Mike Keiser’s first golf course development was a modest nine-hole layout built in Michigan in the mid-1980s to help prevent a picturesque parcel of lakefront property from being turned into condominiums and townhouses. His work at The Dunes Club started the New York native along a journey in which he would become a champion of public golf and a key figure in the preservation of natural landscapes on which he would build his courses, many of which have become premier golf destinations: Bandon Dunes in Oregon, Sand Valley in Wisconsin and Cabot Links in Canada to name but a few.
In recognition of his efforts, the USGA announced at its annual meeting last weekend at Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort that Keiser, 79, had been named the 2025 winner of its Bob Jones Award, the association’s highest honor given to individuals who personify the character, sportsmanship and respect for the game as its namesake.
“What inspires us about Mike is his love for what is pure and good about the game, his investment in golf that’s open to the public, his drive to promote recreational golf and the joy he feels when he plays—and those strong connections have never wavered,” said USGA CEO Mike Whan, in a press release. “We’re grateful for the example he’s set, which pushes the entire industry to think bigger.”
In announcing the honor, the USGA characterized Keiser’s work:
“Keiser’s indelible mark on the American golf landscape changed the trajectory of modern course design and travel, driven by his love of links golf and a minimalist approach shaped by land, dunes and sea. An innovator, visionary, conservationist and philanthropist, he has channeled his love for golf into a legacy designed for the recreational golfer, intended to inspire and spark new ways of drawing people to the game.”
Keiser started playing golf at age 9, working as a caddie before playing college golf at Amherst. He continued to play the game while serving in the Navy and then becoming a businessman, founding Recycled Paper Greetings, an eco-friendly card company. His success in that industry allowed him to be able to venture into his second career in golf, with properties that now extend beyond the U.S. to the Caribbean and Australia that emphasis walkable, natural golf experiences.
“There’s a need for great but accessible courses,” Keiser said in the press release. “If you build something pretty special, you want the public to play it.”
Keiser will be formally given the Bob Jones Award during a ceremony on June 10 in Pittsburgh, Pa., ahead of the playing of the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont C.C.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
