George Lake was the Head Golf Professional at Recreation Park Golf Course for nearly half a century. During his tenure, he founded and administered one of the largest junior golf programs in the United States and brought several professional golf tournaments to Long Beach, including the “original” Long Beach Open, which was a Tour stop in 1949. He hosted the SCPGA Championship at Recreation Park for decades, including getting sponsors to enhance the purse.  He helped fund raise for and build the 9-hole course at the LB Vets Hospital and gave lessons to the vets that went through rehabilitation there. His inspiration and dedication to others and to the game were recognized when he received the first ever Golf Professional of the Year Award from the SCPGA and was later in the first class of inductees into the SCPGA Hall of Fame.