The 2024 Palmer Award
Thank you to everyone who attended this year's Chapter Summit in Atlanta or Chicago! It was a great day to share with our chapters, especially our new members who saw firsthand what our club is all about!
Each year, we ask members of the golf society to nominate their peers for the annual Palmer Award, a tradition handed out to the member who best embodies the core values of NewClub. It’s also become a tradition to surprise the winners with family members at our annual Chapter Summit in Chicago and Atlanta to help them celebrate. A fitting tribute as the award was partly named for our inaugural winner’s son, Palmer, who, thanks to golf’s most swash-buckling champion of the people, shares a namesake that will always elicit the best qualities of our game.
This year we could not have awarded our club’s highest honor to two more deserving people: Thomas McCartney and Ryan Smyth.
Chicago’s Palmer Award winner is Thomas McCartney. In 2020, amongst unprecedented changes and a weird year for everyone, our golf society was introduced to T-Mac. Although Tom did not know any of our members, he felt an immediate connection to our club, its values, and the way we talked about and played the game. He decided to take a chance. During that winter, we got to know Tom well. Although golf was shut down in Chicago, our NewClub Artisans continued to volunteer for The Community course that could, a special place on the Evanston/Wilmette border called Canal Shores. T-Mac, tall, bearded, usually with a Sweetens Cove logo on his vest or hat and still a tinge of his native Minnesota accent, fit right in with our crew of NewClub artisans and Canal Shores Lumberjacks. Tom loves golf, and it’s evident to anyone fortunate enough to tee it up with him. His game is authentically his; a slinging draw more reminiscent of the swashbuckling golfers from the days of persimmon drivers and wound balatas. He’s a competitor, too, loving a spirited match and always willing to share a nip of high-quality bourbon or a fine cigar with his opponent, regardless of the result. He’s genuine, and asks meaningful questions. He’s inclusive, extending invites and making sure there’s an opportunity for all. He’s appreciative to staff, whether at a top 100 or a local municipality. Oh, and did we mention he was NewClub’s first-ever Captain?! There is no one more deserving of both distinctions and we’re honored to have Thomas McCartney as our Palmer Award Winner for the Chicago Chapter.
Atlanta's Palmer Award winner is Ryan Smyth. This award is given to a club member who embodies NewClub’s core values of Community, Integrity, Reverence, Inclusivity, and Mindfulness. Ryan was voted the winner by his fellow members, as is the tradition each year. Often, when golfers share their experiences, they talk about great courses, remarkable matches, pristine conditions, and memorable shots or weather. While these factors contribute to great golf experiences, they pale in comparison to the relationships we build and the great people we meet along the way. Ryan Smyth is the kind of person you can play with anywhere, anytime, in any condition with any ability, and walk away having a great time and a new friend. He embodies this balanced spirit of camaraderie, competition, and care for one another that we’ve always strived for as a club. Ryan is always willing to help members without being prompted and with sincerity and a smile. He welcomes new members into the club and is always there to congratulate you after a match and thank them after a game. Ryan is an excellent ambassador of NewClub, and we are proud to call him our 2023 Palmer Award winner in Atlanta.
Congrats and onward to the golf season ahead!
