OUR MISSION
The Jackson Park Golf Association is dedicated to providing values, substantial resources, service, opportunities, and community sustainability.
OUR VISION
Inspiration for the future through innovative thinking, investment and engagement.
JPGA MISSION AND VISION STATEMENT
Founded in 1989 by a dedicated group of golfers, the Jackson Park Golf Association (JPGA) set out to improve the Jackson Park Golf Course through better signage, enhanced facilities, and fostering an alliance with the Chicago Park District to advocate for minority golfers’ long-standing use of the course. Visionaries like Elmer Beard, Dick Matthews, Otis Love, Bill Guest, Sonya Harris, and others led the charge for positive change on Chicago's South Side.
JPGA partnered with the Western Golf Association Evans Scholarship Foundation to establish the first-ever caddy program at Jackson Park Golf Course, awarding full tuition and housing scholarships to two deserving recipients.
The association also launched the JPGA Junior Golf Program, nurturing a love for the game among youth aged 6–17. JPGA proudly supported a young Tiger Woods during his junior career, long before he rose to become a legendary professional golfer.
Click below to learn more about JPGA’s inspiring story and ongoing legacy.
OUR STORY
(l to r): Kemper Golf Manager, Jim Hahn, Dick Matthews, Elmer Beard, and Earl Woods (Tiger Woods' father) at the Tiger Woods Golf Clinic sponsored by JPGA at Jackson Park range in 1994.
JPGA supported Tiger financially on his path to becoming the G.O.A.T. ("Greatest Golfer of All Time")!
North Star Statement
The Jackson Park Golf Association, through a platform of golf, will identify and provide accessibility, as well as viable and sustainable community resources for the underrepresented and underserved community through accomplished leadership in the multi-billion-dollar golf industry.
Impact
JPGA's holistic programs not only offer personal growth and career pathways but also create lasting community impact. By connecting communities, empowering youth, and fostering partnerships, we strive to make a positive difference in the golfing world.
