Steranka to retire as PGA of America CEO at year's end

Joe Steranka will retire at the end of the year as chief executive of The PGA of America.

Steranka will have spent seven years as the CEO of an association that serves 27,000 PGA club professionals and runs events that include the PGA Championship, the Ryder Cup, the PGA Grand Slam of Golf and the Senior PGA Championship.

This year, the Americans will try to win back the Ryder Cup at Medinah in September, and the PGA Championship goes to Kiawah Island in South Carolina for the first significant event in more than 20 years.

"Joe has been a popular and visionary leader and the work he has done to date and the path he has set with Golf 2.0 leaves us in a strong position for the future," said PGA President Allen Wronowski. "In sharing the news with leaders in the golf industry over the weekend, it is very evident the positive impact he has had on The PGA and the game. We are finalizing our plan for the CEO transition including naming a search committee, but in the meantime we will continue with business as usual. The nine-month transition provides ample time for a complete and smooth transition. And while Joe will be leaving at the end of the year, I know he will remain a committed supporter and friend to The PGA of America."

Steranka was a broadcast executive for 18 years with The PGA of America when he was appointed to replace Jim Awtrey in 2005 as chief executive.

Steranka, who graduated from West Virginia with a degree in journalism, said it was time for him to find a new challenge while he is still young.

"I want to take time to reap the rewards of 35 years of hard work," he said. "I'm at a point in my life where I'm still young enough to look at new challenges. Golf does so many good things."

He did not say what other interests he might pursue, but that "I'll be available for golf in the future.

"I love golf, I love The PGA and I think the game is in a good spot right now," Steranka said Wednesday. "It's the biggest decision of my life."