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Kim Wilcox and Rick Sirmon announced as BGA Hall of Fame inductees The Birmingham Golf Association was to have inducted Kim Wilcox and Rick Sirmon into their Hall of Fame at a banquet on April 4 at Pine Tree Country Club, but that has been canceled and will instead be held April 16, 2021. The BGA also canceled their annual Metro Amateur Championship, scheduled for the same weekend, which will now be played April 17-18, 2021, and moved the Junior Regions Tradition hosted by the BGA to Sept. 12 from April 25. Wilcox and Sirmon will join the BGA HOF a year later than expected, but this does not, in any way, tarnish their achievements. “Having been involved with playing golf, administering golf and coaching golf in Alabama, I am humbled by this honor,” Wilcox said. “After reminding myself of those who had been honored before me, adding my name to this list of incredible Birmingham golf contributors is a truly milestone accomplishment for me.” They will join 83 members of the Hall of Fame, dating back to the inception of the BGA in 1965. Kim Wilcox Wilcox started playing the game at Chace Lake CC in Birmingham as a young lady with her father. She would play junior golf tournaments across the state including LBGA and WAGA and nationally in the Women’s Western Golf Association in Lake Geneva, Wis.; Junior Worlds in San Diego; and the PGA Chevrolet at Walt Disney World. She then signed to play collegiate golf at Auburn University in 1977 and lettered all four years. She continued to play amateur events throughout the 80’s, including finishing runner-up in the 1988 Women’s Amateur. In 1991 she switched gears and became the club professional and manager at Pine Harbor Golf Club in Pell City, which she did for eight years before becoming the Executive Director of the BGA in 1999, a role she held until 2010. “One of my greatest joys at the BGA was to work with the children on the BGA Junior Tour. Seeing the kids change from year-to-year was amazing. Working with junior golfers is a great privilege that I continue to enjoy. In 2000, I was the USGA Boatwright Intern for the Alabama Golf Association. In 2001, I served as the junior golf coordinator for the Dixie Section PGA and directed the LPGA Girls Golf Club, Birmingham chapter. “In 2006, my husband, Bill, and I saw the need to host affordable junior golf tournaments year round which led to the formation of the Alabama Junior Golf Association, aka AJGO. To this day, headed by Bill, the AJGO hosts 50+ tournaments per year.” She then became the women’s golf coach at UAB in 2002, and headed the program until 2018. While at UAB, the team won five team titles and multiple individual titles. “I am most proud of the academic accolades of the team during my 16-year term. UAB Women’s Golf was in the top 10 percent for six years in a row for academic accomplishments. The team also had a perfect Academic Progress Rate (APR) for the same time period.” (APR is a measurement of progress towards a degree, staying eligible for NCAA play and retention (staying in school)). “Currently, in addition working in the Office of Research at UAB, I am involved with women and children’s golf clinics to continue growing this great game.” Rick Sirmon “It is a humbling honor to be inducted,” Sirmon said. “I look over the list of honorees over the years and am taken back over many decades of friends and competitors and teammates and those who gave of their time and talents to make golf in Alabama some of the best in the nation. “At 71-years-old this has let me go way back in time. So many fond memories and so many people to thank. “Though most of my competitive golf was 40 to 50 years ago in the 1960s and 70s, this honor has given me a chance to reflect on those long ago events and courses and people who made it possible for a kid from Huntsville to pursue his dreams, like many a kid, to play on the PGA Tour. “Looking back now there is just so much appreciation and gratitude for those in the fray and those in the background who made my journey in that direction a cherished one. While the final destination was a bit short, as they say, ‘it is 'the journey' that's important.’ “Golf in many ways has always defined who I am as a person and I thank the Lord for His guidance and my wife Cindy, my family, and so many friends for their friendship and support. Cindy surprised me years ago with a scrapbook that chronicled 20 years of intense golf and it's been a treasured keepsake. Being inducted into this prestigious golf institution is a wonderful final chapter and my deepest thanks to the BGA and its members for being chosen.” Sirmon started playing the game in 1957 at Cullman Municipal GC, before moving the following year  to Huntsville, living in a house adjacent to the fifth tee at Huntsville CC. He would go on to a stellar junior career, including a second place finish in the 1964 State High School tournament, while playing as a 10th-grader for Butler