During the 1930s, Roger Kelly was a powerful force in the Southern California amateur golf world. From 1936 to 1938, Kelly won the Los Angeles City Amateur, the SCGA Amateur Championship and claimed two California Amateur Championships. His amateur achievements earned him an honorary Lakeside GC membership in 1939, and he became a regular member in 1959. During his time at the club, Kelly won 11 Lakeside Club Championships. He never turned professional, instead becoming a highly successful attorney and founding partner of the Los Angeles Firm of Gilbert, Kelly, Crowley and Jennett. In 1968, Kelly was elected President of Lakeside GC and the club later named a tournament in his honor, "The Kelly Cup."