(1998 - 2000 continued)

Membership grew slowly from a handful of players to a one-time high of 400 members. Initially, it was an all-men's association but as membership grew and the popularity of the TGA grew, women became active and today represent nearly a third of the total membership. Early activities included traveling to other nearby courses and enjoying the many fine golf courses in central Florida.

Twenty-five years ago, the first of the baby boomers were retiring and coming to Florida in droves. This population block had a history of energetic and innovative ideas. This demographic generation that followed the Silent Generation was not their grandparents. The youth movement that gave us Woodstock, the Beatles and protesting of the Vietnam War were not going to be satisfied with a rocking chair and a quiet home in Florida. This was a generation for movers and shakers who set the world on fire in the 60s and 70s and now in their retiring years were still full of energy and wanting to change the world.

The second feature to bolster the creation and growth of TNT was the park itself. In the 1990s, John Greytak had moved to Sebring, Florida to develop retirement communities. His development company would purchase the 350 acre Tanglewood complex and begin the development work that would eventually become the 1200 plus home retirement destination known as Tanglewood RV resort. No shrinking violet himself, Greytak would aggressively develop the community and actively support the creation of a golf organization. He had been approached Sun N Lakes golf course about a possible joint operation.

Later, in 2006, Greytak would further show his support for golf in the park by providing office space for a golf office in the newly constructed 28,000 square-foot clubhouse. This is the office today we call "golf central".

Prior to 2000, it was apparent all the elements were in place for the growth of an organized golf entity. It was the right group of people with time, money, the support of the property owner and a location central to several good golf courses in the area open to group rates. From this initiative a conscious effort to take the organization to an even higher level emerged. Tournaments, inter-association competition, couples and women's events evolved. Social events like the annual Banquet and the Bash further strenghtened the social base of the organization. Eventually, early founders would recognize the need to incorporate.

It's obvious from the records that the emerging TGA was not going to be a loose knit society of undisciplined golfers. There was going to be structure, integrity, and discipline. The initial language contained in the TGA Bylaws (still in the document today) addresses the fundamental concepts the founders envisioned: to stimulate interest in golf within the Tanglewood community by bringing together a group of golfers desirous of forming an organization ... to promote and conserve the best interests and true spirit of the game of golf as embodied in its ancient and honorable tradition."

TNT started small and sometimes struggled to evolve. In 1998, records show that the method of golfing entailed 'lining up 3 or 4 foursomes at the first tee and taking off". Early names mentioned were Scott, a Tanglewood sales manager who gave the group the TNT name, Bob Bugbee (aka Sparky), who was the first official in charge and Wayne Delaney, the first chairman. The vision they sought may have been vague at first in those early days, but the spirit and determination of those early golfers built a solid foundation that has resulted in the strong association TGA has become.

Healthy but slow growth continued in 1999. Not much changed that year in design. The group had grown to 30, and handicaps were calculated by hand. Handicaps were written on one side of a card with the player's name on the other side. Handicaps provided a system to equalize golfers and facilitate fair competition. The group's only affiliated course at that time was the Country Club of Sebring.