Hall of Fame Class of 2022 to be honored Wednesday, May 4

KENILWORTH, N.J. - Three of New Jersey’s most accomplished champions, David Glenz, Karen Noble and Ed Whitman, along with George A. Crump, architect of Pine Valley Golf Club, will be enshrined in the New Jersey State Golf Association Hall of Fame on Wednesday evening, May 4.

Glenz, Noble, and Whitman will be in attendance to receive their honor in the company of many of their friends and family members. Glenz will be presented by fellow PGA professional and colleague Bryan Jones, Noble will be presented by the renowned instructor Michael Breed, and Whitman will be presented by his son, Eric.

The four-person Class of 2022 will be celebrated in front of a capacity crowd of nearly 250 attendees at NJSGA headquarters at Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth. Matt Loughlin, the longtime radio play-by-play announcer for the New Jersey Devils, will serve as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies.

The Class of 2022 joins a distinguished group that has made a unique and lasting impact on the game of golf in New Jersey. Established in 2018, the NJSGA Hall of Fame was established to recognize and enshrine men and women who, as New Jersey natives or residents at their time of achievement, have impacted New Jersey golf and/or have made extraordinary contributions to the game through competitive and non-competitive accomplishments. The mission is to honor New Jersey’s finest amateur and professional golf competitors, as well as those who have made outstanding contributions in other areas of golf such as architects, journalists, superintendents, mentors, volunteers and others.

Meet the NJSGA Hall of Fame Class of 2022:

George A. Crump

George A. Crump (1871-1918) was the architect and driving force behind the creation of Pine Valley Golf Club, considered by many to be the No. 1 golf course in the world. Crump, who primarily lived on the grounds of Pine Valley during its construction, was a complicated figure whose efforts to build the course became his life’s work. Beginning with finding the land on which to build the course, developing its layout, and later saving the fledgling club from financial challenges, Crump’s impact was immeasurable. The only course ever designed by Crump, Pine Valley was designed with his single mindset to challenge the best players and allow no forgiveness to those less skilled.

Born in Philadelphia, Crump’s family relocated to New Jersey; first to Camden and later Merchantville. An accomplished player, Crump won the 1901 and 1912 Patterson Cup and competed on Philadelphia teams in intercity matches with New York, as well as the triangular Lesley Cup matches between Philadelphia, New York and Boston.

Through his competitive connections, Crump developed friendships with many top local players who sought to build a golf course that would be a true, championship challenge. In 1913, on their behalf, Crump purchased a parcel of land in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens 14 miles southeast of Camden where Pine Valley would be built. While the other stakeholders organized the club, Crump focused on designing and building the course.

By 1914, holes 1 through 10 and 18 were completed; holes 11, 16, and 17 were finished in 1915. But, it was not until 1919, the year after Crump’s death, when holes 12 through 15 were built. Years of cost overruns and construction issues delayed the process and led to major financial problems for the club. Crump himself played the largest role in preventing the club from failure; by some accounts, he spent more than $250,000 to support the club with no expectation to be reimbursed.

On January 24, 1918, Crump took his own life in his home in Merchantville. It is believed that the years of setbacks while building Pine Valley led to the erosion of Crump’s personal wealth and well-being, and ultimately, his demise. Shortly thereafter, Crump’s brother-in-law, Howard Street, led a group including architects Harry Colt, C.H. Alison, brothers Hugh and Alan Wilson, as well as a handful of members who collaborated to bring Crump’s unique vision to a conclusion. In 1922, after an additional round of revisions had been completed, the golf course opened in its perfected state, essentially as it exists today.

Karen Noble

Karen Noble, one of the most successful female amateur golfers in the Garden State, began her impact on the game of golf early in her life. In the 1980’s and 90’s, Noble dominated the amateur scene, most notably finishing runner-up in the 1988 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Minikahda Club in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A native of Brookside who grew up playing golf at Morris County Golf Club where she learned from fellow NJSGA Hall of Fame Class of 2022 inductee David Glenz, Noble won the New Jersey Women’s Amateur Championship three times (1987, ‘88, ‘90) and was runner-up in 1986.

Her success extended far beyond the Garden State. Noble thrived at the collegiate level at Wake Forest University. There, she earned Team MVP honors and the school’s Most Outstanding Female Athlete in 1989. Her stellar 1989 season was also highlighted by winning the prestigious Trans National Championship.

In 1990, Noble’s golf game reached a new pinnacle when she earned a spot on the illustrious Curtis Cup Team, which was played at New Jersey’s own Somerset Hills Country Club. Noble helped lead the United States to a victory over Great Britain and Ireland, 14-4. That same year, Noble played on the World Cup Amateur Team.

Locally, Noble is one of the most decorated players of all time. In addition to her N.J. Women’s Amateur titles, she won a trio of Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association (WMGA) Match Play Championships (1988, ‘89, ‘90), a WMGA Stroke Play Championship (1989), the Garden State Women’s Association Better-Ball-of-Partners Match Play Championship (1990) and earned a spot on the Griscom Cup Team in 1988.

Noble went on to have a successful professional career on the LPGA Tour from 1992-1999. In 1992, she qualified for the Tour in her first attempt, and later that season, attained her highest finish when she was runner-up in the LPGA Championship.

