The NGF, celebrating its 75th year as the industry's leading provider of golf market research, is pleased to announce several changes to its board of directors, effective immediately.
NGF's four new directors:
• Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, The First Tee, and Executive Vice President, World Golf Foundation
• Oliver G. (Chip) Brewer III, President and CEO, Adams Golf
• Bill Golden, President, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday
• Dick Raskopf, Publisher, Sports Illustrated Golf Group (GOLF Magazine, GOLF.com and SI Golf Plus)
They join eight serving directors:
• Joe Beditz, President and CEO, National Golf Foundation
• Jeff Colton, Senior Vice President - U.S., Callaway Golf
• Jim Connor, President, FootJoy
• Jeff Fiorini, President, Eaton's Golf Pride Division
• Mike Happe, Vice President, The TORO Company
• Peter Hill, Chairman and CEO, Billy Casper Golf
• Jerry Hinckley, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Textron Financial
• John Watson, Chairman and CEO, Edwin Watts Golf
New board officers were also elected. Fiorini succeeds Jim Connor as board Chairman, Peter Hill is now Vice Chairman (previously Fiorini), Colton will serve as Secretary and Jerry Hinckley will continue in his position as Treasurer (Hinckley previously held both the Secretary and Treasurer positions).
New board chairman Fiorini says, "It's been a privilege to sit on NGF's board. I'm honored to be chairman and I look forward to working closely with Joe and helping the organization continue its important work, as people like Jim Connor, Mark King, Cindy Davis and Ed Abrain did before me."
NGF's leader Beditz says, "I could not be more pleased with the new additions to our board and the new board officer elections. The collective input and business acumen of this group is an invaluable resource for NGF. They make sure we stay focused on developing and improving the research, products and services we offer."
Mr. Raskopf comments: "I know NGF has been a valued partner to GOLF Magazine for decades, always increasing our clarity on the trends in the golf market and the mindset of the avid golfers we serve. I'm excited to work with the other directors and the NGF staff."
Joe Barrow is intimately familiar with the NGF as he served on the organization's panel of directors previously and was Chairman from 2000-2001. "I'm proud to return to the NGF's board and contribute my point of view on the research most useful to the greater good of the industry. The NGF's role as an independent and objective market resource is critical as golf navigates through lifestyle and economic changes."
"Even considering its long history of serving the golf business community, I believe the NGF of today is more relevant than ever. In this climate, there are many more questions than answers, and the insights we've gained through our work with NGF have been extremely helpful in our strategic planning," says Chip Brewer, CEO of Adams Golf since 2002.
Bill Golden has been with Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday since 1996 and currently serves as the President of one of golf's premier golf travel organizations. MBGH markets the golf-centric destination on behalf of more than 100 members. "It will be an honor to serve the NGF along with this group of industry leaders. We've certainly benefited from their knowledge of the golf traveler, and Golf Holiday is also very involved and supportive of NGF's American Golf Census initiative which is helping golf businesses increase and enhance their customer databases," says Golden.
