Charlie Burkart Scholarship

All Charlie Burkart Scholarship Applications must have application COMBINED in a PDF before sending to us via email. This only applies to email applications.

2026 Charlie Burkart Scholarship​

Each applicant is required to submit the following when applying for the scholarship:

1. High school transcript of work completed and description of any post-secondary academic achievement.

2. Two recommendations – may be from a high school administrator or teacher, a PGA professional or other non-family connections.

3. Applicant must include a self-statement concerning his/her interest in golf, other activities and awards, his/her educational and vocational plans/career goals and financial need.

4. Applicant is requested to send a list of other scholarship they have applied for and those that they have received.

Apply Today – Charlie Burkart Scholarship

The Iowa PGA Foundation annually awards a college scholarship in memory of Charlie Burkart, PGA member for 49 years and Head PGA Professional at the Elmcrest Country Club in Cedar Rapids for 42 years. The purpose of the scholarship is to assist students in furthering their education. At least one high school graduate will be the 2026 Scholarship recipient in the amount of $1,500 per year for four years. Other previously graduated applicants will be reviewed with additional scholarships awarded when possible.

Any graduating high school senior or previous graduate residing within the boundaries of the Iowa PGA Section and the State of Iowa is eligible to apply. The Iowa PGA Section is bounded on the west by U.S. Highway 71 and includes an area of Western Illinois from a point north of Quincy, east to near Springfield and directly north. It includes the major cities of Monmouth, Macomb, Galesburg, Moline, Rock Island, Kewanee and Galena. It does not include the cities of Freeport, Springfield or Quincy.

Scholarship winners are selected on the basis of their interest and activity in golf, the potential for future contributions to the game, leadership skills/community involvement, then on their academic/professional ability and financial need.

The Iowa PGA Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2026 Charlie Burkart Scholarship. Applicants must complete the application and mail to the scholarship committee prior to June 15, 2026.

Applications can be mailed to:
Iowa PGA Section
3184 Highway 22
Riverside, IA 52327.

Call 319-648-0026 with any questions.

All Charlie Burkart Scholarship Applications must have application COMBINED in a PDF before sending to us via email. This only applies to email applications.

Email Applicants to Stephanie Mason at smason@pgahq.com in PDF Form.

The Iowa PGA Foundation Charlie Burkart Scholarship committee has selected Asher Castenson of Cedar Rapids, Iowa as the 2026 Charlie Burkart Scholarship honoree.

This fall, Castenson will be attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to major in Professional Golf Management (PGM). Through the PGM program he will be playing lots of tournaments every semester, fine tuning his golf game. While participating in the PGM program, his goal is to learn how to teach others the game of golf.

When asked on what this means to win, Castenson responded with, “I am truly honored and grateful to have received the Charlie Burkart Scholarship! This scholarship means the world to me because it helps alleviate my worry of paying for college and allows me to pursue my goal of teaching kids the game of golf.”

Following Castenson’s education, he plans to implement classes that will teach kids how to play golf. By implementing classes, kids would be taught swing paths, eyes on the ball, shoulder positioning, and other parts of a golf swing. Then by participating in tournaments, these kids would use the skills that they learned to compete with other peers to feel appreciated, seen by others, and receive awards.