This episode of the National Links Trust Podcast features a recording of a recent Municipal Golf Network Webinar. In this episode, we head to the Lone Star State to check in with the Dallas Golf Initiative (DGI), a non-profit organization modeled similarly to the National Links Trust. DGI was formed in 2020 in response to the proposed closing of 9 holes at the Glen Course at Tenison Park to make way for a paved walking and biking trail that connects to the larger trail network within the City of Dallas. Knowing what was coming, DGI worked diligently around a vision for a golf facility that honored Tenison’s rich history while creating a more inclusive, engaging, and accessible business model that included a two-story driving range, a par 3 course, and an urban golf park.

DGI Executive Board members Brett Messerall and Benton Payne join moderator Will Smith to provide updates on the Tenison Glen project and DGI’s vision for the future of the property, navigating the difficulties (and disappointment) of creating change within the City of Dallas Park and Recreation system, and how everyday municipal golf enthusiasts, like themselves, can get involved in their own communities and apply the lessons learned from Brett’s and Benton’s experiences over the past 4 years.