05/06/2026
This post was written by Danny Elkins
This past week brought the saddest of news to the golf community in Georgia. Brian Stubbs, the former Head Professional at the Country Club of Columbus, and currently the Executive Director of the Haskins Foundation, has passed away.
Brian was a giant of a man physically, and had a giant presence within our industry. His role with the Haskins Foundation took him all over the country, and as you can read from the numerous posts by his peers in college golf, he had a truly profound impact on the game at the college level.
His impact in his home state of Georgia was no less profound. Indeed, it may have been moreso. He wasn’t just “A” Georgia PGA Member, he was “THE” Georgia PGA Member. I can say without hesitation that no one in the 50 plus years of the Georgia PGA has cared more about the Section Membership, or spent more time serving on their behalf.
It was my great fortune to spend a lot of time with Brian over the last twenty years, especially in the last few years as we were Co-chairs of the Section Governance Committee. During this time we spent countless hours rewriting the Constitution, Bylaws and Tournament Rules and Regulations. That time brought us closer together and I am so grateful to have spent those many hours with him, either in person, by text, or on the phone.
Brian and I shared many interests, one of which was a love of American History. We talked often of visiting some prominent historical sites and playing a little golf. For all the right reasons we just couldn’t find a time where we could both get away.
But last July we finally ran out of excuses and conflicts and pulled it off. Along with fellow PGA Members John Godwin and Tom Losinger, we took a bucket list trip to Gettysburg, Antietam and Harpers Ferry and played some outstanding golf courses as well. I’ve been fortunate enough to take a lot of great trips but none that I enjoyed more than that one.
After the trip we made a vow to do other trips together. Sadly, life had other plans.
I hope this will inspire those of you with similar, but unfulfilled plans, to act. Don’t wait, go now. If you wait, you might miss that chance forever.
Brian Stubbs was a gem of a human being. I will remember him with respect, with admiration, and with affection.