The United States Golf Association has named Mike Davis as the organisation’s new Executive Director, succeeding David Fay who retired on December 31, 2010, after holding the position for 21 years.
Davis, 46, becomes the seventh Executive Director in the 116 year history of the Association, after serving as Senior Director of Rules and Competitions since 2005. "I am humbled and extremely grateful to the United States Golf Association for the trust and confidence it has placed in me as the Executive Director,” he said.
“I am passionate about the USGA and its mission. The work of the Association is done by thousands of volunteers and hundreds of staff, whose collective efforts truly help better the game that so many of us love.”
Introduced to golf at the age of eight by his father, Davis played competitively as a junior and in college. He was the 1982 Pennsylvania State Junior champion and competed on the Georgia Southern University golf team. He has also played in several prominent national amateur tournaments.
He joined the USGA in April 1990 as assistant manager of Championship Relations. He was promoted to manager of Championship Relations in December 1990 and served in that capacity until his promotion to director of Championship Relations in October 1995. In 1997, he was promoted to US Open Championship Director, responsible for managing the day-to-day organisational activities for the US Open. He assumed responsibilities as Senior Director of Rules and Competitions in 2005.
As Senior Director of Rules and Competitions, Davis was charged with conducting the 13 individual national championships and four team championships conducted by the USGA, as well as overseeing the Rules of Golf Department. He was also the staff member responsible for the golf course setup and Rules conduct of the US Open, US Women’s Open, and US Amateur Championships.
During that time, he also supervised the Walker Cup Match when it was contested in the United States. In addition to his championship duties, he has taught Rules of Golf workshops and has officiated annually at non-USGA tournaments, including the Masters Tournament, The Open Championship, The Players Championship and the Presidents Cup.
"Mike Davis is one of the most knowledgeable and experienced administrators in the golf industry today and will be an ideal steward of the game as the USGA’s new executive director," said USGA President Jim Hyler.
"In two decades of organising and managing all our national championships, Mike has demonstrated creativity and impartiality that will serve him and the organisation well in his new position. This was a comprehensive and thoughtful search process and Mike’s candidacy stood out. He has long been a respected member of the USGA staff and our Executive Committee stands united in its support of Mike as our Executive Director."
Davis holds a business degree (BBA) from Georgia Southern University (1987). A native of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, he is married to Cece and they have one son Grant. They reside in Pittstown, New Jersey.
