The PGA of America began the new year with a new leader. Late last month, the association announced that it had named Derek Sprague its CEO, succeeding Seth Waugh, who had served in the role for nearly six years before stepping down last June.
Sprague, a longtime PGA professional who worked as general manager of TPC Sawgrass since 2018, is the first former PGA president to serve as CEO. As president from 2014-16, Sprague co-chaired the Ryder Cup task force that was assembled to examine the U.S. team’s failures in the biennial competition following a lopsided loss to Europe at Gleneagles. The U.S. has won two of the four Ryder Cups contested since.
Sprague previously worked as managing director of Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey, which hosted the 2017 Presidents Cup during his tenure, and for 26 years as director of golf at Malone (New York) Golf Club. READ MORE
Global Golf Post has hired Mike Cullity to lead its editorial team as executive editor. A veteran golf journalist who previously served as GGP’s executive editor from 2017-20, Cullity succeeds Steve Harmon, who retired in December.
“On behalf of the team, we welcome Mike back and look forward to his important contributions to our premium quality golf journalism enterprise,” said GGP publisher Jim Nugent.
A graduate of the College of the Holy Cross and Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, Cullity is a former writer and editor for Golfweek and the Golf Digest Companies and golf columnist for the New Hampshire Sunday News. He is also the author of The First One Hundred Years (1923-2023): Manchester Country Club, published in 2023.
English senior amateur golf was rocked by news of the late December passing of Trevor Foster. Briefly the leader of the 1988 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Annes, Foster went on to enjoy a sparkling competitive senior career, the highlight of which was victory in the 2018 British Senior Men’s Championship at Royal Porthcawl. Profiled in GGP in 2023, Foster had long battled depression and anxiety. READ MORE
Tap-Ins
Catriona Matthew, who captained Great Britain and Ireland to victory in the 2024 Curtis Cup at Sunningdale, will return as captain for the 2026 match at Bel-Air Country Club. READ MORE
The 2025 U.S. Senior Amateur, originally slated to be contested at Biltmore Forest Country Club in Asheville, North Carolina, has been relocated to Oak Hills Country Club, in San Antonio, Texas. The championship is being moved due to the impact of Hurricane Helene, which caused extensive flooding and damage to the Asheville area. READ MORE
Longtime R&A rules official David Rickman was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in King Charles’ New Year’s Honours List for services to golf. Rickman retired from the R&A last year after a 37-year career. READ MORE
Mary Bryan, a former LPGA player, TV announcer and college golf coach, died Dec. 31 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 78. Bryan called men’s and women’s golf for ABC, NBC, CBS, Golf Channel and ESPN for many years, joining Judy Rankin as a pioneer in the field. READ MORE
Dan Baker, a prominent golf industry executive who served in various capacities during an eclectic career, died Dec. 13 in a car accident in Jupiter, Florida. He was 58. Baker ran two Ryder Cups, served as tournament director for the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship and later oversaw the annual PGA Merchandise Show before leaving that post in 2024. READ MORE
Richard Parente, co-founder of Hickory Stick and the first president of Callaway Golf, died Jan. 1. He was 85. READ MORE
Bob Lukasiewicz, the former head of engineering/design and plant manager for Ram Golf, died Dec. 29. He was 79. READ MORE
Staff Reports