2009 Hall of Fame

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Hall pass

This year’s inductees have persevered and flourished during different eras.

By Joel BeersPublished: December, 2009

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Our eighth annual Southland Golf Hall of Fame class features an eclectic and deserving group of inductees. Some overcame odds with a determined and pioneering spirit, while another used tips from his playing career to become a sought-after instructor.

And then there’s Richard Milhous Nixon, our country’s 37th president who found golf to be a “lifesaver” in the San Clemente area after he left the White House in 1974.

A thumbnail sketch of our other four honorees goes something like this: Charlie Sifford never lost faith during many years of hatred and harassment to become a player — and winner — on the PGA Tour; Marlene Hagge didn’t have a place to play as a junior in 1940s Long Beach, but that didn’t deter her from becoming a founding member of the LPGA Tour; Corey Pavin has long shown that an athlete’s heart is the most important measuring stick; and Phil Rodgers, who straightened out the short game of Jack Nicklaus, continues to pass on his wisdom to lucky pupils at La Jolla Country Club.

To find out more, read on. Our Class of 2009 is definitely worthy of your full attention.