[PHOENIX, Ariz.] November 12, 2026 — AZ GOLF Executive Director Catherine Carmignani has been named President of the International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA), becoming the association’s newest leader following its annual conference November 8-11 at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, Florida.
Carmignani will serve a one-year term as president while continuing in her role as AZ GOLF Executive Director, a position she has held since mid-2024. She has served on the IAGA Board of Directors since 2023 and held the title of Vice President in 2026.
“I am truly honored and grateful to have been named the next President of IAGA,” Carmignani said. “When I look at the list of those who have served in this role throughout the Association's nearly 60-year history, it is humbling to have the opportunity to follow in their footsteps and build on what they helped create.”
In addition to her IAGA presidency, Carmignani will become an Allied Golf Association (AGA) Council Member in 2027, beginning a three-year term. In collaboration with the United States Golf Association (USGA), the AGA Council works to provide services and support for golfers, golf clubs and other stakeholders across the country.
Carmignani spent over a decade in sports administration before moving into golf administration in 2019. Prior to joining AZ GOLF, she spent five years at Mass Golf, serving as Director of Communications and Marketing and later transitioning to Assistant Executive Director. She credits Mass Golf Executive Director Jesse Menachem with playing an instrumental role in helping her become involved with IAGA leadership and ultimately join its Board of Directors.
“IAGA has played such an important role in my time as a golf administrator, both professionally and through the relationships I've built along the way,” Carmignani said. “I hope to extend that same experience to those who have yet to engage with the Association, while continuing to strengthen the connections that make IAGA so special. The people who make up this organization are truly what set it apart.”
Guided by IAGA's mission to advance the game of golf and serve those who play it by representing and developing those who lead it, Carmignani hopes to build on the organization's longstanding spirit of collaboration and strengthen connections throughout the golf administration community.
Carmignani becomes the fourth AZ GOLF administrator to serve as IAGA President and just the seventh woman to hold the position since the Association's first president, Carol McCue, in 1968. Previous AZ GOLF administrators to serve as IAGA President include:
Looking ahead to 2027, Carmignani has already worked alongside IAGA Executive Director Bill Walker to bring the association's annual conference to Phoenix. As president, she will help guide the organization's strategic priorities, which include elevating the event experience, enhancing professional development, engaging best practices and exploring enterprise shared services.
"At its core, IAGA is about bringing people together who share a commitment to the game of golf," Carmignani said. "I look forward to working with our leadership and members to build on that spirit of collaboration and create opportunities for even more golf administrators to experience the value of this Association."
ABOUT AZ GOLF
AZ GOLF is dedicated to Engaging the Arizona Community Through the Game of Golf. As the official state golf association, and the USGA’s representative in Arizona, the Association serves more than 100,000 members and 550+ member clubs across the state. AZ GOLF provides its members with an official USGA Handicap Index®, course rating and Rules of Golf services, and tools that help golfers of every skill level play and compete with confidence as part of an inclusive golf community. For more information, visit azgolf.org.
MEDIA CONTACT
Tom Skulski
Communications Manager
tom@azgolf.org