Steve Smyers has been elected by the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) to serve as the organisation’s next president.

The decision was made at the society’s recent annual meeting in La Jolla, California.

A graduate of the University of Florida, Smyers has more than 30 years of experience in the golf course architecture industry, and his firm – Steve Smyers Golf Course Architects – has been involved in a number of projects both in the US and around the world.

“There are 25 million golfers and nearly 16,000 golf courses in America, plus another 16,000 around the world,” said Smyers. “Those players and courses need ASGCA members to continue being the ‘forward-thinking guys’ who bring innovation to the game; as we have ably done since the days of Donald Ross. We should continue to pioneer improved standards and focus on striving to make what is already a great game, even better.”

Smyers has served on what is now the USGA Equipment Standards committee, and served for six years on the USGA Executive Committee.

Smyers began his tenure as the society’s president by calling for greater collaboration among industry partners.

“A deeper and stronger collaborative effort will benefit all of us, but most importantly the golfer,” he said. “Working together, we can inspire golfers to play 10 per cent more golf each year.”