Category Archives: News

Dear IAGA Member,

Over the past seven years, I have had the good fortune of being an IAGA member via my previous role as Executive Director of the Utah Golf Association.  I am thrilled to now have the opportunity to serve as your new Executive Director of the IAGA.  There are many reasons for my excitement with this new position, one of which is the ability to work more closely with you and your associations on a year-round basis and have more significant interaction with people and associations who are passionate about strengthening the game of golf.

I would like to take this opportunity to share my background with our members briefly.  I’ve had the chance to live in few time zones in my day.  Originally born in Pennsylvania but at a young age moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where I became introduced to golf and had the opportunity to participate in numerous junior golf events until my family moved to Houston, TX in 1989 where I continued my junior golf career with the Houston Golf Association (HGA).

I stayed close to home for college attending Stephen F. Austin State University #AxeEm in Nacogdoches, TX.  During the summers, I would work for the Houston Golf Association, and this is where the golf administration bug got a hold of me.  Upon graduation from SFA, I was fortunate like many of our IAGA members to have the opportunity to work as a USGA P.J. Boatwright Jr. Intern for the South Texas Amateur Golf Association.  In 2001, I was able to return to work for HGA Junior Golf Program as their Director of Junior Golf.  This opportunity to work for the HGA was a special one as I was able also to dip my hands into all aspects of the HGA, whether it was running the associations Amateur Golf Championships, assisting with The First Tee of Greater Houston or working the HGA’s primary event, the PGA TOUR’s Houston Open.

My experience working for the HGA only furthered my desire to expand golf administration skill set, and that is when I was extremely fortunate to become the Executive Director of the Utah Golf Association in 2011.  The past seven years working for the UGA was a tremendous learning experience.  I was able to grow my skill set as a golf administrator as well as work with our allied golf associations in Utah to expand programs such as the Utah Golf Foundation and the Golf Alliance for Utah.

My previous golf administration experience leads me now to my post with the IAGA where I have been on the job for 93 days.  Outreach has been a big part of my first days with the IAGA.  That outreach includes all groups ranging from current members to prospective members, sponsors, committees, governing bodies, professional golf tours, trade organizations, etc.  The conversations of course vary, but they all have a common theme of collaboration and lead back to the IAGA Vision of “Uniting golf communities to help shape the future of the game.”   The results of continued outreach and feedback will only help the IAGA deliver on new programs and initiatives that will assuredly our tangible benefits and services and further the value of our membership.

Best of luck to you and your respective associations in 2018!

The International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA) elected Craig Loughry as 2018 IAGA President during its Annual Conference held Nov. 5-8 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Loughry serves as Golf Canada’s Director of Handicap & Course Rating and Golf Ontario’s Director of Golf Services. He will lead IAGA’s 7-member Board of Directors during the upcoming year.

“Being President of the IAGA is quite the honor for me. It is an exciting time to be in the golf industry with so many new ideas and philosophies to better grow our game. I am excited to have this opportunity and am eager to face the challenges that come with it,” said Loughry.

Loughry, a resident of Courtice, Ontario has been with Golf Ontario since 1998 where he began overseeing Handicapping and Course Rating for the province. Since then his role has evolved but Loughry has continued to share his expertise in the field at multiple levels. He has held a similar role with Golf Canada and volunteered with the USGA on their Handicap Procedures Committee. In addition, he currently represents Canada on the World Handicap Committee.

Since 2012, Loughry has been a member of the IAGA Board of Directors. He becomes the fourth representative from a Canadian golf association and the first from Ontario.

Having a life-long passion for the game of golf, Loughry also has a well-accomplished playing career that includes the record for most Ontario Public Player Championship wins with four.

The IAGA has been in existence since 1968 with the goal of promoting and conserving the best interests and the true spirit of the game of golf as embodied in its ancient and honorable traditions. The IAGA serves as a medium for golf administrators to exchange information, techniques and other data relating to the game of golf and establish channels of communication among all of the world’s golfing fraternities. Its mission is “advancing the game of golf and serving those who play it, by representing and developing those who lead it.”

Loughry will serve as IAGA President until the 2019 annual conference.

The International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA), the governing body of 100 golf associations representing 750 total staff, has appointed industry veteran Bill Walker as its executive director.  Walker joins the IAGA from the Utah Golf Association (UGA) where he served as executive director for nearly seven years and oversaw the organization’s 115 member clubs and 27,000 individual members.

In his role, Walker will strive to increase the IAGA’s leadership position in the industry working collaboratively with allied associations, including the United States Golf Association and the PGA of America.  He will also work with Club Managers Association of America, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and the National Golf Course Owners Association.

Walker will focus on developing IAGA membership through education and training programs to assist association leaders who manage the game and the golfer’s experience.  He will also drive innovation, lead marketing and communications initiatives, establish business partnerships, corporate sponsorships and position the organization to better represent and advocate for member associations.  Walker, who will begin his new role Dec. 18, will report to the IAGA’s president Craig Loughry and work closely with its board of directors.

“We are very pleased to have Bill join our team as Executive Director,” said Loughry.  “If you look at his accomplishments and experience, it is easy to see why we chose him. Whether that be his strong contributions to membership, corporate partnerships or re-envisioning services or introducing new innovative programs and education programs, these are skills that will directly and immediately benefit the IAGA as we move forward.”

