Presented annually since 1996, the Joe Dey Award recognizes an individual's meritorious service to the game as a volunteer. It is named for Joseph C. Dey Jr., a towering figure in golf history. Dey served as the USGA’s executive director from 1934 to 1969 and helped shape the modern landscape of the game, championing fair play, standardized rules and the growth of national championships. He was instrumental in strengthening the USGA’s role as a governing body, fostering collaboration with The R&A to establish the first unified Rules of Golf and advocating for course rating systems and handicapping practices still in use today.
Dey's influence extended to the professional game as he became the first commissioner of the PGA Tour in 1969. A 1975 inductee into the World Golf Hall of Fame, Dey remains woven into the fabric of the USGA, a reminder of his enduring commitment to both the traditions and the future of the game.
Below is a full list of Joe Dey Award recipients.