Finchem to Chair World Golf Foundation

Tim Finchem
photo courtesy PGA Tour

Tim Finchem, Commissioner of the PGA TOUR, has been named Chairman of the World Golf Foundation’s Board of Directors for 2014. Finchem succeeds Mike Whan, the Commissioner of the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), who served as the 2013 Board Chairman.

Tim Finchem began his 20th year as commissioner of the PGA TOUR in June 2013. Finchem has also been instrumental in the formation of the World Golf Foundation. His personal dedication to the success of the World Golf Foundation's The First Tee initiative has meant that, in just 15 years, The First Tee has grown to include close to 200 chapters that have reached more than 7.6 million young people.

“It is an honor to be selected as Chairman and I’m looking forward to working closely with our game’s leaders to address issues of global importance,” said Finchem. “Golf has never been healthier worldwide and it is our responsibility to ensure its continued vitality.”

“Tim’s long-time leadership in the golf industry will be critical as we focus on enhancing the growth of the game worldwide,” said Steve Mona, Chief Executive Officer of the World Golf Foundation. “He has an outstanding record of achievement and we look forward to his leadership in 2014.”

In addition to Finchem and Whan, the other World Golf Foundation Board members are Pete Bevacqua, Chief Executive Officer of the PGA of America; Mike Davis, Executive Director of the United States Golf Association; Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A; Will Jones, Executive Director of The Masters Tournament Foundation and George O’Grady, Chief Executive of the PGA European Tour. Chris Normyle, Manager, Sponsorships and Events of the Shell Oil Company, also serves on the WGF Board as a representative of the WGF’s Founding Partner.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf