Hunterdon County's Mike Davis named new director of USGA

March 3, 2011 - PRLog -- In searching for its new executive director, the U.S. Golf Association received a bevy of applications, recommendations and résumés from a slew of qualified individuals. But in the end, golf’s governing body didn’t have to look far to replace David Fay.

It just had to go down the hall.

This afternoon, the USGA made it official that Mike Davis — the senior director of rules and competitions — is the seventh executive director in the organization’s history. ( Callaway Diablo Octane Tour Driver = http://www.enjoymygolf.com/goods-148-Callaway+Diablo+Octane+Tour+Driver.html  )

“He ran a great ship,” Davis said during a teleconference today. “There wasn’t necessarily a succession plan when David left. So what I would tell you is there are some areas that I’m going to have to educate myself on. I’m going to have to rely on other key people on staff, take it from there one day at a time.”

Since joining the USGA in 1989, Davis has risen to become one of the USGA’s most high-profile individuals. For the past five years, he has been the man in charge of course setup for the organization’s top events: the U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Senior Open, U.S. Amateur and Walker Cup.

Also, in a move that is unprecedented, Davis will continue to have input on course selection and setup of the U.S. Open while ascending to the executive director’s chair.

“I will give up the other portions of the conduct of the Open, such as being on the course, being a rules official,” Davis said. “Being the person that blows the horn for the suspension of play, those kinds of things. But I do think when it comes to the golf course setup part, working with the grounds staff — given the hours I do that — I can still retain that for the U.S. Open. ... That’s one Callaway Diablo Octane Tour Driver  that I just have incredible interest in.”

The 46-year-old Davis, a resident of Union Township in Hunterdon County, succeeds Fay, a former Summit resident, who retired on Dec. 24 after 21 years on the job.

Reached via e-mail while traveling to spring training destinations in Arizona, Fay said: “Mike will do a superb job.”

While Davis will continue to have input into course selection for the U.S. Open and its setup for the championship, he did reiterate that the USGA’s Championship Committee will still have the final say on where the Open will be held.

“I don’t really see any of that changing at all,” Davis said. “David Fay was involved in that whole process. I will be but there will be a lot of others. Ultimately, it’s the board of directors that decides where we go for that.” ( Callaway Diablo Octane Tour Driver = http://www.enjoymygolf.com/goods-148-Callaway+Diablo+Octa...  )

One point that Davis did touch on, was the idea of a contingency course for the USGA to use for the U.S. Open in case of a last-minute catastrophe at an Open site. Trump National-Bedminster has been rumored to be a potential spot for a contingency plan. Davis reiterated that no such plans have been finalized.

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