Joseph Dey

Who was Joseph Dey?

Joseph C. "Joe" Dey, Jr. was an American golf administrator and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Born in Norfolk, Virginia, Dey grew up in New Orleans and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. A skilled amateur golfer, Dey took an early job as sportswriter for Philadelphia newspapers and magazines, eventually specializing in golf, and covered the final leg of Bobby Jones's Grand Slam at Merion Golf Club in Philadelphia in 1930. Soon afterwards, Dey was approached by the United States Golf Association and offered a job helping to run its New York office. He served as Executive Director of the USGA from 1934 to 1968, during a period of extraordinary growth in the sport. Dey played a key role in meetings between the USGA and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in the early 1950s, to synchronize the rules of golf around the world.

Following his retirement from the USGA, Dey was asked to serve as the first commissioner of the PGA Tour in January 1969, shortly after the tour players broke away from the PGA of America. During Dey's leadership the tour was known as the Tournament Players Division of the PGA. He held that position for five years, succeeded by tour player Deane Beman in 1974. Dey was the instigator of The Players Championship, first held in 1974.