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The Kansas CityGolf Hall of FameThe Hall of Fame committte ismade up of representatives from threearea associations: the KCGA, the Midwest Section of the PGA and the Heartof America Golf Course Superintendents Association. Candidates are vetted by the committee to be placed on aPage23456789101112131415161718ballot which is voted on by the Boardof Directors of the KCGA, and representatives of the other two associations.The number of inductees is determinedby the committee. Elections occur ineven numbered years after 2014.The Kansas City GolfHall of FameInducteesMiriam Burns.Class of 2013Jim Colbert.Class of 2018James Dalgleish.Class of 2016The Foursome.Class of 2014Marian Gault.Class of 2016Leland “Duke” Gibson.Class of 2013Opal Hill.Class of 2013Maxine Johnson.Class of 2018Frank Kirk.Class of 2018Bill Ludwig.Class of 2016Karen Schull MacGee.Class of 2014Chet Mendenhall.Class of 2013Jean Pepper.Class of 2018Bob Reid.Class of 2013Bob Stone.Class of 2014Stan Thirsk.Class of 2013Tom Watson.Class of 2013
Miriam BurnsHorn TysonFeb 4, 1904 - March 19, 1951Milburn G & CCAt the age of 16 Miriam Burns won herfirst of many golf championships. She traveled the country, winning from Californiato New York. As a darling of the ‘RoaringTwenties’ along with Opal Hill, she drewnational attention to Kansas City. Especially during the 1927 Women’s US 2419271929Eastern sportswriters like O.B. Keelerportrayed her as a beautiful “IT” girl whowas surrounded by admirers of the oppositesex.Miriam, Tom Watson and Ellen Port areKansas City’s three USGA champions. In1930 at the age of 26, she followed BobbyKansas City Women’sMatch PlayChampionMission Hills def Mrs E.R. McClellandMission Hills def Esther LevyMeadow Lake def Mrs E.R. McClellandMilburndef Mrs O.C. SullivanBlue Hillsdef Carolyn LeeMission Hills def Opal HillBlue Hillsdef Ann WebsterMedalistMission Hills.88Meadow Lake.83Milburn.86Blue Hills.78Mission Hills.78Milburn.84Jones’ example of the same year, by retiringfrom competitive golf.After traveling the world with her second husband George Tyson, Miriam diedof pneumonia in Kansas City at the age of47 in 1951.Missouri Women’sUSGA Women’s AmateurAmateurChampion1920 Bellerivelost in semifinals1927 Cherry Valley CC, Garden City, NYChampionQuarterfinals1921 Blue Hillsdef Carolyn Lee1924 Rhode Island CC1922 Mission Hills def Carolyn LeeWomen’s Western AmateurMatch Play record: 13-1Champion1923 Exmoor CC, Chicago1930 Hillcrest CC, Kansas CityWomen’s Trans-Miss AmateurChampion1927 Blue Hills, Kansas City def Opal Hill 6&4Runner-up1928 Minikahda, Minneapolis lost to Opal HillWomen’s Pebble Beach AmateurRunner-up1928 Pebble Beach lost to Marion Sollins1 up (20)1927 U.S. Women’s Amateur FinalAt the eleventh green in the morning round of the final match, showingMiss Orcutt at the finish of a chip shot from the edge of the green, which landedthe ball in the cup. Mrs. Horn retaliated by holing a ten-footer for a half.
