(This content was first published in the Spring 2026 issue of Golf Journal, the official publication of the USGA.)

Henry Hill’s opening line in “Goodfellas” declares: “I always wanted to be a gangster.” It’s not nearly as cold, but I knew in my early 20s that I wanted to work in golf. More than 30 years later, I appreciate that gift of knowing where I wanted to be. I grew up playing competitive tennis in White Plains, N.Y. – my intro to golf was blading wedges on the grounds of North Street School. A bit later, I ventured out onto a muni named Maple Moor after being mesmerized by the fizzing ball flight produced by my friend Frank Bensel. This was four decades before his historic back-to-back 6-iron aces in the 2024 U.S. Senior Open at Newport C.C. I got a taste of club life during summers as a tennis pro, and playing after-hours holes hooked me on golf. I read Golf Magazine, Golf Digest, Links and anything else I could get my hands on. After failing to walk on the tennis team at Lehigh University, golf became my sport – up there with hopping on the bus for 100+ Grateful Dead shows.

Upon graduating, I took a widely opened mind to my first job on Madison Avenue, at the ad agency Ammirati & Puris. I made lifelong friends (including my incredible wife, Alyson) and saw first-hand how a great company operated. With help from two golf industry veterans, I built a Rolodex of contacts that helped me land a job at Golf Magazine in 2000. It was a fascinating seven-year ride that led to a meeting with the National Golf Foundation’s Joe Beditz, who would become my mentor and the man I succeeded as its CEO in 2024.

As I wrap up my 19th year at the NGF, I’m proud and, yes, immensely grateful. The NGF is best known as golf’s definitive source for data, insights and the state of the golf business. Relationships are what I value most, and the partnership with the USGA has been strong for decades. Arming CEO Mike Whan and his team with independent, data-backed insights is challenging and rewarding. We all care deeply about making the game better every year.

I’m where I always hoped and intended I’d be, attempting to prove that there isn’t a single golf business the NGF can’t help. Being in your dream job … now that’s gangster!