JAGA introduces 2025 officers, season schedule

The Jacksonville Area Golf Association elected its 2025 officers recently at its year end annual Meeting at Deerwood Country Club.

Duke Butler III of TPC Sawgrass was elected to a one-year term as president and will lead the organization in its 72nd year.

Butler replaces Cary Helton of San Jose Country Club, who served as JAGA president in 2024.

Butler will enjoy continuity among his fellow officers as four of them will be returning in the same capacity in 2025.

They include Jim Loftin of The Palencia Club, who returns as the vice president of administration for a second straight year; Jeff Johnstone of Sawgrass Country Club is the vice president of tournaments for the fourth straight year.

Meanwhile, Ryan Wharton of The Golf Club of South Hampton repeats as JAGA’s secretary.

While serving as president of JAGA in 2023, John Milton added the role of JAGA’s interim treasurer in April of that year when long-time treasurer Billy Walker passed away.

Milton was elected treasurer in December 2024 when his term as president ended and will serve as treasurer again in 2025.

JAGA also announced its schedule of events for 2025, which will include 11 tournaments involving men, women and junior golfers of all ages played at stroke play, match play and/or in team formats, plus the Celebration of Golf Banquet presented by Circle K.

A few notes about the 2025 venues:

•  The JAGA First Coast Amateur presented by the City of Jacksonville will be played at Deerwood Country Club after being held at Amelia National Golf & Country Club this past January.
• The Celebration of Golf Banquet presented by Circle K moves from Timuquana Country Club to TPC Sawgrass.
• The 34th Underwood Cup will be played Feb. 3 to 4 with Deerwood Country Club hosting for the first time. Timuquana Country Club was home to 32 of the first 33 Cup matches, with San Jose Country Club serving the host role in 2023.
• Four events in the middle of the schedule move to new locations with Spring Four-Ball to The Palencia Club; JAGA’s oldest event, the Senior Amateur to Marsh Landing Country Club; the First Coast Women’s Amateur to Sawgrass Country Club; the Jacksonville Amateur presented by Synovus to Timuquana Country Club for the first time; the Fall Four-Ball goes to Ponte Vedra Inn & Club – Ocean Course; and not played in 2024, the Club Team Championship returns to King & Bear at the World Golf Village.