Jim Colbertb. March 9, 1941Recognizable from anywhere onthe golf course by his signature buckethat and turned up collar, Jim Colbert distinguished himself as a tenacious playeron both the PGA and Senior Tours.Colbert turned professional in1965 and entered the winners circlefor the first time four years later at theMonsanto Open. His total of eight winson the PGA Tour and twenty victorieson the Senior Tour (including one major,the 1993 Senior Players Championship)span some 32 years.He also scored victories in sixteam competitions (Diners Club matchesand Legends of Golf) with partners BobMurphy, Andy North and Jim Thorpe.In addition to his success as atouring professional, Colbert was a golfanalyst for ESPN for three years. Heis president of Colbert Golf Design &Development, creators of Colbert HillsGolf Course in Manhattan, KS home ofthe K-State Wildcat golf teams.He is a member of the KansasGolf- and Kansas State Athletic- Halls ofFame.Local EventsKansas City Match Play1959 quarterfinals HillcrestHeart of America 4 Ball1962 medalistw/ Malcolm Johnson Oakwood1963 quarterfinals w/ Matt TaberBlue Hills (old)1964 Champions w/ Matt TaberKCCC1961 2nd1962 2ndU.S. Amateur Qualifying73-70 Blue Hills (old)73-69 Mission Hills1967 2nd1970 1stU.S. Open Local Qualifying67-69 Indian Hills70-69 Indian HillsMissouri AmateurRunner-up, 1962Normandie CC, St. LouisChampion, 1963Hickory Hills CC, SpringfieldMedalist, 1965Meadowbrook CC, St. LouisWon-lost record: 18-4 (1958-1965)Champion, 1965Medalist, 1965Kansas AmateurMilburn CCMilburn CCProfessional Career8 wins on the PGA Tour (1966-1990)20 wins on the PGA Champions Tour (1991-2011)
James Dalgleish1865 - 1935Considered by many as “The Father of KansasCity Golf,” James Dalgleish emigrated to theUnited States from Scotland in 1896. In 1903 hemoved to Kansas City to work as head professional at Evanston Golf Club. He was also thecourse designer.A professional of that era was expected tobe a club maker, greenkeeper, rules expert, teacherand tournament player. Dalgleish was all of those.In 1912 Evanston acquired land southof town and hired Donald Ross to design a newcourse which would later be named Hillcrest.Dalgleish completed the Ross plan over the nextfour years. He would remain as professional atHillcrest until 1924.Dalgleish is credited with numerous coursedesigns throughout the region from small-townKansas to Swope Park. He was the owner,designer and head professional at the original St.Andrews course at 89th and Summit and designedVictory Hills in 1927.He designed the original 1911 course atSwope Park, Log Cabin, James Dodson (privatelyowned), and Eastwood Hills.
The Foursome1950s“The Foursome” was a group offour African-American men who brokethe color barrier at public golf courses inthe Kansas City area. In March of 1950,George and Sylvester “Pat” Johnson,Reuben Benton and Leroy Doty laid theirgreens fee money on the counter of whatis now Swope Memorial GC and saidthey were playing. Though the man atthe counter told them they could not playbecause they were black, they teed offanyway.After that, slashed tires and brokenwindows caused the men to have a fifthman stand guard over their car as theyplayed the front nine. The man with thehighest score then stood guard during theback nine.Eventually other blacks began to playand the public courses of Kansas Cityslowly began to be fully integrated. This,three years after Jackie Robinson brokethe color barrier in baseball and four yearsbefore the Supreme Court’s Brown v.Board of Education of Topeka decision.“The Foursome.”(relatives and supporters at the 2014induction at Indian Hills CC)Doug Schroeder, KC Parks & Rec., MarionWatkins, Samuel Benton, Don Kuehn, JennaMiller, Shomari Benton and Matt Roberts,Head Pro at Swope Memorial.Two of “The Foursome.”Reuben Benton and Leroy Doty
