VILLAGE OF PINEHURST, N.C. – As part of the USGA’s Annual Meeting at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club, USGA President-elect Thomas J. O’Toole Jr. and Executive Director Mike Davis spoke to a group of more than 40 media members and observers and answered questions on a variety of topics. O’Toole gave the group a preview of some of the remarks he will make later today after he is formally installed as the Association’s 63rd president, while Davis spoke about the historic back-to-back U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open championships, to be played on Pinehurst No. 2 this June.
The media gathering was an opportunity for O’Toole to address some of the themes he will emphasize in his presidency. Specifically, they include the USGA’s commitment to making the game more accessible, more environmentally friendly and faster to play. O’Toole, who has worked as Rules official at more than 150 USGA championships, including every U.S. Open since 1990, also harkened back to the USGA’s founding on Dec. 22, 1894, to call out its mission to conduct the game’s finest championships and to write and interpret the Rules of Golf.
Davis explained the intent of the back-to-back championships when they were conceived several years ago, and why Pinehurst is the ideal place to have the best men and best women compete in consecutive weeks on the same golf course. He also went into detail on the goals for green speeds, fairway heights and bunker preparation for the championships.
This press conference was part of a full slate of activities and events during the USGA’s Annual Meeting & Service Awards at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club.