(Dayton, OH) – Larry King, PGA, and Tim Wilkins, PGA, longtime PGA of America Professionals in the Cincinnati area were recently named to the Greater Cincinnati PGA Hall of Fame.

Larry King, PGA, is the owner and an instructor at Tri-County Golf Ranch in Cincinnati, OH, having bought the facility in 2014. Prior to his current role, King spent time at Stillmeadow CC and Four Bridges CC as an instructor after nearly two decades with the Cincinnati Recreation Commission (CRC) at facilities such as Reeves, California and Glenview.

King served the Cincinnati Chapter for twelve years as Secretary, Treasurer, Vice-President and culminating in his term as President from 2010 to 2012. He also played a pivotal role in the creation of the Southern Ohio PGA Junior Tour and served on the SOPGA Tournament Committee.

King has been devoted to teaching the game for many years. While with the CRC, King taught the game to more than 300 juniors annually through the Tony Yates Inner City Youth Program. He also taught highly competitive players like Frank Lickliter III and many others through his involvement with the Xavier University golf team.

In 2020, King was honored with the Southern Ohio PGA’s Player Development Award for his tremendous efforts growing the game.

While King has left his mark on the local area in many ways, it was his exceptional play where he has made the biggest impact. After competing on various Tours like the Asian Tour, Florida and South American tours, King devoted himself to being a great club professional in the early 90’s. Through his outstanding play, King earned the Greater Cincinnati PGA Player of the Year honors six times while also qualifying for the PGA Professional National Championship 17 times over the years. He has gone on to compete in the  Senior PGA Professional National Championship four times and is currently serving as an Assistant Captain on the Southern Ohio PGA team in the annual Ohio Cup.

 

Tim Wilkins, PGA Life Member, has spent his life dedicated to the game in numerous ways. Dropped off in the caddie yard at Cincinnati Country Club at the age of 12, Wilkins went on to serve as an Assistant Professional, Head Professional, Director of Instruction, Dean, radio personality and countless other roles in the golf industry.

Early in his career, Wilkins spent time as an Assistant Professional at Terrace Park Country Club as well as Cincinnati Country Club under the tutelage of Jimm Ferrell, Jr., PGA and Bill Wood, PGA. In 1978, he served as the Head Professional and Director of Golf at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Center where he would remain for twelve years. After teaching for a few years, Wilkins was hired to help develop Ivy Hills Country Club before turning his attention to radio broadcasting. He spent three years on the airwaves as host of “On the Tee with Tim Wilkins” on WSAI AM talk radio. He then spent time with Family Golf Centers before he launched his own “On The Tee Golf Academy.”

In 2006, Wilkins turned to academia when he accepted the role of Dean at The Golf Academy of America in Phoenix, AZ. He served in that role until 2019 when he joined Tru Spec Golf.

Wilkins was recognized for his performance as a PGA of America Professional. While at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Center, he earned the SOPGA Resort Merchandiser of the Year in 1986. In 1999, he earned the SOPGA Teacher of the Year while instructing at the Cincinnati Golf Center.

Wilkins made a significant impact on the Cincinnati area. He was committed to the Greater Cincinnati PGA and served from 1980 through 1986 as an officer, culminating in his presidency in 1984. During that same time, he met and joined forces with Johnny Bench, the Cincinnati Red’s Hall of Fame catcher. Through his connection with Bench, Wilkins helped raise more than $30k to support The Johnny Bench Golf Classic and their college scholarship program.

If you were to ask Wilkins what his biggest contribution to golf was, he would share his involvement with the Special Olympics.  He played a pivotal role in the program where he volunteered from 1992 through 2006, serving as their Director of Golf. “I have to say that the most accomplished golfers that I had the pleasure of teaching and coaching were all of the Athletes involved with The Special Olympics that I was blessed to be involved with. They always did their best on every shot. They got over bad shots quickly and always congratulated others when they performed well and won.”

The Greater Cincinnati PGA Hall of Fame started in 1980 when Wayne Kelley, PGA, then President of the Chapter spearheaded the creation of the local Hall of Fame. The initial class of inductees included many of the forefathers of golf in Cincinnati. Today, the GCPGA Hall of Fame (previously known as the Southwest Chapter of the Southern Ohio PGA Hall of Fame) includes more than 50 members with recognition for those members being showcased at Montgomery Inn.

Greater Cincinnati PGA Hall of Fame Inductees

1980

Marty Kavanaugh Sr. – Sharon Woods

Denny McGonagle – Hamilton Elks

Harry McAtee – Highland

Frank Gelhot  – Clovernook

Robert Strauss – Avon Fields/CRC Director

Art Smith – Hyde Park

 

1984

Bill Jackson – Camargo

Ben Bastin – Potter’s Park

Elmer Gerth – Highland

Bunny Berning – Crest Hills

Ed Brophy – Western Hills

Jim Brophy – Hillcrest

Harry Bauer – Western Hills

Otto Hackbarth – Cincinnati

Hank Wilms – Avon Fields

Clay Gaddie – Maketewah

Pete Stunebeck – Ft. Mitchell

Freeman Heywood –  Cincinnati

 

1986

Bob Gutwein – Kenwood CC

Fred Miley – Maketewah

Curt Bryant –  Terrace Park

George Bowden – Maketewah

Bob Wilmers – Hyde Park

George Meyers – Devou Park

 

1987

Larry Schute – Western Hills

Bob Lindenschmidt – Hartwell

Bill Hook – Kenwood

Clarence Dapper – Hillcrest

Tom Ritter – Golden Tee

Alex Baxter – Highlands

 

1988

Bob Foppe – Kenwood CC

 

1989

Dick Plummer – Camargo

 

1992

Wayne Kelley – Royal Oak

Jim Slominski – Pleasant Run

Bob Hauer – Crest Hills

Bob Harrison – Clovernook

Dick James – Harmon

 

1996

Ken Higby – Terrace Park

Gene Samborsky – Western Hills

 

2000

Geoff Hensley – Coldstream

 

2003

Marty Kavanaugh II – Winton Woods

Tom Kendrick – Miami Whitewater

Jim Flick – Losantiville

Bill Wood – Cincinnati

Jack Merz – Ft. Mitchell

 

2019

Jim Childs – Terrace Park

Dave Herrmann – Wyoming

Randy Neufarth – Winton Woods

Dennis Wells – Little Miami

 

2022

Ken Kaiser, PGA | Coldstream Country Club

Don Gleason, PGA| Maketewah Country Club

Dan Peters, PGA | Miami Lakes Golf & Sports