Biographies

Tim Moraghan, Principal, taps into an extensive and knowledgeable network comprised of leading golf industry professionals with decades of experience and who understand the importance of long-term relationships. Based on client needs, Moraghan and his associates create short and long-term golf course conditioning programs, facilitate the master planning process, develop event solicitation and preparation strategies and fit superintendents with the best courses through ASPIRE Golf's placement division.

For more 30 years, Tim’s talents and work ethic have brought a wealth of benefits to the golf industry. From grounds crew to construction of new courses to golf course superintendent, Moraghan’s experience encompasses a wide range of talents and expertise in the golf arena, topped by the prestigious position of Director of Championship Agronomy for the United States Golf Association (USGA), a position he held for more than two decades.

Growing up in Connecticut, Tim gravitated to golf under the watchful eye of his father, Tom, a talented amateur player. His competitive juices were further fueled by participation in swimming and hockey, but upon graduation from Niagara University, he headed south to pursue a career in golf.

Golf Course Superintendent, Course Construction, Event Preparation

After acquiring ground-level experience in Myrtle Beach, he accepted an opportunity to become a golf course superintendent for Pinehurst Resorts. In 1979 and 1980, he oversaw golf course conditioning for Pinehurst #3 and #5, before moving to Florida to join the construction/maintenance team for the PGA TOUR’s Tournament Players Course (TPC) in Ponte Vedra. There, he received his introduction to Florida open space and had the pleasure of working with legendary golf course architect Pete Dye.

When another construction opportunity opened up within the TPC network, Tim migrated to Dallas to oversee the reconstruction of The Las Colinas Sports Club. While there, he was privileged to strike up a long friendship with the legendary professional golfer Byron Nelson. He also got his first taste of leading a team to set up a golf course for a professional tournament, serving as lead golf course superintendent for the inaugural 1983 Byron Nelson Classic at The Las Colinas Sports Club.

But soon the Florida shores beckoned, and Moraghan headed to Miami Beach as Regional Golf Course Superintendent, where he was responsible for five golf courses operated by American Golf Corporation. Overseeing a maintenance staff of nearly 100 workers, Tim upgraded conditions and worked within narrow budget parameters during his tenure in municipal golf course maintenance.

Eventually, Tim’s talents came to the attention of the USGA, bringing him to Far Hills in 1986, where he devoted the next 20 years to preparing golf courses for national championships. During his tenure, he worked with countless superintendents, club boards and management to provide optimal playing conditions, while always considering the club and golf course’s needs. His ability to prepare detailed, long-range plans for executing superior conditions in high-profile situations, earned the admiration of golf course superintendents, club management and his fellow staff members.

While at the USGA, Tim was a regular attendee of Rules of Golf workshops and officiated at numerous championships. He worked closely with the USGA’s Green Section, attending research seminars and workshops. Through his vast industry resources, he keeps abreast of trends and developments in the field.

His expertise and experience drive people to seek his advice and mentoring on a daily basis. To the thousands of people he has worked with over the years, Moraghan has served as a friend, a mentor, a confidant and at times, a motivator. A popular and knowledgeable speaker, Tim regularly addresses industry groups and golf club boards of directors on the topics of tournament preparation and challenges, ultimate conditioning and the need to know the game. And, his candid nature and refreshing outlook makes him a frequent resource for the media, as well as a regular contributor to industry periodicals.

Tim has served as a rater for GOLF Magazine and Golfweek and is knowledgeable about the criteria and processes involved. He writes a monthly column for Golf Course Industry.

Tim and his wife, Karen, founder and president of Hunter Public Relations • Special Events (www.hunter-pr.com), a golf, hospitality and spa industry marketing consultancy, reside in Long Valley, New Jersey and Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.