Mike Davis to step down as USGA CEO to pursue golf course design with Tom Fazio

Mike Davis has confirmed he will step down from his position as USGA CEO at the end of 2021 so that he can pursue a new venture with Tom Fazio II in golf course design and construction.

Davis, 55, has worked for the USGA ever since 1990 and was promoted to executive director in 2011. 

"It's something I've wanted to do," said Davis about joining Fazio in golf course design. "It's the right time I think for the USGA too, there's been a lot of change the last decade."

The USGA is now on the search for their next CEO and hopes to have acquired that person for the role by the summer of next year.

Davis has also set his sights on joining Gil Hanse and Bil Coore on some of their golf course design projects, before he joins his new firm that will be called Fazio and Davis Golf Design LLC.

"I’m closer to 60 than I am to 50 and still have years left," said Davis. "I just felt like if I didn’t do it then I’d regret it."

Over the next 15 months before Davis' departure from the USGA, he will have plenty on his plate, especially with all the talk surrounding changing the rules to stop the likes of new US Open champion Bryson DeChambeau from dismantling golf courses to a drive and a flick with the wedge. 

One of Davis' interests lies in his Distance Insights project, which he has been working on from the past three years.

"What’s happening with distance over the last 100 years and what’s happening with golf courses that have followed," said Davis.

"That’s moving golf in a wrong direction in terms of its long-term health, which is one of the reasons we took it on ourselves, along with the R&A, to say we need to make some changes for the future."