Former Ashland Golf Club pro to be inducted into the SD Hall of Fame

Former Head Professional of Golf at The Country Club of Ashland (now, Ashland Golf Club), Rick Werner, was recently voted into the South Dakota Golf Association Hall of Fame.

Born and raised in Huron, SD, Werner graduated from The University of South Dakota in 1973. That same year, he won the South Dakota Amateur Championship, won the College Conference Title, and was named NCAA All-American.  Werner competed in 10 National Championships including two PGAs, one NCAA Championship and seven National Club Professional Championships. In addition to winning several Pro-Am Tournaments in Southern Florida, Werner also won The Ohio PGA Sectional Title in 1979.

Rick served as a Teaching Professional at the prestigious Quaker Ridge Golf Club in Scarsdale, NY and Head Golf Professional at The Country Club of Ashland.  He retired as Director of Golf, after 23 years, at Royal Poinciana Golf Club in Naples, Florida.  He was also the Associate Men’s Golf Coach at Washington & Lee for five years.

Over the years, Rick played numerous rounds of golf with Hall of Famers Gene Sarazen and Ken Venturi. He also spent quality time with golf notables Byron Nelson, Jackie Burke, Jr, Charlie Sifford and many others.

To enhance his teaching skills, Werner spent a lot of time with such famous golf instructors as John Jacobs, Jim McLean, David Leadbetter, Hank Haney, Davis Love, Jr., Bob Toski, Jim Flick and others.

The induction is set for Sept. 14 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Former head professional at Ashland Golf Club Rick Werner voted into SD HOF