Honoring the Life and Legacy of JGAA Co-Founder Payne Palmer

The JGAA is saddened to learn the loss of one of the JGAA Founders Payne Palmer, who passed away on March 18 at the age of 85.

Payne’s love of golf began at age 10 with instruction from Willie Low at the Phoenix Country Club and quickly evolved into a lifelong passion. In 1957 he won the Arizona State High School Championship as a member of the Brophy golf team, followed by the Arizona State Amateur Championship in 1964. He qualified for and played in six USGA events nationally and made 6 “aces” over his golf career.

Payne was a member of the golf team at the University of Arizona from 1959 to 1962. In 1960, he and his father captured the inaugural Arizona Father-Son State Championship.

In 1983, Payne co-founded the Junior Golf Association of Arizona (JGAA) with longtime friends and fellow Phoenix Thunderbirds Phil Edlund and Tom Hornaday. The JGAA has provided life-changing opportunities for countless young golfers since its formation.

We send our thoughts and prayers to the Palmer Family. We are forever grateful for his devotion to the game of golf and creating the vision that is the JGAA today.