The PGA of America to establish N.Y. office at 'Golf Central'

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Returning to its roots, The PGA of America will establish a New York office that will serve as a footprint in the region that gave what is now the world’s largest sports organization its birth in 1916. The office will be established within the “Golf Central” site of the headquarters of both the Metropolitan PGA Section and the Metropolitan Golf Association, in Elmsford, N.Y.

The PGA New York Office will be led by The PGA of America’s Chief Marketing Officer Kevin Ring, who will relocate to the area, for a planned Fall opening. The space will be used by The PGA’s Officers, Leadership Team and Staff, as The PGA prepares for its Centennial Celebration in 2016; the 98th PGA Championship at Baltusrol Golf Club in nearby Springfield, N.J., in 2016; and to foster deeper marketing, broadcasting, public relations and communications relationships in the world’s largest media capital.

The PGA of America was founded at the Hotel Martinique on April 10, 1916 (now the Radisson Martinique on Broadway), after an exploratory meeting at the then nearby Taplow Club called by department store magnate Rodman Wanamaker—the namesake donator of the coveted Wanamaker Trophy, which is annually awarded to the PGA Champion. Among those attending the exploratory meeting were Walter Hagen, Francis Ouimet, A.W. Tillinghast and several prominent golf officials. The inaugural PGA Championship was also played that year in Bronxville, N.Y. (located just miles from the new PGA New York Office), and won by Jim Barnes.

“We are very excited about establishing a foothold in the New York Metropolitan Area, near the birthplace of The PGA of America,” said PGA Chief Executive Officer Pete Bevacqua. “New York holds a key to our future and a special link to our storied past. As we drive forward towards our Centennial in 1916, the region will play a major role in telling the story of the first 100 years of The PGA and what the next 100 have in store for our Association.”

“We now join other major sports entities that have a vital presence in the region, including the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball and our friends at the PGA Tour,” said Bevacqua. “Many of our key corporate relationships are centered in or around the New York Metropolitan Area, and I know that our Chief Business Officer, Kevin Carter, and his team are planning to utilize the space extensively. In addition, our domestic broadcast partners, including CBS, NBC and Turner, all have a headquarters or an extensive presence in the region, and this will only help to deepen our relationships with them all. Of course, Palm Beach Gardens is our home, but a New York presence is an essential move, as we head toward our very promising future.”

As part of a developing relationship with the Empire State, The PGA of America also recently announced a partnership with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to promote the first-ever “Taste NY” Experience at the 95th PGA Championship in Rochester, Aug. 5-11. This summer, New York will host a PGA Championship for a record 12th time within its borders, more than any other state in the country.

“The MGA and Metropolitan New York golf community are thrilled to have The PGA of America return to its roots and join us at Golf Central,” said Jay Mottola, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Golf Association. “We look forward to working alongside them as they drive forward towards another 100 years in golf.”

In addition to steering the New York Office, Kevin Ring will continue to oversee the Marketing, Creative Resources, Research and Communications Departments at PGA Headquarters in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., where he develops and manages integrated marketing plans for The PGA that are designed to grow the Association’s assets. As well, Ring is responsible for strategically positioning The PGA’s commercial assets, including its Championships, meetings and ancillary events, to market the organization and its brand globally.

“It is a historic accomplishment to open an office in the area The PGA of America first called home nearly a century ago,” said Ring. “This strategic move will enable The PGA to have faster access to our partners, sponsors, licensees and fellow sports entities than ever before, in order to take the business of The PGA to a higher level of investment and awareness worldwide.”

The address of the PGA New York Office will be: 49 Knollwood Road, Elmsford, N.Y. 10523. PGA Headquarters will continue to remain in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

About The PGA of America

Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has maintained a twofold mission: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry. By creating and delivering world-class championships and innovative programs, The PGA of America elevates the public’s interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. As The PGA nears its centennial, the PGA brand represents the very best in golf.

About Golf Central

Golf Central was built in 1994 in Elmsford, NY on property purchased from Knollwood Country Club, one of the founding members of the Metropolitan Golf Association. It was created to serve as the hub of golf in the Metropolitan Area and today is headquarters for the MGA and MGA Foundation, as well as the Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association, Westchester Golf Association, Metropolitan Section of the PGA, Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association, Metropolitan Club Managers Association, Metropolitan Golf Writers Association, and four regional and national senior organizations. In 2010 the MGA and MGA Foundation built an additional 6,000 square foot addition to Golf Central to accommodate the growing needs of its fellow golf organizations and to better serve golfers in the MGA community.

About the MGA

The Metropolitan Golf Association was founded in 1897 and is one of the nation’s oldest and largest amateur golf associations representing more than 500 clubs in the tri-state Metropolitan Area. Through a network of more than 300 volunteers, and a full-time staff operating out of its Golf Central headquarters in Elmsford, N.Y., the Association fulfills its role as a true non-profit service organization. Through a variety of unique, relevant, and innovative services for member clubs and area golfers, the MGA has established itself as a leader among local and national golf organizations.