Half & Quarter Century Members

Terry Carlson, PGA Becomes a Half-Century Member

December 2022

Terry Carlson, PGA played golf at Murray State University from 1964-1969. He was the Assistant Professional at Elgin Country Club from 1970-1972, and Head Professional from 1973-1983. In 1984, Terry transitioned to the Head Golf Professional of Glen Oak CC in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. He won the Golf Professional of the Year award in the Illinois Section in 1985!

From 1984-1985, Terry served as President of the Illinois Section. He also served on the Board as Secretary and Treasurer. Terry founded the Illinois Section’s Home Golf Course, Kemper Lakes. Through his friendship with Jim Kemper, they secured the PGA Championship for Kemper Lakes in 1989.

In 1983, Terry started working at Glen Oak CC and stayed there until 1999, with the exception of a year when he qualified for the 1996 Senior Tour. Terry ended up playing in 18 events with total earnings of $54,000. He also played in 5 Majors – two US Senior Opens in 1996 and 2001, the Senior British Open in 2001, and two Senior PGA Championships in 1997 and 1998 at PGA National. However, Terry never made the cut.

In 1999 Terry was offered the job as Head Golf Professional at the Estancia Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. He remained there until 2015. There, Terry served on the Southwest Section Board for three years and was instrumental in helping Mike Miller become the Executive Director.

Nowadays, Terry is happy as a Life Member in the Gulf States Section. He currently lives in Madisonville, LA, and is a member at Beau Chene Country Club.

Terry remarks, “50 years is a journey, but I’m glad to have gone through it with some of the finest gentlemen I’ve ever known! The PGA of America has been my identity just as sure as my name. The members are the reason I stay involved.”

Terry has two children, Chris and Carrie, as well as 6 grandchildren. Chris just won the Senior Player of the Year award in Colorado, and Carrie belongs to Tchefuncta Country Club.