Marian Gault1924 - 1996From before WWII until the 1960’sMarian Gault was a leading contenderin both the Kansas City Women’s MatchPlay and the Missouri Women’s Amateur.Marian received the KCGA Gof-ferAward in 1948, 1952, 1954, and 1955as the areas top woman player. She wasinducted into the Kansas City AmateurHall of Champions in 1980. She wasthe first recipient of the Bernice EdlundAward from the Missouri Womens GolfAssociation in 1952 for outstandingconduct, demeanor and sportsmanship.Beginning in the 1950s Marian wasinstrumental in starting the girls KCGAjunior golf program.For 13 years Gault led the KansasCity Golf Association’s Junior Girlsprogram. Thinking it would be a one ortwo year assignment, she was so success-Southwest HS ‘41Gulf Park College ‘43University of Arizona ‘45Parsons School of Design, NYCMember at Indian Hills CC, 1934-1996Missouri Women’s AmateurChampiondefShirley Chestnut 6&5defJeannie Dobbin 6&4Runner-up1947 St. Joe CClost to Jean Hutto1 down1948 Hillcrestlost to BJ Haemerle7&51949 Hickory Hills lost to Betty Jane Broz 3&21962 Mission Hills lost to Karen Shull2&1Total Match Play Record: 36 wins, 9 losses.1952 Blue Hills1955 Indian Hillsful in recruiting young players no onewould accept her resignation until shefinally called it quits in 1963.The 1962 Missouri Amateur finalwas Marian’s last hurrah, pitting theteacher, 38, and one of her students. Thestudent, Karen Schull, 21, prevailed,2&1.Kansas City Women’s Match PlayChampiondef Jean Pepperdef Jean Huttodef Mrs. W. F. McCanndef Maxine Johnsondef Maxine Johnsondef Maxine JohnsonRunner-up1941 Milburnlost to Jean Pepper1956 Oakwoodlost to Pat Rubelee1957 Quivira Lake lost to Maxine JohnsonMatch Play record: 39-10Medalist1946 Milburn. 781948 Indian Hills. 791950 Blue Hills. 791951 Indian Hills. 801952 Blue Hills. 831954 Santa Fe Hills. 651959 Hillcrest. 741960 Santa Fe Hills. 64194219461948195019511952Indian HillsMilburnIndian HillsBlue HillsIndian HillsBlue HillsThe first Gof-fer Dinner of the Kansas City Golf Association in 1948.Left to right: “Duke” Gibson, Frank Stranahan, Marian Gault, Byron Nelson,Bob Willits, Bill Sanders.2&15&46&53&11 up7&51 up2&1
Leland “Duke” Gibson1908-1977In addition to his splendid recordas a player, Duke Gibson was soughtout by many of the best players in thearea as a teaching professional, friendand mentor. As a seven-year-old, TomWatson took lessons from Duke at theold Blue Hills course at 63rd and thePaseo.Mr. Gibson served as AssistantProfessional at the old Meadow LakeCountry Club at 75th andState Line Road before moving toSwope Park No. 1, now Swope Memorial. After returning from active servicein World War II, he was hired as HeadProfessional at old Blue Hills where hewould serve for twenty-five years.Mr. Gibson maintained his gamewell enough to make the cut in eight USOpen Championships and played in theprestigious Masters Tournament eighttimes. He served his fellow professionals as President of the PGA MidwestSection for six terms.1937 - 1939 - Asst. pro at Meadow Lake CC(75th & Stateline)1939 - 1942 - Head pro at Swope Park GC1942 - 1945 - U.S. Army Air Corps in WW II1946 - 1971 - Head pro at Blue Hills CCU.S. Open Sectional QualifyingDuke with the ball after his holein-one on #6 at the 1954 61951195219531954195519561957OakwoodBlue HillsBlue HillsMilburnIndian HillsIndian HillsIndian HillsKansas City CCBlue HillsHillcrest1st.77-70 - 1472nd.73-73 - 1464th.1441st.74-71 - 145T3rd.74-70 - 1441st.68-71 - 1402nd.68-70 - 1381st.72-68 - 1401st.70-70 - 1402nd.71-75 - 146196019611962196319651966196819691972Kansas City CCIndian HillsIndian HillsIndian HillsIndian HillsIndian HillsIndian HillsIndian HillsIndian HillsT4.67-76 - 143T2nd.72-70 - 1425th.72-70 - 142T4th.69-76 - 1455th.75-74 - 1495th.74-74 - 1481st.72-72 - 144T6th.73-74 - 147T4.72-72 - 144U.S. Open Local QualifyingThe Masters78-80-75-75 - 30872-77-79-77 - 30571-77-74-72 - 29478-73-72-74 - 29774-74-75-78 - 30173-71-72-78 - 29475-77-78-75 - 30581-75-75-77 - 30843rd43rdT13T14T32T23T46T4300 275 261 100 407 250 250U.S. Open1940 - DQ at Canterbury CC(along with five others for starting early)1946 74-71-78-72 - 295 T26. Canterbury1947 69-76-73-71 - 289 T6. St. Louis CC1948 71-76-69-74 - 290 T14. Riviera CC1949 75-72-73-79 - 299 T35.Medinah #31952 73-76-72-76 - 297 T22.Northwood1954 72-77-69-77 - 295 T18. Baltusrol1955 76-78-76-74 - 304 T25. Olympic Club1957 75-75-76-78 - T48 T48.InvernessPGA1947 lost in Semi-finals Plum Hollow, MISenior PGA1959 Runner-up
