David B. Fay, who started his career in golf as a caddie and became an active champion of bringing the U.S. Open to public golf courses, has announced his decision to retire after 21 years as executive director of the United States Golf Association (USGA).
“David’s passion for the game can be matched only by his passion for the people and the mission of the United States Golf Association,” said Jim Hyler, president of the USGA. “He has been a steadfast advocate for the game and our national championships and the USGA is thankful for his service.”
Mike Butz, USGA deputy executive director since 1995, has been named acting executive director while the Association undertakes a national search for a new executive director. Butz will assume the interim role on January 1, 2011.
Fay, 60, began his career with the USGA in 1978, serving first as tournament relations manager and becoming director of program management in 1981. He became assistant executive director in 1987 and was appointed as the sixth executive director of the USGA in 1989.
As the USGA’s executive director, Fay has also served since 1991 as joint secretary of the International Golf Federation (IGF). The IGF is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the official international body for the sport of golf. Fay also served as chairman of the World Golf Foundation in 2008.
Fay has been a longtime advocate of making the game of golf more accessible and expanding the number and diversity of its players and fans. During his tenure, the USGA expanded significantly its philanthropic activities, providing through its “For the Good of the Game” grants program more than $65 million since 1997 to more than 1,000 programs aimed at making golf more affordable and accessible. Together, these programs have served more than 2.2 million participants.
Fay was also instrumental in the development of the USGA’s P.J. Boatwright Jr. Internship Program in 1991, through which the Association helps fund more than 100 internships each year at state and regional golf associations for men and women interested in pursuing a career in golf administration.
Fay’s most lasting legacy may well be his successful campaign to bring the U.S. Open to Bethpage State Park on Long Island in 2002. Bethpage’s Black Course became the first public facility ever to host the national championship, and since then the USGA has strongly affirmed its commitment to bringing the U.S. Open to venues that are accessible to the public.
He was a driving force behind the internationalisation of the US Open, playing a pivotal role in the 1994 decision to allow The European Tour's top 15 ranked players an exemption to the season's second Major Championship, as well as helping to establish a European-based final qualifying tournament for overseas players.
Born in 1950 in New York City, Fay is a 1972 graduate of Colgate University, where he majored in English and political science and was a member of the varsity golf team. He was employed as communications director at the Metropolitan (N.Y.) Golf Association from 1976 to 1978 and was the recipient of the MGA’s Distinguished Service Award for 2009.
He said: “It's been my privilege to have served under 17 USGA presidents – 12 during my tenure as executive director – with each bringing particular talents, views and energies to the position of chief officer. I've also had the pleasure of working with over 100 men and women who've served on the USGA's executive committee. These individuals, along with over 3,000 other USGA committee members I've known through the years, represent the soul of the USGA. They volunteer their time to the Association's work, and I applaud them for their passion and dedication to the game of golf.
“I am confident that my friend and long-time colleague, deputy executive director, Mike Butz, will do an excellent job as interim executive director. His knowledge and understanding of the workings of the Association is second to none. I leave with the highest regard for the institution of the USGA and its on-going work as golf's impartial Bureau of Standards. It's been a rewarding, satisfying and fun run.”
George O’Grady, Chief Executive of The European Tour, said: “David Fay has been an outstanding Executive director of the USGA and has made an enormous contribution to the growth of the game both in the United States and especially on an international basis.
“He championed the internationalisation of the US Open field from 1994 when the top 15 from The European Tour were made exempt. More recently a European based final qualifying competition saw Michael Campbell gain entry via Walton Heath and win the US Open at Pinehurst.
“Strong leadership of the USGA together with the Royal and Ancient Golf Club through the IGF has seen golf admitted to the 2016 Olympic Games, and David’s contribution to the World Golf Foundation has been critical.
“His speech, delivered with great humour, at The European Tour dinner at Wentworth in May 2002, while honouring Retief Goosen’s victory in the 2001 US Open at Southern Hills, displayed his visionary qualities on the issues facing golf throughout the world, and accepted the unique leadership responsibility of the USGA.
“David, and his own very individual style, will be sorely missed, not only by me personally, but by all involved in The European Tour. We wish him well for the future – hopefully within golf.”
