JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (March 7, 2025) – The Missouri Golf Association is proud to announce that board member Tom McCutcheon has been honored with the Ike Grainger Award, one of the highest recognitions given by the United States Golf Association. McCutcheon, in his 25th year as a USGA volunteer committee member, received the award last weekend for his dedicated service to the game.
Established in 1995, the Ike Grainger Award recognizes individuals who have dedicated 25 years of volunteer service to the USGA. Named after Isaac B. “Ike” Grainger, a former USGA president, the award honors those who have made a lasting impact on the governance and integrity of the sport.
“It has been my good fortune to work for a number of golf associations, but the crown jewel is the USGA,” McCutcheon said. “My favorite part [of volunteering] was working with great people and truly talented players.”
McCutcheon has had a distinguished career in golf administration, working for the Southern California Golf Association, the NCAA and the USGA, where he was involved in six U.S. Opens. His responsibilities as an official-in-charge have included course setup, marking penalty areas, defining out of bounds and selecting hole locations.
“It is a humbling experience to walk where truly great officials have tread,” McCutcheon said. “The biggest thing I’ve learned is to not impose yourself in situations unless players or circumstances require your presence.”
Among the many championships he has worked, Torrey Pines stands out as his favorite U.S. Open venue.
The Missouri Golf Association congratulates Tom McCutcheon on this honor and thanks him for his continued dedication to the game of golf.
For more information on this award or the Missouri Golf Association, contact the MGA office at (573) 636-8994 or [email protected].
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ABOUT MGA: The Missouri Golf Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the best interests and true spirit of golf throughout the state of Missouri.
Founded in 1905 in St. Louis, the MGA was established to conduct the Missouri Amateur Championship, originally hosted by four founding clubs—St. Louis Country Club, Algonquin Golf Club, Glen Echo Golf Club, and Normandie Golf Club. In 1909, the invite-only championship expanded to Kansas City’s Evanston Club, and by 1911, the MGA became formally organized under Bonner Miller, its first Secretary and Executive Director. Since then, the MGA has grown to provide a variety of competitive tournaments, junior programs, and resources that support golfers of all ages and skill levels, continuing its mission to grow and enhance the game across Missouri.
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