2023 IGA Yearbook

8 FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 2 023 looked at the record-breaking year the IGA had in 2022 and said “Hold my Beer”. The “business” of the IGA has never been stronger. Our membership numbers hit record highs, our championship entries were up once again, and we are about to move into a state-of-the-art facility that will be a platform for some terrific things to come. We finished the year with just over 27,500 individual members of the IGA. That’s the most we have had since at least 2001. And while we don’t have records of it prior to that, I would venture to say that it was the high-water mark in the history of the 124 year old organization. For me, 2023 will always be remembered as the year Zach and Mike were captains. Having Mike McCoy lead the U.S. squad to a thrilling comeback victory at the Walker Cup - at the home of golf no less - was extremely gratifying. He put a wealth of time, effort, and resources into captaining that squad so it was neat to see it capped off with a victory at St. Andrews. Then, just a few weeks later, Zach Johnson was leading the U.S. Ryder Cup team at Marco Simone G&CC just outside of Rome, Italy. It’s proving to be extremely difficult to win a Ryder Cup on foreign soil and, unfortunately for our U.S. team, 2023 was no different. But the pride it gave Iowans to have Zach CHAD PITTS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO, IGA & IGAF Mike McCoy Zach Johnson