Stephen Ross Receives IAGA Distinguished Service Award

Over the course of a 30-year career with the Royal Canadian Golf Association, Stephen Douglas Ross built a legacy as one of Canadian golf’s most prominent administrators. Born on June 22, 1954 in Newmarket, Ontario, Ross is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, Richard Ivey School of Business. He joined the RCGA as Assistant Amateur Tournament Director in 1977 and served as Director of Amateur Tournaments from 1980 to 1988. In 1989, he was named Executive Director, a position he would hold for 18 years before stepping down in 2007.

During his tenure, the association experienced significant growth and introduced a number of programs and initiatives including the CN Future Links junior golf program and the RCGA Foundation University/College Grant Program as well as the creation and expansion of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum. He also led the centennial celebrations for both the RCGA and the Canadian Open, conserved the Canadian Women’s Open and Canadian Women’s Tour, started the Canadian Senior Open; negotiated sponsorships for the Canadian Open, Canadian Women’s Open and Canadian Senior Open, re-introduced Golf Canada magazine, orchestrated the purchase of the RCGA Golf Centre in Calgary, organized the Four Nations Cup between Japan, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, and introduced the RCGA Distinguished Service Award.

Renowned as one of the world’s most respected authorities on the Rules of Golf, Ross served on the Joint Rules Committee with the R&A and USGA, and officiated at countless national, international and professional championships, including the British Open, Masters, US Open, World Match Play, The Players Championship, The President’s Cup, Australian Open and the Canadian Open. During his tenure, he created the RCGA’s Rules of Golf certification program, introduced the USGA ‘slope’ handicapping system in Canada, led the bid and organized the 1992 World Amateur Team Championship, and served on the World Golf Hall of Fame election panel.