A NEW AURA
of Leadership
Incoming VSGA president Gib Palmer is determined to make a
difference by honoring longstanding principles, while incorporating
engaging ideas | by ARTHUR UTLEY | Photography by SCOTT K. BROWN
year term, if not sooner, we will have created
this Hall of Fame to respect the tradition
and great history of the game in Virginia,”
Palmer says. “It is an unbelievable heritage
and we want to preserve and honor that. The
Executive Committee for six years, and
virtual idea is that I would like for people to
he’s been affiliated with the USGA for
be able to see the Virginia golf hall of fame
many years. I think his expectations will
from anywhere in the world.”
try to follow what Lee tried to do, which
Palmer has been interested in golf since
is make this organization more inclusive,
he was a little boy. His father, Russell, was
more welcoming and more accessible.”
executive director of the Connecticut State
Coble, the VSGA’s first AfricanGolf Association and served on various
He just goes about showing that passion
American president, has a booming voice.
United States Golf Association committees.
with a quiet, more reserved manner than
Palmer typically does not.
Although around the game, Gib Palmer
say the past two presidents,
didn’t get involved until the
Richard Wight and Lee Coble.
early 1990s when he was
Palmer, 60, was elected the
facing a job transition.
VSGA’s 35th president at the
“My career was important,
VSGA Annual Meeting on
and my family was important,
Jan. 11 at his home club,
but I thought I didn’t really
Salisbury Country Club in
have anything outside those
Midlothian, Va. His term is
two things that I could look
two years. He has been
back on and say I was really
working his way through the
proud of,” he says.
ranks since he joined the
Palmer pondered a career
VSGA board of directors in
switch into the golf business
2005. He \