MGA Executive Director Joe Sprague Elected as 2012 International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA) President

Norton, MA — Joe Sprague, Jr., who has served as the MGA executive director for the past five years, was elected president of the International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA) during the 45th IAGA Annual Meeting held at Pinehurst, NC from November 6-9.

“It’s an honor to be elected president of the IAGA and to be able to represent all the men and women who work for state, regional and provincial golf associations,” said Sprague. “I am especially pleased to follow in the footsteps of both Dick Haskell and Tom Landry, my two predecessors at the MGA, who both served as president of the IAGA.”

Sprague was introduced to the game of golf by his father, Joe Sr., at the age of five and began caddying at the age of 10, a job that he continued for 10 years. Even while attending Providence College, Sprague was not far from the game, spending each of his four college summers working on the grounds crew at a local golf course. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English.

After spending two years as a caddy on the PGA Tour, Sprague got his start in the golf administration business when he was hired by the Rhode Island Golf Association in 1992, serving eight years as Tournament Director and seven as Executive Director. Part of his stint at the RIGA was spent working under the tutelage of his father, Joe Sr. Sprague. In 2007, he took over as MGA executive director for Landry.

As executive diector of the MGA, Sprague oversees an organization that manages the USGA/MGA GHIN Handicap program for more than 90,000 golfers across the Bay State. It also runs a successful Championship Schedule, the wildly popular MGA Member Days program - which he spearheaded back in 2010 – and The First Tee of Massachusetts which serves junior golfers at five satellite facilities.

In his first statement as newly elected IAGA President, Sprague spoke of his appreciation for the opportunity to lead the IAGA and never imagined attaining the office when he began working in golf administration. He expressed gratitude for the influence of past IAGA titans and noted that he is looking forward to representing the IAGA in 2012 at various national and regional meetings and championships.

Sprague currently serves on several USGA Committees, including the Regional Associations Committee, the Joe Dey Award Committee, and the Herbert Warren Wind Book Award Committee.

Also elected as IAGA Board members were Vice President Tom Ryan of the Minnesota Golf Association, Secretary Jay Fox of the Arkansas Golf Association, Treasurer Mark Hill of the Kentucky Golf Association, and Members at Large Rob Addington of the Texas Golf Association and Kevin Heaney of the Southern California Golf Association. The Immediate Past President is Robin E. Jervey of the Colorado Women’s Golf Association.

About the International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA): 
Originally created in 1968 as a small, informal gathering, the IAGA now includes over 250 golf administrators representing over 3 million golfers. Members are golf administrators of regional amateur golf associations and employees of national and international golf organizations. The IAGA has members from the United States Golf Association, the Royal Canadian Golf Association, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the PGA of America, Club Managers Association of America, National Golf Foundation, National Club Association and most of the state and provincial golf associations throughout North America.