Dean Cassell’s resume is so impressive that it appears to the work of a fantasy writer with a gift for the improbable. And his diverse contributions included successful work in amateur, professional, business and organizational activities.

For instance, he was president of the Acushnet Titleist Company, president of the Dunlop Sports Company, president of the National Golf Foundation, and president of the Golf Ball Manufacturer’s Association.

He was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of North Carolina, holds a masters degree from Harvard, was a Rhodes Scholar, and a national Woodrow Wilson Fellow,

At UNC, he was an All-Conference baseball player as a star pitcher and played for two years as a professional in the Philadelphia Phillies system.  On the golf course, he is a two-time winner of the Irish Senior championship, won the New England Senior Golf Association championship, and the National Society of Seniors Four Ball title.  He qualified for the USGA Senior Amateur on seven occasions.

He has served as Executive in Residence for UNC’s MBA program, on the Advisory Council at Furman University and the University of Massachusetts /Dartmouth, and a Trustee of the School of Social Work at UNC.  He is a frequent lecturer on sports management at a number of colleges and universities.

One of Cassell’s most cherished accomplishments was spearheading the campaign to adopt world-wide equipment standards, including a one-sized golf ball for all play.  The US ball was selected, and players can thank Cassell for not having to play the British sized smaller ball.  That historic event occurred at the Charlotte Country Club in 1972 during the U. S. Amateur championship.     

Cassell is a native of Union City, NJ.  He made All-State in baseball, basketball and golf at Union City High School as a senior.  He currently resides in Charlotte and in Massachusetts. He was inducted in 2016.

Dick Taylor was best known for his relationship of nearly 30 years with Golf World Magazine, which he joined in 1962. He was named editor in 1965 and from 1970 until 1989, when the magazine was purchased by The New York Times Company; he was editor-in-chief and vice president. 

Shortly thereafter, he became a freelance writer for an assortment of golf publications. Taylor was president of the Golf Writers Association of America from 1980 to 1982 after serving nine years as the group’s executive director. 

He also was a member of the Association of Golf Writers in Europe, the LPGA Advisory Board and the World Golf Hall of Fame and Ambassador of Golf selection committees. 

He was the first recipient of the PGA of America Lifetime Achievement Award in Journalism (1991), was inducted into the Memorial Journalism Hall of Fame, received the Donald Ross Award from the American Society of Golf Courses Architects and the Joseph C. Dey Career Excellence Award. Three times he was a first-place winner of GWAA writing awards. 

In 1977 and ‘79, he was honored for news articles, while in 1991 he was cited for a column. Regarded as a very nice person with a great sense of humor, Taylor has been described as “a walking encyclopedia” of the sport of golf. 

He was also a promoter of the game, and is credited with bringing women’s golf into the spotlight through articles in Golf World.

Dick Taylor was inducted into the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame in 1996.

Don Padgett was hired as Pinehurst Resort director of golf in 1987 by then resort president, Pat Corso, and ClubCorp of America. “We needed a lot of things in that hire,” Corso said many years later. “We needed a mentor for a very young staff and I needed a mentor. That's exactly what we got with Padge.”

Padgett's influence and reputation with the USGA and other national golf organizations enabled Pinehurst to attract professional tournaments once again. The PGA of America staged the Club Professional Championship there in 1988 and the USGA brought the U.S. Women's Amateur the following year. The PGA returned in 1990 and 1991 with staging of The Tour Championship. The USGA returned in 1994 with the U.S. Senior Open and Pinehurst was established as a fitting test for championship golf. The successful staging of the U.S. Men's Open in 1999 and 2005 validated that reputation, along with Padgett's legacy. He was inducted into the Carolinas PGA Hall of Fame in 1998 and named a Living Legend by the PGA of America.

Don Padgett was inducted into the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame in 2006.

The  Padgett name has long been associated with Pinehurst Resort. For those  who have visited Pinehurst Resort, the Padgett Learning Center is a  prominent reminder of the family’s impact on the game.

Born in Scotland in 1872, Donald James Ross started his working days as a carpenter.  Because he lived close to Royal Dornoch Links, he developed an interest in golf.  He trained as a golf professional at St. Andrews, returned to Dornoch in 1893, and remained until 1898 when he emigrated to Boston, MA, where he became a pro-greenkeeper at Oakley Country Club.

In 1890 he moved to Pinehurst Country Club and remained there until his death in 1948.  Mr. Ross later became interested in golf course architecture and went on to design, build or remodel more than 600 courses, including Pinehurst No. 2, Seminole, Dunedin, Inverness and Oak Hill.

As a player, Ross won the inaugural North and South Open in 1903 and repeated those victories in 1905 and 1906. 

He was inducted into the PGA World Golf Hall of Fame in 1977 and into the Carolinas Hall of Fame in 1981.

Dorathy Thigpen grew up playing golf at Charlotte Country Club and won the women’s club championship there in 1917 – at the age of 15. She dominated women’s golf across the region in the 1920s, regularly scoring in the mid 80s during a period in which the top women players were shooting in the 90s.

In 1923, she married Richard E. Thigpen who was alumni secretary at Duke University, and played the first round at the Donald Ross-designed Hope Valley Country Club, where she later set one of her numerous course records for female golfers.

Mrs. Thigpen gave up competitive golf in 1924 to raise her family after having played in the North-South Championship in Pinehurst a year earlier. She also won six team events in Pinehurst.

Returning to tournament play after having two children, she finished second in the 1929 Women’s CGA Championship. Mrs. Thigpen also captured the women’s championship at Hope Valley in 1928 and 1929. During this era, she played in the North-South Women’s Tournament in Pinehurst, and gave golfing exhibitions across the state of North Carolina.

Mrs. Thigpen enjoyed golf at the club level for over 50 years, and held the low score for women at four different venues in four different cities -- Charlotte Country Club, Hope Valley in Durham, Forsyth in Winston-Salem and Asheville Country Club.

Mrs. Thigpen died in 1989 at the age of 88 and joins the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame 2020 class posthumously alongside Dan Brooks. Together they highlight some of the most outstanding accomplishments women’s golf has ever seen across the area.

A Charlotte native, this patriarch of golf grew up caddying at the Charlotte Country Club where he was the favorite bag-toter of James B. Duke of Duke Power and Duke University fame. He turned professional at age 18, taking his first job at Badin.  He later served brief stints at Bassett, Va., Forest Park in Martinsville, Va., Greensboro’s Green Valley Country Club and at New Bern Country Club, but most of his career was at the Lexington (NC) Country Club where he has been since 1938.  He is now professional emeritus there.

In 1940 he helped lead a move that enabled the Carolinas PGA to regain its charter after losing it to another section.  The 74-year-old Aycock was named professional of the year in the Carolina in 1957, that same year he won National Pro of the year honors.

Widely known for his many charitable projects, he has served 14 one-year terms as President of the Carolinas PGA Section and two different three-year terms as a National Vice-President.  He has held every office in the Carolinas PGA.  Aycock was chairman of National Golf Day two years, raising a record sum for charity in 1971.  He has also served on many PGA Championship and Ryder Cup Committees.

“Mr. PGA in the Carolinas ,” Dugan is a member of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame, was in the inaugural class of inductees into the Carolinas PGA Section Hall of Fame and was voted into the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame in 1982

Harvie Ward was born in Tarboro, NC, on the 8th day of December, 1925.  During the 1950's he was one of the most accomplished golfers in the world, and supreme as an amateur.  He won the British Amateur at Prestwick, Scotland in 1952; was runner-up the following year at Hoylake, England.  In 1955 at the Country Club of Virginia in Richmond, he defeated Bill Hyndman in the finals to win his first US Amateur Championship, a feat he later described as being his greatest moment in golf.  The following year at the Knollwood Club, Lake Forest, IL, he again became the US Amateur Champ by beating Charles Kocsis 5 up and 4 to play.  In reaching the finals that year, Ward disposed of a Texan 6 and 5 in the third round.  The Texan?   Miller Barber!

Before he could attempt another defense of his title, he was suspended for a year by the USGA for allegedly accepting expense money by his employer for playing in amateur events.  The irony of it was that had he received a larger salary and paid his own way, there would have been no debate, no suspension.  As it was, the USGA clearly decided to make an example of their Amateur Champion.  The effect upon Ward was immediate; his golf lost its tremendous flair and although he finished 4th in the Masters in 1957, and competed with distinction in his last Walker Cup Match in 1959, he was never quite the same player again.

Typical of Ward’s lust for competition and aggressive play were his two finishes in the 1948 and 1949 North and South Amateur Championships when in both years he played Frank Stranahan in the 36 hole finals.  In 1948, he beat Stranahan 1 up; in 1949, he lost to Stranahan 2 and 1.

