Patrick M. O'Brien

 Director
Southeast Region

O'Brien is director of the USGA Green Section's Southeast Region, which includes the states of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and, internationally, Bermuda. He joined the USGA Green Section in 1979 after receiving his Master's Degree in Agronomy from West Virginia University and Bachelor's Degree from Marietta College in Ohio. He was born in the small town of Emsworth, Pa., just minutes away from downtown Pittsburgh and his two favorite sports teams, the Pirates and Steelers.

His main responsibility is heading the team that provides USGA Turfgrass Advisory Service in the region. Annual clients are approximately 250 golf courses, including public, private, military and resort facilities. Chris Hartwiger, senior agronomist for the SE Region, assists O'Brien visiting these courses, and together, they also speak at more than 50 turfgrass seminars, university and technical schools and Green Committee meetings. Their goal is to help all courses and golf course superintendents to become as successful as possible each year.

O'Brien and his wife Nancy live in Macon, Ga., with their twin daughters, Maggie and Katie, and basset hound Coco.