From Ohio.Golf
David Griffith is in his sixth year as the Executive Director of the Northern Ohio Section of the PGA (NOPGA) and his 25th year overall with the organization. The NOPGA is one of 41 such sections across the country.
He knows that running a multimillion-dollar organization, like the NOPGA requires a comprehensive team effort and routinely commends his staff, the board of directors and the nearly 500 members and associates who make the NOPGA one of the most active and close-knit Sections in the country.
“I am so fortunate to have them,” Griffith said of Lynne Plaisance (Director of Operations), Danielle Monas (Foundation Director), Matt Rutland (Director of Competitions), Hayleigh Gray (Junior Golf Coordinator), Emily Jones (PGA Works Fellow). “We wouldn’t be able to do the things we do without each of them and their input. They’re all very passionate about what they do, and they are very dedicated people, true professionals.”
Griffith was an accomplished player at Hudson High, collegiately at Kent State, and also as a high-profile amateur. He won the Ohio Mid-Am in 2013, but lost both the Cleveland Amateur and Summit County Amateur in playoffs. Griffith decided he wanted a career in golf at the age of 12.
“I knew early on that golf would be my life.”
Legendary Kent State Golf Coach Herb Page recognized Griffith’s potential early on,
“David was destined to be in the golf business in one way or another. He is the ultimate in resiliency and perseverance. He came into a very deep program, could have left any time, and played elsewhere. But worked hard and got into the lineup as a senior. He paid his dues and helped us win championships. He was the ultimate grinder.”
As far as playing professionally on the PGA Tour,
“I was good at the level I was playing at. But I realized that to play for a living, you had to be exceptional. And I wasn’t exceptional. I knew I didn’t have what was needed to play at that level.”
After graduating from Kent State, his first job was as an inside sales rep at the Acushnet Company’s West Coast operation in Carlsbad, California.
“For one reason or another, I didn’t like it. I can’t give you specifics. I just knew I didn’t like it. I mean, weather-wise, I was in paradise and in the golf industry. But I was miserable and couldn’t wait to get home.”
He returned to Ohio and did a one-year stint at West Pines Driving Range, then two years at Avon Oaks Country Club, working under head professional Judd Stephenson.
“I cannot begin to tell you how much I learned at both jobs. Immeasurable would be a good word.”
He learned another important aspect of being in the golf business from his father.
“I learned how to build relationships. My dad’s customer service was better than anyone I have ever seen. He worked his tail off, and he serviced people. He would always say, ‘If you can do it, you do it. If you can’t, you can’t. And you tell them that.’ He had a great ability to make everyone feel good and a great ability to build relationships.”
In the spring of 2000, Griffith became the NOPGA’s Assistant Tournament Director and Rules Official.
“I learned everything about the rules of golf, how to communicate, and what it means to be a rules official.”
For the last 10 years, Griffith has been a rules official at the Ohio High School Association’s State Tournament. He has also served as a Rules Official in Big TEN, Mid-American Conference, and the NCAA events. He officiated the 2021 Solheim Cup and also in Nationwide Tour events at Stonewater.
Griffith was named to replace Dominic Antenucci as NOPGA Executive director upon his retirement, in 2020. Tough shoes to fill indeed. Since assuming the head job, Griffith has continued to expand on what Antenucci had built.
Griffith and his staff conduct 40 Section tournaments, including major events such as the Ohio Open, the Ohio Senior Open, the Mitchell-Haskell Tour Championship, the Denny Shute Match Play Championship, and the Section’s Professional, Senior, and Ladies Championships. Add a few Foundation events, 26 Junior Tour events, 13 Futures Tour events, and five collegiate events.
Griffith said about his current job,
“There isn’t a part of it I don’t like. What’s the hardest part? Nothing. I love everything I do.”
David Griffith found his true calling with the NOPGA. Congratulations to him for his 25 years of service to Ohio’s golf industry and good luck on the next 25 years.
