Jim Cotter (1999)

Jim cotter served as the president of the MGA from 1991-1992 and worked tirelessly as a volunteer to help steer golf and the MGA through some of its most challenging and successful times.

While baseball was his first love in college, golf stole his heart while Cotter was stationed in Guam as a Navy lieutenant during the Vietnam War. Upon his return he worked for the New York law firm of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, where he met Bill Jennings and aided the rise of the Westchester Classic.

Cotter served as the MGA legal counsel since the early 1970s, when the Met Area was facing a recession. He also served on the MGA Executive Board in a number of positions, including President from 1991-1992. He played a critical role in the development of GHIN, which now continues to serve millions of golfers nationwide. He aided heavily in the negotiation of the MGA’s sponsorship agreement with MetLife, and helped create The Met Golfer, the MGA Foundation, and the MGA’s “Golf Central” headquarters.

Throughout his years, Cotter also helped hire some of the best administrative and creative talent in golf including former MGA Communications Director and later USGA Executive Director, David Fay, and former MGA Executive Director Jay Mottola.

Cotter devoted time to bettering golf in the Met Area, all while maintaining a busy global law practice and an active family life with his wife, Melinda, and three daughters. He is still an active supporter of the MGA and MGA Foundation initiatives today.