High School. That summer he would also win the City Jaycee tournament, finish runner-up in the State Jaycee and finish in the top four of the International Jaycee tournament. After winning the City Jaycee again in 1965, he had the honor of caddying for Arnold Palmer in an exhibition event. Next came college where he walked on and made the University of Alabama golf team, lettering all four years from 1967-71, never missing a tournament or match. He was named Second Team SEC as a sophomore, with First Team honors to follow the next year. He would play in the NCAA’s too in Columbus, Ohio. 1972-73 saw him be a graduate assistant coach under head coach Conrad Rehling, where he watched Jerry Pate develop. He continued on in his top amateur career, winning numerous invitationals across the city and state, including at Decatur, Vestavia, Woodward, Pine Tree (twice), Inverness, plus club championships at Huntsville CC and Green Valley CC, and the BGA Championship in Birmingham and four top 10 finishes in the State Amateur. In 1975 he won the Alabama Open at Inverness Country Club as an amateur with a final round of 66.  He beat Steve Lyles, the long-time professional at Willow Point by one shot. Lyles got the $2000 first-place check, while Sirmon received a $250 gift certificate and a desire to try to get a PGA Tour card. He was working for South Central Bell and they allowed him to go to Brownsville Texas in December 1976 to PGA Tour “Q” School. There were 420 players trying for 20 spots over six days. He came up short and tried again the following spring at Pinehurst, with the same outcome. It would be amateur golf from there on out and he remains a fine player, highlighted by his win, with partner Tom Worley, in the 2017 State Super Senior Four Ball. His career saw him in the computer and IT field for BellSouth from 1973 until 2003, but he remains busy with various entities. A long-time member of Hoover CC (46 years and counting), in 2009, as president of the club during its 50th anniversary, he helped oversee the complete renovation of the course by designer Bill Bergin. And he still enjoys playing the game that has been so integral to his life.

Former Samford University golfers Andy McRae and Vic Kyatt captured this year's Mid-Amateur Division in the Birmingham Golf Association’s Metro Amateur Championship played at Pine Tree Country Club. The Senior Division was won by Pine Tree members Alan Seigel and Al Gibbs, while fellow Pine Tree members Donald McCurdy and Mike McFarland took home the Super Senior title after a three-team playoff. McRae, who plays at Hoover CC and is a former State Amateur champion, partnered Pine Tree’s reigning club champion and former State Mid-Amateur champion Kyatt to a five-shot victory after outstanding rounds of 63-64–127, good for 17-under-par in the team best ball format. They won by five shots from Clint Provost of Hoover and Jimmy Finnerty of Vestavia, who shot back-to-back 66’s. McRae and Kyatt finished second last year to John Darby and Wes Carter. The Trussville team of Keith Crumpton and Doug Edwards finished third (65-68—133). Seigel, whose father Jerry is the oldest living BGA Hall of Fame inductee at 89, and Gibbs fired rounds of 66-67—133 to win by a shot over Trussville’s Chuck Brand and Matthew Bennett of Pell City (66-68–134), with two teams tied for third: defending champions Neill Hatcher and Ed Kinzer of Pine Tree (66-69–135) and Hoover Country Club’s David Clayton and Kevin Newton (69—66–135). Siegel and Gibbs finished tied second last year. The Super Senior Division saw three teams: McCurdy and McFarland (70-71); Tom Jungkind and David Minshew (71-70); and overnight leaders Clarke Kelly and Steve Bailey (68-73) tied on 141. This led to a six-player playoff, with McCurdy’s birdie putt on No. 15, the first playoff hole, proving decisive. Jungkind and Minshew took second after a par on the second playoff hole, No. 16. Jungkind won the Super Senior last year with Mike Greer. Both are inductees in the BGA’s Hall of Fame. Click here for results; toggle between age divisions to see all scores. [caption id="attachment_1756" align="alignleft" width="225"] Super Senior Metro Amateur champions Michael McFarland and Donald McCurdy.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1754" align="alignnone" width="225"] Senior Metro Amateur champions Al Gibbs and Alan Seigel.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1755" align="alignleft" width="225"] Mid-Amateur Metro Amateur champions Vic Kyatt and Andy McRae.[/caption]

