PGA of America CEO Waugh exiting after 6 years

Seth Waugh is leaving the PGA of America after six years as CEO, a interval marked by a pointy enhance in golf participation and PGA membership and the transfer of its headquarters from Florida to an enormous complicated 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 looks 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 could.

“The quickest development is girls and other people of shade. We attempt to make the sport appear like the remainder of the world, and perhaps have the world behave extra like our sport.”

Waugh will keep on with the PGA of America in a senior advisory function. He might 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, might 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 sport, the enterprise and our individuals,” PGA of America president John Lindert mentioned. “He skillfully led us via extremely difficult instances and was all the time a terrific associate. We’re lucky to have the ability to name on him going ahead for his all the time 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 via unprecedented change throughout his tenure,” Masters chairman Fred Ridley mentioned.

Amongst his chief objectives when he grew to become CEO was supporting the professionals that spend lengthy hours instructing 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 typical wage for an expert 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 may be sufficient time to make modifications. He agreed to 2 extra years in 2022 after golf made it via the COVID-19 pandemic with spikes in participation.

Most notable to Waugh was the age of these taking part in.

“We’re not declaring victory by any means, however the best statistic is 48% of all golfers are below the age of 35,” Waugh mentioned. “That is generational development, individuals from 25 taking part in till they’re 75, versus taking part in from 65 to 75.

“You notice this technology needs to do issues with goal, and golf has goal. 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 might by no means have an opportunity to have extra impression on extra lives.”

He had no speedy plans after his board duties on the Olympics.

“I’ve usually mentioned that golf is likely one of the nice engines of fine on Earth,” Waugh mentioned. “I’m maybe the largest all-time beneficiary of that good and I need to thank the membership, my colleagues, all the assorted 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 sport for all of the help and friendship throughout this journey.

“What a present that has been.”