News

JAMESVILLE, N.Y.  – The New York State Golf Association (NYSGA) Hall of Fame Committee has elected four individuals to the New York State Golf Association’s Hall of Fame, Class of 2019.
 
The elected individuals are:
John Baldwin of New York City – Amateur/Contributor
Mary Anne Widman Levins of Elmira – Amateur/Professional
Joey Sindelar of Horseheads – Amateur/Professional
Walter Travis of New York City – Amateur/Course Architect/Author

Related: NYSGA Hall Of Fame Homepage
 
This year's honorees were selected by a statewide panel of electors which included representatives of designated state regions as well as at-large electors representing the state as a whole. 
 
New York State Golf Hall of Fame Chairman, Joe Enright from Western New York, commented that, “Part of the privilege and honor of researching and selecting these worthy individuals is learning more about their accomplishments and contributions to golf, and especially for those whose fame might be more regional, but nevertheless, truly worthy of statewide recognition.  No doubt, I am certain that all of the Hall Of Fame Selection Committee members are truly humbled in recognizing these great competitors and contributors.”
 
This is the fifth Class to be elected to the NYSGA Hall of Fame. The inaugural class was inducted in November of 2012 at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y. and includes Donald Allen, Ray Billows, Frederick Box, Betty Deeley, Grantland Rice and William Tryon. The second Class was inducted in October of 2015 at the Country Club of Rochester and includes John Konsek, Thomas Reidy, Donald Ross, Lancy Smith and Sam Urzetta. The third Class was inducted in October of 2017 at Bellevue Country Club in Syracuse, N.Y. and includes Virginia Guilfoil Allen and Alan Foster. The fourth Class was inducted in November of 2018 at Brookhaven Golf Club in Porter Corners, N.Y. and includes Walter Hagen, Dottie Pepper, Gene Sarazen, and Willie Turnesa.
 
The formal induction will take place on Saturday, October 5, 2019 at Elmira Country Club in Elmira, N.Y. Information will be released later this month regarding the induction dinner and ceremony, as well as where tickets may be purchased to attend the special occasion.
 
NYSGA Hall of Fame – Class of 2019 Inductees
Joey Sindelar
Residence: Horseheads, N.Y.
 
Sindelar’s golf career began in 1971 when he won the NYSGA Boys’ Sub-Junior Amateur Championship at Seven Oaks Golf Club. A few years later, the Horseheads native won the 1976 NYS High School Championship.
 
Sindelar’s success in his junior career earned him an opportunity to play collegiate golf at the Ohio State University. Sindelar made a name for himself in Columbus, where he was a three-time All-American, member of the 1979 NCAA Championship team, and was Ohio State’s Athlete of the Year in 1981. During his summer break in 1980, Sindelar won his second NYS title at the Men’s Amateur at Vestal Hills Country Club. He also won the 1983 NYS Open Championship.
 
After college, Sindelar turned professional. In his career, Sindelar racked up seven PGA Tour victories. His best finishes in major championships include T6 at the 1992 U.S. Open (finished in the top-25 four times), T10 at the 1997 PGA Championship (finished in the top-25 two times), and T31 at the 1985 Masters.
 
Sindelar was inducted into the Ohio State Varsity Hall of Fame in 1992.
 
The 61-year-old has been on the Champions Tour since 2008 and still competes regularly, and has had over 30 top-10 finishes.
  
Joey Sindelar’s Career Highlights

• NYSGA Men’s Amateur Champion (1980)
• NYSGA Boys’ Sub-Junior Champion (1971)
• 1983 NYS Open Champion
• 1976 NYS High School Champion
• Three-time All-American at Ohio State University
• Member of the 1979 NCAA Championship Ohio State team
• 1981 Ohio State University Athlete of the Year
• 1992 Ohio State Varsity Hall of Fame Inductee
• Seven-time winner on the PGA Tour
• Best finishes in major championships
  • US Open: T6 (1992), finished in the top-25 four times
  • Masters: T31 (1985)
  • PGA Championship: T10 (1997), finished in the top-25 two times

 
Walter Travis
Born: Maldon, Victoria, Australia
Residence: Flushing, N.Y. and Garden City, N.Y.
Deceased (1862 – 1927)
 
Travis won three U.S. Amateur Championships in a span of four years in 1900, 1901, and 1903. After the three-peat, Travis went overseas and won the 1904 British Amateur Champion. In the span of his golfing career, Travis won the Metropolitan Golf Association Championship four times and the North – South Amateur at Pinehurst three times.
 
During the times he wasn’t teeing off, Travis pursued his passion of architecture. Throughout his life, Travis designed over 50 golf courses. Seven of those courses reside in New York State, including the Country Club of Troy, Onondaga Golf & Country Club, Orchard Park Country Club, Stafford Country Club, Garden City Golf Club, Westchester Country Club (West Course), and Yahnundasis Golf Club.
 
Wanting to share his knowledge, Travis authored several books on golf and golf course architecture, including The Art of Putting in 1904 and Practical Golf in 1909. In addition to this, Travis founded and published The American Golfer, which was widely regarded as the most influential golf magazine of its time.
 
