USGA Managing Dir of Communications JOE GOODE "will leave the organization later this year as part of an internal restructuring," according to sources cited by Ron Sirak of GOLFDIGEST.com. Sources said that staff "was informed of the move in an email" from USGA Exec Dir MIKE DAVIS. Goode "came to the USGA on Sept. 1, 2011 after 15 years as a senior communications executive at Bank of America." He had the "awkward role of handling communications for the group after it switched its TV deal from NBC and ESPN to Fox last summer" and in the aftermath of the failed effort by then USGA president GLEN NAGER in September to "reorganize the governing structure of the USGA" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 3/12).
EXECS: The LPGA promoted KELLY THESIER to Dir of Media Communications, TINA BARNES-BUDD to Senior Dir of Social Media & Marketing Communications, MEGHAN FLANAGAN to Senior Coordinator of Tour Media and ALI KICKLIGHTER to Manager of Player Development. The organization also named MOLLY GALLATIN Manager of Publicity & Media Services, BRET LASKY Coordinator of Symetra Tour Media and MATT HAAS Coordinator of Tour Media (LPGA)....The West Virginia Golf Association promoted Dir of Operations & Junior Golf BRAD ULLMAN to Exec Dir, replacing KEN TACKETT, who accepted a position as a PGA Tour rules official (AP, 3/12).
