Jeanne McCooey (2015)

Before retiring at the end of 2015, Jeanne McCooey was the MGA’s longest serving employee ever. In her 38 years working for the MGA, a job she started with little to no golf background, Jeanne revamped the ever-evolving communications department and promoted immense growth within the MGA Foundation and the GOLFWORKS program.

McCooey grew up in Brooklyn and graduated from Hunter College with a teaching degree. After time as substitute teacher, she came to the MGA in 1977 working under David Fay as a communications assistant. She spent 25 years as communications director, time in which she created, developed and improved mgagolf.org, media guides, annual reports, our centennial book, live scoring, eNewsletters, mobile apps, Met Golfer Extra, and The Met Golfer. She remained ahead of the curve with the rapidly changing media landscape and set the standard for communications among regional and state golf associations across the country.

The other area which McCooey poured her energy into was the MGA’s charitable Foundation. Created in 1992, McCooey was instrumental in getting the Foundation off the ground, and was the driving force behind the GOLFWORKS program. Currently more than 250 students work meaningful summer internships at MGA clubs thanks to McCooey’s hard work.

In her time with the MGA, Jeanne McCooey epitomized what lies at the core of the MGA: service.