Jim Rattigan named 2014 Herb Graffis Businessperson of the Year at GIS

Seth Jones, Jim Rattigan & Rees Jones Photo: Golfdom Staff

Today at the 2014 Golf Industry Show we unveiled our February issue, which proudly presents Schuylkill Country Club (Orwigsburg, Pa.) superintendent Jim Rattigan as our 2014 Herb Graffis Businessperson of the Year.

The Herb Graffis Businessperson of the Year award is named in honor of Golfdom‘s founder, World Golf Hall of Fame member Herb Graffis. Graffis was one of the first people to look at golf as a business when he founded Golfdom in 1927.

“This is really special because of the magazine and how much respect the magazine has,” Rattigan says. “I think he’s very underappreciated for his contribution to the game of golf – the first one to see the game from a business perspective.”

Four members from his course attended the presentation and had nothing but pride for their superintendent.

“(Rattigan’s) dad and three brothers have been members there forever,” Dennis Campbell says. “He had the interest, it was in his blood. He had a vision and has done a tremendous job.”

He also explained how Rattigan initially secured the job. It was all about presentation and delivery. Timing was also a key factor.

Jim Rattigan with members from Schuylkill Country Club. Photo: Golfdom Staff

“He came out of Penn State University his first year out of school and made a PowerPoint that just blew everybody away,” Campbell says. “He showed us long-range and short-range plans, the whole thing, and he’s lived up to it.”

To show another glimpse of his character, Campbell explained the availability that crews made to Rattigan.

“If we had any issues on our course, he’d make one phone call and there would be a crew there. Any help he needed or needs today, they’re there for him,” Campbell says.

Learn about Rattigan’s story in the February’s issue of Golfdom.