New PGA of America President Derek Sprague yesterday appeared on the set of Golf Channel’s “Morning Drive” and discussed keeping the PGA Championship in the U.S., the recent election of Suzy Whaley and initiatives aimed at growing the number of golfers. Sprague -- who had the idea of becoming a PGA officer just two years after becoming a member in '93 -- said the organization "has been on a great ride" the last couple of years under CEO Pete Bevacqua. Sprague: "I think golf is starting to turn around here a little bit and we're going to see more people playing the game." He said of not holding the PGA Championship outside of the continental U.S., "In the short-term, we've abandoned the idea. We have a lot of other great initiatives and core products of our long strategic plan and global will always be a part of that. The Ryder Cup is an international event so we're in that international arena. How often do we want to be in that international arena is yet to be seen. ... As Pete has always said so well, ‘We don't want to wake up 20 years, 30 years, whatever the timeframe is down the road and figure out that the rest of the game has gone global.' ... We'll always have a pulse on it." Sprague said Whaley's election "really is great for not only ... the PGA of America, but more importantly for the game. She's going to bring a lot of enthusiasm, energy and a lot of great development player ideas. ... Along with Paul Levy our vice president, I think we have a great team moving forward.” Speaking to the recent Foot Golf and Hack Golf initiatives, Sprague said, “All facilities need to look at programs like that because they do generate revenue for the facilities. I don't think they'll work at every facility in the country, but … some facilities have seen great success and driving revenue. I think it's too early to see the conversion" ("Morning Drive," Golf Channel, 12/1).
