2017 Distinguished Service Award Presented to Jay Mottola
Jay Mottola is the recipient of the International Association of Golf Administrators’ 2017 Distinguished Service Award. Mottola was honored with this award during the 2017 Annual IAGA Conference in Scottsdale, Ariz. This award is presented to an individual who exemplifies the IAGA’s mission to “promote and conserve the best interests and the true spirit of the game of golf as embodied in its ancient and honorable traditions.”
Mottola was presented this award by current Metropolitan Golf Association Executive Director Brian Mahoney, who has been working with Mottola since 2001. The Metropolitan Golf Association produced a video that highlighted Mottola’s 39-year career at the MGA. Mottola spent 34 of those 39 years as the Association’s Executive Director. In that role, he led the MGA through a period of change and expansion. Mottola created the MGA Foundation, launched The Met Golfer magazine, and designed the MGA’s home, “Golf Central.”
In addition to the MGA, Mottola has worked closely with the United States Golf Association (USGA) throughout his career. He chaired the USGA’s Handicap Procedure Committee from 1999 to 2004. He was an integral player in bringing the U.S. Open to Bethpage Black in 2002, the first time the U.S. Open was played on a publicly owned and operated course. In 2009, Mottola was awarded with the USGA’s Ike Grainger Award for his 25 years of volunteer service to the Association.
Mottola has served on the Board of the National Club Association and the Executive Committee of Golf 20/20. He played a major role in establishing the First Tee of Metropolitan New York chapter in 2001 with the MGA Foundation as a founding partner. He is a longtime member of the Westchester Caddie Scholarship Fund and MGWA Board of Directors.
Prior to his time at the MGA, Mottola was a member of the Lafayette College basketball team. His accomplishments there earned him a spot in the school’s Hall of Fame. Mottola also attended The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Upon graduation, Mottola worked shortly for an accounting firm before entering the coaching profession at his alma mater, Lafayette College. From there, he served as a full-time assistant for the American University basketball program before being recruited to the MGA by childhood friend David Fay. At the time, Fay was the MGA Communications Director and went on to become the USGA Executive Director.
Today, Mottola is a Senior Advisor for the MGA and MGA Foundation, continuing to serve the game of golf. In 1987, Mottola served as the IAGA President and remained on a number of IAGA committees both preceding and following his time as President.
The IAGA is honored to add Mottola to the expanding list of Distinguished Service Award recipients including long-time friends and MGA staff members Gene Westmoreland (2012) and David Fay (2011), as well as Stephen Foehl (2016), Mike Waldron (2015), Stephen Ross (2013), Dick Horton (2010), Tom Morgan (2009), Steve Mona (2008) and many more. Please click here to see the other previous IAGA Distinguished Service Award recipients.