Ward’s Record:

North and South Amateur
       Winner, 1948
       Runner-up, 1949

NCAA, winner 1949

Carolina’s Amateur Championship
      Winner, 1949, 1950

British Amateur Championship
       Winner, 1952
       Runner-up, 1953

USGA Amateur Championship
       Winner; 1955, 1958

Canadian Amateur Champion, 1954

Walker Cup Team: 1953, 1955, 1959

Ellen Griffin began playing golf as a child while her father was stationed at Fort Benning, GA.  She had a varied career in the game.  She became a golfer at UNC-Greensboro, and, until her death, operated a teaching facility near Greensboro called “The Farm,” where she worked with several LPGA tour pros. She earned her degree in Physical Education from UNC-Greensboro in 1940 and her Master’s degree from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1943.

Griffin was associated with the P.E. department at UNCG from 1940 until 1968, first as an instructor and later as a full professor.  In addition to coaching golf, she was coach of the school’s first women’s basketball team.  Her honors included UNCG’s Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1980, Master status in the Ladies Professional Golf Association and LPGA National Teacher of the Year in 1962.  She was named one of the six most outstanding teachers in the U.S. by Golf Digest magazine in 1976.

Griffin was on the faculty of LPGA National Golf School and was among the founders of the National Golf Foundation.  She also served as a Vice President of the Women’s PGA, the forerunner of the LPGA.

Ellen Griffen was inducted into the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame in 1988.

As a 14 year old, Ellis Maples worked summers for his father, Frank Maples, who was the construction superintendent for Donald Ross and greenkeeper at Pinehurst Country Club. From that early experience blossomed young Ellis’ interest in golf course architecture.

Maples got his first taste of his new career in 1937 when he assisted renowned architects William S. Flynn and Dick Wilson with the construction on a nine-hole course in Plymouth, NC. Ten years later, he redesigned New Bern Country Club, where he was working as the professional. In 1948, he supervised construction of Ross’ last course, Raleigh Country Club. In 1953, he turned full-time to architecture and for the next 30 years, his firm built more than 70 courses.

Maples left his lasting imprint on Carolinas golf with such treasures as Grandfather Golf and Country Club; Bermuda Run Golf and Country Club, home of The Crosby Pro-Am, Forest Oaks Country Club, home of the K Mart Greater Greensboro Open since 1977, Gaston Country Club, Country Club of North Carolina (Dogwood); Pinehurst No. 5, Greensboro Country Club (Carlson Farms); and Cedar Rock Country Club.

Born in East Orange, NJ, March 22, 1907, Mrs. Page made Chapel Hill, NC home since early childhood.  She was taught the game of golf by her father, Dr. Robert Lawson, a University of North Carolina Faculty member.

One of the nation’s leading women amateurs for over two decades, from the early 1930's to the mid 1950's, she won the qualifying medal in the USGA Women’s Amateur in 1937 and 1938.  The former year she won the national title played at the Memphis Country Club beating Patty Berg in the finals 7 and 6.  The following year, 1938, at the Westmoreland Country Club, Wilmette, Ill., she lost to Miss Berg, again in the finals, by 6 and 5. Competing in the Women’s North and South Amateur at Pinehurst in 1950, she played the last two days of the event with acute appendicitis, and after losing in the finals by 3 and 2 to Pat O’Sullivan, drove home to Chapel Hill and was later that day admitted to the hospital for an emergency operation.

She was founding member of the North Carolina Women’s Golf Association and served as an officer for many years, including the presidency.  She has been inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in two states: New Jersey and North Carolina.  Though her competitive career spanned a period of over 20 years, never once did her domestic or social life suffer thereby.

Mrs. Page’s Record:

USGA Women’s Amateur Championship

Winner, 1937

Runner-up, 1938

Semi-Finalist, 1941,1947, 1951

Curtis Cup Team,

1938, 1948

Women’s North and South Amateur Championship

Winner, 1935,1937, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1944, 1945

Runner-up, 1942, 1946, 1950

Semi-Finalist, 1947, 1949

Women’s Southern Amateur Championship

Winner, 1946

North Carolina Women’s Amateur Championship

Winner, 10 times, Runner-up twice

Estelle Lawson Page was inducted into the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame, June 1981

22  years after his introduction into the South Carolina Golf Hall of Fame,  Frank Ford III has his golf legacy permanently cemented in the  Carolinas as he is set to be inducted into the CGA Hall of Fame in 2021.

