Greater Sacramento’s first tee introduces new Hall of Fame members

After years of waiting, 8 individuals are added to this illustrious group.

On September 22, Haggin Oaks hosted First Tee Greater Sacramento’s Sacramento Golf Hall of Fame Dinner. Originally announced in 2020 and postponed due to COVID, this annual event serves as the formal induction for new members into the Sacramento Golf Hall of Fame. These new members will join Ken Morton Sr., Kevin Sutherland, Natalie Gulbis and dozens of others.

The evening began with the announcement of the Player of the Year award by the Sacramento Golf Council. The winners were Taylor Knoll for men, Taylor Baker for ladies, Mark Morgan for men seniors, Bob Niger for Super Senior men, and Karen Garcia for Women Seniors.

The Hall of Fame inductees began with a posthumous award for the late Dick McShane. Dick was a golf professional who passed away earlier this year after working as a golf instructor for more than 40 years. Although there was never a complete record, Dick is estimated to have taught more than 10,000 students in his time.

Although she could not be present, Lynne Cowan was also inducted into the Hall of Fame. Lynne has had a long and distinguished amateur golf career and continues to play.

The next candidate was Janie Bucher for her work to expand the game of golf to people with special needs. She is the current director of the Cal Eagles, a program for athletes of all ages with special needs (originally started by Dick McShane!). Janie coaches with inclusivity and compassion and makes everyone she meets feel welcome in the game of golf.

The next thing was Johannes Schumachera former sportswriter for the Sacramento Bee. John’s reporting was the lifeblood of the golf community during his time at the Sacramento Bee. John believes you can really get to know someone by the way he or she plays golf. He shared that understanding with everyone who read his work.

The following inductees were Ed, Gary, Vic, And Tim Loustalot. This multi-generational family was recognized for their contributions and involvement in the Northern California golf industry, from course management to beyond.

The final inductee of the evening was Tom Mortonfor his work in player development in Sacramento and beyond. During his time as a player development coach, Tom created programs that are still used across the country. Tom served as Chairman of the National PGA Player Development Committee from 2015 to 2016 and received the National PGA Player Development Award in 2017.

Congratulations to the 2025 Sacramento Golf Hall of Fame inductees! They should feel a sense of pride and achievement for all they have done for the game and the community as a whole.