Inside the PGA of America’s state-of-the-art, $550million HQ

Back in January 2021, the PGA Tour moved into plush and expensive new digs in Ponte Vedra Beach.

Fast-forward 18 months and it was the turn of their counterparts at the PGA of America to up sticks.

Welcome to PGA Frisco, a state-of-the-art, $550million, 600-acre golf complex that’s described as the ‘Silicon Valley of Golf’. 

The big billing doesn’t end there. The facility – located 30 miles to the north of Dallas – has also been described as “transformational”, a “symbol of the future”, and a “first-of-its-kind golf laboratory”. You get the idea.

“Our vision for our new home is to serve as the ultimate support system for our members,” explained PGA president Jim Richerson. “It will offer the best in professional development for our nearly 28,000 PGA professionals.

“From cutting-edge technology to member and associate education, PGA Frisco will serve as a destination and gathering place for our professionals. 

“It represents the pride and passion exhibited in the work they do each day across the country to grow the game in their local communities.”

By the time all elements are fully operational, PGA Frisco will feature, amongst other things, two 18-hole championship golf courses designed by Gil Hanse and Beau Welling; a world-class clubhouse; a 30-acre practice facility; a performance centre; the 510-room Omni PGA Frisco Resort; and the PGA District, featuring a one-of-a-kind indoor and outdoor golf-centred entertainment area.

It is also slated to host six major championships in the next 12 years, including the US PGA in 2027 and 2034. 

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It is on the practice facility that you’ll find the PGA of America building, which overlooks the entire campus. Inside, in addition to all of the usual office space, you’ll find a comprehensive, so-called ‘Professional Development Centre’, which includes a large bunker, chipping and putting areas, as well as indoor and outdoor hitting bays packed with the latest, cutting-edge tech that’s designed to assess all elements of a swing. 

Educational spaces will be used to train, certify and develop PGA members.

“PGA Frisco is much more than a new home for the PGA of America,” said the then PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh. “Aligning with world-class partners in a world-class location is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create the ‘Silicon Valley of Golf’ from a commercial perspective. 

“This, plus creating a destination with amazing courses, as well as innovative, state-of-the-art facilities, will attract, excite and engage new golfers and fans.”

Moving from its long-time base in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, to Texas makes a huge amount of sense for the PGA of America. Not only was it the fastest-growing city in the United States as recently as 2017, it is also more or less slap-bang in the middle of the USA. For West coast members, that means no more six-hour, cross-country flights.

The new office is home to over 120 employees and, as the largest development of its kind currently under construction in North America, it is projected to drive $2.5billion of economic impact over the next 20 years.

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The PGA of America is in good company in Frisco. The Dallas Cowboys’ main practice facility, the ‘Ford Centre at The Star’ – which includes a 12,000-seater indoor stadium – is located in the city, along with the Dallas Stars NHL side and various other sports organisations.

The fast-growing sports entertainment conglomerate Dude Perfect – the group who played frisbee at Augusta National with Bryson DeChambeau back in 2022 – is also based there. 

“PGA Frisco puts us in a stronger position to support, elevate and advance the careers of our members, as well as enhance their standing in the communities they serve,” added Richerson. 

“Through new growth-of-the-game innovations and initiatives, and advancements in education, our new home is closely aligned with what our PGA members stand for and deliver on a daily basis.”