Golf industry veteran William “Billy” Draddy has been appointed the new Senior Vice President, Creative Director of Fairway & Greene and Zero Restriction, according to Christopher Heyn, CEO of parent company Summit Golf Brands.
Draddy-who will report directly to Heyn-will take on the responsibility of former Fairway & Greene Vice President, Design Teri Martin Schleifer, who recently resigned.
Draddy has significant experience with product design and development in both Men’s and Women’s.
Draddy comes to Summit Golf Brands from New York City-based Polo Ralph Lauren, where he had served as Vice President-Golf & Tennis since April 2007. He had directed Polo Ralph Lauren’s golf and tennis divisions’ sales, marketing, merchandising and design departments. The merchandising and design divisions he led included 11 designers and three merchants.
“As Fairway & Greene takes another step in its evolution,” Heyn says, “we are excited to have Billy’s leadership and guidance. His experience in the golf and men’s and women's sportswear business, along with his design and development vision, make him a perfect fit for our company.”
Draddy began his professional career as a Designer for Joseph Abboud Sportswear at GFT USA, followed by stints as Senior Designer-Men’s Apparel at The Timberland Company; Vice President-Design, Merchandising at Bobby Jones/Hickey Freeman; Vice President-Design for “hickey,” Hickey Freeman’s sub-brand label; and then his most recent position at Polo Ralph Lauren.
“I’m extremely grateful to be part of the Summit Golf Brands family,” says Draddy, who lives in Rye, N.Y. “I’ve always had great respect for both Fairway & Greene and Zero Restriction, so needless to say I’m very excited to be entrusted to help carry on the tradition of excellence for which those companies are so famous.”
