Frisco Blues: Derek Sprague Steps Down
The PGA of America CEO does not make it to his one-year anniversary on the job, as the organization continues to struggle since moving to Texas.
Derek Sprague informed the PGA of America board in December of his plans to step down to spend more time with his family. The news of a brief tenure could have been dumped on any number of primo days for burying the story, and Sprague’s quick departure certainly qualifies by adding another strange chapter since the PGA’s move from Palm Beach Gardens to Frisco, Texas in August 2022.
“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,” said Sprague in a press release. “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.”
After nearly six months of searching for a new leader, the PGA of America revealed Sprague as its choice to replace Seth Waugh on December 20, 2024. He began work from the Frisco headquarters on January 18th, 2025.
A two-time Section Merchandiser of the Year for Public Facilities in the late 90s, Sprague was chosen in one of the PGA of America board’s every decade-or-so push to have a CEO who knows what it’s like to settle club championship disputes, clean out golf cart ashtrays, and fold every variety of sweater. Sprague had never run anything bigger than a golf course, moving from the GM job at TPC Sawgrass to an organization with 30,000 members, multiple important championships, and complex financial issues.
Sprague was thrown into an already tough situation caused by the PGA of America’s move to Frisco and the ensuing brain-drain induced by shedding most of the Florida staff (or other embarrassments). There were signs of financial stress, ensuing C-level departures, and multiple moving parts outside the organization. But Sprague also inherited the CEO title with the sport thriving in ways unimaginable just a decade ago.
Among the conundrums Sprague inherited and requiring a leader who didn’t merely work in Ponte Vedra Beach as Tim Finchem’s favorite club pro: a new PGA Tour for-profit model. One where players and private equity investors could wake up any day and push to gain control of the PGA Championship and/or Ryder Cup. Then there is the general state of the membership. Rising dues and the teetering relevance of traditional club professionals has made many PGA of America members the third most valued—and well compensated—figureheads at prestigious facilities (behind superintendents and GM’s).
But shed no tears for Sprague if this departure turns out to be performance-related. He inherited fantastic media deals for both the PGA Championship and Ryder Cup. He knew exactly what he was getting into after serving as the organization’s president from 2014 to 2016, along with the usual smorgasbord of committee roles, honorary appearances, and countless hours devoted to working on PGA Sectional matters. And he was replacing former Deutsche Bank Americas CEO Seth Waugh, a more savvy operator in the golf and business communities who signed off on the move to Frisco. That’s proven to be a mess after appearing to shed more stability and wisdom than anticipated. And it’s saddled the organization with a facility appearing ill-equipped to host major championships. The new headquarters also seem to have cost the organization millions more than expected, despite being billed as an all-expense paid move to “the Silicon Valley of golf.”
Sprague came out swinging against 2028’s new equipment testing rules before he’d even figured out where to position his paper weights. He peddled easily provable falsehoods about the PGA’s supposed lack of involvement in the process. Sprague was practically pushed aside by president Don Rea during May’s PGA Championship press conference. And then he oversaw a complete fumbling of the totally predictable fan issues at September’s Ryder Cup. Days after it mattered and the circus had left town, Sprague acknowledged the issues publicly and sent an apology email to Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica, a former PGA of America employee.
It has been almost a month since the PGA board learned that Sprague would be returning to upstate New York to be closer to his mother and mother-in-law, which is why the organization believes Sprague’s replacement will be named soon.
The next leader faces a litany of Defcon 1 issues left behind by predecessors. Just to name a few:
