On Saturday, November 20th, the Kansas City Golf Hall of Fame welcomed four outstanding honorees as the Class of 2020. The induction ceremony had been on hold due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The inductees are Rob Wilkin, Head Professional at Heritage Park GC; Amateur standout Steve Groom of Raytown ; the late David Fearis, superintendent at Kansas City’s Blue Hills Country Club from 1985 to 2000; and Mary Jane Barnes, the first woman to lead the KCGA as President.
These four individuals enter the Hall on a vote of the Board of Directors of Central Links Golf, representatives of the Midwest Section PGA, the Heart of America Golf Course Superintendents Association, former members and emeritus members of the Board, and all living members of the Kansas City Golf Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame was created in 2012 as part of the celebration of the first 100 years of the KCGA. The goal of the Hall is to preserve our past history and honor the accomplishments and contributions of those who made golf in this area great. Central Links Golf is committed to continuing the tradition established prior to the merger of the KCGA and the Kansas Golf Association.
By their election to the Hall of Fame these four join the likes of Tom Watson, Stan Thirsk, “Duke” Gibson, Karen Schull MacGee, 1927 US Women’s Amateur Champion Miriam Burns Horn, Jim Colbert, Opal Hill and Frank Kirk. Their accomplishments add to the stature the Hall of Fame has built in the short time Central Links Golf has been recognizing those who have contributed so much to the growth of golf in the Kansas City region.
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