During his tenure at the UGA, Walker managed all aspects of the association including membership, handicapping, course rating and championships.  Walker also played a key role in the implementation of new membership programs, which led to a 30 percent increase in association revenue.  In addition, Walker assisted in the reformation of the Utah Golf Foundation as well as the establishment of the Golf Alliance for Utah.

Walker has an extensive background in golf administration that dates back to 1998 when he served as a USGA P.J. Boatwright Jr. Intern for the South Texas Amateur Golf Association (STAGA).  Following his internship, he became the STAGA Director of Amateur Services where he was responsible for rules and competitions, course rating, membership programs and volunteer recruitment.

“I am very excited to serve as the IAGA executive director,” said Walker.  “Over the past seven years, I have learned a great deal from my interactions with my fellow IAGA members.  I look forward to receiving input from our members and developing programs and initiatives that will raise the IAGA’s profile and provide increased benefits for our members.”

In 2001, he was hired by the Houston Golf Association to lead one of the largest junior golf programs in the country with a membership base of more than 1,100 juniors competing in more than 80 events per season. Later, he added the responsibilities of administering the HGA Scholarship and Amateur Golf Programs.

Born in Pennsylvania, Walker played junior and collegiate golf in California and Texas. He and his wife, Lisa, and their three children reside in Holladay, Utah.

About the IAGA

The IAGA was formed in 1968 to promote and conserve the best interests and the true spirit of the game of golf as embodied in its ancient and honorable traditions. With those pursuits in mind, the IAGA serves as a medium for golf administrators to exchange information, techniques and other data relating to the game of golf and establish channels of communication among all of the world’s golfing fraternities.

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.

51ST ANNUAL IAGA CONFERENCE

November 5 – 8, 2017

Hosted at WeKoPa Resort and Conference Center

Scottsdale, AZ

Broomall, PA – Nov. 7, 2016 – Stephen M. “Steve” Foehl is the recipient of the International Association of Golf Administrators’ 2016 Distinguished Service Award. The association’s highest honor was established to recognize individuals or groups whose actions have fostered the IAGA objectives as stated in its By-laws, “to promote and conserve the best interests and the true spirit of the game of golf as embodied in its ancient and honorable traditions.” The selection criteria include, but are not limited to, the demonstration of superior or innovative administrative abilities, excellence in information exchange, and dialogue between golf administrators and golf organizations.

Foehl has served amateur golf for more than 30 years including stops at the USGA and a 25-year career as the Executive Director of the New Jersey State Golf Association from November 1, 1989 to December 31, 2014. While at the NJSGA, Steve’s leadership produced record levels of individual and club memberships, increasing membership threefold to 75,000. NJSGA competitions expanded from 10 tournaments to 24, The Caddie Scholarship Fund raised record amounts and distributed an ever-increasing number of annual scholarships. During his tenure, the association created an award-winning magazine, NJSGA GOLF, and developed a contemporary new website, www.njsga.org.

Prior to taking the helm at NJSGA, Foehl served the USGA as Manager, Regional Affairs from June 1977 until September 1981. Following that period, he was Member of the USGA Junior Amateur Committee (1982 – 1989) and the USGA Regional Association Committee (1989 – 2014). Continuing his dedication to the game, Steve worked as a Rules official at 68 USGA Championships, including 26 U.S. Opens. He retains a seat on the USGA Senior Amateur Championship Committee. For his meritorious service, Foehl received the USGA’s prestigious Ike Grainger Award in 2007 for 25 years of service as a volunteer committee member.

Steve is a past president of the International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA).

BROOMALL, PA – November 15, 2016 – “I am both humbled and honored to serve as President of the IAGA,” said Trammell. “It’s a challenging time in our industry but also one of many opportunities. I look forward to working alongside our new Executive Director, Jane Geddes, and the rest of the Board members.”

An industry veteran with over 30 years experience in the golf business, Barb Trammell has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Oregon Golf Association since November, 2007. Aside from overseeing the daily affairs of the amateur golf association, representing over 40,000 members in Oregon and SW Washington, she is also responsible for the operations of the association-owned OGA Golf Course in Woodburn, Ore.

In addition to leading the OGA, Trammell is also a member of the USGA Regional Associations Committee, serves as de-facto President of the Golf Alliance of Oregon, sits on the Board of the Oregon Turfgrass Foundation and is a consulting member of the Oregon Chapter, Pacific Northwest Section of the PGA.

Prior to joining the OGA, Trammell was Founder and President of VisionFore Solutions, an independent global golf consulting company specializing in event management, competitions expertise and Rules education. Before establishing her company, she was Senior VP of Tournament Operations for the LPGA Tour, having served in that role for 19 years, beginning her tenure as a Rules official. Widely regarded as an internationally respected Rules expert and golf administrator, she was one of the first women to be invited to officiate at The Masters, Open Championship (British Open), US Open and PGA Championship. She served on the USGA Rules of Golf Committee for 15 years, contributing to the changing and updating of the Rules of the game during that time.

A graduate of the University of Alabama and Crimson Tide football fan, Trammell is a Class A member of the PGA of America and has also held roles as PGA club professional and Division I college golf coach. She resides in Portland, Ore. and enjoys a variety of outdoor activities in her spare time.