The USGA has announced that Kevin Hammer of Florida has been nominated to serve as the association’s 68th president.
Hammer’s nomination highlights the USGA nominating committee’s 2026 executive committee slate, joined by Brenda Corrie Kuehn of North Carolina and Suzy Whaley of Florida, who have each been nominated to serve on the USGA Executive Committee, a volunteer group of 15 people that provides strategic and financial oversight as the Association’s policymaking and governance board.
Leslie Henry of Texas, Bryan Lewis of Michigan, Michael McCarthy of California and Andy North of Wisconsin have all been nominated to serve a second three-year term on the Committee.
The election of executive committee members will take place at the USGA Annual Meeting on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, in New York.
Hammer, who will assume the presidency from Fred Perpall of Texas, is a former first-team American Junior Golf Association All-American who played collegiately at the University of Florida and has qualified for multiple USGA championships. He spent 10 years as a member of the Florida State Golf Association Executive Committee, including two years as president from 2020-21. Hammer, who is entering his fifth year as a member of the USGA Executive Committee, currently chairs the USGA’s Championship Committee and serves on the Compensation & Leadership Development, Governance, International Team Selection and Nominating committees.
Professionally, Hammer has been with Merrill Lynch for more than 25 years. He currently serves as the managing director of the firm’s Rubin, Hammer, Eaton & Conrad Wealth Management Group, which manages investments for individuals, families, foundations and professional athletes.
“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Kevin Hammer as the next president of the USGA,” USGA CEO Mike Whan said. “His deep passion for golf, experience and relationships across all levels of the game, and unwavering commitment to our mission make him the ideal person to lead our executive committee into the future. Together, we’ll continue driving the game forward, strengthening its future and deepening its impact.”
Joining Hammer, Henry, Lewis, McCarthy and North in returning to the USGA Executive Committee are: Sinclair Eaddy, Jr. of Maryland; Andrew Biggadike of New Jersey; Dianne Dixon of Florida, David Dorton of Georgia; Virginia C. Drosos of Texas; Cathy Engelbert of New Jersey; Jim Gorrie of Alabama; and David Leitch of Virginia.
Per the association’s bylaws, if elected Kuehn and Whaley will each serve a three-year term beginning in 2026, with the potential to be elected for a second and final three-year term in 2029. They will assume seats vacated by Perpall, who will conclude his term as president at the USGA’s Annual Meeting in February, and Courtney Myhrum of Pennsylvania, who will retire after consecutive three-year terms on the Executive Committee.
