Seth Waugh is leaving the PGA of America after six years as CEO, a interval marked by a pointy increase in golf participation and PGA membership and the transfer of its headquarters from Florida to an enormous advanced in Texas.
Waugh was the CEO of Deutsche Financial institution Americas when he joined the PGA of America board as an unbiased director after which was employed to guide the 30,000-plus members in 2018.
His contract was up for renewal on June 30, and Waugh determined to not renew.
“It seems like the correct time, not solely personally however professionally,” Waugh mentioned. “We have completed an terrible lot within the six years. The sport has by no means been in higher form. Participation is at an all-time excessive. It is rising in all of the methods we hoped it might.
“The quickest development is girls and folks of shade. We attempt to make the sport appear to be the remainder of the world, and possibly have the world behave extra like our recreation.”
Waugh will keep on with the PGA of America in a senior advisory position. He can be on the Open Championship and Paris Olympics and plans to be a part of the Ryder Cup subsequent yr at Bethpage Black.
The PGA of America mentioned it has begun a seek for CEO together with candidates from inside and outdoors the affiliation. Kerry Haigh, the chief championships officer and a key government since 1989, can be interim CEO however is not going to be a candidate.
“We’re grateful for Seth’s management and for all that he completed for our members, our recreation, the enterprise and our individuals,” PGA of America president John Lindert mentioned. “He skillfully led us by means of extremely difficult occasions and was at all times an incredible companion. We’re lucky to have the ability to name on him going ahead for his at all times useful recommendation and counsel.”
Waugh’s involvement in golf dates again longer than his time with the PGA of America. He was behind bringing a PGA Tour occasion to the TPC Boston in 2003 — PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan was the primary match director of the Deutsche Financial institution Championship — and he has been a key voice in enterprise and golf alongside the way in which.
“Seth’s voice on necessary points has been regular and stellar because the golf world has gone by means of unprecedented change throughout his tenure,” Masters chairman Fred Ridley mentioned.
Amongst his chief targets when he turned CEO was supporting the professionals that spend lengthy hours educating the sport. That features a deferred compensation retirement plan for PGA of America members.
“The primary time in 110 years anybody figured that out. I borrowed from my very own background to assist with that,” Waugh mentioned. “However our membership satisfaction is at an all-time excessive.”
He mentioned the common wage for knowledgeable has exceeded $100,000 for the primary time, and membership has surpassed 30,000, one other benchmark.
Waugh had been been dropping hints since April that he was nearing the tip. He signed up for a four-year time period as CEO — he in contrast 4 years to a school or presidential time period — and felt that might be sufficient time to make modifications. He agreed to 2 extra years in 2022 after golf made it by means of the COVID-19 pandemic with spikes in participation.
Most notable to Waugh was the age of these enjoying.
“We’re not declaring victory by any means, however the best statistic is 48% of all golfers are beneath the age of 35,” Waugh mentioned. “That is generational development, individuals from 25 enjoying till they’re 75, versus enjoying from 65 to 75.
“You understand this era desires to do issues with objective, and golf has objective. You are a instructor, a coach, and you’ve got a mission to make lives higher. The entire premise why I took this job was I felt I would by no means have an opportunity to have extra affect on extra lives.”
He had no instant plans after his board duties on the Olympics.
“I’ve typically mentioned that golf is likely one of the nice engines of excellent on Earth,” Waugh mentioned. “I’m maybe the most important all-time beneficiary of that good and I need to thank the membership, my colleagues, all the varied board members, previous presidents, our extraordinary companions, my friends in any respect the opposite golf our bodies, in addition to everybody who performs and loves our stunning recreation for all of the assist and friendship throughout this journey.
“What a present that has been.”