Travis passed away in 1927 at age 65. He was elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1979.
 
Walter Travis’ Career Highlights

• Player Highlights
  • Three-time U.S. Amateur Champion (1900, 1901, 1903)
  • Competed in 17 U.S. Amateur Championships
  • British Amateur Champion (1904)
  • 4x MGA Champion
  • 3x North – South Amateur at Pinehurst
• Architecture Highlights
  • Designed over 50 courses, including the following NYS courses: CC of Troy, Onondaga Golf & CC, Orchard Park CC, Stafford CC, Garden City GC, Westchester CC (West Course), and Yahnundasis GC.
• Author
  • The Art of Putting (1904)
  • Practical Golf (1909)
  • Founded and published The American Golfer, which was widely regarded as the most influential golf magazine of its time.
• Honors
  • Elected to World Golf Hall of Fame (1979) 

 
John Baldwin
Residence: New York, N.Y.
 
Baldwin’s name has appeared many times on New York regional golf trophies. Baldwin has won three NYSGA championships, including the 1967 Men’s Amateur, 1991 Men’s Mid-Amateur, and the 2001 Men’s Senior Amateur Champion. Baldwin is also a four-time Long Island Amateur Champion, first winning the tournament in 1965 and most recently in 1996.
 
Baldwin has been involved with the Metropolitan Golf Association both on and off the course. He is a two-time MGA Amateur Champion, winning it in 1967 and 1990, 23 years apart. He also won the 1986 MGA (IKE) Stroke Play Champion and is a two-time MGA Player of the Year. He served as MGA President from 1993-1994 and played a key role in establishing the MGA Foundation.
 
Internationally, Baldwin has won five competitions including the 2002 British Senior Amateur Open, 2005 & 2006 Irish Senior Amateur Open, and the 2007 & 2010 Welsh Senior Amateur Open. 
 
Throughout his career, Baldwin has qualified for 23 USGA Championships.
 
In addition to serving as MGA President, Baldwin was also on the Executive Committee at the Long Island Golf Association, was a Board Member on the Long Island Caddie Scholarship Fund and was a Member of the USGA Mid-Amateur Committee.
 
Baldwin was honored with the MGA Distinguished Service Award in 2004.
 
John Baldwin’s Career Highlights

• Player Highlights
  • 1967 NYSGA Men’s Amateur Champion
  • 1991 NYSGA Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion
  • 2001 NYSGA Men’s Senior Amateur Champion
  • 2x MGA Amateur Champion (1967 and 1990 - 23 years apart)
  • 1986 MGA (IKE) Stroke Play Champion
  • 2x MGA Player of the Year
  • 4x Long Island Amateur Champion (first 1965 - last 1996)
  • 2002 British Senior Amateur Open Champion
  • 2007, 2010 Welsh Senior Amateur Open Champion
  • 2005, 2006 Irish Senior Amateur Open Champion
  • Qualified for 23 USGA Championships
• Contributor Highlights
  • MGA President 1993-1994
  • Played key role in establishing the MGA Foundation
  • Executive Committee Member, LIGA
  • Board Member, Long Island Caddie Scholarship Fund
  • Member, USGA Mid-Amateur Committee
• Honors
  • MGA Distinguished Service Award 2004 

 
Mary Anne (Widman) Levins
Residence: Elmira, N.Y.
 
Levins’ golf career kickstarted when she joined the Duke University Women’s Golf Team. During her collegiate career, Levins was a three-time First Team All-American (1982, 1983, 1984), Atlantic Coast Conference Medalist (1984), National Golfer of the Year (1984), and won a record 12 collegiate tournaments. During the summer, Levin would come home to New York and dominate the NYSGA Women’s Amateur Championship, which she won in 1982 and 1983. While in college, Levin became a member of the 1984 U.S. Curtis Cup team and was a 36-hole qualifying medalist (147) in the 1983 U.S. Women’s Amateur. She was also the 1983 Women’s Eastern Amateur Champion at Seabrook Island Resort in South Carolina. 
 
After being ranked the number one female golfer in college, Levins earned an LPGA card in 1985 and joined the Futures Tour. After two years, Levins retired from the sport to raise her family.
 
During her career, Levins participated in the U.S. Women’s Open five times. Her best performance came in 1983, where she finished 15th as an amateur.
 
Mary Anne (Widman) Levins’ Career Highlights

• 2-time NYSGA Women’s Amateur Champion (1982, 1983)
• Played collegiate golf at Duke
• 3-time First Team All-American (1982, 1983, 1984)
• Winner of a record 12 collegiate tournaments at Duke
• 36-hole qualifying medalist (147) in the 1983 U.S. Women’s Amateur
• 1983 USGA Women’s Amateur on-site qualifying medalist, lost in 2nd round of match play
• 1983 Women’s Eastern Amateur Champion at Seabrook Island Resort, SC
• 1984 ACC Individual Champion
• 1984 College Player of the Year
• 1984 U.S. Curtis Cup team member
• 5-time U.S. Women’s Open participant, finishing 15th as an amateur in 1983
• Earned LPGA card in 1985, joined the Futures Tour