The World Health & Golf Association (WHGA) was formed in 1999, by Houston philanthropist Corbin (Corby) J. Robertson, Jr. who took a passionate vision and turned it into reality by establishing a unique charitable organization that benefits health related causes while promoting the global goodwill of amateur golf.
With the encouragement of close friends and family, Corby established the WHGA and Whispering Pines Golf Club with a mission for philanthropic minded people to support charitable causes, enjoy membership privileges at a world class golf property and to conduct The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship.
Today, the WHGA is supported by 120 individual members throughout Texas and over 40 corporate and charitable members and tournament sponsors. All WHGA members make an annual contribution to the WHGA. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, annual membership contributions to the WHGA, ranging from $5,000 to $25,000, are tax deductible.
The primary programs for the World Health & Golf Association are the following:
Whispering Pines Golf Club Membership: The WHGA has a long term lease of Whispering Pines Golf Club, ranked #1 in Texas by the Dallas Morning News and #11 in America’s Top 50 Greatest Golf Retreats by Golf Digest.
The Spirit International Amateur Golf Championship: Established in 2001 as a biennial event, The Spirit features the world’s men and women amateur golfers from 20 countries, representing six continents. The 2009 Spirit will be played November 1-7 at Whispering Pines Golf Club.
Charitable Missions: Annual charitable proceeds from membership and sponsorship revenues support WHGA core charities. They include the Houston/Harris County Immunization Registry, Medical Bridges, The First Tee at Whispering Pines, Baylor College of Medicine Teen Clinic and Web Base Program and The Spirit.