24 INTERVIEW By Design speaks with the outgoing ASGCA Executive Director Chad Ritterbusch about how the Society, and the golf course design industry, has evolved over the past 20 years. Reflections on progression Since 1970 the American Society of Golf Course Architects has had just two Executive Directors. Paul Fullmer, a Chicago ad executive, was the first to assume the role, from 1970 to 2004, with a goal to raise the profile of the profession. He succeeded in, as ASGCA Past President Dr Mike Hurdzan put it, “bringing a new level of awareness” to golf course architects. A protege of Fullmer, Chad Ritterbusch became Executive Director in 2004 and has continued to oversee the evolution of the ASGCA, further developing its leadership role in the golf industry. Before handing over the reins later this year, Chad spoke with By Design about the progression of the industry in the past twenty years. When you began as Executive Director in 2024, what were your initial priorities? First, I went on a ‘listening tour’, to hear members’ questions, concerns and ideas. It was key to understand what they thought of the Society and what we could do to make it even better. The members and leaders were very supportive. I recall Clyde Johnston, who was ASGCA President at the time, saying: ‘Chad, we believe you know how to take us forward, but there is one thing that we hope you’ll prioritize, and that is outreach to our allied association friends’. I agreed that there were opportunities to forge stronger and better relationships. We prioritized that in those first few years and have continued to do so since. At that time, the industry was beginning to slow. We were coming off an incredible building boom of the late 1990s and early 2000s. It was obvious that we needed to look at ways to provide added support for our members and their golf club clients. Then the financial crisis of 2007-08 hit, which made things even tougher. During this period, we stressed greater communication among members to share their experiences, we reminded them that we’re here to serve them, and stay engaged. There are great parallels between this and how we later approached our work during the pandemic. How has the ASGCA evolved in the last 20 years? Our membership has become broader and deeper. We have people who are designing with detailed plans and specifications, others who design more on the “ Collaboration has helped to strengthen and elevate our role in the industry”
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