American Junior Golf Association (Advisory Board Category: Junior Golf & Tournament Operations)

Since 1984, Stephen Hamblin has served as the Executive Director of the American Junior Golf Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. Under his guidance, the Association has grown from 17 tournaments and 1,500 members in 1984 to 84 tournaments and more than 5,000 members in 2010. With a full-time staff of 58, the AJGA strives to provide first-class competition at premier venues for the world's finest junior golfers. Corporate partners include Titleist (national sponsor), and Rolex and Polo Ralph Lauren (premier partners).

A milestone achievement during the Stephen's tenure was the implementation of the ACE Grant, a financial assistance program for junior golfers who lack the resources but possess the talent to play highly competitive junior golf. Other initiatives of the AJGA are aimed at Pace of Play and Code of Conduct, as the AJGA aims to reinforce golf's values in its next generation.

Stephen is especially proud of his staff, who constantly strive to improve the programs and service of the AJGA. As a testament to the AJGA staff’s abilities, former staff can be found throughout the golf industry, including: Jeff Monday, PGA TOUR Senior V.P.; C.A. Roberts, O.B. Sports Senior V.P.; PGA TOUR tournament directors Peter Ripa (Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial) and Mark Brazil (Wyndham Championship); John Kaczkowski, President and CEO of the Western Golf Association; Steve Ethun, Director of Communications at Augusta National; Joel Schuchmann, PGA TOUR Senior Manager of Communications; and numerous college golf coaches.

Stephen earned his B.A. in Landscape Architecture at Michigan State University. His first career stop was at Innisbrook Resort, where he became the Resident Professional at the Copperhead course before departing to join the AJGA. During his AJGA tenure, he has seen the likes of Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk, Vicki Goetze-Ackerman, Pat Hurst and Dottie Pepper progress through the junior golf ranks en route to even greater college and professional success. Stephen brings the perspective of junior golf to the Executive Committee of Golf 20/20, the World Golf Foundation initiative to grow the game of golf.

Away from the office, Stephen is a family man at heart, raising his four daughters and one son with his wife Carol. He is an avid fly fisherman and still carries a scratch handicap on the golf course.

Website: http://www.ajga.org

Areas of expertise: Golf Operations

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