            Many years ago, Vestavia Country Club conducted a July 4th annual Invitational Tournament. During the weekend, the club hosted a past Champions Dinner. It was a highlight of the tournament for all former champions and was always a memorable occasion. At the Champions Dinner in 1962, a discussion evolved that there should be a Birmingham Golf Association with the following objectives: to provide clubs group purchasing for sand, seed, fertilizers, etc. to obtain lower costs per club; to serve as a clearing house for clubs to avoid conflicts of dates in scheduling events; to conduct an annual championship and junior championship; to stage exhibitions for the enjoyment of members in member clubs; and to raise funds for worthy causes, especially junior golf. In attendance at that 1962 dinner (and the year they won are as follows): Press Thornton 1953, 1954, Buddy DeBardeleben 1955, Walter Wood 1956, Elbert Jemison 1957, John Gross 1958, 1962, Jack Vardaman 1959, and Jim Head 1961. Also in attendance were L. J. Griffis, club general manager, Russ Dimick, club tournament chairman, and Jack Murphy, head golf professional. It was agreed that there should indeed be a Birmingham Golf Association. Elbert Jemison was asked to serve as the first President, and to formulate a Board of Directors consisting of two members from each of the private clubs in the area. It also was suggested that Joe King and Bob Ramsay represent the Country Club of Birmingham; Jerry Seigel, Pine Tree Country Club; Jim Norton and Russ Dimick, Vestavia Country Club; and Johnny Thames, Mountain Brook Club. The following year the Board of Directors decided to create a Birmingham Golf Association Hall of Fame. The first induction class was in 1965 and a list of inductees is found on this website. The names of the inductees are also featured on a plaque displayed at the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

              Find much more information under the BGA Scholarship tab. In due course, we will be actively encouraging all eligible high school seniors who will graduate in 2020 to apply for the BGA Scholarship. If you don’t apply, you obviously can’t be considered. Most importantly, you must have played a minimum of three years (2020 can be your third year) on the BGA Junior Tour. If you have met this requirement, you do not have to play on the BGA Junior Tour in 2020 to be eligible to apply, but we would be delighted if you do so. 2019 was our fourth year to offer a scholarship or scholarships. BGA Board Member J.C. Ranelli championed the BGA scholarship and we have been delighted to put it into practice. In 2016, the inaugural year of the scholarships, Andrew Tomko and Thomas Luther each received a BGA scholarship. In 2017 the recipients were Nicklaus Lyda and Nicholas Robillard. In 2018 Helen Lunsford and Carter Goodwin were the recipients. And in 2019 Emily Baker, Reynolds Lambert and Jalen Mosely were the recipients.

Welcome to the Birmingham Golf Association Junior Tour The Birmingham Golf Association dates to 1965 and has run a Junior Championship annually since that time. Legendary Birmingham golfer Sam Farlow won the inaugural championship. The Junior Tour is known for its value for money and the quality of golf courses played on this developmental tour. Sign up to join the Junior Tour 2023 season is now open, with sign up for tournaments set to open on April 4, 2023 at 6:00 pm CST. If you are already a member, we look forward to welcoming you back for another great summer schedule in 2023. Make sure to log into your account and rejoin the tour. Do so by clicking the Junior Tour Sign Up "button" at the top of this page and following the steps. Click here to view the schedule. I’m sure you will agree we have lined up another stellar schedule. If your junior is not a member, follow these steps to join the tour: 1. Click the Sign Up "button" at the top of this page. 2. Click I am a new member, if this is your first time to join THIS YEAR. 3. Agree to the waiver. 4. Fill in the PLAYER’S INFORMATION. 5. Put in your credit card information and click register. (At this time, you will also be asked about an additional service: The Premium Players Club. This is optional.) 6. You will then receive two emails. The first will thank you for registering. The second will be telling you your payment is approved (assuming it is) and will contain your Players Club ID and password. At this point, there will be a link for you to change your temporary password or you can leave it alone. You will log in at this time via the Players Club "button" to the left. 7. Tournament registration will open on April 4, 2023 at 6:00 pm CST. AT THAT TIME, you will: 8. Choose your up to six events and click register. If an event is full, you will be asked if you want to go on the waiting list for that event. If the waiting list for an event is full, you will be asked to choose another event. 9. You will receive a confirmation email. * You will note, when looking at the schedule, that you may only choose up to two of the four premium/high demand venues, but there is no requirement to play in any premium event. The premium/high demand venues in 2023 are: Event 3, Mountain Brook Club Event 10, Vestavia CC Event 11, Highland Park Event 12, The Country Club of Birmingham (East Course) Questions? Contact BGA Executive Director Ian Thompson by email: [email protected] or phone: (205) 532-3457.