The annual list recognizes those leaders who turned the industry’s dramatic shift into opportunity amid Coronavirus outbreak in 2020
Jupiter, FL – As the only trade organization to work with every sector within the golf industry, the National Golf Foundation (NGF) is well-represented in the Golf Inc.’s 2020 list of the 25 Most Powerful People in Golf, with the inclusion of half of its eight-member Board of Directors.
Troon CEO Tim Schantz shares the top spot on the annual list with Executive Chairman Dana Garmany for the third year in a row as they oversee the world’s largest golf management company. Schantz has been a member of the NGF board since 2018.
Mike McCarley, President of Golf for NBC Sports Group, is ranked 10th among the game’s most powerful while Annika Sorenstam, the Hall-of-Famer and founder of the ANNIKA Foundation, is 22nd. One spot behind Sorenstam is NGF President and CEO Joe Beditz, whose tenure with the organization dates back to 1984. McCarley, who runs Golf Channel and all other golf-related businesses for NBC, joined the NGF board in 2019 while Sorenstam, widely regarded as the best female golfer of all-time, came aboard the previous year with Schantz.
Overall, seven of Golf Inc.’s 25 Most Powerful People in Golf have served on the NGF’s board of directors, either currently or in past years.
“The diversity in the makeup of our board brings broad perspective to our efforts to help grow the business of golf as a whole,” said Beditz. “As such, we’re proud of the recognition from Golf Inc., particularly so because more than three quarters of the individuals and companies on their respected list are members of our strong NGF community.”
In recognizing the NGF and its CEO, Golf Inc. noted that Beditz’s research and analysis in regular letters to golf’s stakeholders during the Covid-19 era have become “must-reads in an industry trying to understand the present and future,” offering a mix of hope and caution. To read Golf Inc.’s full list of the Most Powerful People in Golf for 2020, click here.
About the National Golf Foundation
The National Golf Foundation is a community of individuals and golf businesses committed to being the most well-informed advocates for the growth of the industry. With the world’s largest research team dedicated to golf, NGF provides members with the most accurate and objective insights on the game, while helping golf companies and organizations better understand their market and grow their businesses. The NGF is the only association for everyone in golf, advocating for growth by educating and connecting its members.
Contact:
Erik Matuszewski
National Golf Foundation
Editorial Director
(561) 354-1637
(609) 577-0652
erikm@ngf.org
