NJSGA Hall Of Fame April Spotlight: Bob Housen

ROBERT HOUSEN (1938- )

Bob Housen, the winner of six New Jersey State Golf Association Amateur Championships, is known as one of the finest amateurs in the history of the state. He is a long-time member of Manasquan River Golf Club and is a former captain and 24-time member of the NJSGA’s Compher Cup teams, a seven-time winner of the State Pre-Senior and two-time champion of the State Senior Amateur.

Housen is a two-time Met Senior Amateur champion and also won the Legends Division (70 and older) of the event in 2008. In 2010, he won the Super Seniors Division of the NJSGA Senior Amateur. Housen also has the distinction of having won the Father and Son Championship with both his father, Donald (four times) and his son Christopher (once).

Like his father, Bob was also inducted into the Lakewood High School Hall of Fame for his achievements in basketball, baseball and golf. After high school, he served in the U.S. Navy for two years, studied business at night school at Monmouth College, and married his wife Marjorie in 1962.

During an interview for the Spring 2018 edition of New Jersey Golf Magazine, on the subject of his record in NJSGA championships, Housen stated “I felt if I won the State Amateur, then my year was a success. I enjoyed more than anything the people I met, like Chet Sanok, Allan Small, Robin McCool, Ned Steiner and so many others.”

Housen also excelled at the national level, qualifying for six U.S. Senior Opens, making the cut in four and finishing as low amateur twice. He has competed in a total of 15 USGA events.

Reflecting on his amateur golf career, Housen said “I have no regrets because I didn’t sacrifice my family, my faith or my business. If I didn’t have the camaraderie on the golf course, I wouldn’t have enjoyed it.”