The PGA of America has announced that Derek Sprague will succeed Seth Waugh as CEO. Waugh has held the position for the past six years.
Derek Sprague
Sprague is a past president of the PGA of America, serving a two-year term that ended in 2016.
“Throughout my career I have made it a priority to bring people together around a common cause,” said Sprague. “At a time of profound change in golf, there is also great opportunity for our Association and our Members. I have cherished being a PGA of America Golf Professional and serving our Members and Associates as a Board Member and Officer. To now serve the Association as CEO is a tremendous honor. It is my task, alongside the Officers and Board, to elevate the profession of our more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals while ensuring the health of the Association and its relationships within our industry.”
A PGA of America Member since 1993, Sprague leaves his role as club General Manager of TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, since 2018.
Before that, he served for about a year as managing director of Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey, which hosted the 2017 Presidents Cup during his brief tenure. For the prior 26 years, Sprague was the general manager and director of golf at Malone Golf Club, his hometown course in upstate New York, where he was involved with all aspects of the facility’s operations.
“Derek is the consummate PGA of America Golf Professional,” said PGA of America President Don Rea Jr., PGA Master Professional and owner/operator of Augusta Ranch Golf Club (Arizona). “His dedication to the Association, his passion for empowering PGA of America Golf Professionals, and his service as an Officer position him for success as CEO. To have a leader at the helm who knows every detail of the Association and what it means to be a PGA of America Member will enable our Association to succeed far into the future. We are also grateful to Kerry Haigh for his excellent leadership during our period of transition.”
Sprague will soon relocate to the PGA’s Frisco/Dallas Area headquarters from Florida.
Photos courtesy of PGA of America
