Barrier Breaker Suzy Whaley Inducted Into CT Golf Hall Of Fame

FAIRFIELD, CT — From hitting golf balls in her bathing suit as a 9-year-old in Syracuse, N.Y. to becoming the first female president in the century-plus history of the PGA of America, Suzy Whaley has broken barriers both on and off the course that earned her a spot in the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame. She was inducted Thursday night in a ceremony at the Patterson Club in Fairfield, just the 14th woman so honored in state history.

"When you get an honor like this, it’s a dream come true," Whaley said. “It’s incredibly humbling and also makes you reflect on some of the things that you had the opportunity to do and afforded you the opportunity to make a difference. Why it’s so special is that it’s a culmination of everything, not just one thing."

A crowd of more than 100 guests, including several top-flight players taking part in the U.S. Senior Women's Open at nearby Brooklawn Country Club, gathered to welcome the former Farmington resident into the hall of fame. A 12-minute video highlighting her amazing career was shown, including a considerable amount of footage showing her teaching the game to youngsters.

She was inducted in the category of Distinguished Service to Golf, though several speakers said her career accomplishments on the course could have warranted selection under Distinguished Golf Achievement.

Her credentials are too numerous to list completely, but include:

• 3-time Connecticut Women's Open champion (2000-2002)
• first woman to win PGA Connecticut Section title (2002)
• competed in 2003 Greater Hartford Open, becoming first woman to qualify for a PGA Tour event since Babe Didrikson Zaharias in 1945
• elected secretary of PGA of America in 2014, becoming first female officer
• President of PGA of America from 2018-2020, first woman to hold that office

"Playing in the GHO gave me a platform for the growth of women everywhere," Whaley said in the video. "I’m as competitive as anyone, but it wasn’t about being first or making the cut. It was so much more than that. It gave me a door to walk through and a lot more to do. It showed my daughters (Jen and Kelly, now competing on the Symetra Tour) and other young girls to take chances and be brave, no matter what the outcome was to be, and really work hard to get there,.

Several guest speakers, including Connecticut State Golf Association executive director Mike Moraghan, gave glowing testimonials to the impact Whaley has had on the game.

"Suzy has been one of the most inspiring people in golf, and in life in general in Connecticut in the last 20 or 30 years," Moraghan said. "It's an honor that's richly deserved for her to be inducted into the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame. She's inspired a lot of people, from children to adults, and her enthusiasm is infectious. Anything that she is passionate about, she brings people along with her, because they just want to be along for the ride. She does a great job with everything she does, she motivates people and gets people excited about what she's doing."

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