Driving Change: Cesar Balganon II on Golf, Veterans, and Tribal Community Impact
Cesar Balganon II, PGA Director — Southern Arizona Chapter
Cesar Balganon II didn’t grow up on fairways. A member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe raised in Tucson, Arizona, he first picked up a club at 20 years old — “a little later in life,” he admits — and quickly became hooked. That spark led him from weekend player to working at the tribe-owned Sawailo Golf Club, into the PGA Professional Golf Management program, and ultimately to his current role as Director of the Southern Arizona chapter of the PGA of America. On this episode of the Scene Projects Sports Network (SPSN), Bubba Startz sits down with Cesar to talk golf, community, veterans, and why the PGA’s work goes far beyond tour coverage.
Why Cesar’s story matters
Representation and access: Cesar’s path highlights how meaningful access to golf can be for tribal communities where the sport historically hasn’t been visible. The investment by tribal leadership — including a $30 million golf course project — was a long-term bet on community development, jobs, and youth opportunity, not just another amenity.
From late start to leadership: Cesar’s rapid rise — from learning the game as an adult to becoming a PGA professional and chapter director — shows that golf isn’t only for those who start young. He’s now a role model who actively recruits and mentors tribal youth into golf programs like the PGA Junior League; one of his nephews who started in 2020 is now aiming to become a PGA professional himself.
PGA professionals vs. PGA Tour players — the real distinction
Cesar offers a clear, memorable analogy: “PGA Tour players make millions playing the game of golf; we teach millions of people the game of golf.” The PGA of America’s professionals are the industry’s teachers, shop managers, coaches, and community leaders — the people who welcome new golfers, teach etiquette, organize junior programs, and run charity tournaments that create massive local impact.
PGA HOPE — helping our patriots everywhere
A central part of Cesar’s work and passion is PGA HOPE, a PGA Reach program that provides free golf programming for veterans. Cesar completed PGA HOPE training about seven years ago and calls it “life changing.” In those sessions, golf is often secondary: veterans come to connect, talk, and find camaraderie with fellow servicemen and women. The program demonstrates how the golf course can be a safe, healing place — whether for conversation, connection, or simply getting outside and walking on grass.
What the chapter director role actually looks like
Cesar oversees chapter programming for Southern Arizona (he’s part of the Southwest section covering Arizona and Southern Nevada).
He manages tournaments, organizes education and social events, runs board and committee meetings (education, junior golf, awards, social), and coordinates dozens of volunteers and professionals.
The chapter he leads includes roughly 190 PGA professionals; the Southwest section includes over 1,500 pros across 41 sections nationwide.
Career pathway and professional development
Cesar explains the PGA membership levels and career pathway: specialized professional → certified professional → master professional. Becoming a master professional is a long, experience-driven process (membership milestones of years and demonstrated expertise). Cesar describes himself as “being a sponge” — taking classes, learning from veteran master professionals, and applying that knowledge back to his chapter and community.
Golf as community economic engine and charity platform
Cesar points out that in Tucson alone there are over 5,000 registered nonprofits — and charity golf events generate substantial fundraising and economic impact. Those tournaments require intense logistics and volunteer work behind the scenes, and the visible “red carpet” day-of success depends on months of coordination.
Bubba and Cesar both shared recent examples of small tournaments producing outsized community benefit — Bubba highlighted the Skunk Classic that raised over $5,000 for a Minot, ND, public school foundation from a single 24-team event.
The future of golf — more accessible, more social
Cesar and Bubba reflect on how golf’s exposure through YouTube, live golf events, and entertainment-style competitions is widening the sport’s appeal. Mini-golf concepts and family-friendly venues (PopStroke, Topgolf-style experiences) create low-friction ways for grandparents and grandchildren to spend time together for a few hours. The result: more entry points, more inclusion, and a much lower barrier to trying the sport.
Leadership, mentorship, and giving back
Cesar emphasized the mentors who helped him early in his career — pros who answered texts and calls, shared programming ideas, and modeled leadership. That culture of mentorship drives his desire to give back and build programs that open doors for tribal youth and veterans.
He also pointed to tribal investments that raised housing values and created economic momentum for neighborhoods like Old Pascua, showing how sports and recreation projects can be anchors for broader community success.
Takeaways & ways to get involved
If you’re interested in the PGA, local programming, or junior golf, visit pga.org to find local chapters and resources.
PGA HOPE is a free resource for veterans — look for local programs and PGA Reach events to participate or volunteer.
Small charity golf events can have big local impact; they’re a great entry point for community groups, schools, and nonprofits looking to raise funds while bringing people together.
Episode wrap and credits
Bubba Startz thanks Cesar Balganon II for joining the Scene Projects Sports Network and pulling back the curtain on the PGA of America’s grassroots work. If the episode moved you, consider checking out local PGA chapters, junior golf programs, and PGA HOPE events — especially if you’re looking for ways to support veterans, tribal youth, or local nonprofits.
Links and resources (from The Scene Projects network)
The Scene Projects: https://thesceneprojects.com and YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@the_scene_projects?sub_confirmation=1
PGA of America (find local chapters & programs, including PGA HOPE): https://pga.org