The 69 year old has amassed  what is an impressive trophy case from his playing career in all levels  of amateur golf. A terrific collegiate golfer for Furman, he was one of  the playing members of their 1973 Southern Conference Championship team.  That level of play while in school allowed Ford the honor of being  inducted into the Furman University Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.

“I started playing the game  at an early age, probably six to seven years old if not before,” said  Ford. Golf and hunting were the sports enjoyed in our family especially  if you wanted to be with your Father or Mother. Our golf professional,  Al Esposito, was the gentleman who made sure you had your fundamentals  down and acted properly while playing."

His career after college  would follow with even more success. Ford has six Azalea Invitational  wins to his name, a 1992 Carolinas Amateur Championship, a 1996 South  Carolina Amateur Championship, and deep runs in both the U.S. Senior  Amateur and British Senior Amateur Championships. Ford was named the  1992 Player of the Year by both the Carolinas Golf Association and the  South Carolina Golf Association. 


“I believe Henry Picard was  the person who taught me the most about the swing,” said Ford. “He  taught me how to think and how to handle competitive pressures.”

Ford won the 2018 South  Carolina Super Senior Championship, is a four time South Carolina Senior  Player of the Year, and is also a record four-time champion of the  Carolinas Four-Ball Championship alongside partner Jim Burgess. All of  this success in his home state allowed Ford the honor to be able to be a  two-time member of the South Carolina team representing the state in  the USGA state team championships. 

However, Ford’s contribution  to the game of golf goes much farther than his playing prowess. The  Charleston, South Carolina native was instrumental in bringing two USGA  events to his home club, the Country Club of Charleston. In 2013, Ford  secured the U.S. Women’s Amateur to be played in the Palmetto state and  served as General Chairman for the event. Ford’s home of Charleston left  such an impression that the USGA once again decided to return in 2019  this time for the premier event in Women’s professional golf, the U.S.  Women’s Open where he served as General Chairman once again. 


“The event in 2013 went off  very well and the USGA was satisfied enough to basically offer us the  2019 Women’s Open,” said Ford. “I’m sure we had touched all the right  bases for the Am prep but having President Tom O’Toole offer us the  opportunity at a USGA gathering was mind blowing, we jumped on it.”


Ford has a history of employment with the CGA as well, starting his time in 1976 under Executive Director Hale Van Hoy.

“I am grateful to have had  Hale Van Hoy as my mentor,” remembered Ford. “He understood my situation  and certainly led me to better days and a true understanding of how to  present golf the right way. He simply provided leadership.”


Using that leadership and  lessons, Ford would be named the Executive Director of the Georgia State  Golf Association four years later. He also served as the President of  the CGA from 1994 to 1995. 


“It was exciting yet daunting  to leave the Carolinas and home in Charleston to run that great  organization,” said Ford. “It really opened my eyes to how many great  people are a part of our game and what they do and give up to give back.  The friendships we made are enduring and have been a rich addition to  our lives. Danny Yates, Billy Peters, Shirley Seagraves, Ed Barnes, Mike  Waldron and many others made my job easier and more full-filling.”


Ford’s days in both the administrative and competitive sides of golf  have proved worthy, and the newest member of the CGA Hall of Fame will  surely only continue to add to what is a very impressive resume.


Notable Accomplishments:

Playing member of the 1973 Southern Conference Championship team for Furman

Executive Director Georgia State Golf Association

Six-time Azalea Amateur Invitational Champion in 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1992 and 1993

1988 Carolinas Mid-Amateur Champion

1988 Runner-up Southern Amateur

1992 Carolinas Amateur Champion

1992 South Carolina and Carolinas Player of the Year

President of the CGA from 1994 to 1995

1996 South Carolina Amateur Champion

1996 Runner-up Rice Planters

Four-time Champion of the Carolinas Four Ball Championship with Jim Burgess (record)

Two-time member of the South Carolina team in the USGA State Team Championship

Fourteen-time member of the Palmetto Cup matches and Carolinas Virginia Team

Four-time Champion of the Yeamans Hall Senior Championship

Four-time South Carolina Senior Player of the Year

President South Carolina Golf Hall of Fame since 2002

Furman University Sports Hall of Fame 2004 Inductee

Advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Senior Amateur in 2007 and 2008

Third place finish in the 2011 British Senior Amateur held at Royal Portrush

General Chairman of the 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur

2018 South Carolina Super Senior Champion

General Chairman of the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open

Recognized by the USGA for 25 years of service with the Ike Grainger Award