Ed Gowan is surrounded by his family after being honored with the IAGA Distinguished Service Award. Courtesy IAGA
The International Association of Golf Administrators honored three individuals and one foundation with awards at its 2025 annual conference at Horseshoe Bay Resort near Austin, Texas.
Ed Gowan, former executive director of the Arizona Golf Association, and Tom Ryan, former executive director and chief operating officer of the Minnesota Golf Association, received IAGA Distinguished Service Awards for their decades-long contributions.
Tom Ryan (center), who led the Minnesota Golf Association for 23 years, receives the IAGA Distinguished Service Award. Courtesy IAGA
Gowan, who led the Arizona Golf Association for 36 years before retiring in 2022, helped grow the organization from two employees serving 23,000 members to a statewide staff serving more than 90,000 golfers. Ryan, who retired in 2023 after 21 years at the helm of the Minnesota Golf Association, guided the association through transformative periods for the industry…
IAGA honors Gowan, Ryan and Shoup
