GTGC Thanks Our Members for Supporting the Mantis #TrainTheWorld Challenge

What an accomplishment! During September, shooters from around the world came together for the Mantis #TrainTheWorld Challenge and exceeded the ambitious goal of 10 million training shots, recording more than 10,554,904 shots!

Golden Triangle Gun Club is proud to have participated in this worldwide effort and to have been selected as one of the 2026 Train the World grant recipients.

A Special Thank You to Our Members!

We want to thank every GTGC member, family member, junior shooter, and instructor who participated. Whether you practiced at home using MantisX dry-fire systems, logged training shots manually, spent time practicing at the range, or encouraged others to participate, your efforts contributed to this worldwide achievement.

These grant opportunities help organizations like GTGC continue supporting firearms safety, training, and marksmanship programs, including youth shooting sports and community education.

The Challenge Is Over. The Training Shouldn't Be!

September's challenge may be over, but the commitment to improving our shooting skills should continue year-round.

Regular, deliberate practice builds proficiency, confidence, and safe firearm-handling habits. Whether you use a Mantis training system or practice at the range, make training part of your regular routine.

Remember, it's not just how many shots you fire. It's what you learn from every shot that matters.

Thank you, GTGC members, for helping Train the World. Let's keep training!

Learn more: https://traintheworld.org/

#TrainTheWorld #goldentrianglegunclub

The gate problems experienced over the past two to three weeks have been resolved. The issue was traced to the alignment of the hold-open gate sensors, which required adjustment. That repair has been completed, and the automatic gate is operating properly.

Separately, GTGC has installed a new gate keypad and upgraded gate-control software today. This upgrade comes just in time for our annual membership renewal and gate-code change.

The new GTGC gate code will take effect at midnight tonight!

HOW TO FIND YOUR NEW GATE CODE

Log in to your membership account profile on the website at https://goldentrianglegunclub.com and view your current membership card.

You may also access your membership card through the Wild Apricot for Members app.

The new 4-digit gate code will be displayed on the membership cards of active members who have completed their renewal for the 2026–2027 membership year.

Members who have not renewed will not have access to, or permission to use, GTGC facilities once the new code takes effect.

IMPORTANT — THE WAY YOU ENTER THE CODE HAS CHANGED !!

OLD PROCEDURE:

Enter the 4-digit gate code, then press #

NEW PROCEDURE:

Press # first, then enter the new 4-digit gate code

Example:

#1234

Please remember: the # now goes at the beginning, not at the end.

If you have not yet renewed your membership, cannot access your membership card, or need assistance completing your renewal, please contact Secretary-Treasurer Kristen Morton as soon as possible:

Phone: 409-729-4842, Ext. 1

Email: gtgctx@gmail.com

Please complete your renewal promptly to avoid interruption of your access to the club.

When visiting the range today, you will find that old yellow pipe gate is in use and closed. This is a temporary issue within the gate controller system.  We are working to resolve the issue and waiting on technicians to arrive and fix the issue.

YOU CAN STILL ACCESS THE RANGE TODAY! However, the old gate system uses a chain and master lock to secure the gate. The lock code is the same as the keypad code as shown on your membership card.

1) Simply line up the 4-digit code using the upper alignment or index line.   Ignore the middle line or bottom of the lock face entirely.   

2) Let the security chain fall.

3) Open the security gate inward to the range.

4) Drive thru, park, and CLOSE THE GATE BEHIND YOU.

5) Be safe and enjoy your time on the range.

When you leave, chain and fully lock the gate behind you! Hopefully, we will have the temporary power supply in place later this morning!

Golden Triangle Gun Club joins the 4-H Shooting Sports community in mourning the passing of Robert Braud, a dedicated instructor, Range Safety Officer, and mentor whose commitment to youth shooting sports extended far beyond the firing line.

Robert devoted his time and knowledge not only to helping young shooters develop their skills, but also to supporting the parents and volunteer coaches who made their participation possible. His personal attention to every young shooter and his willingness to share his experience made a lasting impression on those who knew him.

A Lifetime of Service to Youth Shooting Sports

Robert Paul Braud, 56, of Geismar, Louisiana, passed away on August 31, 2026. A Louisiana State University graduate, Robert spent much of his professional career as a chemical plant operator. Outside of his career, he devoted many years to Louisiana 4-H Shooting Sports, where he served as Louisiana State Board Vice President, State Match Director, and Level 2 Instructor.

Since 2009, Robert helped educate and mentor thousands of young people, teaching firearm safety, marksmanship, and sportsmanship in rifle, air rifle, and muzzleloader disciplines. His contributions helped strengthen the Louisiana 4-H Shooting Sports program and provided young shooters with a foundation for a lifetime of safe and responsible participation in shooting sports.

A Mentor Who Knew His Shooters

Ron Page, who knew Robert through his involvement in 4-H Shooting Sports, shared his personal recollections of a man who took an extraordinary interest in the young people and coaches he worked with.

