USGA President Kevin Hammer Headlines 127th Annual Meeting at Essex Fells Country Club
ESSEX FELLS, N.J. – The 127th Annual Meeting of New Jersey Golf was held on Tuesday, October 6 at Essex Fells Country Club, bringing together the organization’s leadership and representatives from Member Clubs across the state.
New Jersey Golf President David B. Cronheim led the meeting, which included organizational updates, recognition of outgoing members of the Board of Trustees and a special question-and-answer session with USGA President Kevin Hammer.
During the conversation, Hammer reflected on his lifelong connection to golf and the experiences that have shaped his first year as USGA President. The discussion ranged from the relationship between the USGA and Allied Golf Associations such as New Jersey Golf to the continued growth of the game, the development of junior and amateur players and the challenge of preserving golf’s traditions while positioning it for the future.
Hammer also discussed the U.S. National Development Program and the importance of creating pathways for the next generation of American golfers, along with the opportunities facing the game as participation continues to grow.
“We've invested a lot of capital into this. We're only three years in, and we're probably five years ahead of where we thought we'd be,” Hammer said. “If anyone played junior golf, just the thought of representing your state and playing as part of a team – that really resonates. And then maybe having the opportunity to graduate to Team USA, that really resonates for them.”
"If we can get more organizations in the room together just like this, with a common set of goals and defending what's really beautiful about this game, the power of that will last long into the future,” he continued.
Treasurer Eric Lundberg also provided a financial update during the meeting, reporting that New Jersey Golf remains in excellent financial standing.
The organization recognized Garfield Layne and former New Jersey Golf President Eric Houseknecht as they concluded their service on the Board of Trustees.
Earlier in the day, Essex Fells hosted the traditional golf competition for Annual Meeting attendees. The Montclair Golf Club team of Jeff Kulik and Barbara Kalemkerian captured the Four-Ball competition, while Essex Fells Country Club’s Art Owens earned individual honors.
The Annual Meeting marked the conclusion of another year for New Jersey Golf and provided an opportunity for Member Clubs and organizational leadership to reflect on 2026 while looking ahead to the year to come.
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