Following her professional playing career, Noble joined the teaching ranks, making stops at Sunningdale Country Club (N.Y.) and Hamilton Farm Golf Club before her current position at Fairmount Country Club where she has been the Director of Instruction since 2010.

Ed Whitman

Ed Whitman, one of the most prolific club professionals in New Jersey history, has compiled a whopping 225 professional wins and collected an impressive 20 major professional championships in the Garden State. His most notable victories are titles in the 1991, ‘95, ‘96 and 2004 Open Championships; he is also a four-time winner of the New Jersey PGA Section Championship (1982, ’83, ’87, ’90).

His record in the NJSGA Open Championship is virtually unparalleled. Whitman has played in the most consecutive NJSGA Opens (46, 1975-present), made the most consecutive cuts (36, 1980-2015), carded the lowest score (17-under-par, 267, 1991 at Rock Spring Club), and fired four rounds in the 60s (1991 at Rock Spring). He is one of only three players to win the NJSGA Open four times; fellow Hall of Fame member Babe Lichardus and 2022 inductee David Glenz are the other two to accomplish the feat.

Whitman grew up in Milford, N.J., where he learned game as a member of Oak Hill Golf Club. After graduating from college, Whitman started his career in 1973 as an assistant golf professional, also at Oak Hill. He moved on to another assistant professional position at Hackensack Golf Club before his next and final stop, Knickerbocker Country Club, where he remained as head golf professional for over 30 years. Knickerbocker continues to honor Whitman as its golf professional emeritus and he continues to give lessons at the club.

Whitman was also a dominant presence in NJPGA competition. In addition to his four section titles, Whitman has won two NJPGA Match Play Championships, six NJPGA-U.S. Healthcare Championships, two NJPGA Players Championships and two Titleist NJ Club Pro Championships. He is also a five-time NJPGA Player of the Year (1989, ’93, ’95, ’96, 2004) and is a 1996 inductee into the NJPGA Hall of Fame.

On the national stage, Whitman has competed in 21 PGA Professional National Championships, 15 Senior PGA Professional National Championships, four PGA Championships, two U.S. Open Championships, two Senior PGA Championships and one U.S. Senior Open.

David Glenz

David Glenz, one of the best-known players in New Jersey golf history, was a perennial championship contender through the 1980s and 90s. His phenomenal career is highlighted by four New Jersey Open titles in 1984, ‘86, ‘88 and ’90, two Met Open Championships (1978, ’86), and two NJPGA Section Championships (1985, ’86). Glenz is a four-time NJPGA Player of the Year (1985-’88) and was named the NJPGA Player of the Decade for the 1980s. His four NJSGA Open victories place Glenz among an exclusive club; only he, Babe Lichardus and Ed Whitman are four-time champions. He is also an inductee of the NJPGA Hall of Fame Class of 1991.

Glenz grew up in Oregon and excelled on the golf team at the University of Oregon where he was voted to the 2nd Team All-America. Following graduation in 1971, Glenz qualified for the PGA Tour and went on to a six-year Tour career. Thereafter, Glenz trekked East to become a teaching professional, first at Winged Foot Golf Club in Westchester, New York before settling at Morris County Golf Club in 1981 as their head golf professional.

Glenz’s distinguished career extends beyond his outstanding playing record; he is long considered one of the foremost teachers. In 1991, Glenz established The David Glenz Golf Academy at Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg. There, Glenz went on to mentor three-time NJSGA Open Champion Tyler Hall, former LPGA players Laurie Rinker and Kendra Little, Canadian Tour player Jesse Smith, and many more. During his time at Morris County Golf Club, Glenz is credited for mentoring his 2022 NJSGA Hall of Fame classmate, Karen Noble, during her formative years. Additionally, Glenz was also honored as New Jersey Teacher of the Year eight times and in 1998, the PGA of America honored him with the National PGA Teacher of the Year award.

In 2010, Black Oak Golf Club, a private club designed by Glenz, opened in Long Valley (in Morris County). Along with the club’s opening, Glenz’s renowned golf academy relocated to Black Oak, and later to Florida, where Glenz continues to actively teach.

About the NJSGA Hall of Fame

The NJSGA Hall of Fame, which launched in 2018, has inducted “Long” Jim Barnes (2021), Max Marston (2021), Marge Mason (2021), Leighton Calkins (2020), Michael Cestone (2020), Carolyn Cudone (2018), William Y. Dear (2018), Dr. Ralph Engel (2018), Johnny Farrell (2018), Leo Fraser (2019), Vic Ghezzi (2018), Charlotte Glutting (2018), Sherry Herman (2020), Arthur “Red” Hoffman (2018), Robert Housen (2018), Robert “Bobby” Jacobson (2019), Milton “Babe” Lichardus (2019), Nestor J. MacDonald (2018), Joseph McBride (2019), John McDermott (2020), Byron Nelson (2018), Maureen Orcutt (2018), Dorothy Germain Porter (2019), Chet Sanok (2018), John Shippen (2018), Allan Small (2020), Jeff Thomas (2019), Albert Warren Tillinghast (2018), Jerome Travers (2018), Dennis Walters (2019), Charles Whitehead (2018), Craig Wood (2019), and Billy Ziobro (2019).

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