David Jacobsen was not in a very good temper. It was 6 a.m. on Jan. 2, the morning after his Oregon Geese had misplaced to the Ohio State Buckeyes within the Rose Bowl recreation. He sat at his eating room desk watching highlights when he acquired an e mail from Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA, asking Jacobsen to name him.
The aim of the decision: Jacobsen had been chosen because the recipient of the 2025 USGA Joe Dey Award, an award that acknowledges service to the sport of golf as a volunteer.
“I used to be speechless,” stated Jacobsen, who might be formally acknowledged on the USGA Annual Assembly in Pinehurst, North Carolina, on Saturday. “I didn’t know what to say and I truthfully began to cry. The sport has meant a lot to me that to be acknowledged for what little volunteer work I do surprised me.”
It could be troublesome to seek out anybody who loves golf greater than the 71-year-old Jacobsen, the older brother of seven-time PGA Tour winner and longtime TV analyst Peter Jacobsen. A Portland, Oregon, resident, David has performed competitively as a junior, novice and senior novice. He has volunteered at tournaments because the Nineteen Eighties. He seeks to make golf extra pleasant and reasonably priced for younger golfers.
Though he briefly pursued an expert profession, David has made a mark on the sport on the grassroots stage. Information of his award elicited a proud response from his better-known brother.
“I used to be actually excited for David,” Peter stated. “He’s at all times been somebody who loves the sport of golf and who loves the folks within the recreation of golf. He’s at all times given his time, blood, sweat and tears for the sport of golf. I felt it was probably the most applicable award for my brother.”
David’s love of golf and want to unfold it to others could be traced again to his father, Erling.
“Dad instilled in us the values, custom and etiquette of the sport,” Jacobsen stated.
The son of Norwegian immigrants, a university soccer participant at Oregon and World Conflict II naval aviator, Erling beloved golf. He began as a caddie, studying to understand the sport and depart the course higher than he discovered it. Naturally, he taught his 4 youngsters the identical manner.
David, the oldest sibling, says his dad beloved golf however not aggressive golf. Erling believed it was extra necessary to get pleasure from and respect the sport than to beat different gamers. Maybe no story encapsulates this greater than the time Erling taught Peter a lesson for slamming a membership.
Regardless of his dad not loving aggressive golf, David loved it. The match he noticed that impressed him to pursue an expert profession was the identical occasion the place he was first uncovered to USGA volunteer work.
Yearly the Jacobsen household went on a two-week trip on the Oregon coast to play golf. On the again 9 throughout certainly one of these rounds, Peter slammed his membership after a nasty tee shot.
“Dad says, ‘You’re accomplished,’” David recalled. “You go sit by the automobile and your brother and I’ll end the spherical. You don’t behave that manner on the golf course.”
David and his dad completed the spherical with out Peter. Once they approached the car parking zone, they noticed Peter sitting by the automobile, simply as Erling had instructed. Erling noticed an opportunity to additional drive residence his level.
“Let’s educate your brother a lesson,” Erling informed David. “Let’s go play one other 9 holes.”
Regardless of his dad not loving aggressive golf, David loved it. The match he noticed that impressed him to pursue an expert profession was the identical occasion the place he was first uncovered to USGA volunteer work.
Whereas spectating on the 1970 U.S. Novice at Waverley Nation Membership in Portland, a 17-year-old David watched not simply the gamers, however the volunteers.
“Whether or not it was volunteers on the membership or the USGA committee folks I noticed, I noticed issues come collectively that had been simply actually outstanding,” he stated.
The primary occasion David volunteered for was the inaugural U.S. Mid-Novice in 1981. Whereas taking part in within the U.S. Novice earlier that 12 months, he had met USGA regional director Ron Reed who requested him if he needed to assist promote the brand new match. David says his major job was to determine gamers within the Northwest to play within the occasion.
“I had an entire lot of enjoyable telling my mates and mailing out entry kinds,” he stated.
David says his love of the sport amplified his love for volunteering.
“Placing one thing collectively that’s particular for the rivals is absolutely rewarding as a result of I used to be a type of rivals,” he stated.
David continues to volunteer for USGA championships, however his involvement within the recreation goes even deeper. After his father died in 1992, it grew to become David’s objective to show younger golfers the sport the identical manner his dad taught him and his siblings.
“Golf could be very intimidating. Competitors provides intimidation and might chase some folks away. One of the best half about golf is being with your pals.” – David Jacobsen
In 1996, together with the Oregon Golf Affiliation, the Jacobsen household established the Erling Jacobsen Tour, a program for youth golfers with an emphasis on non-competitive golf.
“Golf could be very intimidating,” David stated. “Competitors provides intimidation and might chase some folks away. One of the best half about golf is being with your pals.”
In 2012, the Erling Jacobsen Tour mixed with the Youth on Course program to change into the Jacobsen Youth Initiative. In accordance with David, 70 programs in Oregon settle for the Youth on Course card, which permits youngsters to play golf for $5. Jacobsen says accessibility is essential to fostering a love of the sport.
“I consider for those who present a chance for a teen to play golf at an inexpensive quantity, they’ll fall in love with it,” David stated. “They’re going to be taught the life expertise that I used to be so lucky to have been uncovered to by my dad.
In accordance with the Oregon Golf Affiliation, extra 77,000 rounds totaling over $460,000 in inexperienced charges have been backed for youths since 2014.
David says receiving the Joe Dey Award in recognition of his work is an unbelievable feeling, however the work isn’t accomplished.
“I’m humble to be acknowledged but it surely takes a village to make this factor work,” David stated. “I need to assist transfer the sport ahead, ensure that the sport is on the market and open for everybody and share the sheer pleasure that hitting that sq. shot can deliver.”
High: David Jacobsen is a lifelong lover of golf. Picture: Steve Gibbons, Courtesy USGA
© 2025 World Golf Publish LLC
