Hall of Fame Month: 1980s

In 1984, The Southern California PGA Section opened the SCPGA Hall of Fame to honor PGA members who have made exceptional contributions or accomplishments in our Association and the sport of golf throughout their career. In recognition of our inductees, the Section has designated April as our Hall of Fame Month. We will be recognizing the names and some of the accomplishments of our current members of the SCPGA Hall of Fame each Friday. In this week’s feature, we highlight Hall members inducted in the 1980s!

Joe Novak Former president of the PGA of America, SCPGA president, PGA of America Hall of Fame, SCGA Hall of Fame and head professional at Bel-Air CC.

Paul Runyan: Two-time PGA Champion, Section Champion, three-time Section Sr. Champion, PGA Hall of Fame member, World Golf Hall of Fame, PGA Tour leading money winner in 1934, San Diego County Open winner, SCGA Hall of Fame, SCPGA Honorary Life Member and professional at Annandale GC and La Jolla CC.

George Lake: Former president of the SCPGA and a member of the SCPGA Jr Golf Hall of Fame and the Long Beach Golf Hall of Fame;

Bud Oakley: former professional at Palos Verdes GC, president of the SCPGA, Section Champion and the Section’s first Golf Professional of the Year.

Olin Dutra: Six time Section champion and winner of the PGA Championship and U.S. Open, California State Open winner and Southern California Open winner, member of the PGA of America Hall of Fame, former president of the SCPGA and professional at Brentwood CC, Wilshire CC, Jurupa Hills Golf Course, Anaheim Municipal and San Luis Bay Club in Southern California.

Ellsworth Vines: Former World #1 tennis player including two U.S. Opens and a Wimbledon title, former Section Champion, Southern California Open Champion, Section president and an SCPGA Honorary Life Member.

Gene Littler: Former U.S. Open Champion, member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, Ryder Cup Team member, , Walker Cup Team member, 37 combined wins on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions, the PGA of America Hall of Fame, the SCGA Hall of Fame and a member of the SCPGA Jr Golf Hall of Fame, California State Open, San Diego County Open and Southern California Open winner and a SCPGA Honorary Life Member.

Lloyd Mangrum: Member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, former U.S. Open winner and California State Open and Southern California Open winner, leading money winner on the PGA Tour in 1951, two-time Vardon Trophy winner, Ryder Cup Captain.

Jerry Barber: Former golf professional at Griffith Park, former Section Champion, California State Open Champion, PGA Champion and PGA Tour Player of the Year, former Ryder Cup Captain, SCGA Hall of Fame.

Joe Robinson: SCPGA Golf Professional of the Year, winner of the Southern California Open, founded the Long Beach junior program and is also in the Long Beach Hall of Fame,co-founder of the Southern California Jr. Golf Association, SCPGA Jr Golf Hall of Fame and winner of the SCPGA Presidents Award, professional at Brentwood CC, Virginia CC and Jurupa Hills Golf Course;

Dick Goeckner: SCPGA Golf Professional of the Year, co-founder of the Bob Hope Desert Classic and founder of the Western States Apprentice-Assistant Championship, the forerunner of the national PGA Assistants Championship;

Willie Hunter: Two-time Section Champion and, California State Open winner, British Amateur Champion, six-time winner on the PGA Tour, multiple Southern California Open Championships, former president of the SCPGA and professional at the Riviera Country Club.