News Release
George Pendergast, Jr.
For Immediate Release: October 30, 2007
Norton, MA – On the heels of yet another successful golf season in the Bay State, the MGA officially announced its slate of Officers and Executive Committee members for the 2007-08 season. The announcement was made at the organization's Annual Meeting, which was held last week at Cohasset Golf Club.
Taking over as president is George H. Pendergast, Jr., a member of The Country Club who has served as an Officer of the MGA for the past four years, most recently as first vice president from 2005-07. Pendergast a managing director at Boston-based investment advisory firm Cambridge Associates, succeeds Richard P Osborn as the 54th president of the organization.
"I am honored to take over as president of the Massachusetts Golf Association and am proud of its mission to bring the game and its inherent values to all segments of the population," said Pendergast who plays to a 4.3 handicap. "Over the next two years, I will look to continue that growth of the game while also maintaining our history of service to our more than 400 Member Clubs and 90,000 Member Golfers."
Pendergast, who has been an active member of the MGA for the past decade as an officer, committee member and rules official, was instrumental in the organization's unprecedented growth over the last four years. While serving as second vice president, Pendergast took a lead role in the MGA's capital campaign which resulted in the construction of the William F. Connell Golf House & Museum and the opening of MGA Links at Mamantapett, a junior education facility located in Norton.
As first vice president, Pendergast led the way in launching the MGA Junior Golf Fund, an annual fund initiative that raises money and awareness for The First Tee of Massachusetts and the MGA's nationally-heralded ForeKids Golf Programs. An avid and competitive amateur golfer, Pendergast has also taken a lead role on the Member Club level.
For the past eight years, he has served as chairman of golf at The Country Club and held the position of vice chairman of the 1999 Ryder Cup Matches, which were held in Brookline. Pendergast also serves on the Executive Council of the Massachusetts Audubon Society.
John F. Dezieck of Wyantenuck Country Club will take over as first vice president, while Paul M. Burke, Jr. of Vesper Country Club was elected to the post of second vice president after a successful two-year stint as MGA Championship Committee chairman.
Succeeding Burke as Championship Committee chairman will be Clarence J. Bennett of Longmeadow Country Club. Four new members were also elected to the MGA Executive Committee: Peter D. Costello (Cohasset Golf Club); David B. Fite (The International Golf Club); Stephen F. Gormley (The Kittansett Club) and Jack J. Taymore (Kernwood Country Club).
The Massachusetts Golf Association, Inc., a 501(c)3 non profit organization founded in 1903, is dedicated to promoting and preserving the integrity and values of golf throughout the Commonwealth through service to nearly 400 member clubs and more than 90,000 member golfers. In addition, the MGA has been able to bring golf to more than 20,000 disadvantaged children in the state's larger cities through its ForeKids and The First Tee of Massachusetts Programs.