As a Level 2 Instructor and RSO, Robert participated in annual reviews of the Louisiana 4-H Shooting Sports rulebook, helping identify necessary revisions for the upcoming shooting year. He also helped evaluate the previous year's activities, identifying what worked well, what needed improvement, and how the program could better serve young shooters and their families.

But it was Robert's personal involvement with the students that truly distinguished him.

Ron recalled that Robert knew the young shooters by name, along with their parents and coaches. He shared a story about Robert seeing a Facebook photograph of a young shooter named Kenli wearing cowboy boots while shooting. Robert called Kenli's mother, Dusty, to suggest that her daughter needed more appropriate shooting shoes.

Dusty was surprised that Robert even knew who Kenli was, much less that she was her daughter.

That simple story illustrates Robert's attention to detail and the personal interest he took in helping young shooters develop good habits and improve their performance.

Robert's commitment extended to the volunteer coaches as well. He regularly communicated with them, offering guidance on what to look for when teaching young shooters and how to work with individual students to help them improve.

He understood that developing knowledgeable coaches was just as important as teaching the young shooters themselves.

A Legacy That Will Continue

Robert's contributions to 4-H Shooting Sports extended well beyond the competitions he helped organize or the rules he helped develop. His influence lives on through the young people he mentored, the coaches he helped educate, and the families who benefited from his dedication.

The Golden Triangle Gun Club extends its sincere condolences to Robert's wife, Kimberly, his children, Cameron and Cecile, his extended family, and his many friends throughout the 4-H Shooting Sports community.

Robert's passing is a loss to the shooting sports community, but the knowledge, values, and dedication he shared with others will continue through the generations of young shooters and coaches whose lives he touched.

Rest in peace, Robert. Thank you for your years of service to our youth and the shooting sports community.

Obituary and Memorial Contributions

For Robert's complete obituary, family information, and memorial details, visit the official obituary below.

Robert Paul Braud — Official Obituary

Golden Triangle Gun Club is proud to participate in the Mantis #TrainTheWorld campaign throughout the entire month of September 2026.

This worldwide training initiative has a simple goal: get shooters training and help strengthen the shooting community at the same time.

You Train. Mantis Donates.

During September, shooters around the world are working toward a goal of logging 10 million training shots.

For every training shot recorded, Mantis will contribute one cent toward grants for shooting, training, and community organizations — up to $100,000.

And we are pleased to announce that Golden Triangle Gun Club has been selected as one of the 2026 #TrainTheWorld grant recipients!

That means the training you do this month can benefit you personally while also helping support GTGC and other organizations working to promote firearms safety, education, marksmanship, and responsible participation in the shooting sports.

How GTGC Members Can Participate

Participation is easy.

If you use a MantisX Pistol/Rifle system, Mantis Laser Academy, Mantis Shotgun, or other participating Mantis training application, simply train as you normally would during September.

Your qualifying training shots recorded through the Mantis applications are automatically counted toward the #TrainTheWorld total.

That includes the dry-practice sessions many of our members are already doing at home with their MantisX systems.

Don't Own a Mantis System? You Can Still Participate!

You do not have to own a Mantis training system to help.

Dry-fire and live-fire training sessions can also be entered manually at:

https://traintheworld.org

So whether you are practicing at home, training at Golden Triangle Gun Club, attending a firearms class, shooting a match, or simply spending some productive time developing your marksmanship skills, log your training and help us reach the goal.

The Golden Triangle Gun Club is excited to announce that, as a proud member of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), we will be hosting an NSSF First Shots® Handgun Shooting Clinic at our Beaumont facility.

If you've ever been curious about learning to shoot a handgun but didn't know where to start, this event is for you.

The NSSF First Shots program is a nationally recognized introduction to safe and responsible firearm ownership. Designed specifically for new and inexperienced shooters, the clinic provides a welcoming, low-pressure environment where participants can learn from certified instructors while gaining confidence through hands-on experience.

During the clinic, participants will receive instruction on firearm safety, safe gun handling, how handguns operate, proper shooting fundamentals, and safe range procedures before moving to the firing line for a supervised live-fire experience. Every participant is coached by experienced instructors, making this an excellent opportunity to learn the right way from the very beginning.

The event will be held at the Golden Triangle Gun Club in Beaumont on Saturday, August 15, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The clinic typically lasts 2 to 3 hours, allowing plenty of time for classroom instruction, live-fire coaching, and questions.

This event is designed specifically for absolute beginners—no previous firearms experience is required. Adults are welcome, and participants must be at least 18 years of age, or minors may attend when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Best of all, you don't need to own a firearm or purchase any equipment to participate. Simply bring yourself. Handguns, ammunition, eye and hearing protection, targets, and all other necessary equipment will be provided for your use during the clinic.

Whether you've never handled a firearm or simply want a safe and structured introduction before purchasing your first handgun, First Shots is the perfect place to begin.

Our goal is simple: introduce new shooters to the shooting sports in a safe, enjoyable, and educational environment while helping them build confidence and develop skills they can continue to grow through future training.

