Casey Richards
Spreading golf’s gospel in Chicago
The dogma of “grow the game” has been at golf’s forefront for much of recent memory. It has proliferated so much that for many the saying has lost its meaning. The mantra has been reduced to a nebulous concept, a vague idea lacking any actionable principles.
Not for Casey Richards, however. Through his tenure with the Chicago District Golf Association, Richards has kept the flame of golf’s expansion alive. His communications initiatives with the organization have connected people of all stripes to the game, particularly in an area where the sport’s benefits make a tangible impact.
Unlike many of his contemporaries, Richards was a latecomer to the sport. Growing up in Granger, Indiana, he was first exposed to the game by his high school classmates, whom he would join on periodic trips to a nine-hole course at the University of Notre Dame. However, at this point, golf was still on the back burner.
“From a young age, I always knew I wanted to do something in the sports field,” Richards said.
To this end, he enrolled in Indiana University’s sports broadcasting program. While he kept up with golf throughout his four years there, his postgraduate experience set him on a collision course with a golf career.
Having accepted a one-year internship with the NCAA, Richards was given the task of covering the Division II Men’s Golf Championships. This inside-the-ropes exposure to the game fostered a spark that would only grow in the coming years.
“It put a little bit of a bug in me,” Richards recalled. “It made me think, ‘Hey, this golf industry could be a good spot to land.’”
Richards didn’t wait long for a door to open. While finishing his master’s degree at Illinois State University, Richards spied an opening for a manager of communications at the CDGA. Before he knew it, he was on his way to Chicago to begin a tenure of 11 years and counting.
Richards has been vital in spreading the impact of new projects to the Chicago golfing public. One of the most recent and impactful new initiatives is the creation of the Chicago Adaptive Open, which had its inaugural playing in 2024.
“This is one of those places where you don’t really leave unless you get a truly special opportunity,” Richards said. “Everybody here believes in the work we're doing.”
Founded in 1914, the CDGA has been a pioneer among local golf associations for nearly the entirety of its century-plus lifespan. The organization is the steward of the game in the Chicago area and beyond, serving a spectrum of players from championship contenders to the average weekend warrior.
“Our mission is promoting golf and changing lives,” Richards said. “We believe strongly in the game of golf and the value that it can bring to people.”
With this vision in mind, few in the association have as critical a part to play as Richards. Now its senior managing director of communications and marketing, he takes point on how the organization interacts with its 100,000-plus members across the CDGA’s diverse suite of initiatives. In many ways, he is the mouthpiece for an entity that many depend on in the Chicago golf ecosystem.
“Everything the CDGA does in one way or another is touched by communications,” Richards said. “It’s the point of contact.”
One of Richards’ key responsibilities is connecting the public to the ways golf can enrich the lives of those who play. To do this, he spearheads publication of Chicago District Golfer, a monthly magazine that details the CDGA’s initiatives, reflects on golf’s history in the region and highlights the incredible stories of those touched by the game.
“Creating a publication and telling those stories helps fulfill the mission of promoting the game,” Richards said. “In recent years we’re really trying to expand our scope and go beyond our core responsibilities to use the game for a greater good.”
Richards has been vital in spreading the impact of new projects to the Chicago golfing public. One of the most recent and impactful new initiatives is the creation of the Chicago Adaptive Open, which had its inaugural playing in 2024. Thanks to Richards, the event was broadcast live, providing meaningful and impactful exposure to athletes with mental and physical disabilities.
Given the ubiquitous necessity of communications for the CDGA, Richards never truly knows what tomorrow will bring in his role. However, he’s learned to relish unpredictability.
“Not everything is going to go exactly according to plan,” said Richards. “But if I’ve learned anything from golf, it’s that you have to keep your head down and keep moving forward.”
Daniel Polce
