Rand Jerris, Ph.D.

Senior Managing Director, Public Services

As USGA senior managing director for public services, Rand Jerris oversees a variety of functions, including the USGA Museum, Green Section, communications, facilities, philanthropic activities, diversity initiatives and strategic and operation planning.

Jerris has been with the USGA as a part-time employee since 1988, and full-time since 1999. He worked as an intern in the Museum for nine summers while completing his undergraduate and graduate studies, assuming the position of librarian/historian in 1999.

Prior to returning to the USGA, Jerris completed his doctorate in art and archaeology at Princeton University in May 1999. During his years at Princeton, he was also employed on a part-time basis by the World Golf Hall of Fame, working as a researcher and exhibition designer. Jerris received his undergraduate degree and his master’s degree from Williams College in 1991 and 1994, respectively.

As director of the USGA Museum from 2002-11, Jerris oversaw the USGA's collections of historical materials displayed and housed at the Association's headquarters in Far Hills, N.J. He remains active in researching and promoting the history of the game, with research interests that focus on golf-course architecture, golf art and the history of the golf in the Alps. 

Jerris also served as managing director of Communications for the USGA from 2009-11. In this position, he oversaw all public relations, media relations and communications activities of the Association.

Jerris has authored three books on golf: Golf’s Golden Age: Robert T. Jones Jr. and the Legendary Players of the ‘10s, ‘20s, and ‘30s (National Geographic, 2005); with Richard E. Donovan, The Game of Golf and the Printed Word: 1566-2005 (Castalio Press, 2007); and with Bill Mallon, The Historical Dictionary of Golf (Scarecrow Press, 2011). For his work with Donovan, Jerris was awarded the Murdoch Medal by the British Golf Collectors Society, in recognition of outstanding contributions to the game’s history.

He became interested in golf around the age of 12 when he found his father's clubs in the basement of the family home. Growing interests in golf and museums eventually led him to pursue an internship at the USGA Museum while a student at Williams College.

Jerris resides in Branchburg, N.J., with his wife, Kate. They have three children.