You’ve probably heard stories about the youngest version of Scottie Scheffler, who wore pants during junior golf events — even in 100-degree heat — because he wanted to look more like a pro. Maybe you’ve seen the images of Scheffler sitting and watching, silently, as Colt Knost or Justin Leonard hit shot after shot from the sand.
The youngest version of Scheffler was a regular at Royal Oaks, avid as can be about golf, and studying under the tutelage of the coach he still employs today: Randy Smith. Smith tutored a long list of pros in the Dallas area, but none of them quite like Scheffler, the undisputed best golfer in the world, who has decided to give back in a big way.
Last week the North Texas PGA announced the creation of the Randy Smith Tour for junior golfers in the Dallas area. It will serve as a new entry level of junior golf in the area for children aged 6-12 and it will be free to enter as a result of the NTPGA’s partnership with Scottie and Meredith Scheffler.
“This tour is about giving kids the same gift Randy gave me,” Scheffler said in a press release. “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.”
Scheffler teased one of the intriguing elements of this tour in that quote. The tour is not about competition nor keeping score, but rather teamwork, learning rules and basics of tournament golf. It is “modeled after the values that defined the Scheffler family’s own journey in junior golf,” and “the mission of this tour is to offer a joyful step into the game, where every child feels welcomed, supported, and celebrated.”
The first season of play will include 10 to 12 tournaments where participants will be grouped in four-player teams, with high school golfers presiding over play. By 2027, the hope is that the tour will grow to 20 events or more.
“This is about where it all began,” Smith said. “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.”
The Tour’s brilliant logo (below) is a cartoon image of Smith and Scheffler from decades ago when they began working together. Perhaps the best part: every event finishes with an ice cream celebration for participants and their families.
