(June 14, 2022) – Fairfield native Heather Daly-Donofrio has joined the USGA as the Managing Director of Team USA.
As the Managing Director of Team USA Daly-Donofrio will provide young golfers with a pathway of competitive development beginning at the grassroots level and advancing up through the junior, collegiate, and amateur ranks. Ultimately, this new collaborative ecosystem that the USGA will lead, will deliver more American players and future stars on the LPGA and PGA Tours.
“This is a dream job for me,” Daly-Donofrio said. “I didn’t expect to go back to work so quickly after taking some time off, but the opportunity to shape such an important project for the long-term sustainability of the game in the United States was so attractive. It is as if all my experiences in the game – playing, coaching, being involved in the last two Olympic Games and my time at the LPGA have all led to this role.”
Prior to joining the USGA, Daly-Donofrio had a distinguished career both as an executive leader and player on the LPGA Tour. Most recently, she was Chief Tour Operations Officer, overseeing all competition, player services, player development, and operational matters for both the LPGA and Epson Tours.
Through her role with the LPGA, Heather served as the Executive Director of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. She was also a member of the Board of Directors for USA GOLF, Chairperson for the International Golf Federation (IGF) Athletes Commission, served on the IGF Competitions Committee for the Olympics, and was the Technical Delegate for the women’s Olympic golf competition at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She was also an advisory member of the USGA’s Equipment Standards Committee for over a decade.
Heather’s earlier roles with the LPGA also included Chief Communications and Tour Operations Officer (2016-2018), as well as LPGA Director of Media Relations (2010-2011), and the Player Liaison to the Commissioner (2008-2009).
“There are so many things I am looking forward to [in this role], but working with the USGA Team is at the top of the list. Over the years, I have had the pleasure of working with many USGA staff members on various projects within the industry,” said Daly-Donofrio. “They are a passionate, talented, and fun group and I am excited to be one of their teammates. I am looking forward to the collaboration with them and across the industry to build the very best program for the success of American golf.”
During her 11-year career on the LPGA Tour, Daly-Donofrio won two tournaments (2001 First Union Betsy King Classic; 2004 Tournament of Champions) while also serving on the LPGA Board of Directors for four years, including two years as the Player President. In 2006 she received the William and Mousie Powell Award for exemplifying the spirit and ideals of the LPGA.
While competing on the LPGA Tour, Heather, who graduated cum laude from Yale University in 1991 with a B.A. in History, returned to her alma mater as the head coach of the women’s varsity golf team from the fall of 1997 through the spring of 2000, leading the team to two Ivy League Championship titles.
Editor’s Note: USGA Chief Championships Officer John M. Bodenhamer provided information for this article
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut State Golf Association functions as an extension of the USGA and provides stewardship for amateur golf in Connecticut. Founded in 1899, it is the country’s oldest state golf association and conducts over 60 Championships, Qualifiers, and One Day Tournaments throughout the year.
