Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame Night of Induction Kicks off PGA TOUR Week in Las Vegas
Continuing a Shriners Hospitals for Children Open tradition, the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame Night of Induction will kick off the 2019 PGA TOUR event on Saturday, Sept. 28 at The Hill at TPC Summerlin with the enshrinement featuring the Class of 2019, Las Vegas golf community dignitaries, families and friends. The Class of 2019 is Kim Dolan, Garry Goett, Christina Hixson, Sue May and Don Welch. (Pictured: Governor Steve Sisolak with 2019 inductee Garry Goett)
“The annual Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame Night of Induction is the perfect way to kick off Shriners Hospitals for Open tournament week,” remarked Patrick Lindsey, executive director of Shiners Hospitals for Open. “Las Vegas has a strong golf history and the tournament is proud to be a part of it.”
The Night of Induction is the second event during Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame Weekend. The weekend tees off Friday, Sept. 27, at Spanish Trail with the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame Classic golf tournament. Information and tickets for both events are available at www.LasVegasGolfHOF.com. All proceeds benefit the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame and also Southern Nevada Junior Golf initiatives.
The 2019 inductees join a long list of deserving golfers with strong ties to the Las Vegas golf region who have been previously inducted including Butch Harmon, Ryan Moore, Charley Hoffman, Stephanie Louden, Dwaine Knight and the 1998 National Championship UNLV Golf team, among others. Jim Colbert, one of the founders of the 1983 Las Vegas PGA TOUR event that blossomed into what is now the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open, is also a Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame member.
Class of 2019:
- Kim Dolan is a respected teaching professional at Siena, but as an amateur, won the 1978 SNGA Las Vegas City Amateur and the Southern Nevada Amateur in 1978-79. As a professional, he won more than 120 club tournaments and in 2005 was the Southern Nevada PGA Chapter regular and senior division player of the year.
- Garry Goett is the founder of Olympia Companies and opened Southern Highlands in 1999, which is the home of the UNLV men’s golf team. The course was the final project by hall of fame architect Robert Trent Jones and one of four courses created by he and his son, Robert Trent Jones, Jr. The club hosts the annual Governor’s Black Tie Invitational and other events that have raised more than $20 million for charity. Southern Highlands was also a previous host course to the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
- Christina Hixson is the sole Lied Foundation trustee and known as the “pioneer” of UNLV men’s golf. She was the first to substantially donate upon head coach Dwaine Knight’s arrival in 1987, which helped set the foundation for 1998 NCAA title.
- Sue May is the preeminent rules official in Southern Nevada and has officiated hundreds of local, regional and national tournaments including both the men and women’s U.S. Open tournaments. She is currently the vice president of the SNGA and a previous president of the Nevada State Women’s Golf Association and Women’s Southern Nevada Golf Association. She also educated thousands on the new rules of golf that launched in January.
- Don Welch (1933-2010) turned professional in 1961 and became the Desert Inn head pro in 1964. From 1976-1990, he served as Dunes Country Club director of golf. Over the years, Welch coordinated the Tournament of Champions, was on the planning committee for the first Las Vegas PGA Chapter and later served as the chapter’s secretary, vice president and president.
The mission of the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame is to celebrate and bring awareness to players, administrators, benefactors, groups, instructors, teams, and other worthy golfers who have served the game of golf in Las Vegas in a positive and meaningful way; whether through performance on the course, volunteerism, financial support, promotion, or other dedicated service. The organization annually awards a scholarship to a deserving graduating high school student.
The museum-quality exhibit in the clubhouse of Las Vegas National Golf Club features an in-depth Las Vegas golf time line, historic photos, and a special area honoring the Las Vegas Founders Club that features the official trophies used by Las Vegas’ PGA Tour and Champions Tour events. The museum is open and free to the public during regular Club hours. A 16-person committee made up of Las Vegas golf professionals, media, amateur association leaders, and Hall of Fame members, oversees the voting process. www.LasVegasGolfHOF.com