America's Largest Golf Dinner

A sold out crowd of 1,700 guests packed the ballroom at Encore Boston Harbor on April 21 as the Ouimet Fund honored Dick Connolly with the 2025 Francis Ouimet Award for Lifelong Contributions to Golf.

Due in large part to Connolly’s efforts, the Ouimet Banquet has become an annual tradition in New England, honoring golf’s most respected individuals who have made tremendous contributions to the game. Guests enjoyed a fireside chat with Connolly moderated by Golf Channel’s Rich Lerner, who made his third guest appearance at the Annual Banquet.

Proceeds from this historic banquet will benefit the Connolly Family Scholarship, a named endowed scholarship awarded annually to Ouimet Scholars with the most financial need. Thank you to our many generous sponsors and donors for an incredible evening celebrating Mr. Connolly and other members of the Ouimet community.

Banquet Honoree Dick Connolly

In the 75-year history of the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund, nobody has meant more to our mission than Richard F. Connolly, Jr. As a Scholarship Alumnus, Director, Trustee, and President, Connolly has proudly served the Ouimet Fund for over 40 years. He is The Fund’s single greatest donor, including an endowed scholarship in his family’s name which continues to significantly impact Ouimet Scholars every year.

Connolly was a driving force in transforming the Annual Banquet from a small affair into the largest golf dinner in the nation, serving as the event’s lead sponsor. In 1997, he invited his financial services client and dear friend Arnold Palmer to receive the inaugural Francis Ouimet Award for Lifelong Contributions to Golf.

As The Fund celebrated the 25th Banquet since Palmer’s recognition, the annual event has raised nearly $17 million to benefit Ouimet Scholars. The Ouimet Fund was fortunate to benefit from the initial collaboration between Connolly and Palmer, which laid the foundation for honoring other legends of the game — from Jack and Barbara Nicklaus to Jim Nantz, Juli Inkster, and many more.

Richard F. Connolly, Jr. Award Recipient Michael Zmetrovich

The annual Richard F. Connolly, Jr. Distinguished Service Award was established in 2000 in honor of Mr. Connolly, who has proudly served The Fund for over 40 years and is the embodiment of everything a Ouimet volunteer can be.

As a Ouimet Alumnus, Michael Zmetrovich has passionately given back to the Ouimet Fund for 30 years. He has been a leader by participating in the Golf Marathon and Sprint, advocating for caddie programs and young people who work in golf, serving as Ouimet Chair to the Tedesco Country Club members and as an advocate for others across the North Shore.

His Golf Sprint fundraising efforts have eclipsed $700,000 over the years and 70 Scholars from Tedesco Country Club have received more than $1.3 million in aid during his time in that role. His love of the game started at Murphy’s Garrison Golf Center and then caddying as a youngster at Haverhill Country Club before playing college golf at Florida International University.