Whaley said one of the biggest challenges for the PGA is increasing the number of junior playersGETTY IMAGES
The PGA of America's Suzy Whaley over the weekend became the "first female president of the 102-year-old association" after being "elected to a two-year term" at the PGA's annual meeting in Indian Wells, Calif., according to John Strege of GOLF DIGEST. The 51-year-old Whaley is the "41st president" of the organization. Whaley after being elevated from her VP position said her new role is a "huge responsibility," but she is "humbled and honored" to have been elected. Whaley: "I'm so grateful to the PGA of America. I'm humbled by the fact that our 29,000 members have confidence in me to lead." Whaley said that she has "no specific agenda in place, beyond continuing what the association has been trying to do: Grow the game." Whaley: "We need to make the funnel as large as possible. ... Our role now is, how do we lead and collaborate with all of those who are having that open funnel into the game, to get them with a PGA professional, to get them on the golf courses. Doesn't have to be 18 holes. Could be nine holes or going to the putting green with their daughter or son" (GOLFDIGEST.com, 11/9).
ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT: Whaley said the PGA wants to "welcome women to our golf courses," as well as get "more junior boys and girls playing golf." Whaley: "We tried every avenue to make sure people know they're welcome, that golf is affordable in certain places around the country where we can help you find that" ("CBS This Morning," 11/10). Whaley said there are "tons of opportunities for improvement" for the PGA. She noted the association needs to "get more people from diverse backgrounds playing the game of golf, not just because it's the right thing to do but it's good for business." Whaley: "We're an $84 billion industry. We need to share, with youth, the opportunity that the PGA of America affords them for a career in the game. We've started that process with recruiting plans, but we certainly have work to do and challenges ahead" (GOLF.com, 11/9).
ISSUES AT HAND: GOLF.com's weekly roundtable discussed the one issue they would like to see Whaley tackle first, with Sean Zak noting Whaley should do anything she can to "make golf's governing bodies less old, rich and white." Michael Bamberger: "Whaley and the PGA are headed in this direction already: more programs at public schools where kids can be introduced to the game." Dylan Dethier notes he would "love to see her establish an identity for PGA Championship host courses." Dethier: "The list looks stale at the moment." Alan Bastable notes there is a "feeling that the association could do more to help fill the pros' lesson books." Bastable: "In an era when digital instruction has come to the fore, I'll suspect you also see Whaley, [CEO] Seth Waugh and the rest of PGA brass spend more time thinking about how to connect teachers to students in the virtual space" (GOLF.com, 11/12).
