Cockpit To Clubhouse, Honoring Our ASGA Veterans

Happy Veterans Day to all current and former service members who sacrifice so much for this country. This year, we are highlighting two ASGA members who are veterans, acknowledging their achievements in the military but also their love for the game of golf!

 By: P.J. Boatwright Marketing/Communications Intern Justin Jones

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Nov. 11, 2024 - From soaring skies to rolling fairways, Ben Loftis and Tammy Hutchins-Frye have carried their love for service and golf across decades. Both veterans and champions on the course, their stories reflect a profound connection between the discipline of the military and the integrity of the game they cherish. This Veterans Day, we honor their remarkable journeys from the cockpit to the clubhouse.

Ben Loftis

Ben Loftis is the first veteran we would like to highlight and honor. He has competed in ASGA events for many years, and most recently, he was the 2024 Men's Legends Amateur Champion. He initially enlisted in 1964 as part of the naval reserves before transitioning to active duty in the Air Force in 1966.

Loftis is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, and recalls picking up the game of golf at age 11. A series of unfortunate events led to an injury in his baseball throwing arm, sidelining him for some time. He jokingly claimed that golf found him because he was "bored."

"So I was bored," Loftis said. "All my brothers were playing, and I just didn't get to play, so I was up in the attic one day and saw my dad's old golf clubs up there. I said, 'Hey, I want to try that.' It was love at first sight or first swing, and that's what I decided to do."

Like many golfers, Loftis remembers how the game pulled him in from the start.

With his early passion for the game, it was only fitting that after being released from active duty in July 1969, he attended the University of Arkansas and walked on to the golf team. After several years there, he eventually transferred to the University of Arkansas Little Rock, where he graduated in 1972. Following graduation, Loftis returned to the Air Force, this time to learn how to fly airplanes.

After considerable training, Loftis spent the majority of his flight hours in the F-4 Phantom. The F-4, widely used by multiple branches of the U.S. military, broke 25 world records in speed and altitude upon its debut. The F-4 is a two-seater fighter jet, and Loftis had the opportunity to fly from both the back and front seats. He also logged time in the F-15, which later became pivotal in Operation Desert Storm.

Towards the end of his career, Loftis was stationed at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, where he retired after 25 years of service.

Upon retiring, Loftis remained in Montgomery and decided to work at a golf course, where he took on tasks such as cutting greens and picking up balls. He worked his way up to become a teaching professional. Surrounded by golf, Loftis even tried his hand at professional golf, playing on the Emerald Coast Tour and the Sunshine Tour.

In 2010, Loftis returned to Arkansas, settling in Benton. Shortly after, he faced a battle with cancer, enduring nine weeks of chemotherapy. He emerged victorious and has not slowed down, winning the ASGA Legends division championship at Desoto Golf Course in Hot Springs Village earlier this year.

We cannot thank Ben Loftis enough for his service and sacrifice to this country and are deeply grateful to see him continuing to play in our events.

Tammy Hutchins-Frye

Tammy Hutchins-Frye is the second veteran we want to honor. She has played in various ASGA events and spends most of her time golfing at Diamante Country Club and Hot Springs Village. Hutchins-Frye served in the Air National Guard for 35 years, starting as an Airman First Class and retiring as a Brigadier General.

Originally from Fort Smith, Arkansas, Hutchins-Frye recalls working as a lifeguard near the airport, where she found inspiration to join the military.

"I was a lifeguard at Ben Geren Park in Fort Smith," Hutchins-Frye said. "The park was right across from the airport. All summer, F-4 Phantoms flew overhead. I thought, 'Man, I'd like to fly one of those.' I knew some people in the 188 Fighter Wing of the Air National Guard, so I went and talked to them."

While she aspired to fly, women were still barred from combat roles in 1984. Instead, she was directed towards personnel roles. She competed for five years against officers displaced by a transition from the F-4 to the F-16 before securing a position as a Personnel Officer.

After several promotions at Fort Smith, Hutchins-Frye moved to Little Rock as a Lieutenant Colonel. Despite deploying soldiers in her personnel roles, she had not been deployed herself. That changed in 2013 when she had the chance to deploy with NATO to Afghanistan. There, she supported several ministries in Kabul as Afghanistan worked towards sovereignty. The experience was life-changing.

"It changed my life forever," Hutchins-Frye said. "Walking down the streets of Kabul, I saw a mother with two kids on their way to school, all around people armed and from different countries. It made me realize how lucky Americans are, and that really changed my life."

Upon returning, Hutchins-Frye was promoted to group command, and in June 2016, she received Senate confirmation, becoming the first female officer in the Arkansas Air National Guard. In 2017, she was appointed Director of Personnel, Training, and Recruiting Services for the entire Air National Guard, which required a move to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, where she retired two years later.

Hutchins-Frye reflects on how golf positively impacted her military career, recalling her first game.

"It actually helped my career because I was one of the few females who played golf," Hutchins-Frye said. "So I played on a lot of golf teams. I’d never played before, so our unit had this Thursday afternoon scramble. They invited me, and I got a pull cart. I basically had someone teaching me every shot. I always hit it long, but they helped me with everything else, especially my short game. They took me under their wing, and I loved it."

She draws a parallel between golf and the military, noting a shared core value.

"Integrity first is our number one core value, and you need integrity when you're playing golf," Hutchins-Frye said. "I think that’s what I love about golf—it's a lot of thinking, and it's my first individual sport after team sports. Integrity is essential; no one wants to play with a cheater."

Hutchins-Frye, now retired lives in Hot Springs, Arkansas where she is a member of Diamante Country Club. Once again, we extend our deepest gratitude to Tammy Hutchins-Frye for her service to our country and for her promotion of golf in Arkansas.

The ASGA is incredibly humbled and honored to highlight these veterans and the many others who attend, donate, and compete in our events. We hope everyone has a happy Veterans Day as we honor those who serve and sacrifice so that we can enjoy the game we love.