Opal HillJune 2, 1892 - June 23, 1981The 1932 Curtis Cup TeamOpal Hill, back row rightAdvised by her doctors to get morefresh air and exercise to combat a chronickidney infection, Opal Hill took up thegame of golf relatively late in her life(age 31). Under the watchful eye ofMeadow Lake professional Al Lesperance, Mrs. Hill practiced her new-foundlove daily.She went on to win four Trans-Misstitles, three Women’s Western Amateurs,the North-South Championship, threeMissouri Women’s Amateurs, two Women’s Western Opens, fourteen various KCWomen’s Championships and numerousregional tournaments.Mrs. Hill played on the first threeCurtis Cup teams representing the UnitedStates in matches against Great Britain.With nothing left to prove among theamateur ranks, she became just the thirdAmerican woman to turn professional andwas one of the thirteen founding membersof the Ladies Professional Golf Association in 1950.When her playing career ended, Mrs.Hill spent nearly forty years teaching thegame she loved to countless students atHillcrest and the Kansas City CountryClubs.Opal Hill was a member at threeclubs during her career: Meadow Lake,Blue Hills and Indian HillsCurtis Cup1932 Wentworth GC, England1934 Chevy Chase CC, Maryland1936 Gleneagles, ScotlandU.S. Women’s AmateurMedalist1930 Medalist (79) Los Angeles CC1931 Medalist (82) CC of Buffalo, NYMissouri Womens AmateurChampion1935 Kansas City CC1936 Algonquin CC1937 Indian Hills CCTrans-Miss Championship1927 Runner-up Blue Hills1928 Champion Minikada1929 Champion Denver CC1931 Champion St. Louis CC1931 Medalist (76) St. Louis CC1934 Champion Blue Hills1935 Medalist (77) Omaha Field Club1938 Runner-up Oakhurst CCTulsaWomen’s Western Amateur1929 Champion1930 Medalist1931 Champion Exmoor Club1932 ChampionWomen’s Western Open1935 Champion Sunset Ridge, Chicago1936 Champion Topeka CCNorth and South1928 Champion PinehurstKansas City Women’sMatch PlayChampion1925 Indian Hills def Carolyn Lee1926 Hillcrestdef Esther Levy1928 Meadow Lake def Mrs DavidVeitch1933 Indian Hills def Mary E. Ford1934 Milburndef RoxieSchenkman1938 Indian Hills def Jean Pepper
Maxine Johnson1923 -1957After defeating Karen MacGeein Joplin.Maxine played out of BelleAire CC (Meadowbrook) from1949-53. She was at Hillcrest afterthat. In 1949 at age 26 her competitive career began with Missouri andKansas City tournaments.In her thirteen year career shewas in eleven final matches, winning nine of them. Karen MacGeeIn later years; probably1980s.remembers Maxine well as a fiercecompetitor, not above a little “gamesmanship” during matches, like standing unusually close to her opponentswhile they played a shot. Karenand Maxine played each other threetimes in Missouri Women’s Amateurmatches, Maxine won only the firstone in 1957 when Karen was 17.Kansas CityWomen’s Match PlayThree straight runner-ups to Marian Gaultin KC Womens’s Match Play.Again runner-up in 1954 to Janet Severin.Seven Championships:1953 beat Mary Wilkin at Milburn1955 beat Marie Belle Watson O’Hara at Swope1957 beat Marian Gault at Lake Quivira1959 beat Janet Sartain at Hillcrest1960 beat Diane Wilson at Santa Fe Hills1961 beat Jane Hyde at Mirror Lake1962 beat Jane Hyde at BrookridgeMatch Play record: 41-5She retired from competitivegolf at age 39 in 1962 and took upanother competitive career. Tennessee Walking horses were her specialty in horse shows at the AmericanRoyal and other midwest events.Missouri Women’s Amateur1949 - lost 1st round to Frances Keating1950 - lost 1st round to Claudea Fouke1951 - Champion beat Georgia Schwartz1952 - lost semifinals to Shirley Chestnut1953 - lost semifinals to Marilyn Herpel1955 - lost quarterfinals to Marilyn Herpel Conroy1956 - Runner-up to Pat Rubelee1957 - Champion beat Karen Schull1958 - missed Champ. Flight (89)1959 - lost quarterfinals to Karen Schull1960 - lost semifinals to Karen Schull1961 - lost semifinals to Marcella Rose1962 - lost 2nd round to Karin HayesMatch Play record: 25-11
