The PGA of America has announced that Joe Steranka will retire at the end of the year as chief executive. He will have spent seven years as the CEO of an association that serves 27,000 PGA club professionals and runs events that include the PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup, the PGA Grand Slam of Golf and the Senior PGA Championship.
“Joe has been a popular and visionary leader and the work he has done to date and the path he has set with Golf 2.0 leaves us in a strong position for the future,” said PGA President Allen Wronowski.
“In sharing the news with leaders in the golf industry over the weekend, it is very evident the positive impact he has had on The PGA and the game. We are finalizing our plan for the CEO transition including naming a search committee, but in the meantime we will continue with business as usual. The nine-month transition provides ample time for a complete and smooth transition. And while Joe will be leaving at the end of the year, I know he will remain a committed supporter and friend to The PGA of America.”
Steranka said it was time for him to find a new challenge while he is still young. “I want to take time to reap the rewards of 35 years of hard work,” he said. “I’m at a point in my life where I’m still young enough to look at new challenges. Golf does so many good things.”
He did not say what other interests he might pursue, but that “I’ll be available for golf in the future. I love golf, I love The PGA and I think the game is in a good spot right now,” he said. “It’s the biggest decision of my life.”
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