The Metropolitan Golf Association begins the new year with new leadership as Brian Mahoney prepares to take over the helm as executive director on February 1 from Jay Mottola, who has served in that position for 34 years. Mahoney, 37, currently serves as Director of Rules and Competitions for the organization headquartered in Elmsford.
MGA President Michael Sullivan, who assumed that position in December, said, “Brian’s experience, skillset, and knowledge of and passion for the game made him stand out as the top candidate for the position, and we are fully confident that he will continue Jay’s leadership role in helping position the MGA as a leader among state and regional golf associations.” The MGA began the search for a new Executive Director in 2015.
Mahoney’s first position with the MGA was as a USGA P.J. Boatright Jr. Intern while he attended the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He secured his degree in Business Administration in 2002 and in 2003 was hired as Assistant Tournament Director. In 2008, longtime Tournament Director Gene Westmoreland stepped aside and Mahoney took over. He was promoted to Managing Director, Rules, Competitions, and GHIN Services in 2014.
His grandfather, Gerald Mahoney, was executive director from 1980-81 and later served as the MGA’s director of golf programs.
The MGA serves more than 565 clubs with 140,000 members throughout Westchester, the Hudson Valley, New York City, Long Island, Fairfield County, CT, and northern New Jersey. Founded in 1897, it’s one of the oldest golf organizations in the country, providing services that include managing the handicap system and conducting 19 annual championship tournaments as well as 18 local and sectional qualifying tournaments for USGA events, such as the U.S. Open. The MGA Foundation promoted growth of the game through the First Tee of Metropolitan New York, Golfworks internships, caddie academies and numerous junior clinics and tournaments.
