Maj. Dan Rooney, founder of the Folds of Honor Foundation and Patriot Golf Day, and majority owner of The Patriot Golf Club, Tulsa, Okla., has been selected by the ASGCA as the 2014 Donald Ross Award recipient. The award will be presented May 5, 2014 during the 68th ASGCA Annual Meeting in Tulsa, Okla.

A native of Stillwater, Okla., Rooney began his military career as an Air Force pilot. As a member of the Oklahoma Air National Guard he served three combat tours in Iraq, and has received many decorations, including the Distinguished Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Medal, Anti-Terrorism Medal, Combat Readiness Medal and Air Expeditionary Medal.

A Class A PGA Professional golfer, Rooney devotes himself to assisting the families of those killed or disabled in service to the U.S. in Iraq, Afghanistan and Vietnam. Funds raised during Patriot Golf Day support the scholarships awarded to military families through the Folds of Honor Foundation. Since 2007, the Folds of Honor has raised more than $38 million and awarded nearly 5,500 scholarships.

“Maj. Dan Rooney’s focus and dedication to helping the families of fallen heroes and wounded veterans through golf is inspirational,” ASGCA President Rick Robbins said. “We in the industry know what the beauty of golf layouts and the challenge and fun of the game can do for players. Dan’s dedication puts that inherent good of the game to work by giving back to those who have sacrificed so much for our country.

“Dan has taken the next step in using the game of golf for good by developing a golf course dedicated to helping our military members and their families. Making The Patriot Golf Club a reality shows how far that dedication goes. Donating a portion of the joining fee to Folds of Honor, placing the foundation’s headquarters there and creating programming for wounded warriors shows that the development of the club was really for a higher purpose.”

]The Patriot Golf Club motto, “Great Golf for the Greater Good,” is affirmed daily at 1300 hours. Bells toll 13 times in honor of the 13 folds that bring the American Flag to its triangle shape. The Patriot is the host site for The Patriot Cup held annually on Memorial Day and televised the Golf Channel.

The Donald Ross Award was established by the ASGCA Board of Governors in 1976. For more information on ASGCA, visit www.asgca.org, call (262) 786-5960 or e-mail info@asgca.org.

Past Donald Ross Award Recipients

2013    Rees Jones, ASGCA Fellow, golf course architect

2012    Bill Kubly, golf course builder

2011    James Dodson, golf writer/editor

2010    Tim Finchem, PGA Tour Commissioner

2009    Ron Dodson, sustainable golf advocate

2008    George Peper, golf writer

2007    Dr. Michael Hurdzan, ASGCA, golf course architect

2006    Jim Awtrey, chief executive officer, PGA of America

2005    John Singleton, irrigation pioneer

2004    Thomas Cousins, philanthropist, urban golf developer

2003    Bill Campbell, president, USGA, captain, Royal & Ancient Golf Club

2002    Byron Nelson, professional golfer

2001    Jack Nicklaus, ASGCA, professional golfer, golf course architect

2000    Jaime Ortiz-Patino, owner and president, Valderrama Golf Club

1999    Arnold Palmer, professional golfer

1998    Judy Bell, president, USGA

1997    Gene Sarazen, professional golfer

1996    Ron Whitten, golf writer

1995    Pete Dye, ASGCA, golf course architect

1994    James R. Watson, agronomist

1993    Brent Wadsworth, golf course builder

1992    Paul Fullmer, ASGCA executive secretary

1991    Michael Bonallack, secretary, Royal & Ancient (St. Andrew’s)

1990    John Zoller, executive director, Northern California Golf Association

1989    Dick Taylor, editor, “Golf World” magazine

1988    Frank Hannigan, executive director, USGA

1987    Charles Price, “Golf World” magazine

1986    Deane Beman, commissioner, PGA Tour

1985    Peter Dobereiner, “London Observer” columnist, author

1984    Dinah Shore, sponsor of women’s golf tournaments

1983    Al Radko, director, USGA Green Section

1982    Geoffrey Cornish, ASGCA, golf course architect, historian

1981    James Rhodes, governor of Ohio

1980    Gerald Micklem, captain, Royal & Ancient

1979    Joe Dey, executive director, USGA

1978    Herb and Joe Graffis, founders, National Golf Foundation

1977    Herbert Warren Wind, “The New Yorker” columnist, author

1976    Robert Trent Jones, ASGCA, ASGCA founding member