Our Awards
The Graffis Award is the National Golf Foundation's top annual award, named in honor of our founders, Herb and Joe Graffis, and recognizes outstanding contributions to the game and business of golf.
In addition to keeping alive the memory of the Graffis brothers and their commitment to golf, the award reinforces the NGF’s position as the organization that’s been helping golf businesses succeed since 1936, as well as its mission to foster the growth and vitality of the game. The honor has been awarded, in different forms, dating back to 1970.
The first Graffis award, named in honor of brother Joe Graffis and meant to recognize excellence in golf education, was presented in 1970.
In 1977, the Herb Graffis award was added to recognize overall contributions to golf. That same year, Herb Graffis was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame for his extensive contributions to the business of golf and advancement of the game.
Both awards were presented annually thereafter until 1992, when they were combined into a single award recognizing “outstanding contributions to the game of golf” in the tradition of the Graffis brothers. Discontinued for a time in 2004, NGF’s Graffis Award was reestablished in 2018.
Past recipients of NGF’s awards include high profile golfers (Arnold Palmer, Patty Berg); equipment company CEOs (Karsten Solheim, Ely Callaway); golf administrators (Judy Bell, Deane Beman and Tim Finchem); and golf educators/teachers (Peggy Kirk Bell, Bob Toski).
Most recently, longtime Golf Digest editor-in-chief Jerry Tarde received the 2023 Graffis Award.
The honorees are recognized at the NGF's annual Golf Business Symposium.
Graffis Award Recipients
(2018-ongoing) Recognizes outstanding contributions to the game and business of golf.
(1992-2004) Awarded for outstanding contributions to the game of golf in the tradition of NGF co-founders, Herb and Joe Graffis.
2023 - Jerry Tarde
2022 – Ken Morton Sr.
2021 - Joe Louis Barrow Jr.
2019 - Judy Rankin
2018 - Tim Finchem
2004 - MG Orender
2003 - LPGA Amateur Golf Association
2002 - Byron Nelson
2001 - Ely Callaway
2000 - Karsten Solheim
1999 - Judy Bell
1998 - Tom Watson
1997 - Charlie Mechem
1996 - Gene Sarazen
1995 - Peter Bonanni
1994 - Dennis Walters
1993 - Chi Chi Rodriguez
1992 - Robert F. MacNally
| 1991 | P.J. Boatwright |
| 1990 | Don Rossi |
| 1989 | William Campbell |
| 1988 | John Laupheimer |
| 1987 | Deane R. Beman |
| 1986 | Joseph C. Dey |
| 1985 | Howard L. Clark |
| 1984 | Bill Davis/Howard Gill |
| 1983 | Herb Graffis |
| 1982 | Jack Nicklaus |
| 1981 | Patty Berg |
| 1980 | Bob Hope |
| 1979 | Carol McCue |
| 1978 | Arnold Palmer |
| 1977 | Joe Jemsek |
Herb Graffis Award
From 1977 through 1991, the NGF presented this award in recognition of overall contributions to golf.
Joe Graffis Award
From 1970 through 1991, when the two Graffis brother awards were combined, this award was presented by NGF for excellence in golf education.
| 1991 | Kerry Graham |
| 1990 | Davis Love, Jr. |
| 1989 | Kathy Corbin |
| 1988 | Tom Addis |
| 1987 | Edwin B. Cottrell |
| 1986 | DeDe Owens |
| 1985 | No award given |
| 1984 | Paul Runyan |
| 1983 | Carol C. Johnson |
| 1982 | Jim Flick |
| 1981 | Peggy Kirk Bell |
| 1980 | Bob Toski |
| 1979 | Conrad H. Rehling |
| 1978 | Gary Wiren |
| 1977 | Bill Strausbaugh, Jr. |
| 1976 | Shirley Spork |
| 1975 | Patty Berg |
| 1974 | Opal Hill |
| 1973 | No award given |
| 1972 | Les Bolstad |
| 1971 | Barbara Rotvig |
| 1970 | Ellen Griffin |
Family of the Year Award
From 1986 (the year Jack Nicklaus won his record 18th professional major championship) through 2000, NGF presented the Jack Nicklaus Golf Family of the Year Award. It recognized families who made significant contributions to the game and exemplified the ideals of golf and the family.
