Read More: Deacon Palmer's Exceptional Life in the Game
For decades, golfers stepping onto the first tee at Latrobe (Pa.) Country Club knew that they were about to embark on an enjoyable round, whether they were looking to enjoy the natural surroundings, try out a new swing thought, or spend time with family and friends.
Through his experience, knowledge and hard work, Deacon Palmer was able to provide the stage for these memorable golf experiences at Latrobe for five decades. From the start of his career, Palmer had access to the USGA Green Section’s research and information about the science of agronomy and turfgrass maintenance. By the time he retired, the Green Section had expanded its resource kit to include on-site visits and tools such as the Stimpmeter.
As the USGA continues to advance its mission of supporting golf facilities and fostering better experiences for golfers, the Green Section is proud to introduce a digital tool named Deacon. The name honors the work and legacy of Deacon Palmer and his fraternity of hard-working facility managers who care for the thousands of courses around the country enjoyed by millions of golfers.
In addition, Deacon instilled the values that helped his son, Arnold Palmer, become one of the most beloved figures in sports history and usher in an unprecedented era of growth, accessibility and populism for golf.
The brainchild of Jim Moore, the USGA’s longtime director of Green Section education, Deacon is an innovative app that helps facility managers make common-sense, data-driven decisions that provide a better golfer experience while also optimizing their consumption of key resources.
Golfers want consistent, enjoyable conditions, but the financial toll of taking care of a golf course threatens the ability to provide what golfers want.
Just as the use of data has proliferated in other areas of golf – think range finders and advanced stats such as strokes gained – Deacon has the potential to make a positive impact for golf facilities and golfers throughout the country.
Become a member today and let’s leave a positive impact on the game we love.
