Jeff Conley

For 18 years, Jeff Conley has been the driving force behind one of the oldest AJGA events in the country, transforming the Natural Resource Partners Bluegrass Junior into a nationally recognized tournament and a cornerstone of charitable giving in eastern Kentucky.

Since taking over as tournament chairman at Bellefonte Country Club in Ashland in 2008, Conley has used his relationships in the coal industry to build the Bluegrass Junior into a fundraising powerhouse, generating more than $1.7 million in contributions and returning nearly $760,000 to local charities. Early in his tenure, he worked with the AJGA to create a revenue sharing program that channels excess funds to local high school golf teams, which have received more than $321,000 to date.

Conley's commitment to local juniors goes further still. After the death of longtime Bellefonte member and AJGA Bluegrass supporter Robert C. Yancey, Conley worked with his widow to establish the Yancey Scholarship fund, which has provided more than $91,000 to cover tournament entry fees for juniors within 100 miles of Bellefonte. He has also helped direct close to $700,000 to the AJGA's ACE Grant program, which supports young golfers pursuing college scholarships.

Under his leadership, Bellefonte Country Club has earned national AJGA recognition, including Open Tournament of the Year in 2009, Charitable Giving honors in 2011 and 2012, the Hospitality Award in 2013 and the Superintendent's Award in 2016. Conley also spearheaded a live-streaming partnership that has broadcast the tournament nationwide for the past three years, allowing family members unable to travel to watch juniors compete.

The scope of Conley's impact is difficult to overstate. The Bluegrass Junior has hosted more than 1,875 junior golfers from 43 states and 23 countries under his watch, producing 855 college golf commitments and 50 Rolex Junior All-Americans. In 2021, the AJGA honored his long-time service and dedication with the Digger Smith Award, the association's highest honor.

Those who have worked alongside Conley describe him as someone whose impact on the game is rare and hard to quantify. Nearly two decades of tireless work, matched by his wife Barbara's support, have made him one of the most respected volunteers in Kentucky golf and a fitting recipient of the Kentucky Golf Foundation Distinguished Service Award.

Missy Gahm Kremer

Missy Gahm Kremer's influence touches nearly every corner of golf in Kentucky, from board governance and youth development to championship operations and philanthropy, embodying the standard the Distinguished Service Award was created to recognize.

Kremer serves on the Kentucky Golf Foundation Board of Directors, where she works to support some of the largest and most impactful junior golf programs in the state. As Vice President of the First Tee Louisville Board of Directors, she has worked to expand access to the game for young people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to play, traveling with the chapter to national events to bring best practices back to Kentucky. Those who have served alongside her describe a board member who consistently puts others first, showing up wherever she's needed, from fundraising to community outreach, and leading through quiet, steady service rather than seeking recognition.

Her volunteer leadership extends across many of the state's premier events. She served as Vice Chair of the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla, has coordinated volunteers for the PGA TOUR's ISCO Championship the past two years, and served as general chair of the Justin Thomas AJGA Junior Event, for which the AJGA recognized her with its Hospitality Award. She has also taken on various leadership roles for major championships hosted at Valhalla Golf Club over the years.

Looking ahead, Kremer is serving as Vice Chair for the 2028 Solheim Cup at Valhalla, the biggest event in women’s golf. This is a role she has already embraced with characteristic commitment, traveling to the event in Virginia and planning to attend the 2026 competition in Amsterdam to study global best practices ahead of Kentucky's turn to host.

Beyond her volunteer hours, Missy and her husband, Rob Kremer, are generous financial supporters of golf causes across the Commonwealth, helping sustain the long-term health of the state's programs.

Colleagues describe Kremer as a true golf ambassador, someone who welcomes others into the game, encourages participation and believes golf is strongest when it's inclusive and accessible. Her commitment to the sport's youngest players, its biggest events, and its future in Kentucky make Missy Gahm Kremer an exceptional recipient of the Kentucky Golf Foundation Distinguished Service Award.

Join us in celebrating our 2026 Distinguished Award Recipients at the Kentucky Golf Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony!

November 19th, 2026

Wildwood Country Club, 5:30pm

Tickets include the awards ceremony, dinner, and two drink tickets.

Click here to register and purchase tickets.