The PGA of America announced on June 26, 2024, that CEO Seth Waugh decided to transition from his role as CEO to an advisory position.
A national search for a new CEO, encompassing both internal and external candidates, is currently underway. During this transition period, Chief Championships Officer Kerry Haigh will step in as interim CEO. Haigh, a member of the PGA of America leadership team since 1989, will not be considered for the permanent CEO role.
Waugh, appointed CEO in August 2018 after serving a three-year term as an independent director on the PGA of America board of directors, has been with the association for nearly nine years.
“I am proud of all that we have accomplished for our more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals and the game,” Waugh said in an official statement. “I have enjoyed every moment serving alongside all of my colleagues, all the various officers and board members and getting to know so many of our dedicated members who are on the front line of the game that we love every day of the year. The day-to-day game has never been stronger, more beloved or better positioned for the future because of their passion and how we have all worked together to make millions of lives better through our remarkable sport.”
As a board advisor, Waugh played a pivotal role in developing the PGA of America’s landmark 11-year media rights agreements with CBS and ESPN. As CEO, he successfully completed complex agreements on the transformational $500 million public/private partnership with Omni Hotels & Resorts, the city of Frisco, its economic and community development corporations and Frisco ISD. He advanced the business of the PGA of America in many ways, including securing groundbreaking partner deals with Rolex and T-Mobile. Additionally, he expanded the impact of the PGA of America REACH Foundation by spearheading a $100 million capital campaign to "Impact Lives Through Golf."
Waugh also established the first deferred compensation retirement plan for PGA of America Members. Under his leadership, the number of PGA Golf Professionals surpassed 30,000, compensation reached new heights, and member satisfaction hit an all-time high.
As CEO, Waugh led the PGA through the pandemic, creating the $8 million Golf Emergency Relief Fund and the Back 2 Golf initiative with the CDC, resulting in historic growth in rounds played. He also coordinated industry efforts for the "Make Golf Your Thing" movement and expanded community access to golf. “The goal from the start was to leave the room better than we found it and I believe that together we have done just that,” Waugh said.
In 2022, Waugh received the Judge Robert Mangum Diversity Champion Award from One Hundred Black Men of New York, and was also honored with the Sports Leadership Award for his "caring and transformational leadership" at the 39th Annual March of Dimes Sports Luncheon.
“On behalf of the more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals, we are grateful for Seth’s leadership and for all that he accomplished for our members, our game, the business and our people,” said PGA of America President John Lindert, PGA director of golf at The Country Club of Lansing in Lansing, Michigan. “He skillfully led us through incredibly challenging times and was always a great partner. We are fortunate to be able to call on him going forward for his always helpful advice and counsel.”
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