Derek Sprague publicly announced today that he is stepping down as CEO of the PGA of America to return to New York and care for his aging mother and mother-in-law. The decision, communicated to the PGA of America Board of Directors in early December, ends what appeared to be a promising tenure at the helm of one of golf’s most influential organizations after just one year.
Sprague assumed the CEO role in January 2024. The position capped a career that took him from the bag room of Malone Golf Club in Northern New York to the highest executive office in the PGA of America. My profile of Sprague in PGA Magazine’s GM Monthly in early 2025 detailed a career built on operational excellence and collaborative leadership.
“At my daughter’s wedding last month in upstate New York, it became clear that my family needs me nearby to assist with the care of my mother and mother-in-law,” Sprague explained in the announcement. “Focusing on family has become my priority, and the best decision for me is to step away from my role as CEO and return home to be with them.”
The timing carries particular weight given Sprague’s deep roots in the region. At 15, he started working in the bag room at Malone Golf Club before moving to the golf shop during high school. During his senior year at James Madison University, Sprague submitted a proposal stating he would return to Malone only if he could manage the entire operation. The club accepted. He stayed for 26 years.
According to my profile, Sprague’s work at Malone transformed the club. He rescued it from near bankruptcy following an expansion to 36 holes, eventually building membership to over 850 members, including more than 100 Canadian members. He installed specialized cash registers with separate drawers for U.S. and Canadian currency. The attention to detail became a pattern throughout his career.
The PGA Tour recruited him in January 2016 to run Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, New Jersey. After two years, he earned a promotion to general manager of TPC Sawgrass, where he managed approximately 300 employees and oversaw the complex logistics of hosting THE PLAYERS Championship. At Sawgrass, Sprague again turned around struggling operations, achieving financial recovery within a couple of years.
Sprague built his career on collaborative leadership and team development. “The most important asset a business has is its people,” he told me in the GM Monthly interview. “My style of leadership is collaborative, and although it took me a few years to realize that training, developing and mentoring were keys to success, I’m a big proponent of that now.”
He carried this philosophy into his vision for the PGA of America. In that same interview, Sprague expressed confidence in the organization’s more than 30,000 golf professionals, noting they were “in the center of” tremendous growth in recreational golf. He praised the educational initiatives at the PGA of America’s headquarters in Frisco, Texas, describing them as “world-class seminars” that “continue to develop the latest in education to keep up with the industry.”
Sprague’s connection to the PGA of America runs deep. He became a member in 1993 and served in various leadership roles, including as a Board Member from 2008-10. He was elected as an Officer in 2010, then served as the 39th President of the Association from 2014-16. His contributions were recognized with induction into the PGA of America Hall of Fame in 2019.
“Serving as CEO of the PGA of America over the past year has been an incredible honor, and I will always be grateful for the trust placed in me by the Board and thank them for their understanding,” Sprague said in his departure statement. “I also want to thank our staff for their tireless dedication. Their passion and commitment inspire me, and I know the Association will continue to thrive as it carries forward the proud mission of serving our members and growing the game.”
The PGA of America Board and Officers have fully supported Sprague’s decision, acknowledging his leadership and significant contributions during his brief tenure. The organization expects to name a new CEO in the coming weeks, with Sprague continuing to advise the board and incoming CEO to ensure a smooth transition.
Sprague’s decision to leave a CEO position after one year to care for family members is unusual in an industry built on ambition and career advancement. His path from bag room to boardroom, and now back to New York, shows that professional success sometimes requires stepping away when personal circumstances change.