American Junior Golf Association honors Athens’ Canebrake Club golf director

ATHENS – Micky Wolfe is the force behind what has been called a “world-class junior golf program” at Canebrake Club in Athens, and his continuing unparalleled leadership at a place that has become a media hotspot in the past year has not gone unnoticed.

Canebrake has garnered headlines since two of its young players – Lee Hodges of Ardmore and Nick Dunlap of Huntsville – won tournaments on the Professional Golf Association Tour this year and last.

That collateral success, however, doesn’t define the award recently afforded Wolfe for the club’s efforts hosting the American Junior Golf Association’s Junior at Canebrake and the Junior Pro-Am charitable event benefiting the Stacy Wolfe Breast Cancer Foundation started by Micky’s wife. She died in February.

Wolfe, director of Golf at Canebrake Club, was recently named the 2023 AJGA’s Golf Executive of the Year. 

“I am extremely humbled,” Wolfe said. “The relationship I have developed with the AJGA team over our event has been very rewarding and I consider them personal friends. The impact the AJGA event at Canebrake has had on our local community is immeasurable and I am deeply indebted to this event for the impact it has had on my late wife Stacy’s foundation.

“I am excited about the future of our AJGA event and feel the best days are still ahead of us.”

Each year, the AJGA presents awards to the tournaments it deemed had the best individual hospitality, Junior-Am fundraising tournament, charitable giving and volunteer base. Awards are given to the events with engaged media and social media participation.

Finally, the AJGA recognizes the year’s most outstanding golf professional, superintendent and golf course executive, as well as the most game changing event, best new event, best Preview Series tournament, best Ninja Junior All-Star Series tournament, best Invitational and overall tournament of the year. Tournament awards for the 2023 season will be presented on-site at 2024 tournaments.

“This is the first tournament award recognition for Wolfe and the AJGA Junior at Canebrake Club. Words won’t do justice to how special and impactful Micky has been to this event,” Houston Denney, AJGA Senior Regional Director-Southeast, said in a release announcing the honor. “The event’s accomplishments and proceeds would not be possible without Micky and everyone at the Canebrake Club.

“Everyone that truly knows Micky has nothing but great things to say about him and what he has done for the junior golf community in Alabama. He embodies all the good things about the golf industry, and it is an honor and privilege to call him a friend and a colleague.”