The 2026 Celebration of Golf Banquet presented by Circle K will be held on Wednesday evening, Feb. 11, at Deerwood Country Club. The evening’s top honor, the Deane Beman Award, will be presented to members of one of Northeast Florida most prominent golf families, the family of Carol MacCurrach Taylor and the late Allan MacCurrach Jr.
The announcement was made by the event’s host, the Jacksonville Area Golf Association (JAGA) and its 501(c)3 Charitable Trust, during the awards luncheon that followed play at the JAGA Scholarship Trust Classic at Deerwood CC.
Since its inception in 2015, the Celebration of Golf Banquet presented by Circle K has become one of the highlight events on the Northeast Florida golf calendar. Last year, more than 200 people filled the ballroom at TPC Sawgrass. Another sellout is anticipated in February.
JAGA also announced that Circle K is returning as the banquet’s presenting sponsor for the third year in a row.
Proceeds from the Celebration of Golf presented by Circle K will support the tax-exempt JAGA Charitable Trust, which annually awards scholarships to college-bound students from the area who have affiliations with JAGA and its 41 member clubs. Since 1974, the trust has awarded approximately $2 million in scholarship grants to approximately 400 college-bound students who call Northeast Florida home.
The banquet’s goal is to fund at least one four-year scholarship ($10,000) for a deserving high school senior. Former PLAYERS Championship Redcoat Robert Davis of Deerwood CC and Pablo Creek Club chairs the event for the second year in a row.
Tickets are on sale at jagagolfbanquet.com. For more details, see “Ticket Information” below.
The MacCurrach family includes the late Allan MacCurrach Jr., his wife, Carol MacCurrach Taylor, their daughter Jennifer MacCurrach, their son Allan MacCurrach III and grandson Allan “Sonny” MacCurrach IV.
Allan MacCurrach Jr. was the first employee Deane Beman hired when he became commissioner of The PGA Tour in 1974. As the Tour’s first staff agronomist, MacCurrach was charged with improving course conditions and setting agronomic standards at more than 100 facilities across the PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions and Korn Ferry Tour during a career that spanned three decades.
Carol MacCurrach Taylor remains an avid golfer and respected presence at TPC Sawgrass and Hidden Hills Golf Club.
Allan MacCurrach III forged his own path in the golf industry by founding MacCurrach Golf Construction at the age of 22. Under his leadership, he has built a national reputation for quality and craftsmanship. The company’s body of work includes the restoration of 45 classic courses, the renovation of more than 325 others and the construction of 45 new golf courses.
Allan MacCurrach’s wife of 35 years, Leann, played a pivotal role in helping her husband establish MacCurrach Golf Construction. He credits her influence and contributions for much of the company’s early success. Their daughter, Leila MacCurrach Jain, and family live in Austin, Texas.
Jennifer MacCurrach, a former University of South Florida and LPGA and Ladies European Tour member, made her greatest impact on her hometown as the founder of the PGA Tour Junior Golf Foundation of North Florida, now known as the North Florida Junior Golf Foundation. She currently serves as CEO of First Tee – Greater Austin.
Allan “Sonny” MacCurrach represents the third generation of MacCurrachs to be deeply rooted in golf and agronomy. Immersed in the company from the age of 14, he is currently operations manager, overseeing complex, large-scale construction projects and maintaining the family legacy of industry innovation and excellence. His wife, Shelby, contributes to that legacy as office manager.
Beman, who each year participates in the selection of the Deane Beman Award winner, plans to be in town to personally honor the family he has so many ties to.
The Deane Beman Award was established in 2015 to recognize those individuals who have made significant, long-term impact on or through the game of golf in the greater Jacksonville area. The award itself is a crystal bowl donated by Underwood Jewelers/Clayton Bromberg.
Ticket Information
Tables ($1,200 / eight seats) and individual tickets ($150) are now on sale. Each ticket includes two complimentary drink tickets. Reservations and payment can be made at: jagagolfbanquet.com.
Other Honorees
In addition to the Deane Beman Award, individuals from the following organizations which support JAGA’s role as banquet host will be recognized:
Jacksonville Women’s Golf Association
Northern Chapter of the North Florida PGA
North Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association
The Celebration of Golf presented by Circle K annually brings together people from all areas of the First Coast golf community – players, leaders, promoters, supporters, clubs, volunteers, superintendents, pros, amateurs, juniors and other organizations – to recognize and honor those who have made contributions to area golf, both on the golf course and off.
Attendees who wish to support the Charitable Trust with additional contributions may do so as may others who cannot attend the banquet by going to jagagolfbanquet.com.