Andy Priest Named Executive Director of the Alabama Golf Association

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. -- Longtime Carolinas Golf Association staffer, Andy Priest, was recently selected as the next Executive Director of the Alabama Golf Association (AGA). Priest's last day of his 16-year tenure with the CGA will be spent at the final round of the 70th Captain's Putter Team Matches on Oct. 17 at Old Town Club in Winston-Salem, N.C. He will officially begin his role with the Alabama Golf Association on November 1^st.  

Last year the AGA announced that Executive Director Buford McCarty, who held the job for 30 years, would retire at the end of 2015. Priest will be the second paid Executive Director in the Association's history. When McCarty first announced he would be retiring, the job as his successor was posted. Priest was interested and applied.             

"Such positions are few and far between, even more so in a desirable geographical area such as the Southeast. The opportunity was intriguing and I threw my name into the hat. I'd gone as far as I can go at the CGA and I wanted to do more."                            

A native of Raleigh, N.C., Priest's first love growing up was baseball and he played college baseball at Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C. However, his father, on staff at N.C. State, introduced him to the game as there is a par-3 course on the campus in Raleigh, N.C.

At Campbell, his enjoyment of golf was furthered by the fact that Keith Hills Golf Club is located on campus.              

"It was my sophomore year at Campbell and I came to the realization that professional baseball was not in my future. I already loved golf and when I went on to graduate school at Campbell I took a position as a Graduate Assistant for Operations. That got me connected with operations and tournament golf when Campbell hosted events at Keith Hills."        

The men's and women's head golf coach at Campbell, John Crooks, advised him to check into an internship with the Carolinas Golf Association. Priest applied and got the three month job in 1997. When his internship ended, he found a full-time job uniting his passion for the game of golf and its operations with the International Junior Golf Tour based in Hilton Head Island, S.C. He stayed with them for two and a half years before Jack Nance, Executive Director of the CGA, contacted him to see if he would come back.

Priest accepted and has been with the CGA since January 2000. While here he has overseen many varied roles and rose to second in command, as Assistant Executive Director overseeing the CGA's extensive tournament operations. Andy is an accomplished golf administrator and has conducted over 100 Rules of Golf educational seminars. He has served on numerous USGA Rules of Golf Committees for national championships such as the U.S. Open, U.S. Women's Open, U.S. Amateur, U.S. Senior Amateur, and U.S. Women's Amateur. He has also served as the Official in Charge for USGA qualifiers and Carolinas Golf Association championships.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for Andy we are extremely happy for him," Nance said. "Beginning with his CGA internship in 1997, he showed great talent in golf administration. The AGA has made an excellent choice.”

"It has been a great honor and privilege to work for the CGA," Priest said. "People is what makes the CGA the great organization that it is today. I cannot thank the executive committee, staff and volunteers enough for their support and friendship through the years. The outpour of well-wishes and congratulations has been overwhelming upon hearing the news. I will certainly miss all of the great places and faces here in the Carolinas."                                                     

Another longtime CGA employee will be leaving in the coming months. Tiffany, Andy's wife, has worked 14 years as the Association's  Director of Women's Golf and Membership Services. She will be joining him in Alabama at a date to be determined.               

"Tiffany is making the biggest sacrifice for me to take on the role at the Alabama Golf Association," said Andy. "She has worked tirelessly at the CGA for 14 years. She's been devoted to growing women's golf, is a USGA qualified rules official and loves golf administration, so she's giving up a lot."

Nance echoed Tiffany's dedication to the CGA. “Tiffany has been part of the CGA for over 13 years and she has worn many hats at the CGA," he said. "It will be difficult replacing her and we thank her for making the CGA a better golf association.”              

The Priest's have been dedicated to the improvement of the CGA for a combined 30 years. The staff, executive committee, and volunteers of the CGA wish them the best in their new endeavor.

 

About the Alabama Golf Association

The Alabama Golf Association has been in existence since 1915. The State Amateur Championship began in 1915 and will celebrate 100 years in 2016 (it was not played for two years during World War I). The State Junior began in 1946 and the State Four Ball in 1983.           

Other championships include the State Mid-Amateur (started in 1989); State Senior Four Ball (started in 1995); State Net (started in 1996, but discontinued a few years later); State Senior Amateur (started in 1998); and State Match Play (started in 2001). The AGA has also run the five women's state championship since 2010 when the Women's Alabama Golf Association merged with the AGA to form one entity.

The AGA also runs and/or officiates at countless other events including the State High School championships and prominent college events such as the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate and the Graeme McDowell/Shoal Creek Invite, plus all area USGA qualifiers.

For more information about the AGA, visit www.bamagolf.com.

 

About the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA)

The CGA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization that was founded in 1909 to promote and to protect the game of golf in the Carolinas by providing competitions, education, support and benefits to golf clubs and golfers. The CGA is the second largest golf association in the country with over 700 member clubs represented by nearly 150,000 individuals.

Now in its 106th year, the CGA annually conducts 43 championships and five team match competitions for men, women, juniors, and seniors. It also runs over 140 One-Day (net and gross) events and qualifying for USGA national championships. The CGA serves golf in the Carolinas with numerous programs such as: the USGA Handicap System; tournament management software and support; course measuring and course/slope ratings; agronomy consultation; answers about the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, and Handicapping; Carolinas Golf Magazine; Interclub series; Tarheel Youth Golf Association; Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame; expense assistance for USGA Junior and Girls' Junior qualifiers from the Carolinas; and the Carolinas Golf Foundation (CGF). The CGF has distributed more than $1,500,000 since 1977 to benefit Carolinas' golf initiatives including junior and women's programs.    

For more information about the CGA, visit www.carolinasgolf.org.

 

Parts of this release were contributed by the Alabama Golf Association.

 

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