UPDATE: (October 30th) - Don Rea, PGA from the Southwest PGA Section was elected to the position of Secretary on Thursday afternoon. While it was not meant to be for Williams, the Kentucky PGA Section congratulates him on running a terrific campaign and representing the Section so well.

A long year of campaigning boils down to this week for Kelly Williams, PGA General Manager at Greenbrier Golf & Country Club. The PGA of America will elect its next Secretary during the Annual Meeting, which will take place virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with becoming Secretary, the person elected will be in line to become President of the PGA of America several years down the road. At this juncture, it all comes down to the choices of the PGA's 41 Sections and their delegates, but you can still join the Kentucky PGA Section and Kentucky Golf Association in hopeful support of Williams' campaign. See below for the fast facts about Kelly and what this position means in the grand scheme of things for the golf world.

Who? Kelly is the General Manager at Greenbrier Golf & Country Club. He has worked there ever since obtaining his PGA Membership in 2004. After serving as Head Professional for a few years in the mid-2000s, he has held the role of General Manager since the winter of 2007-2008. Kelly has served as both President of the Kentucky Section and more recently, Director of District 10 (composed of the Kentucky, Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic Sections) for the PGA of America. You can learn more about Kelly in depth with these content pieces from Golf House Kentucky: Deep-dive article  Experts of the Game profile

What? The position Kelly is running for is the PGA of America's Secretary Position. From 2025-2026, the person elected this week at the Annual Meeting will serve as the President of the PGA of America. For reference, the occasion you most often would see the President of the PGA showcased is during the PGA's spectator championships (PGA Championship, Ryder Cup, etc.). If elected, Kelly would be the first person to congratulate the champions of the 2025 and 2026 PGA Championships and hand those major champions the prestigious Wanamaker Trophy on the 18th greens. Of course, there is much more to the position than that, namely strategizing and implementing how to grow the game of golf and increase the value of the PGA Professional.

When? The Annual Meeting takes place through the rest of the week and will conclude on Friday, October 30th. The Secretary position's term will go from 2021-2022, then become Vice President from 2023-2024 and then inherit the position of President from 2025-2026.

Where? The Annual Meeting is being held virtually after originally being planned to be held in Hartford, Connecticut. If elected, much of Kelly's next six years would be spent in either Port St. Lucie, Florida (the PGA's current headquarters) and/or Frisco, Texas (the PGA's future headquarters that is currently under construction).

Why? This question is best answered by Kelly himself. "The golf industry is facing challenging times. If PGA Professionals are to flourish, we must adapt to the digital marketplace, appeal to millennials and maintain relevance in a fast-paced world. I believe I can be a bridge to that future - a leader rooted in traditions, but thinking forward into the next decade.  I will pave the way for current and future PGA families to enter into our industry and maintain an enjoyable lifestyle.  I am committed to building on the successes that will take golf into a healthy, prosperous future."

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