GOLF, Ill. – May 22, 2025 – The Illinois Golf Hall of Fame Selection Committee has announced the six members of its distinguished 21st class, representing a diverse and influential cross-section of golf achievement in Illinois. The inductees will be honored at an official ceremony on Friday, October 17at The Glen Club in Glenview, home of the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame.
“This 21st class of the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame is especially distinguished and unique,” said Selection Committee Chair Tim Cronin. “We have a pair of fine Tour players in David Ogrin and Bob Zender, a renaissance man of the early 20th century in Joe Roseman, an extraordinary superintendent of the turf in Dan Dinelli, an executive who takes pains to give back to golf in Steve Skinner, and a pioneer in breaking golf’s color barrier in Horace McDougal, whose story was lost in the dust of history for too long.”
The Illinois Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2025 includes:
- Dan Dinelli – One of the nation’s leading turfgrass experts, Dinelli has been superintendent at North Shore Country Club for 36 years and a national voice in Phytobiome research, soil health, and sustainable agronomy. A third-generation superintendent, his career has been defined by innovation, stewardship, and leadership in golf course management.
- Horace McDougal – A Chicago native and pioneer for racial integration in golf, McDougal became the first Black intercollegiate golfer and played in the first Negro National Open in 1926. A powerful advocate through his writing in the Chicago Defender, he also co-founded the Windy City Golf Association and fought lifelong discrimination in the game he loved.
- David Ogrin – A standout from Waukegan, Ogrin won both the Illinois Amateur and Illinois Open in 1980 before embarking on a long PGA Tour career that included 32 top-10 finishes and a victory at the 1996 Texas Open. He tied for 10th at the 1997 U.S. Open and remains one of the most successful Illinois-born Tour professionals.
- Joe Roseman – An inventive force in early American golf, Roseman’s contributions spanned design, course construction, and equipment. He developed the roller-drive mower, introduced modern fairway irrigation, designed courses across the Chicago area, and built the first lighted par-3 course in the 1930s.
- Steve Skinner – As CEO of KemperSports, Skinner has played a pivotal role in shaping modern facility management, with a portfolio that includes Bandon Dunes, Sand Valley, and Streamsong. A founder of The First Tee of Greater Chicago, Skinner’s leadership has extended into philanthropy, youth development, and national event operations.
- Bob Zender – A three-time Illinois Amateur champion and Purdue All-American, Zender turned professional and quickly won the 1971 PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament. He went on to a decade-long Tour career, and also won three consecutive Illinois PGA Championships, tying him for the most in state history. His 62 at Ridgemoor Golf Club still stands alongside Ben Hogan’s as the course record.
About the Illinois PGA/Illinois PGA Foundation
The Illinois Section of the PGA of America is a professional organization serving the men and women golf professionals in northern and central Illinois who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf. The Illinois PGA is responsible for the administration of competitive golf tournaments, educational opportunities, support programs and growth of the game initiatives. With over 840 members and apprentices, the Illinois PGA is one of the 41 regional Sections that comprise the PGA of America. The Illinois PGA Foundation focuses its community efforts on promoting the goodwill and growth of the game with an emphasis on activities that benefit youth. Foundation initiatives include: GolfWorks Illinois, Youth-based Scholarship Funds and the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame. For more information about the Illinois PGA and the Illinois PGA Foundation, please visit www.ipga.com and join us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
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CONTACT:
Kevin Quinn
Illinois PGA Communications
(847) 729-4102 direct
(708) 336-1294 mobile
kbquinn@pgahq.com