PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem announced that Golf Course Superintendents Association of America c.e.o. Steve Mona accepted the newly-created c.e.o. position of the World Golf Foundation. Mona has served as the c.e.o. for the GCSAA since November 1993.
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Mona's responsibilities will include overall management of the foundation, as well as overseeing the Foundation's industry relationships and ongoing global focus, plus its newly announced anti-doping administration office.
“Speaking for the GCSAA board of directors and the association's 20,000-plus members, it is indeed bittersweet," says GCSAA president Ricky D. Heine, CGCS. "We are extremely happy for Steve and his wife Cyndi for this wonderful opportunity. The World Golf Foundation is fortunate to have a person of Steve’s intelligence, integrity and vision to be its first chief executive. Just as GCSAA has prospered under his leadership, so too will the World Golf Foundation achieve even greater accomplishments with Steve at the helm."
Mona, 50, has been actively involved with the World Golf Foundation and its initiatives throughout the past decade, serving on the World Golf Hall of Fame advisory board and The First Tee advisory committee since 1998 and the GOLF 20/20 executive board since 1999. Mona came to the GCSAA after serving 10 years as executive director of the Georgia State Golf Association. He previously held positions with the USGA and Northern California Golf Association.
"I am delighted to join the World Golf Foundation team at such a significant time in its history," Mona says. "I look forward to working closely with the board, the executive committee and staff to advance the current and expanded initiatives of the foundation."
Mona says he was approached in January by Finchem about an executive position with the World Golf Foundation but nothing was firm because the WGF’s board didn’t determine anything at that time.
“Nothing was solid,” he says. “I needed to learn more about the job and the challenges and issues I would face. I eventually got a better insight and understanding of the job and a better feel for what I would do. It’s a great opportunity to work in the game in a different way.”
The GCSAA board of directors will meet to chart its course of action. At this point, Mona doesn’t know whether a search firm will be used, but the criteria for the position will be determined by the board. He has agreed to serve for up to another six months and will be involved in the process to find his successor in some capacity.
“It will be a smooth transition,” he says. “I might not stay on the whole six months because I might not be needed that long.”
In addition to Mona's appointment, the World Golf Foundation announced that Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., who has served as executive director of The First Tee youth golf initiative, will take on the new titles of executive vice president of the foundation and c.e.o. of The First Tee. Barrow, who will report to Mona and The First Tee Advisory Committee, adds development and U.S. government relations for the foundation to his responsibilities.
Also reporting directly to Mona will be: Jack Peter, senior vice president/c.o.o. of the World Golf Hall of Fame; Ruffin Beckwith, executive director of the GOLF 20/20 industry initiative; and Helen Atter, vice president, who oversees legal, administration and diversity for the foundation.
