John McConnell Honored with Inaugural Korn Ferry Tour “Beyond the Green” Award

On December 11, John McConnell, CEO of McConnell Golf, was recognized by the Korn Ferry Tour as the inaugural recipient of its new “Beyond the Green” Award during the Tour’s annual tournament meetings at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. John attended the awards ceremony alongside his wife, Rebekah McConnell.

The “Beyond the Green” Award was created to recognize an individual tournament representative whose impact on the Korn Ferry Tour extends beyond tournament operations—someone who leads with integrity, supports collaboration, and consistently elevates the experience for players, partners, and communities.

John was selected from a group of nominees through a vote by Korn Ferry Tour staff across multiple departments, a reflection of the respect he has earned throughout the Tour.

As CEO of McConnell Golf, John has long been a strong supporter of professional golf and the Korn Ferry Tour. His leadership and relationship-driven approach have helped strengthen partnerships and support events that showcase high-quality competition and meaningful fan and community engagement.

McConnell Golf is proud to host two Korn Ferry Tour events: the UNC Health Championship at Raleigh Country Club and the Visit Knoxville Open at Holston Hills Country Club. Under John’s leadership, both events have delivered exceptional experiences for players, fans, sponsors, and volunteers, reflecting the values the “Beyond the Green” Award was created to celebrate.

Being named the first-ever recipient of this award makes the recognition especially meaningful, setting the tone for future honorees. We congratulate John on this well-deserved honor and are proud to see his leadership and impact recognized by the Korn Ferry Tour.