Watson Links Announces 2026 Playing Partners, Marking a New Era of National Growth in Golf Mentoring

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Kansas City, MO (February 2026) — The Watson Links Mentors Foundation today announced its 2026 Playing Partner network, expanding to 51 Playing Partners across 55 cities in 23 states — tripling its reach from 17 partners in 2025. Additional playing locations may be announced throughout the year as new corporate partnerships activate in markets nationwide.

Founded in 2021 by eight-time major golf champion Tom Watson, Watson Links is accelerating a national movement to make on-course golf mentoring more accessible and sustainable. After beginning national expansion in late 2023 and impacting six markets in 2024, the 2026 season marks its most significant growth to date.

“The growth and diversification of our Playing Partner network this year reflects both the demand for meaningful youth golf mentoring and the strength of our model. We’re giving communities the tools and frameworks needed to build sustainable on-course golf mentoring programs.”

Pauly Hart, Executive Director of Watson Links

What is golf mentoring and why does it matter?

Through creative golf mentoring initiatives, junior golfers are paired with vetted adult mentors to play, generally 9-hole rounds, free of charge. During these mentor-driven rounds adult mentors serve as positive role models, sharing golf etiquette and building confidence and connections in junior golfers ages 10-18. Watson Links’ on-course play opportunities encourage healthy exercise and provide a screen-free, outdoor experience, addressing physical and mental health issues for youth and mentors alike.

What Is a Watson Links Playing Partner?

Playing Partners are organizations that co-host on-course golf mentoring programs or provide players for Watson Links experiences. These partnerships remove barriers to course access and create opportunities for juniors ages 10–18 to play free nine-hole rounds alongside vetted adult mentors.

In 2025, Watson Links programs reached 21 locations in 14 states. In addition to those direct partnerships, more than 65 golf courses hosted Watson Links mentoring rounds across the broader network.

Tom Watson has long credited mentors for shaping his success on and off the course. He founded Watson Links to give more young people the same opportunity to grow through the game. Partnerships are essential to carrying that vision forward, allowing communities across the country to activate golf mentoring experiences at the local level.

A Diverse and Expanding National Network

The 2026 Playing Partner network spans multiple sectors of the golf and youth development ecosystem, including:

  • First Tee chapters
  • LPGA-USGA Girls Golf chapters
  • PGA and LPGA teaching professionals
  • Private and public golf facilities
  • High school golf programs
  • Youth development organizations
  • Golf industry associations and foundations
  • Corporate Playing Partners whose employees serve as mentors

This diversified model enables national scale while maintaining strong local leadership and program quality. See our complete list of 2026 Playing Partners below with their cities: 

First Tee Chapters:

  • First Tee – Greater Sacramento (CA)
  • First Tee – Inland Empire (Beaumont, CA) 
  • First Tee – Connecticut (Avon, Cromwell, Hartford, Norwalk)
  • First Tee – Delaware (Georgetown & Wilmington)
  • First Tee – Central Florida (Orlando) 
  • First Tee – Tallahassee (FL)
  • First Tee – Tampa Bay (FL)
  • First Tee – Savannah (GA)
  • First Tee – Indiana (Indianapolis, Lafayette, South Bend, Valparaiso)
  • First Tee – Greater Wichita (KS)
  • First Tee – Minnesota (Minneapolis) 
  • First Tee – Omaha (NE)
  • First Tee – Northern Nevada (Reno) 
  • First Tee – Jersey Shore (Point Pleasant, NJ) 
  • First Tee – Syracuse (NY)
  • First Tee – Metropolitan New York (NY)
  • First Tee – Lake Erie (Toledo, OH)
  • First Tee – Metropolitan Oklahoma City (OK)
  • First Tee – Greater Philadelphia (PA)
  • First Tee – Upstate South Carolina (Greenville)
  • First Tee – Greater Austin (TX)
  • First Tee – Piney Woods (Longview, TX) 
  • First Tee – West Texas (Midland/Odessa)
  • First Tee – South Puget Sound (Tacoma, WA)

LPGA-USGA Girls Golf and LPGA Amateurs Chapters:

