Jim Ferree (1931-2023)
By WPGA • March 15, 2023
Western Pennsylvania Golf Association Hall of Fame Inductee Jim Ferree passed away March 14th, 2023. Jim is survived by his wife, Karen.
Ferree grew up in North Carolina and attended the University of North Carolina where he was a member of the golf program. In 1991, he became the first golfer inducted into the University's Hall of Fame. Shortly after college, Ferree turned professional and played 11 years on the PGA Tour. His lone win on Tour came in 1958 at the Vancouver Centennial. Ferree joined the Senior PGA Tour in 1981 and played 19 years with great success. He won twice at the 1986 Greater Grand Rapids Open and the 1991 Bell Atlantic Classic and was named Comeback Player of the Year in 1993. Ferree was well-known for dressing in knickers, and a silhouette of his swing in the vintage clothing was selected to be a part of the Senior PGA Tour logo.
He relocated to western Pennsylvania in 1971 to be the Head Golf Professional at Westmoreland Country Club. In his 14 years at this position, he became one of the most well-respected area golf professionals and mentored some of the region's top players. As a local professional player, Ferree won the Tri-State PGA Section Championship (1978 & 1981), the Tri-State Open Championship (1977 & 1983), and the Pittsburgh Open (1983). He won the honor of Tri-State PGA Section Player of the Year (1976, 1978 & 1979), Tri-State PGA Section Senior Player of the Year (1981, 1982 & 1983), and the Section's Willie McKay Trophy for Low Scoring Average (1978 & 1979).
He was inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Golf Hall of Fame in 2019.
About the WPGA
Founded in 1899, the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association is the steward of amateur golf in the region. Started by five Member Clubs, the association now has nearly 200 Member Clubs and 33,000 members. The WPGA conducts 14 individual competitions and 10 team events, and administers the WPGA Scholarship Fund.