Who is Indiana Golf Association?

Rich In Tradition

Indiana golf is rich in history and tradition. By the late 1800s, golf was becoming more mainstream in the United States and that was no different in Indiana. By 1895, Indiana boasted a handful of golf course and clubs.

Alvin S. Lockard saw British officers playing golf in India and brought the game to Indianapolis in 1897. Lockard introduced the game to the Country Club of Indianapolis (CCI) when he returned from India and helped design the first two holes at CCI.

In 1900, Country Club of Indianapolis President Francis Herd called a meeting to find out who was the best golfer in Indiana. During the meeting, the Indiana Golf Association was formed. J.H. Keyes of Terre Haute was elected President and Schuyler Colfax of South Bend was elected Vice President. Colfax was the former Vice President of the United States under President Ulysses S. Grant.

The newly formed Indiana Golf Association established the Indiana State Amateur Championship and it was played on October 11-13, 1900, at CCI. Harry Miller of Terre Haute was the first State Amateur Champion. The State Amateur has been held annually since 1900 with the exception of 1917 when the tournament was canceled due to World War I.

At the urging of the United States Golf Association, Indiana and all other state associations adopted the USGA handicap system in 1967.

In 1972, the Indiana Golf Association and the Indiana Section PGA joined forces to become the IGA-PGA. One of very few joint amateur and professional golf organizations in the country.