The 2025 edition of the Sadie Park Sunflower Girls Championship saw Addie McKenna take home the title with rounds of 67-69 – 136 (-8). Betsy Mitchell finished runner-up after a second-round charge, posting scores of 74-64 – 138 (-6).
In memory of Sadie Park, mother of Martin Park, we celebrate a life defined by warmth, determination, and an unwavering love for golf. Sadie began her journey with the game in her late 30s while living in Hong Kong. Though she never carried a handicap below 24, her passion was unmatched, and her joy for the sport was infectious.
While in Hong Kong, she became a tireless advocate for junior golf, introducing her son to the game and encouraging countless young players. A familiar face at the Royal Hong Kong Golf Club—now host to the Hong Kong Open and LIV events—Sadie played nearly every weekend with friends. Her leadership and dedication earned her the honor of serving twice as Club Captain.
Remarkably, she achieved six hole-in-ones. Today, her legacy continues in Kansas through the Sadie Park Sunflower Girls Championship—a fitting tribute to a true champion of community and the game she loved.
Kansas golf lost a true legend with the passing of Rusty Hilst, who bravely battled ALS until his final days. More than a fixture in the local golf community, Rusty was a man whose passion for the game and for people left a lasting mark on all who knew him.
A proud member of the Kansas Golf Hall of Fame (2002), Rusty’s contributions to the sport went far beyond trophies and titles. He brought integrity, wisdom, and quiet leadership to every course he stepped onto. His deep love for golf was rivaled only by his dedication to education. For over 50 years, Rusty taught mathematics — inspiring generations of students with patience, humor, and a steadfast belief in the power of learning.
Even as ALS gradually took away the physical abilities he once used to teach, coach and play, it never touched his spirit. He remained a symbol of grace and resilience, continuing to support the game and his community in any way he could.
Rusty’s legacy lives on in the fairways he walked, the students he taught, and the lives he touched with humility and kindness. He reminded us all that golf is more than a game — it’s a reflection of character, perseverance, and love.
To honor Rusty is to carry forward his values: to play with heart, to teach with joy, and to live with purpose. He will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.
The Annual February Funding Drive for Youth on Course is back! Help us reach our $15,000 goal!
Did you know Central Links Golf is responsible for subsidizing the YoC program in Kansas & Kansas City?
Members of Youth on Course pay $5 to play a round of golf at participating facilities. This program allows juniors to have greater access to the game of golf.
Help us continue to expand and sustain this program by donating to our campaign.
Savannah Gentry is a freshman at the University of Kansas. She recently completed the three-month USGA Boatwright Internship with Central Links Golf and is an Evans Scholar. Among her many achievements, Savannah benefited from the access to golf Youth on Course provided her.
How did you get started playing golf?
I got involved with the game when I was about 10. My sister and I were looking into sports we hadn’t played or given a try yet, and a golf academy opened right next to where we were going to school at the time. She and I were their first swing lessons! Ever since then it’s stuck and become my favorite sport.
What do you enjoy about playing golf?
I love that it’s more than just a game and that I am reminded of that every time I play or am involved with it. There are so many aspects to it from meeting new people, playing, going to new places, getting involved in more ways than just playing, and so on.
How have you benefitted from Youth on Course?
I found and was introduced to Youth on Course in the parking lot of a golf course during my first year playing by another junior golfer and his dad. It has been a huge benefit being able to have the opportunity to play for such a low rate and so many courses throughout the city. I definitely would not have been able to play as much as I have without it. I was extra appreciative especially after my first time paying for a full greens fee this summer!
“Even though I’ve aged out of Youth on Course, I still encourage anyone I’m around to get signed up if they haven’t, because it really is a great program and seeing youth golfers is always an awesome thing!”
What are your next steps after having graduated from the YOC program?
I had an awesome internship with Central Links Golf this summer. Aside from focusing on school in the fall and upcoming year, I plan to stay involved with golf in any way I can. I also plan to major in business and sports management to later end up somewhere in the golf industry!
Tell us about the scholarship you received.
This spring I received the Chick Evans Scholarship from the Western Golf Association Evans Foundation. It’s a full tuition and housing scholarship for high-achieving caddies. I’ll be attending the University of Kansas this fall with it and living in the Evans house on campus. Very excited!
For more information about how to join Youth on Course click here >>,
Central Links Golf is excited to announce Jayne Clarke as our new President, effective November 20th. Jayne takes over for Greg Dunn, Central Links Golf’s first President. Dunn led the association from its conception and recent merger, formerly Kansas Women’s Golf, Kansas Golf and Kansas City Golf Association. Clarke served as the Vice President under Dunn and has now been elected as the first female President of Central Links Golf. Jayne has been involved in the golf community for many years as a competitive player and in former leadership roles.
“Golf has afforded me the opportunity to meet so many individuals from across the state and forge many friendships I wouldn’t have had otherwise,” says Clarke. Former President of the Kansas Women’s Golf Association, Jayne has a history of leadership and hopes to continue to forge friendships and use connections to lead the association.
“The last couple of years have been consumed by the successful merger of associations and conducting competitions in a world with Covid-19. One of those events would have been enough to deal with, yet Central Links Golf staff and board successfully managed to navigate both,” Clarke says regarding the recent hurdles faced by the organization. Her vision for moving forward is one of strategic planning and reflection on what we can do better.
“Now we need to focus on how we can utilize the combined strength of the organization to better serve a growing golf community,” Clarke comments. Her plan is to focus on a strategic planning process over the next few months to set new goals for the association.
