Liberty Corner, New Jersey, United States: Fred Perpall has been nominated to serve as the 67th President of the United States Golf Association (USGA).

If elected, Perpall will succeed Stu Francis, who will conclude his three-year term in February.

Highlights of Francis’ Presidency include helping to guide the organisation through the Covid-19 pandemic, bringing on Mike Whan as USGA CEO, and working to elevate all USGA championships and host sites, among many other contributions.  

Perpall, a native of the Bahamas who now calls Dallas home, is completing his fourth year on the Executive Committee, and his first as President-elect. He chairs the Championship Committee, helping to usher in the inaugural US Adaptive Open Championship and the site selection of several USGA championships to many of America’s iconic courses.

Professionally, Perpall is the CEO of The Beck Group, where he leads the firm’s domestic and international architectural design, planning, real estate consultancy and construction businesses. A registered architect, Perpall was elected to the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows in 2016. 

He is the immediate Past Chairman of the Dallas Citizens Council and is a former Chairman of the Urban Land Institute’s Urban Plan.

Perpall was a member of the Board of Trustees that helped build Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas. The public/private partnership that led to the club’s creation has served as an inspiration within its under-served community, and the club is home to Southern Methodist University’s golf programme as well as numerous charitable tournaments and events for the Dallas chapter of First Tee.

Perpall earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Texas at Arlington and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Programme. He played basketball and ran track in college and was a member of the 1994 Bahamian National Basketball Team.

“Fred is a dynamic leader who has a tremendous passion for the game,” said Whan. “Our entire team is incredibly excited to work with him more closely over the coming years.” 

Francis, who has served on the USGA Executive Committee for eight years, is a Senior Managing Director for Evercore, where he leads the firm’s Silicon Valley technology practice.

During his tenure on the Executive Committee, Francis has served on numerous committees and chaired the Championship Committee for four years. 

An accomplished life-long amateur golfer, Francis played in three US Amateur Championships, two NCAA Championships and three Canadian Amateur Championships.

He earned his under-graduate degree from Princeton University, where he was co-captain of the varsity golf team and was selected to the first-team All-Ivy and honourable mention All-America golf teams. He was inducted into the Ohio Golf Association Hall of Fame in 2021. 

“Stu embodies everything that’s good about our game, and he’s been a tireless advocate for the USGA during several years of change and challenges,” said Whan. “His years of service on the Executive Committee reflect his passion for the game and his commitment to expanding its reach.”

The election of officers and members of the USGA Executive Committee, a volunteer group of 15 people that provides strategic and financial oversight as the Association’s policy-making and governance board, will take place at the organisation’s Annual Meeting on February 25.