STUDIO CITY AND ONTARIO, Calif., Feb. 27, 2024 — Legendary golf club makers, Roger Cleveland and Ely Callaway, will headline a class of five luminaries that will be inducted into the SoCal Golf Hall of Fame on Mar. 20 at Industry Hills GC at Pacific Palms Resort. The event will be hosted by golf course architect, historian and author, Geoff Shackelford.

In addition to Cleveland and Callaway, this year’s inductees include decorated players, PGA professionals and trailblazers who have helped transform and shape the Southern California golf landscape.

The SoCal Golf Hall of Fame is honored to welcome the Class of 2024:

Roger Cleveland; legendary wedge maker and founder of Cleveland Golf. Now a consultant for Callaway Golf, Cleveland is one of the most sought-after clubmakers in the world. Since creating Cleveland Classics Golf Company in 1979, Cleveland has brought his expertise and craftmanship to thousands of golfers, amateurs and pros alike throughout the years. His vision through his club designs continues to have a lasting impact on the landscape of golf today as Cleveland is known for making some of the best golf clubs in the world. 

Scott Simpson; a seven-time winner on the PGA Tour, including the 1987 U.S. Open. His professional career spanned 27 years where Simpson was also a member of the coveted 1977 Walker Cup, 1987 Ryder Cup and 1987 Kirin Cup teams. Before he turned pro, Simpson was once the best amateur in the world as part of USC’s men’s golf team, where he was a two-time NCAA championship medalist and won the Fred Haskins Award as the Collegiate Player of the Year.

Also to be recognized at this event are three posthumous inductees: 

Ely Callaway; founder of Callaway Golf Company. Fueled by a love for golf and a desire to innovate, Callaway collaborated with Richard Helmstetter to introduce computer-controlled manufacturing machines, helping club production. After his big break came in the form of the Big Bertha driver in 1991, Callaway hired Roger Cleveland and launched Callaway Golf Forged Wedges. With the acquisition of Odyssey Sports in 1997, expanding Callaway’s line of putters, Callaway became a powerhouse in the industry and continues to influence how golfers around the world approach the game.

Mildred (Millie) Stanley; a decorated amateur and trailblazer in women’s golf. At age 47, Stanley was recruited to play at Long Beach State in the late 70’s as a player-coach. Post college, she laid claim to more than 100 amateur championships, including five California State Senior Championships and five Long Beach City Women’s Championships. Stanley was eventually inducted into the Long Beach State Hall of Fame in 1988 and set up an endowment fund to help support scholarships for Long Beach State women golfers before being named the 1991 Southern California Female Golfer of the Year by the Los Angeles Times.

Jack Malley; the first president of the SCPGA. In 1914, Malley became the youngest club professional in the United States, showcasing his career as an instructor. Alongside Norman Macbeth, Scotty Chisholm and Edward B. Tufts, Malley also helped create the Los Angeles Open, culminating in an inaugural event with a groundbreaking purse that left an enduring legacy in the world of golf.

The March 20 ceremony is by invitation only. To learn more about the SoCal Golf Hall of Fame program and view a comprehensive profile of all inductees with biographies, photos, videos and personal accolades, visit: socalgolfhof.com

About the SoCal Golf Hall of Fame 

Managed by the Southern California Golf Association (SCGA) and Southern California PGA (SCPGA), the SoCal Golf Hall of Fame is a regional program that celebrates and honors golf luminaries who have helped transform and shape the Southern California golf landscape. The SCGA and SCPGA unified their respective programs in 2023.