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Updegraff Award Drew Woods’ dedication earns ‘incredible honor’ n STORIES BY JOHN DAVIS
Drew Woods
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hen Drew Woods was asked to serve on the Executive Committee, he decided that he needed to learn all he could about the inner workings of the Arizona Golf Association. In that pursuit, he has served on the board of governors and every one of the AGA committees as well as handicap chairman and course rater. He has assisted in marking courses, fixing handicap computers and serves as a starter and rules official for multiple college events each year. His dedication to those tasks led to Woods being named the 2018 winner of the Updegraff Award, which is the highest honor given by the AGA and goes to an individual who, “By his or her actions and accomplishments exemplify the spirit of the game.” “The way I Iooked at it was that you couldn’t serve on the Executive 32 | AZ GOLF Insider | SPRINGSUMMER 2019
Committee and be efficient at it unless you fully understood all of the inner workings, so I tried to learn everything I could about every facet of what it does,” Woods said. “No matter what role I was in at the time, I always wanted to leave the place in better shape than it was when I got there. I hope I have been able to do that.” The Indiana native was introduced to golf in Arizona in 1977 when he was serving in the Air Force. He later moved to Colorado and returned to Arizona in 1998. He began serving on the Board of Governors in 2002 and Executive Committee two years later. Along with his AGA involvement, Woods has worked with the Pacific Coast Golf Association for 12 years, serving as its president in 2009 and ’14, and he and his wife Janice have played a significant role in the prestigious Patriot AllAmerica tournament since its inception. Being a fellow Tucson resident and friend of Dr. Ed Updegraff made this award all the more special to Woods. “I know him fairly well and obviously know what he has meant to golf in Arizona,” Woods said. “To be mentioned in the same breath as Dr. Ed is an incredible honor and extremely humbling.”
Dorothy Pease Achievement Award Barrett’s life runs gamut from LPGA to First Tee Tina Barrett has experienced just about every facet of golf, from a successful LPGA Tour career to teaching young children how to hold a club in First Tee, and says it has provided her with more than she could ever give back to the game. “Golf has given me my home, my husband, a comfortable way of living, my whole life really,” she said. “I have enjoyed it so much. I really want to pass that along to whoever I come in contact with now, so that’s what drives me to help others in the game. “I believe that you get more than you give when you volunteer and I try to make that part of what I want my life to be.” Those efforts led to her receiving the Dorothy Pease Award, the highest honor presented annually by the Arizona Women’s Golf Association.
“No matter what role I was in at the time, I always wanted to leave the place in better shape than it was when I got there, and I hope I have been able to do that.” — Drew Woods Tina Barrett www.azgolf.org
