by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
One look around the office of Henry Hughes and it’s easy to see that golf dominates his life. There are countless books on the shelves about the game and golf travel to go with plaques, prints and photos all depicting the game and its greats to some extent.
None of this should come as a surprise.
Hughes has been involved in professional golf since 1975 when he left the office machinery business to chair the then-Greater Hartford-Sammy Davis Jr. Open in Connecticut. Nine years later, he joined the PGA Tour as director of marketing for the Tournament Players Club at River Highlands, which is just outside of Hartford.
In 1986, Hughes moved to the PGA Tour’s new headquarters in Ponte Vedra where he has served in various roles including marketing, championship management and tournament business affairs.
In January 1999, PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem named Hughes senior vice president and chief of operations for the Tour and six years later he was promoted to executive vice president.
Locally, Hughes is perhaps better known as chief executive officer of The Players, which is very similar to the role of executive director he held from 1988-2000.
Hughes took over his current role last June and is happy to no longer be living out of a suitcase. While chief of operations for the Tour, Hughes spent a majority of his time on the road.
“I loved it and it was great, but there was a lot of travel,” he Hughes.
This year Hughes will work with Players Executive Director Jay Monahan, who is overseeing his first Players Championship.
A veteran of many tournaments here and elsewhere, Hughes said his job this year is to help Monahan put on the best tournament possible from the perspective of the players, fans and international media.
“I will help him with the nuances of the community and the tournament,” said Hughes. “We want to make 2009 the best we’ve had.”
Like everyone else associated with The Players, this is a long week. From the volunteers and course maintenance workers who arrive before the sun rises to the staffs of the vendor tents who are around long after the sun sets, many of the days reach 18 and 20 hours long. As CEO, Hughes is part of it all.
“The hours are long and in addition to the operation of the golf course, there’s the social and client entertainment element,” said Hughes. “It’s part of what we do to provide value. We plan this tournament for 51 weeks and during the 52nd week we execute that plan. I will take copious notes because we are already looking at how to improve in 2010.”
[email protected]
356-2466