Isaac B. Granger (1984)

Born in Wilmington, North Carolina, Ike Grainger served golf for nearly half a century. An MGA Committeeman, he served as president of both the MGA (1943-1945) and the USGA (1954-1955). Ike also served as president of the prestigious United States Senior Golf Association (1959-1960).

In 1951, while chairing the USGA Rules Committee, he made his most lasting and significant contribution to golf. That year he headed the USGA’s Negotiating Committee that held the first conference with the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. Out of this conference came the first uniform code of the Rules of Golf. No single undertaking before or since had such an integral role in ensuring the future and well-being of the game.

Ike Grainger continued to work continuously, and with equal zeal, to promote and preserve the integrity of the game. In 1964 he was selected as non-playing captain of the United States contingent in the World Amateur Championship. In 1970, he accepted the position of Treasurer for “Golf’s Tribute to Ike”, a national fund-raising campaign to benefit the Eisenhower Medical Center in Palm Beach, CA and the Eisenhower College in Seneca Falls, N.Y.

Mr. Grainger also served as Vice Chairman of the Rules Committee for The Masters Tournament from 1965-1982, was a member of the Leslie Cup Team for 35 years, and attended every Walker Cup Match from 1947-1981. Into his later years he continued to serve both the MGA and the USGA, and his contributions to the game are heavily remembered. Each year, the USGA presents an award in his name to dedicated volunteers who have served for 25 years or more.