  • Girls Golf – Inland Empire (Beaumont, CA)
  • Girls Golf – Connecticut (Avon, CT)
  • Girls Golf – Coweta (GA)
  • Girls Golf – Savannah (GA)
  • Girls Golf – Columbia (MO)*
  • Girls Golf – St. Louis West Country Club (MO)*
  • Girls Golf – Jersey Shore (Point Pleasant, NJ)
  • Girls Golf – Lake Erie (OH – Toledo)
  • Girls Golf – Upstate South Carolina (Greenville)
  • LPGA Amateurs – Central Connecticut (Cromwell)*
  • LPGA Amateurs – Delaware (Wilmington, Georgetown)*
  • LPGA Amateurs – Kansas City Metro (KS/MO)*
  • LPGA Amateurs – St. Louis (MO)*

*indicates chapters who are not partnering directly with Watson Links but plan to have participants serve as mentors or juniors for experiences. As national partners of the LPGA Foundation, LPGA – USGA Girls Golf, LPGA Amateurs, we aim to shed light on chapter participation. These groups are not included in our partner count.

PGA/LPGA Teaching Professionals:

  • Brett Myers, PGA (Kansas City, KS)
  • Cathy Harbin, PGA (Paris, TX)
  • Crystal Morse, PGA (Franklin, IN)
  • Lou Dechert, PGA (Perkins, OK)
  • Lisa Schwinden, PGA (Fargo, ND)
  • Maria Palozola, LPGA (St Louis, MO) 
  • Rick Anderson, PGA (Rotonda West, FL)
  • Ryan Snyder, PGA (Afton, OK)
  • Tony Luczak, PGA (Oklahoma City, OK

Private and Public Golf Facilities:

  • 3Bird Golf Park (Oklahoma City, OK)
  • GolfTRK – OP (Kansas City, KS) *
  • GolfTRK – Lenexa (Kansas City, KS) *
  • GolfTRK – Liberty (Kansas City, MO) *
  • Ironhorse Golf Course (Kansas City, KS)
  • Legends Golf Club (Franklin, IN)
  • Milburn Country Club (Kansas City, KS)
  • Pine Ridge Golf Club (Paris, TX)
  • Rotonda Golf & Country Club (Rotonda West, FL)
  • Shangri La Resort & Golf Club (Afton, OK) 
  • St. Joseph Country Club (St. Joseph, MO)

*Indicates Simulator Setting

High School Golf Programs:

  • Dorman High School (Spartanburg, SC)
  • Har-Ber High School (Springdale, AR)
  • Marion High School (Marion, IN)
  • Northridge High School (Greeley, CO)

Youth Development Organizations:

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters – KC (Kansas City, KS/MO)
  • Boystown (Omaha, NE)
  • Florida Golf Coach Roger Collier (St. Cloud, FL)
  • Minding The Gap (Kansas City, KS/MO)
  • Tee To Green Instruction (Falls Church, VA)

Golf Industry Associations:

  • Columbia Golf Foundation (MO)
  • PGA Reach Philadelphia (PA)
  • Rochester District Golf Association (NY)

Corporate Partners

  • American Century Investments (CA, CT, KS, MO, NJ, TX)
  • Shamrock Trading Corporation (KS)
  • Veracity Consulting (KS)

Where to Find Watson Links in 2026

Visit our “Where to Find Us” page to see all 2026 Playing Partner locations. From there, families, mentors, and community partners can explore markets and registration information for current opportunities.

Parents and prospective mentors are also encouraged to register in the Watson Links Web App at my.watsonlinks.com. Indicating your location, even if a program is not yet active nearby, helps guide future expansion.

As Watson Links continues its rapid growth, its mission remains clear: to expand the golf mentoring movement nationwide and ensure more young people experience the life-changing impact of playing alongside a supportive adult mentor.

About Watson Links

Founded by Tom Watson in 2021, Watson Links is a national golf mentoring nonprofit dedicated to helping young people grow through meaningful on-course connections. Its programs pair junior players with caring adult mentors for free nine-hole rounds that foster confidence, character development, and a sense of belonging within the golf community. Through shared play and supportive relationships, Watson Links creates opportunities for young golfers to build life skills, resilience, and lasting connections.