Jim Ferree
Encyclopedia
Jim Ferree is an American
professional golfer
who played on the PGA Tour
and the Senior PGA Tour.
Ferree was born in Pinebluff, North Carolina
, and grew up in Winston-Salem
, where he attended Reynolds High School
. He learned the game of golf
from his father, Purvis, long-time pro at Winston-Salem's Old Town Golf Club. Ferree attended the University of North Carolina
and was a member of the golf team.
Ferree had one PGA Tour win during his regular career years. He was regarded as one of the very best in the game in the tee-to-green ball-striking phase of the game, but putting was always his Achilles' heel. He spent most of his thirties and forties as the director of golf at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Ferree joined the Senior PGA Tour in 1981. He was chosen by PGA Commissioner Deane Beman
to be the model for the knickers-wearing player on the Senior Tour's logo. He shares the Georgia-Pacific Grand Champions record for most victories (9) with two other golfers. He was the Senior PGA Tour's Comeback Player of the Year in 1993.
In 1991, he became the first golfer inducted into the University of North Carolina's Hall of Fame. He lives in Hilton Head, South Carolina with his wife, Karen, also a former champion golfer.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
who played on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
and the Senior PGA Tour.
Ferree was born in Pinebluff, North Carolina
Pinebluff, North Carolina
Pinebluff is a town in Moore County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,109 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pinebluff is located at ....
, and grew up in Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
, where he attended Reynolds High School
Richard J. Reynolds High School
Richard J. Reynolds High School now the Richard J. Reynolds Magnet School for the Visual and Performing Arts is a high school in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Named for R. J. Reynolds, the founder of the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, the...
. He learned the game of golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
from his father, Purvis, long-time pro at Winston-Salem's Old Town Golf Club. Ferree attended the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
and was a member of the golf team.
Ferree had one PGA Tour win during his regular career years. He was regarded as one of the very best in the game in the tee-to-green ball-striking phase of the game, but putting was always his Achilles' heel. He spent most of his thirties and forties as the director of golf at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head, South Carolina.
Ferree joined the Senior PGA Tour in 1981. He was chosen by PGA Commissioner Deane Beman
Deane Beman
Deane R. Beman is an American professional golfer, golf administrator, and golf course architect.Beman was born in Washington, D.C. and graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, where he played for the varsity golf team. Following graduation, Beman had a career in the insurance...
to be the model for the knickers-wearing player on the Senior Tour's logo. He shares the Georgia-Pacific Grand Champions record for most victories (9) with two other golfers. He was the Senior PGA Tour's Comeback Player of the Year in 1993.
In 1991, he became the first golfer inducted into the University of North Carolina's Hall of Fame. He lives in Hilton Head, South Carolina with his wife, Karen, also a former champion golfer.
Other wins (7)
this list is probably incomplete- 1954 Forsyth County tournament
- 1955 Forsyth County tournament
- 1961 Jamaica Open
- 1962 Panama OpenPanama OpenThe Panama Open was a golf tournament played from 1938 to 1982. The name was revived in 1996, when it was an unofficial event on the Canadian Tour...
- 1963 Maracaibo Open
- 1966 Carolinas PGA ChampionshipCarolinas PGA ChampionshipThe Carolinas PGA Championship is a golf tournament that is the section championship of the Carolinas section of the PGA of America. It has been played annually since 1923 at a variety of courses around both states.-Winners:*2011 Gus Ulrich*2010 Todd Camplin...
- 1967 Georgia PGA ChampionshipGeorgia PGA ChampionshipThe Georgia PGA Championship is a golf tournament that is the section championship of the Georgia section of the PGA of America. It has been played annually since 1962 at a variety of courses around the state.-Winners:*2011 Stephen Keppler*2010 Craig Stevens...
Senior PGA Tour wins (2)
- 19861986 Senior PGA TourThe 1986 Senior PGA Tour was the seventh season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 28 official money events with purses totalling $6,450,000, including three majors. Bruce Crampton won the most tournaments, seven...
Greater Grand Rapids Open - 19911991 Senior PGA TourThe 1991 Senior PGA Tour was the 12th season since the Senior PGA Tour officially began in 1980 . The season consisted of 37 official money events with purses totalling $18,925,000, including four majors. Mike Hill won the most tournaments, five...
Bell Atlantic Classic
Other senior wins (4)
this list is probably incomplete- 1997 Liberty Mutual Legends of GolfLiberty Mutual Legends of GolfThe Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf is a golf tournament on the Champions Tour. It is played annually in April currently in Savannah, Georgia at The Westin Savannah Harbor Resort. Liberty Mutual is the main sponsor of the tournament...
- Demaret Division (with George BayerGeorge BayerGeorge Bayer was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour....
) - 2002 Liberty Mutual Legends of GolfLiberty Mutual Legends of GolfThe Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf is a golf tournament on the Champions Tour. It is played annually in April currently in Savannah, Georgia at The Westin Savannah Harbor Resort. Liberty Mutual is the main sponsor of the tournament...
- Demaret Division (with Miller BarberMiller BarberMiller Barber is an American professional golfer who enjoyed significant success on the PGA Tour in the 1960s and 1970s, and a greater degree of success on the Senior PGA Tour in the 1980s.-Career:...
) - 2003 Liberty Mutual Legends of GolfLiberty Mutual Legends of GolfThe Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf is a golf tournament on the Champions Tour. It is played annually in April currently in Savannah, Georgia at The Westin Savannah Harbor Resort. Liberty Mutual is the main sponsor of the tournament...
- Demaret Division (with Miller Barber) - 2006 Grand Champions team better-ball (with Jack FleckJack FleckJack Fleck is an American professional golfer best known for winning the 1955 U.S. Open. He is the oldest living U.S. Open champion....
)