Frank Kirkborn 1942Few people know of the size andscope of the contributions to grow andpromote local golf made by Frank Kirk.For more than five decades he has givengenerously of his time and financialresources to support organizations andcauses that enhance the quality of golfand the lives of golfers in the KansasCity area.Kirk is a graduate of the University of Kansas Law School and is VicePresident and Senior FinancialAdvisor at Merrill Lynch in Kansas City.In the 1964 Kansas City MatchPlay, Kirk lost to the then 14 year-oldTom Watson, a match Watson oftenrefers to as the turning point in his golfcareer. Knowing he could take on a manof Frank’s caliber convinced the youngphenom that he just might have afuture in the game. Kirk has served onthe Board of Directors of the KansasCity Golf Association, Kansas GolfAssociation and Western Golf Association. He is a trustee of the Kansas GolfFoundation, the Midwest PGA Foundation and the Tom Watson SupportingFoundation.He also gives freely of his time tothe boards of the United Way, YMCA,Johnson County Community Collegeand the Johnson County CommunityFoundation.Perhaps no single individualis more responsible for the fantasticgrowth of the First Tee of GreaterKansas City than Kirk. As a principalfounder, he has served on its Board ofDirectors and as President of the organization. Kirk has also been active inguiding the affairs of Blue Hills, MissionHills, Wolf Creek and La QuintaCountry Clubs as a board member andofficer.
Bill Ludwig1930 - 2016Born in St. Louis, Bill Ludwigwas a standout golfer in High School,earning All-state honors in 1947. Aftercollege, he served in the U.S. Air Force(1951-1955). During his working yearshe moved frequently before settlingdown in Blue Springs in 1973.Ludwig served on the Boards ofDirectors of the Kansas City GolfAssociation (1990-2012) and the Missouri Golf Association (1974-2008).He was the lead person in USGAcourse rating team in Kansas City andcentral Missouri for more than twodecades.As a player, in 1974 he defeatedMissouri Amateur Champion DaleKutz to win the Kansas City Match PlayChampionship. He won the MissouriSenior Amateur in 1991, and the stateSenior Four-ball with partner Jim Roundin 1995. In 1992, at the age of 64 heMissouri Senior AmateurChampion1991 Lake Forest CC. 73-72 - 1451982qualified for match play in the MissouriAmateur, a record for oldest qualifier atthe time.In 2005, the Missouri House ofRepresentatives passed Resolution #3995recognizing Bill and Jacque Ludwig onthe occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary and noting Bill’s success as agolfer. He was inducted into the Missouri Golf Association Hall of Fame in2008.Kansas City Match PlayChampion1974 Wolf Creek.def Dale Kutz 1 upMissouri Senior Four-BallChampion1995 Lakewood Oaks. w/ Jim RoundPhil Cottton SeniorChampion1994U.S. Open Local Qualifier1973 Indian Hills. 75-69 - 144Qualified for Missouri Amateur matchplay in 1992 at the record age of 64,breaking Chris Kenney’s mark of 61, setin 1938.U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifier1985 Milburn. 36-40 - 761986 Milburn. 751988 Milburn. 39-35 - 741989 Oakwood. 38-37 - 75U.S. Senior Open1987 Brooklawn, Conn. 77-79 - 1561988 Medinah, Chicago. 82-83 - 165MGA & KCGA director from 1974 2008Leader of MGA & KCGA course ratingteam.1982 Midwest Section Cup Team:Bill Ludwig on far right.1991
Karen Schull MacGeeborn 1939Karen Schull MacGee, born1939, enjoyed a brilliant 27 year careerin amateur golf, from 1955 untill 1981.During those years she won the MissouriWomen’s Amateur seven times and theKansas Women’s Amateur five times.In addition, she was Missouri Amateurmedalist three times and runner-up fourtimes. Her record of 70-15 in MissouriAmateur matches won leads the secondplace player by 18 wins.Karen was a quarterfinalist in theUS Women’s Ama
Candidates are vet-ted by the committee to be placed on a ballot which is voted on by the Board of Directors of the KCGA, and repre- . 1921 Mission Hills def Esther Levy 1922 Meadow Lake def Mrs E.R. McClelland 1923 Milburn def Mrs O.C.
