Terry Clark starts his tenure as the PGA of America’s new CEO this month (full story), and the reaction from around the golf business and media is positive. A good example comes from Skratch, where golf writer Brittany Romano wrote an opinion piece on the impact of Clark’s hire. Romano calls the PGA of America’s decision to bring Clark into the CEO position “refreshingly grounded and quietly strategic.” She cites his years of experience in important corporate areas such as operations, partnerships and organizational leadership, along with working on broadcast initiatives and player sponsorships, while having deep understanding of the PGA of America from his time on the board. “In a year where golf conversations have been dominated by executive reshuffling … Clark’s appointment feels like a pivot toward a more human, service-oriented leadership style.”
link: https://bit.ly/4rvDGOP
Much of the Northeast is still digging out of a brutally cold and snowy winter, but the upcoming 2026 PGA Championship outside Phila delphia is starting to bring spring vibes to Arnonimink Golf Club. Delco Today recently published a story on how the club and the PGA of America started infrastructure work in February to prepare the club grounds. Michael Lewers, the General Chair of the 2026 PGA Championship, is quoted as saying “We have prepped the golf course, we’ve added new tees, we’ve extended the length of the golf course and fairways – so that piece of it, the actual golf course itself, is in really good shape. Now it’s just a matter of getting some snow melt.” Lewers says Aronimink will continue its buildout for the PGA Championship over the next two months as it prepares to host the event for the first time since 1962, when Gary Player hoisted the Wanamaker Trophy.
link: https://bit.ly/3M7z5Ub
A new podcast that will be of interest to PGA of America Golf Coaches has recently launched, featuring an interview with a true expert on the subject. College Golf Today debuted last month as part of a partnership be tween Fairway to Green and the Women’s Golf Coaches Association, and host Kelly Okun kicked it off with an in-depth interview with PGA of America Golf Professional Dan Brooks, the Duke University Women’s Head Golf Coach for the past 43 years. The wide-ranging discussion covers Brooks’ career from his green grass beginnings to leading Duke to NCAA Championships. The pair also discuss strategies for effective coaching, the impact of NIL and transfer portals on college golf, recruiting strategies and the importance of maintaining the mental and physical health of golfers. College Golf Today will feature advice for coaches at all levels of the game.
link: https://bit.ly/4aBlKg8
Pace of play is an issue throughout the sport, from recreational golf to the professional game’s biggest events. Could a big change to rules regarding pace of play at an event where players only hit only six shots make a difference? Golf Magazine recently posted a story asking that question in response to a modification of the rules for the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals, set for the Sunday before the Masters Tournament at Augusta (Georgia) National Golf Club in April. After last year’s event, where several players took a noticeably long time to pace off and read putts, the 2026 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals – jointly run by the Masters, USGA and PGA of America – is introducing a pace of play “bonus” that will give competitors an extra half-point for each shot they complete in 40 seconds or less. Each competitor hits two drives, two chips and two putts, so hitting all six shots within the allotted time will lead to three bonus points. “This initiative aims to reinforce pace of play as an essential skill in golf,” says the story.
link: https://bit.ly/4tn2kTs
