PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Ron Green Sr. of Charlotte, N.C., one of the nation’s most versatile and respected sports columnists who covered 75 major championships during his nearly half century of reporting, has been named the 17th recipient of the 2006 PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism.
Green, 76, will be honored April 5, at the 34th Golf Writers Association of America Annual Spring Dinner and Awards Ceremony at the Savannah Rapids Pavilion in Augusta, Ga.
"Ron Green has been the ultimate reporter and a consummate gentleman of his profession, and he is someone who has provided readers with a unique perspective on the premier events in sports," said PGA of America President Roger Warren. "We are fortunate that Ron has a love affair with golf, a passion he shares in his columns and through which he brings added attention to the game and its unforgettable personalities. We are very proud to present Ron with the PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism."
Born in Greenville, S.C., but who has been a Charlotte resident since the eighth grade, Green’s journalistic career began as a junior in high school covering prep sports for the former Charlotte News. He continued to carve an impressive niche at the newspaper, taking inspiration from such sportswriting legends as Red Smith and Jimmy Cannon, and eventually rising to sports editor and later an award-winning columnist. In 1984, Green moved to the Charlotte Observer, where he remained until his retirement in 1999.
"It never occurred to me that I might receive an award like this," said Green. "I’m so happy, and it is overwhelming. What makes it doubly pleasing for me is the wonderful list of former winners."
By his count, Green has covered 75 major championships, including 52 Masters; to go with an impressive resume that includes four Olympic Games, 25 Super Bowls, the World Series, U.S. Tennis Opens, one world heavyweight boxing championship between Muhammad Ali and Larry Holmes; and 26 NCAA Final Fours. He is the author of four books: From Tobacco Road to Amen Corner: On Sports and Life (1990); Shouting at Amen Corner (1999); Slow Dancing with Bobby Jones (2004) and a History of Charlotte Country Club (2005).
"I’ve been fortunate to have had people who normally don’t care for sports come up to me and said that they enjoyed what I wrote," said Green. "I felt my greatest strength was observation, seeing how the ball looked against the sky, things like that, and listening to the sounds of the games. I always managed to get the azaleas into a story or two at the Masters."
Green has won four Golf Writers Association of America awards; is a five-time North Carolina Sportswriter of the Year; and is a member of the North Carolina Sports and U.S. Basketball Writers Halls of Fame.
Green and his wife, Beth, are the parents of sons Ron Jr., also an award-winning sportswriter for the Charlotte Observer; and David, a graphic designer; and daughter, Edie, a Spanish professor.
The PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism, first presented in 1989, honors members of the media for their steadfast promotion of golf. Past award winners include: Dick Taylor, Herbert Warren Wind, Jim Murray, Frank Chirkinian, Bob Green, Dan Jenkins, Furman Bisher, Jack Whitaker, Dave Anderson, Ken Venturi, Jim McKay, Kaye Kessler, Nick Seitz, Renton Laidlaw, Bob Verdi and Al Barkow.
The award selection committee is composed of representatives from The PGA of America, PGA Tour, USGA, LPGA Tour, Champions Tour, European Tour, Golf Superintendents Association of America, National Golf Course Owners Association, American Society of Golf Course Architects, the National Golf Foundation and past recipients.
Celebrating its 90th anniversary, The PGA of America was founded in 1916, and is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. The Association is comprised of more than 28,000 men and women PGA Professionals who are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.
Contact:
Julius Mason
561/624-8444
jmason@pgahq.com
