The Gib Palmer File
the Middle Atlantic Golf Association board of
directors. He was chairman of the VSGA’s longrange planning committee that set strategic
imperatives––governance, participation and
access, membership and golfer experience––to
drive the association’s growth and to make it
stronger in the years to come.
The principal feedback out of interviews
from what the planning committee called
stakeholders was that “the VSGA is a strong
organization. We didn’t find there were any
major issues holding us back,” Palmer says.
“We also learned that we need to increase our
communication to all stakeholders. People hear
things differently from their own perspectives.
It’s an incredibly diverse group of stakeholders.
We want to reach beginning juniors all the
way through to the elite championship golfers.
“Because of my opportunities with U.S.
events, I get to travel around the country. I
talk to a lot of people involved in the game,
and everyone who knows Jamie Conkling
and knows the VSGA staff holds them in
the highest regard. Virginia enjoys a very
solid reputation in the country for the way
we conduct our championships, for the
way we organize our programs, and for the
leadership in our staff.”
Palmer’s enthusiasm and passion for golf
is demonstrated by his attendance at nearly
50 (and counting) major championships.
Palmer has another passion: baseball’s
Boston Red Sox, the reigning World Series
champions. In his house, on a wall in the
“Red Sox room,” is a replica of the famed
Green Monster left-field wall at Fenway
Park. Oh yes, and there are two seats from
Fenway as well.
A longtime sportswriter for the Richmond
Times-Dispatch, author Arthur Utley is a
regular contributor to Virginia Golfer.
VSGA Women’s Division Installs New President
At the VSGA Women’s Division Annual Meeting in November 2013, Nellysford’s
Sarah Robertson, a VSGA member at Wintergreen Resort, was elected by the
VSGA Women’s Division board of directors to serve as its 33rd president.
She has been a member of the Women’s Division Board since 2008, and
previously served as a member-at large (2008–09) secretary (2010–11) and vice
president (2012–13) of the board of directors. Robertson succeeds Fran Wray
of Staunton, who served as the division’s president in 2012–13. Wray remains
on the board of directors as immediate past president.
At Wintergreen, Robertson has been on the club’s handicap committee as
well as serving as the ladies golf chairperson. She has also served on the golf
committee and is currently the secretary of the Women’s Eastern Golf Association.
Sarah Robertson
For more information about the election of VSGA administrators and
award recipients, please visit the VSGA website at www.vsga.org.
VSGA Award Winners for 2014
VSGA PRESIDENT’S MEDAL AWARD
(recognizes contributions and service to the game and the VSGA)
Jan Sutherland, Danville, Va.
Sutherland served on the VSGA board of directors from 2002–2013, and is believed to be the first
woman to serve o