“I’m looking forward to what comes from the discussion; we do have some challenges, but growth is a challenge many associations would envy.”
Central Links Golf supports and looks forward to how we grow and reflect over the next few months to continue to serve our members in the best way possible. We are excited about the possibilities in 2022 and beyond.
In addition to Jayne, the board would like to welcome our new additions to the board: Ryne Fisher, Chad Fuqua, Gary Hruby, Chris Robinson and Kurt Vollertsen. To see a complete list of our executive committee and board members, please click here.
#GivingTuesdayNow is a global day of generosity and unity, a day to come together and give back in response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19, no matter who or where we are.
GivingTuesday will start on Tuesday, May 5th to bring together the community and inspire millions of people worldwide to volunteer, perform acts of kindness, and donate their voices, time, money and goods. On the last GivingTuesday, December 3, 2019, the global giving day generated $2 billion on giving, just in the United States.
This campaign is taking place from its regular scheduled annual event on December 3rd as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19.
Central Links Golf urges golf lovers and supporters to take this opportunity to give to our local golf programs such as Youth on Course – a great junior golf program designed to allow kids to play at participating golf courses for $5.
You can support Youth on Course in Kansas City by donating to the Golf Foundation of KC here. You can also donate via check.
During a time where everyone is affected and experiencing effects from this global pandemic, we can use this opportunity to remain connected through generosity.
For more information on the #GivingTuesday campaign, please see here.
LENEXA, Kansas, April 3, 2020 – The 2020 Watson Challenge, originally scheduled to be played at The National Golf Club of Kansas City on May 29-31, has been rescheduled following its postponement last week due to coronavirus concerns. The 2020 Watson Challenge will now be played at The National on August 4-6.
Last week’s postponement marked the first time since the tournaments’s inception in 2007 the event has had to be postponed. The only other interruptions of the tournament occurred when two final rounds were canceled due to weather, including last year’s tournament at Nicklaus Club at Lionsgate.
“This was a very difficult decision, but we felt with the current, ongoing health crisis, it was not in the best interest of the players, club, staff and volunteers to continue with the event in May,” said Tournament Director Doug Habel in regards to the difficult decision to postpone.
The date change may not be the extent of changes for the event this year. Amid the ever-changing times we now face, other alterations might be made to the event which will be announced at a later date.
“The Watson Challenge is one of the premier golf events in the Kansas City area, and it’s our intention to explore all possible options to still play the event this year in a safe way for all involved,” Doug Habel informed.
The public will be informed as more details and information become available in the coming weeks. We understand the rescheduling could cause conflicts for players, and we hope everyone can understand the predicament we are facing. Monitoring of the health crisis will continue on in to the future.
For any questions regarding the Watson Challenge, please reach out to Doug Habel at doug@clgolf.org. We appreciate your patience and support during this time.
One Wichita man has played every 9-hole golf course in the state of Kansas. That’s a total of 107 grass green courses.
Dakin Cramer is a former member of Flint Hills National Golf Club and a long-time member of the Kansas Golf Association. When Flint Hills was closed on Mondays or during the winter you could find him at nearby 9-hole courses in Wichita, there are more than 30 9-hole golf courses within 75 miles of Wichita. He reflected on when he first thought “maybe I should expand my playing to include more 9-hole courses nearby when Flint Hills is closed.” His first course was Anthony Golf Club played in January of 2015.
Some of his buddies at Flint Hills National thought he was crazy, due to the excellent condition of their home club. Overtime, Dakin found a particular hole on every course that really spoke to him. Even the most mundane of courses have some type of design feature that made the course interesting. It was in his appreciation for these courses, that his dream to play every 9-hole course was born.
Dakin planned out his trips carefully, as his radius grew outside of 75 miles from Wichita it often included overnight stays. For example, he played 36 holes two days in a row in the Hays/Colby area.
He’s learned a lot about the different communities he’s played in. Dakin said “having a golf course is a lot like having a post office or school, once the town loses it, they lose their identity. Communities are proud of their courses, several have been built by the community and funded by them, too.”
In my conversation with Dakin, he reflected on some of his favorite and most unique golf courses.
In Sharon Springs, the scorecard has a picture of a ball being wrapped up by a rattlesnake, it turns out, they’re home to a tournament called the Rattle Snake Open.
One of his favorite courses is Prairie Dog Golf Course in Norton, KS
Falcon Valley – Located in Lenexa, for $26 includes greens fees + cart, upscale bang for your buck course in the state
For Dakin, his goal hasn’t changed over the years, but his expectations have. He now understands the importance of the 9-hole golf courses to each community he visits. He knows that they don’t always make money, but the importance of the facility is the commitment the community has to it. Over the years, some properties have been bought, sold, remained privately owned, but for the town, it’s remained a labor of love to keep the doors open and the grass mowed.
Dakin completed his goal of playing every 9-hole golf course in the state on September 10, 2019.
Dakin’s collage includes signatures from people who have had an impact on his life. It’s all about his experience visiting with people while they sign his collage. Memories and people, he has interacted with during his golf experiences. Signatures from Kim Richey, Golf Team from 1966, Steve Hatchet (won a junior event together in 1965), lower right-hand corner – check to Dean Smith for $50 that was never cashed, Gary Conover (past president of KGA), Dave Hensen (Head Golf Profession at Flint Hills National). He even mentioned when he dies this collage will be at his funeral, that’s how important these memories are to him!
Do you have a story that should be shared with our golf community? Contact us: baile@kcgolf.org
