Houston Golf Association focused on big picture
By Melanie Hauser, PGATOUR.COM Corrrespondent
HUMBLE, Tex. -- There wasn't a top-10 player in sight Saturday afternoon, but Redstone was seriously buzzing.
And not about John Daly's leisurely practice round.
As the crews were finishing roping and staking the fairways and the final touches were being put on construction around the course for this week's Shell Houston Open, about 700 people descended on the Dick Harmon Learning Center for the Champions Challenge.
Imagine, if you will, fourth graders competing on teams named after players in the Shell Houston Open field, each one accompanied by parents. Many parents, we might add, who have never seen a golf course. All of whom left with the feel of being part of a PGA TOUR event. And filled up with Blue Bell ice cream -- a staple at the tournament, too.
They saw the skyboxes and watched a few courtesy cars pull into the parking lot with players checking in early for the $5.6 million lead-in to the first major of the year. They hit their shots with a big-time backdrop. They celebrated like someone will Sunday night.
Steve Timms couldn't help but smile. The president and CEO of the Houston Golf Association and Shell Houston Open tournament director was being pulled every which way that afternoon -- radio shows, last-minute tournament decisions, visiting with players -- but for a few hours, this First Tee National School Program was at the top of his list.
Unlike many other tournament groups around the country, the HGA is first and foremost an organization dedicated to golf. And competition.
As soon as the tournament is over, Timms will watch his core of 150 HGA members rev up for the junior golf season. Then, the City Men's and Senior Men's amateurs. And the AJGA events. All the while with an eye on the 2009 Shell Houston Open.
'We do have a core operating group that's very experienced in running tournaments.,'' Timms said. "It takes all of them to do this time after time.
'We couldn't do it without them.''
Two years ago, the HGA jumped in and ran the Nationwide Tour Championship. They've also run five TOUR Championships at Champions Golf Club, dating back to 1990, as well as the 1967 Ryder Cup and 1993 U.S. Amateur. The organization also helped with the 1969 U.S. Open.
It all started back in 1946 when the group came together to host the first Houston Open -- back then it was called the Tournament of Champions -- at River Oaks Country Club. Byron Nelson won, Ben Hogan finished second and Sam Snead was third. It was the only time in history the three World Golf Hall of Famers finished in that order.
Over the years, the HGA has been resilient, determined, innovative, a leader and, most of all, successful.
As with most events, there have been times the HGA has struggled to find sponsors. In 1985, the Houston Open was held without a sponsor and the HGA borrowed money to give to charity. During the 1970s and '80s, the Independent Insurance Agents, Coca-Cola and Michelob came on board as sponsors. During that time, the HGA was the first to use its TV spots to focus on charity, then, in 1994, it rolled out the Charity Partners Program, which has raised more than $19.8 million for charity alone. It's also been copied by tournaments around the country.
And, in 1991 when the tournament was washed out, the HGA threw a party for the sponsors, then held the Mulligan Houston Open that fall. The following year, the HGA partnered with Shell Oil Company and that partnership has generated almost $43 million for local charities.
Timms has been involved with the organization since 1991. He started as a volunteer and moved to his present role in 2001. He was instrumental in a reorganization that allows the three core groups of the HGA to function autonomously year-round.
Its School Program will reach about 50,000 elementary school children in three area school districts -- Humble, Galena Park and Aldine -- while the HGA Junior Program has 1,300 involved. And the Shell Houston Open? The Partners program guarantees more than $1 million in donations before the event kicks off.
HGA members come from all walks of life and make sure the players competing in the tournament leave with a taste of Texas. They serve barbeque -- brisket and sausage -- on the driving range early in the week, followed by fajitas then fried catfish and spicy hush puppies on the weekend. The press room is stocked with Blue Bell -- courtesy of an HGA Board of Governors member.
Last year, the Shell Houston Open moved to the week prior to the Masters -- a date which automatically means no Tiger Woods or any player who takes the week off before a major. Timms and his crew saw it as a opportunity, though, not a problem.
"Every tournament looks for a unique identity,'' Timms said.
They decided to set the course up to reflect some of the conditions players would see at Augusta National -- the length of rough, the runoffs on the greens and the way the fairways are mowed clean like the ones at Augusta National. It drew a good field last year and this year, the Shell Houston Open has five of the top 10 players in the world, including Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker and defending champion Adam Scott.
The HGA also persuaded Continental Airlines to set up a non-stop flight to Augusta Sunday night for players heading to the Masters.
But while the Shell Houston Open is the HGA's signature event, Timms is equally proud of all the programs.
Last year's Champions Challenge winner -- the Angel Cabrera team -- had the chance to visit with the Argentine who won the U.S. Open during a practice round in 2007. This year's winning team won't be as lucky. The Ernie Els team won, but he was forced to withdraw Sunday with a virus.
"Still, this is the best field we've had,'' Timms said. "Unfortunately we had Ernie pull out, but people are still talking about how great the field is.''
Timms smiled. With the HGA it's not about the star factor, it's simply about the golf.
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