David Fay Moves on to Golf Digest


Former USGA executive director David Fay will become a monthly columnist for Golf Digest. The first article by Fay, who retired from the USGA after 32 years - 21 as its executive director, will be in the April 2011 issue.

"David Fay has one of the brightest minds in sport, as his friends in golf have known for 30 years," said Golf Digest Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Jerry Tarde. "He's incisive, witty and opinionated. He understands the game at the highest level from the perch of the U.S. Open-and the lowest level as a passionate golfer with a bag full of hybrids.

"He has participated in every major decision and event in golf for the last generation. And he brings to all this a democratizing sense of inclusion. It was no accident he's known as the man who took the Open public. This kind of refreshing attitude and insight is what he'll share with readers. In other words, don't be fooled by the bow tie."

Fay developed quite a legacy with the USGA. As the association's sixth executive director, he not only helped bring golf back as an Olympic sport but took the association's marquee event, the U.S. Open, to public courses, including Bethpage in 2002 and '09, Torrey Pines in 2008, Chambers Bay in 2015 and Erin Hills in 2017.

Fay, who started his career as a caddie, is a graduate of Colgate University, where he majored in English and political science and was a member of the varsity golf team. He was employed as communications director at the Metropolitan (N.Y.) Golf Association from 1976-78 and was the recipient of the MGA's Distinguished Service Award in 2009.