be coachable has already helped improve their game. “As a coach, one of my main goals is to help young players grow out of their sport,” she explains. “We want them to be the best they can be on the course, in the classroom, and in everyday life.”

A CONVERSATION WITH PROFESSIONAL GOLFER SEAN ROMERO

Where did you go to high school/college?

I went to Pleasant Grove High School and graduated in 2011. For college, I went to the University of New Mexico, and then graduated in 2015.

When did you get your pro card?

I turned pro after I graduated college in 2015. While I don’t have a tour card, I just play on the APT tour –– which is a mini tour.

Who introduced you to golf and at what age?

I don’t remember the exact age I got into golf. My dad introduced me to the sport as soon as I was able to swing a club. He’s the head golf professional at Texarkana Country Club, so I was able to grow up out there.

What would you tell someone who aspires to go pro?

If you want to go pro, you must work hard on your game and have total belief in yourself that you belong.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Hopefully in 10 years, I’ll be on the PGA Tour.

What’s your favorite golfing story that involves you?

I don’t have one that’s recent. I haven’t played well.

A CONVERSATION WITH PROFESSIONAL GOLFER ZACK FISCHER

Where did you go to high school/college?

I went to Texas High School and graduated in 2007, and then went to The University of Texas at Arlington for college and graduated in 2011.

When did you get your pro card?

My career has kind of been interesting. I turned pro after the summer of 2011, and I got my card in 2014. I lost it in 2017, got it back in 2019, then I lost it again. Now, I have it back for this year.

Who introduced you to golf and at what age?

I was introduced to golf by my dad. He said when I was 2 years old, he would come back from the golf course, and I’d be there in my diaper, swinging a wooden spoon at a plastic golf ball. I didn’t play my first round of golf until I was 4.

What would you tell someone who aspires to go pro?

It’s a matter of putting in a lot of hard work. I know a lot of people who didn’t start golfing until they were teenagers, but they still made it to the professionals. It’s easier to start earlier, but you can do it at any age –– especially if you put your mind and soul into it. It seems like the hardest thing is having a social life. There will be days it’s rainy and 40 degrees outside, but you’re still practicing. You have to put the time and effort in –– you have to love it.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

The crazy thing is that I have a little girl, and she would be 11 years old. I would love to be on the PGA Tour, and maybe even have some wins. I want to spend time with my family and be able to pick what tournaments I’m playing, but it’d be a huge blessing if I made it to the PGA Tour.

What’s your favorite golfing story that involves you?

I was playing a few years ago, and I got a local caddy. He was a teenager who was very unaware of golf. He was carrying my golf bag, and he put it down on the green. I was trying to tell him he couldn’t do that. He caddied all day for the final round, and then throughout the tournament, he realized the tournament was a weekend event. He said, “I can’t do the weekend event; you’re going to have to find someone else.” So at that moment, I realized I was going to have to find a new caddy all while trying to make the cut in the tournament.

Feature Stories

Teeing Up In Texarkana