37 years of fellowship, competition, and scholarships in the Texas Panhandle
The Pride of the Panhandle Golf Club began as a small gathering of golfers at Comanche Trail Golf Course in Amarillo, Texas. What started as a casual group of friends who loved the game grew into one of thirteen chapters of the Texas State Golf Association — a network of Black golf clubs across the state united by a shared passion for competition, fellowship, and community.
For 37 years, the club has been a cornerstone of Black golf tradition in the Texas Panhandle. The annual Memorial Day tournament, now in its 37th year, has become the club's signature event — drawing players from across Texas and beyond to compete at Ross Rogers Golf Complex.
But the club has always been about more than golf. From the beginning, the Pride of the Panhandle has been committed to investing in the next generation through scholarships awarded to students across the Texas Panhandle.
Cleve Austin was a founding member and driving force behind the Pride of the Panhandle Golf Club. His leadership style was direct and his commitment to the club unwavering. He was known for his signature phrase at club meetings: "If you're at the meeting, your vote is yes."
Austin believed that showing up was the first commitment — and that if you were present, you were all in. That philosophy shaped the club's culture of active participation and mutual accountability that endures today.
When the club lost Cleve Austin, they renamed the annual tournament in his honor — the Cleve Austin Memorial Day Scholarship Tournament — ensuring that his spirit of fellowship, competition, and community investment would be remembered every year on the course he loved.
"If you're at the meeting, your vote is yes." — Cleve Austin
The Pride of the Panhandle Golf Club is one of thirteen chapters of the Texas State Golf Association, a network of Black golf clubs spanning the state. The TSGA chapters share a common mission: promoting the game of golf, fostering competitive play, and building community through the sport.
Each chapter operates independently while participating in the broader TSGA tournament circuit. The network provides golfers with competitive opportunities across Texas, from the Panhandle to the Gulf Coast, and strengthens the tradition of Black golf in the state.
The Pride of the Panhandle Golf Club awards scholarships of $500 per student, paid directly to the institution upon proof of enrollment. This direct-to-institution model ensures that every dollar reaches its intended purpose — supporting Texas Panhandle students in their educational journey.
Every tournament entry fee, sponsorship contribution, and raffle ticket sale feeds the scholarship fund. Since 1989, the club has invested in dozens of students, turning rounds of golf into real educational opportunity.
In addition to scholarships, the Pride of the Panhandle Golf Club hosts a Junior Golf Clinic as part of the tournament weekend. The clinic introduces young people to the game of golf — teaching fundamentals, etiquette, and the values of sportsmanship and discipline that the sport instills.
For many participants, the clinic is their first exposure to golf. The club sees it as a natural extension of their mission: investing in young people, whether through scholarships or by opening doors to a sport that teaches patience, integrity, and the value of practice.
"This tournament is about more than golf. It's about community. It's about making sure the next generation has opportunities. Every year when I see players come back — some who've been playing for 30 years, some who are here for the first time — that's what keeps us going. Cleve would be proud of what this club has become." — Lester Campbell, Tournament Director