For the Love of the Game
Harry McCracken Announced as the 12th recipient of the USGA Joe Dey Award for meritorious service to the game
By David Shefter , USGA - There is no question that , without the dedication of volunteers like Harry McCracken , championships such as the U . S . Open , the USGA ’ s flagship event , would not be possible .
McCracken received an Ike Grainger Award in 2013 for 25 years of volunteer service to the USGA , and has been the official in charge ( OIC ) for local and sectional USGA qualifiers for decades ; in McCracken ’ s case , it ’ s been 40 years .
McCracken , a retired loan correspondent , has been the executive director of the New England Golf Association , an unpaid position , for 40 years . In 2007 , the USGA honored him as the 12th winner of the Joe Dey Award , which annually recognizes an individual ’ s meritorious service to the game .
But the Westwood , Mass ., native ’ s true love is securing and setting up courses for the 25-30 qualifiers that he conducts annually for the USGA and New England Golf Association . On May 9 , he ran a U . S . Open local qualifier at Pinehills Golf Club in Plymouth , Mass .
McCracken also runs USGA qualifiers for the U . S . Amateur , U . S . Amateur Public Links , U . S . Senior Open , U . S . Junior Amateur and USGA Senior Amateur , marking the courses in preparation for the competitions , then putting in long hours on the day of the qualifier to ensure the event runs smoothly .
“ My wife says I ’ m a nut ,” joked McCracken in his heavy New England accent . Part of his responsibility is securing enough volunteers . At his U . S . Open qualifier , he brought in 12 experienced Rules officials , drawing from both the Massachusetts and New England golf associations .
“ I can ’ t play anymore because I have bad arthritis ,” said McCracken , a longtime member at Charles River Country Club , which will serve as the companion stroke-play qualifying course for this summer ’ s U . S . Amateur at The Country Club . “ I can ’ t hold a club anymore . But I love getting out there and watching these people .
“ You meet nothing but nice people in golf , whether they are the officials or the players . It ’ s very rewarding .”
24 Connecticut State Golf Association