--- title: HR 311. Lacey, Coach Andre; Paine College golf teams; outstanding achievements and contributions to the growth of collegiate golf and for fostering diversity and inclusion in the sport; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr311 cite_as: HR 311, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr311 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr311.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr311/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70536 date: 2025-02-19 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr310.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr312.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr311.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 311 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-02-19 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Lynn Heffner - Karlton Howard - Brian Prince - L.C. Myles text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR311/2025 upstream_id: 1976328 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - collegiate golf - Paine College - HBCU athletics - diversity and inclusion - Augusta Georgia --- # HR 311. Lacey, Coach Andre; Paine College golf teams; outstanding achievements and contributions to the growth of collegiate golf and for fostering diversity and inclusion in the sport; commend ## Text House Resolution 311 By: Representatives Heffner of the 130th, Howard of the 129th, Prince of the 132nd, and Myles of the 126th A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Coach Andre Lacey and the Paine College golf teams for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the growth of collegiate golf and for fostering diversity and inclusion in the sport; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, Coach Andre Lacey, an Augusta native and proud alumnus of Paine College, has established himself as a transformative leader in collegiate golf, building on the legacy of his grandfather, golf legend and Hall of Famer Jim Dent, while forging a path as the only Black PGA Professional in Augusta since 2016; and WHEREAS, under Coach Lacey's leadership, Paine College's golf teams have made significant strides, achieving four national championship appearances within 18 months, including the Women's NCCAA (October 2023), Women in Golf (April 2023), the Men's NCCAA (2024), and the 2024 Women's NCCAA; and WHEREAS, Coach Lacey's unwavering commitment to excellence has guided the women's golf team to unprecedented milestones during the 2023-2024 season, including winning the Women in Golf National Championship in Katy, Texas; the Stitch Invitational; the Snead State Invitational; and the Paine College Fall Invitational while also earning second place at the Pointe University Invitational and tying for second place at the NCCAA Championship; and WHEREAS, team members Ashley Michel and Helena Rios have earned All-American honors, becoming the first female All-American golfers in Paine College history, demonstrating exceptional skill and determination; and WHEREAS, the men's golf team, despite facing challenges, has displayed resilience and growth, advancing to the NCCAA National Championship and implementing initiatives to improve physical well-being and mental toughness, ensuring future success; and WHEREAS, Coach Lacey has been recognized as a trailblazer in the golf community, with accolades including recognition by EPOCH Black History and the Lucy C. Laney Museum of Black History, where his contributions were showcased in a golf exhibit; and WHEREAS, Assistant Coach Rashad Wilson, a seasoned PGA professional and 2023 PGA Game Changer Award recipient, has joined the program, bringing unparalleled expertise and further enhancing the value of the Paine College golf family; and WHEREAS, Paine College's golf teams have actively engaged with the community through educational initiatives, volunteering with local organizations, and hosting events such as an Indoor Golf Day for adaptive sports and free golf clinics; and WHEREAS, Coach Lacey and Paine College have proposed the creation of a Golf Community Room on campus to provide state-of-the-art facilities for students and the community, offering Jr. PGA programs, small golf repair services, golf lesson packages, and opportunities for revenue generation; and WHEREAS, the establishment of the Golf Community Room aligns with Paine College's mission to provide holistic education, foster entrepreneurship, and enhance diversity and inclusion in the sport, positioning the college as a leader among HBCUs; and WHEREAS, this innovative programming has the potential to generate significant revenue, attract national attention, and inspire young athletes across Georgia while preserving the rich history of Black golf through the donation of a historic museum collection by Romana Harriet. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body recognize and commend Coach Andre Lacey and the Paine College golf teams for their remarkable achievements, applaud their dedication to fostering diversity and inclusion in collegiate golf, and extend best wishes for continued success. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body express their support for the proposed Golf Community Room and encourage collaboration with stakeholders to elevate the visibility and impact of these initiatives. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Coach Andre Lacey and Paine College. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House resolution commends Coach Andre Lacey and the Paine College golf teams for their achievements in collegiate golf and their work promoting diversity and inclusion in the sport. ### Plain-language summary This resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives honors Coach Andre Lacey, an Augusta native and Paine College alumnus, along with the Paine College golf teams, for their success in collegiate golf. It recounts the teams' four national championship appearances within 18 months, several tournament wins during the 2023-2024 season, and individual honors earned by team members Ashley Michel and Helena Rios, the first female All-American golfers in Paine College history. The resolution also recognizes the program's community outreach, including educational events and free golf clinics, and expresses support for a proposed Golf Community Room on the Paine College campus that would offer youth golf programs and repair services. The House directs its Clerk to send a copy of the resolution to Coach Lacey and Paine College. The resolution carries no funding, penalties, or changes to Georgia law. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Coach Andre Lacey and the Paine College golf teams for their achievements in collegiate golf. - Applauds the teams for fostering diversity and inclusion in the sport and extends best wishes for continued success. - Expresses House support for a proposed Golf Community Room on the Paine College campus and encourages collaboration with stakeholders. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to send a copy of the resolution to Coach Lacey and Paine College. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names Coach Andre Lacey, Assistant Coach Rashad Wilson, Paine College, and its golf teams, including players Ashley Michel and Helena Rios. It also touches the Clerk of the House, who must distribute copies of the resolution. ### Why it matters The resolution has no legal or financial effect on Georgians; it is a symbolic honor. Its practical significance is publicity and recognition for Paine College's golf program and its proposed Golf Community Room, which could help draw attention or support for that campus initiative. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses detail Coach Lacey's background, the golf teams' championship appearances, and individual player honors. - The first resolving clause commends Coach Lacey and the Paine College golf teams for their achievements and diversity efforts. - The second resolving clause expresses House support for the proposed Golf Community Room and encourages collaboration with stakeholders. - The final clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute a copy of the resolution to Coach Lacey and Paine College. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-02-19) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-02-19) - Sponsors: Lynn Heffner, Karlton Howard, Brian Prince, L.C. Myles - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70536 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr311.md?full=1