NEWS

Larry Dorman named recipient of 2017 PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism

By PGA of America
Published on

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (Jan. 18, 2017) – Larry Dorman of Bonsall, California, a former New York Times sportswriter and golf industry executive, has been named the recipient of the 2017 PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism.

Dorman will be honored on April 5, at the ISPS HANDA 45th Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA) Annual Awards Dinner at Savannah Rapids Pavilion in Augusta, Georgia.

Dorman, 66, is the 28th recipient of the PGA Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism, which honors members of the media for their steadfast promotion of golf, both locally and nationally.

“Larry’s career is a remarkable journey of one of this country’s most versatile sportswriters,” said PGA President Paul Levy. “He achieved success at the highest level in delivering the finest coverage of major events and didn’t stop there. He also made an indelible mark upon our industry while spending a decade in public relations. For over 40 years, Larry’s quality work brought us closer to those who make golf the best game. We’re proud that he now joins one of the most honored clubs in American sports journalism.”

Born in New York City and raised in Miami, Florida, Dorman didn’t begin playing golf until he started college. A graduate of Loyola University New Orleans in 1973, he began his newspaper career as a features writer for the Palm Beach Post, where he worked twice (1973-75 and 1977-80). In the interim, he taught school for a year in West Palm Beach and worked the police beat and did some sportswriting (1975-76) at the Albuquerque (New Mexico) Tribune. In 1980, he went to the Miami Herald, where he covered college and NFL football, the Olympic Games and golf for a decade (1980-89); and was the golf writer at National Sports Daily for the two years of its existence (1990-91).

Dorman’s reporting spans 98 major golf championships, eight Ryder Cups, 10 Super Bowls, the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games and two world boxing championship bouts.

He began the first of two separate runs on the sports staff of the New York Times (1993-97, 2007-11) a decade interrupted by a 10-year span at Callaway Golf Company. He was hired by the late Ely Callaway in 1997 to become vice president of Public Relations and Advertising. He was promoted to Senior Vice President Global Press and Public Relations in 2000 and worked at Callaway until 2007. He returned to the New York Times and remained until 2011. Today, he is a writer at large contributing to a variety of national publications.

“I’m thrilled to be recognized by the PGA of America for this award, and honored to be in the company of the distinguished past recipients,” Dorman said. “I remember delivering the Herald as a nine-year-old kid in Miami and dreaming about one day working there. And the New York Times? Twice? Beyond my wildest dreams.

“So many great writers and editors mentored me, challenged me, and encouraged me to get better at the craft. It’s humbling to have worked alongside the giants of the business, to have met and written about athletes and coaches and entertainers and business leaders who were the best at what they did. I’m grateful beyond words.”

At Callaway Golf, Dorman connected with all of the world’s golf associations as Callaway vaulted into one of the world’s largest manufacturers of golf equipment.

“How fortunate can one old newspaperman get?” said Dorman. “I was fortunate to have learned about the business of golf from Ely Callaway and the business of professional football from Don Shula is about as good as it gets.”

Dorman, who served as GWAA president from 1996-97, was the recipient of multiple GWAA and Associated Press Sports Editor honors. In 1996, he also was awarded Best American Sports Writing for his four-part New York Times series on Williams-Amherst game week.

Dorman and his wife, Christine, live in Bonsall, California. They are the parents of five children: Emily, Thomas, Christopher, John and Rebecca.

About the PGA of America The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, with 28,000 professionals who daily work to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. For more information about the PGA of America, visit PGA.org, follow @PGAofAmerica on Twitter and find us on Facebook.