Event at a Glance

• Date: Saturday, August 15, 2026
• Time: 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
• Duration: Approximately 2–3 hours
• Location: Golden Triangle Gun Club, Beaumont, Texas
• Experience Level: Absolute Beginner (No experience required)
• Age Requirement: 18+ (or minors accompanied by a parent or legal guardian)
• What to Bring: Just yourself! All firearms, ammunition, eye and hearing protection, targets, and other equipment are provided.

Space is limited to ensure every participant receives personalized instruction. We encourage interested individuals to register early once registration opens.

We look forward to welcoming new shooters to the Golden Triangle Gun Club and helping them take their First Shots® with confidence.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER!

It is with deep sadness that we inform our members of the passing of long-time Golden Triangle Gun Club life member, past President, and past Treasurer, James William Coley, who passed away on July 22, 2026, at the age of 93.

https://www.claytonthompson.com/obituaries/james-coley/

James played a vital role in the foundational history of our organization. As a Registered Professional Land Surveyor and Licensed Professional Engineer, James was instrumental in designing and laying out the original range facilities when Golden Triangle Gun Club made its historic transition from Nederland to our present location in Beaumont. His technical vision, meticulous engineering, and careful planning laid the groundwork for the ranges our members enjoy today.

Beyond his instrumental contributions to our facilities, James was an avid high-power competitive shooter, a passionate advocate for marksmanship, and a dedicated leader who served the club in multiple executive roles over the years. Those who had the privilege of speaking with him at the range remember him not only for his wealth of knowledge regarding the club's development, but also for his unwavering ethics, mentorship, and gentlemen’s spirit.

On behalf of the leadership and the entire membership of the Golden Triangle Gun Club, we extend our heartfelt condolences to James's family and loved ones during this time.

Richard Worthey, President 

Friends, John Murphy is returning to the Golden Triangle Gun Club 14-15 November with the latest iteration of "Just Get Home!"  (Formerly called Street Encounter Skills and Tactics.) Register here. 

Members who took the class previously at the Club can retake this updated class at $100 discount using the discount code Golden Triangle.

If you can't make it, please let your friends know.

Note:  I attended his previous class here a few years ago, as well as a  number of our members and several of the general public.  Student reviews were outstanding!  This course takes you way past the Texas LTC course teaching you skills that could save your life or the life of loved ones.  Don't miss this opportunity.

  

After a five-month break, the grass and weeds are waking up right along with spring—and if the pollen hasn’t already tipped you off, mowing season is officially back at the Club.

Last week, we knocked out the ranges south of the drainage ditch, and as of yesterday, the ranges north of the ditch have also been mowed. Everything is starting to look good again, and we’ll be keeping it that way as we move into the warmer months.

From here on out, members can expect mowing to pick up to about every two to three weeks throughout the spring and summer. As always, this is a big job and one of the Club’s largest ongoing expenses—and like everything else, those costs have gone up.

We appreciate everyone’s patience while mowing operations are underway. There may be times when certain areas are temporarily affected, but this work is essential to keeping the ranges safe, accessible, and in top condition for all members.

Thanks again for your continued support—and we’ll see you on the range.

The Golden Triangle Gun Club mourns the passing of Ronnie Dillon, a longtime member, Board Director, instructor, and volunteer whose dedication, kindness, and service helped shape the club and its culture.

Ronnie was known as a true gentleman, a trusted friend, and someone always willing to help. His calm demeanor, patience, and genuine concern for others made him a respected and welcoming presence to new shooters and longtime members alike.

In addition to his personal character, Ronnie’s contributions to Golden Triangle Gun Club were extensive and lasting. He served as a member of the Board of Directors and held multiple nationally recognized certifications, including NRA Certified Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, and Home Firearms Safety Instructor, NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer, and IDPA Safety Officer. Through these roles, Ronnie played a vital part in promoting safe firearms handling, responsible training, and a strong safety culture across all disciplines.

“Ronnie was a great friend and someone I could always count on. He was constantly willing to help with instructional classes and range projects, and I truly valued his assistance. Over the past 14 years, I trusted Ronnie completely as an assistant instructor and safety officer in the many classes we conducted together at the club.

He went even further over the last four years by helping monitor and maintain club targets—repairing broken target stand legs and replacing worn backers whenever needed, always looking for ways to save the club money and improve safety. Ronnie’s dedication, quiet work ethic, and genuine care for the club never went unnoticed. I do, and will continue to, miss him dearly.”
— Richard Worthey, President, Golden Triangle Gun Club

Ronnie’s impact extended beyond titles and certifications. He was respected for the way he treated people—with kindness, humility, and patience—and for the example he set through his actions.

“Ronnie was one of those rare people who made everyone feel welcome. He was kind, patient, and genuinely cared about the people around him. He never asked for recognition and never hesitated to lend a hand, whether you were a longtime member or someone brand new to the range. His friendship meant a great deal to me, and his quiet presence and steady encouragement will be deeply missed.”

Ronnie Dillon’s legacy is one of service, integrity, and friendship. His loss is deeply felt, and his influence will continue through the standards he upheld and the many lives he touched.

The Golden Triangle Gun Club extends its sincere condolences to Ronnie Dillon’s family, friends, and all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Ronnie Dillon Tribute Video by Cary Walker