Kevin Hammer was elected the 68th president of the United States Golf Association on February 28, 2026, during the group’s annual meeting in New York City. 

With that vote, he replaced Fred Perpall and started a two-year volunteer term overseeing the governing body for golf in the United States and Mexico.

So what does that mean moving forward? Hammer, a Florida native, takes charge of an organization responsible for national championships, the handicap system, and player development initiatives across both countries.

Kevin Hammer, during his installation speech as USGA president at the annual meeting, made his stance clear.

He said, “We will collaborate with all stakeholders, the R&A, the PGA of America, the Masters, the LPGA Tour, the PGA Tour, all of our allied golf associations, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the Golf Managers Association, and the AJGA. The game is strongest when it is unified, and unity is a choice that we make every day. But the game is bigger than all of our organizations.”

The future of golf should come before the priorities of any single organization. Decisions should focus on what benefits the sport as a whole, not what protects individual authority or influence.

Now that Hammer has taken office as the 68th president, it is worth looking at the professional and leadership experience he brings to the role.

Kevin Hammer’s Finance Career and the New Executive Committee Members

Hammer served five years on the 15-member USGA Executive Committee. Before that, he was president of the Florida State Golf Association.

With that background, he now plans to carry forward the organization’s existing programs. That includes new initiatives tied to more than $300 million in projected spending for 2025.

Apart from his role within the USGA, his role within the USGA, Hammer has spent more than 25 years as an investment advisor at Merrill Lynch. 

He now serves as managing director of the firm’s Rubin, Hammer, Eaton & Conrad Wealth Management Group.

At the same time, the executive committee is adding two members. Brenda Corrie Kuehn of North Carolina begins a three-year term. So does former PGA of America president Suzy Whaley.

What do you think, can unity truly shape the next chapter of golf? Tell us in the comments and read more at Daily Club Golf!

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu