Tom Cunningham receives the Southwest Section PGA Anser Award

Honors positive efforts toward influencing the history of Arizona golf

Tom Cunningham was the recipient of the Southwest Section PGA Anser award, presented during the organization’s annual meeting on June 9, 2016. 

“I’m most humbled to receive the 2015 Anser Award,” said Cunningham. “I am very grateful for being selected as the recipient, and I could never imagine being included with the names of the previous recipients for this most prestigious award.” 

The Anser Award honors an individual or group for their positive efforts toward influencing the history of Arizona golf. It is given in honor of the late Karsten Solheim, the founder of PING and named after his famous PING Anser putter. Solheim received the inaugural award in 1991. Past Anser Award winners include Bob Goldwater, Sr., Arch Watkins, Bill Farkas, Sr., Harry Cavanagh, Ed Updegraff, Lyle Anderson, JD Woodward, The Thunderbirds and most recently John Solheim in 2015.

Cunningham’s 30 years of involvement with golf in Arizona began as a member of The Thunderbirds, the civic-minded organization that host the Waste Management Phoenix Open, which has donated more than $100 million to local charities. He served on the Phoenix Citizens Golf Advisory Council, the USGA Junior Amateur Championship Committee, and the USGA Regional Associations Committee.

Since its creation in 1986, Cunningham has been involved with the Junior Golf Association of Arizona (JGAA) where he served two years as president. In 1994 he became the Executive Director, a role he would fill until his retirement in December 2013. During his tenure, Cunningham was instrumental in increasing the JGAA’s membership base, fundraising, and introducing and supporting programs such as the Junior America’s Cup, LPGA/USGA Girls Golf program, and JGAA Boys Club introductory program.

He continues to serve as Executive Director of the Junior America’s Cup. In addition to the Anser Award, Cunningham was named as the Arizona Golf Association’s inaugural Champion of Golf in 2008, an award given to those that champion the game of golf in Arizona.