Dean Cassell

2016

Golf Businessman

Dean Cassell’s resume is so impressive that it appears to the work of a fantasy writer with a gift for the improbable. And his diverse contributions included successful work in amateur, professional, business and organizational activities.

For instance, he was president of the Acushnet Titleist Company, president of the Dunlop Sports Company, president of the National Golf Foundation, and president of the Golf Ball Manufacturer’s Association.

He was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of North Carolina, holds a masters degree from Harvard, was a Rhodes Scholar, and a national Woodrow Wilson Fellow,

At UNC, he was an All-Conference baseball player as a star pitcher and played for two years as a professional in the Philadelphia Phillies system.  On the golf course, he is a two-time winner of the Irish Senior championship, won the New England Senior Golf Association championship, and the National Society of Seniors Four Ball title.  He qualified for the USGA Senior Amateur on seven occasions.

He has served as Executive in Residence for UNC’s MBA program, on the Advisory Council at Furman University and the University of Massachusetts /Dartmouth, and a Trustee of the School of Social Work at UNC.  He is a frequent lecturer on sports management at a number of colleges and universities.

One of Cassell’s most cherished accomplishments was spearheading the campaign to adopt world-wide equipment standards, including a one-sized golf ball for all play.  The US ball was selected, and players can thank Cassell for not having to play the British sized smaller ball.  That historic event occurred at the Charlotte Country Club in 1972 during the U. S. Amateur championship.

Cassell is a native of Union City, NJ.  He made All-State in baseball, basketball and golf at Union City High School as a senior.  He currently resides in Charlotte and in Massachusetts. He was inducted in 2016.