George Peper, editor-in-chief of “Golf Magazine” for a quarter of a century and author of 17 books on golf and golf courses, has been chosen to receive the 2008 Donald Ross Award from the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA). He will accept the award during ASGCA’s 62nd Annual Meeting, on April 3, 2008 in St. Andrews, Scotland.
The award is given annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to golf and golf course architecture. President Steve Forrest, ASGCA will present the award to Peper at the group’s Donald Ross Banquet at the Rusacks Hotel in St. Andrews.
“George Peper is one of the most knowledgeable voices in golf, respected for his prolific journalistic and publishing career and his respect for and knowledge of golf courses,” notes Forrest. “He continues as editor-at-large for ‘Links’ Magazine and lives in St. Andrews. I will be honored to present this award to a man who has devoted his career to understanding and promoting golf and golf courses.”
Long Career in Golf and Golf Publishing
Peper is a graduate of Princeton University, and went on to study for his Ph.D. in comparative literature at Yale University. He left that program to join the staff of “Golf Magazine.” Under his stewardship, the magazine became the most widely-read in the industry and began publishing the first “Top 100 Golf Courses in the World” lists. While there, he also published a number of books on the game, including “The World’s 500 Greatest Golf Holes,” “Golf Courses of the PGA Tour,” “Golf in America” and most recently “Two Years in St. Andrews: At Home on the 18th Hole.”
Peper is a member of five clubs in Scotland, including the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, where he is the first American on the Club Committee. His “The Need System” was adopted by the USGA as the recommended method for allocating handicap strokes across 18 holes, and he has worked with clubs worldwide on pace of play. He is also a partner in Golf Magazine China Consulting, which matches golf architects with development projects in China.
The Donald Ross Award was established by the ASGCA Board of Governors in 1976 and is given annually to an individual who has made a positive impact on golf and golf course architecture. Its first recipient was one of ASGCA’s Founding Fathers, Robert Trent Jones. ASGCA’s Donald Ross Award Committee is led by Past President Rees Jones, ASGCA.
Peper will be the 33rd winner of the Donald Ross Award.
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Editor’s Note: A photo of George Peper is available upon request.
Previous Donald Ross Award Recipients
| Year | Recipient | Occupation |
|
2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 |
George Pepper Dr. Michael Hurdzan Jim Awtrey John Singleton Thomas Cousins Bill Campbell Byron Nelson Jack Nicklaus Jaime Ortiz-Patiño Arnold Palmer Judy Bell Gene Sarazen Ron Whitten Pete Dye James R. Watson Brent Wadsworth Paul Fullmer Michael Bonallack John Zoller Dick Taylor Frank Hannigan Charles Price Deane Beman Peter Dobereiner Dinah Shore Al Radko Geoffrey Cornish James Rhodes Gerald Micklem Joe Dey Herb and Joe Graffis Herbert Warren Robert Trent Jones |
Golf Writer Golf Course Architect CEO, PGA of America Irrigation Pioneer Philanthropist; Urban Golf Developer President, USGA; Captain, Royal & Ancient Golf Club Professional Golfer Professional Golfer; Golf Course Architect Owner and President, Valderrama Golf Club Professional Golfer President, USGA Professional Golfer Golf Writer Golf Course Architect Agronomist Golf Course Builder ASGCA Executive Secretary Secretary, Royal and Ancient (St. Andrews) Former Executive Director, No. California Golf Association Editor, Golf World Magazine Executive Director, USGA Golf World Magazine PGA Tour Commissioner London Observer Columnist; Author Sponsor of Women’s Golf Tournaments Former Director, USGA Green Section Golf Course Architect; Historian Governor of Ohio Former Captain, Royal and Ancient Former Executive Director of the USGA Founders, National Golf Foundation Wind Golf Digest Columnist; Author Founding Member of ASGCA |
ASGCA Background
Founded in 1946 by 14 leading architects, including Donald Ross and Robert Trent Jones, Sr., the American Society of Golf Course Architects is a non-profit organization comprised of 180 golf course designers located throughout the United States and Canada. Members are actively involved in the design of new courses, the renovation of existing layouts, and issues affecting the future of the game.
Media Contact
Aileen Smith
American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA)
125 N. Executive Dr., Suite 106
Brookfield, WI 53005
262-786-5960 | 262-786-5919 (FAX)