Ralph “Bud” Williamson Jr.
Bud Williamson Jr. was a member of the PGA of America for 46 years, until his death in December of 2011. He was an active member of the Midwest PGA Section and national PGA administration.
Born in Fort Wayne, IN., he grew up in Lincoln while his father, Nebraska Golf Hall of Famer Bud Williamson Sr., was head professional at the Country Club of Lincoln. He was the 1957 Class A high school golf champion and state high school sand greens champion as a Lincoln High junior and lettered in golf at the University of Nebraska in 1961 and 1962 before turning professional.
After being elected to PGA membership in 1965, he spent two years as a teaching pro in Lake Forest, IL., before returning to Nebraska as head professional at Lochland Country Club in Hastings from 1967 through 1975. In 1976, he became head pro at Blue Hills Country Club in Kansas City, MO., and retired as its director of golf in 2001. He was a past president of the Midwest Section and served as District 7 Director of the PGA national board.
As a teacher, Bud’s pupils included Tom Watson. Bud traveled with Watson to several British Opens, U.S. Senior Opens, Masters and many PGA Tour events. They created the “Clubs for Kids,” program in the Kansas City area that is said to have inspired The First Tee. He officiated at two Ryder Cups.
He played in one U.S. Senior Open, six Senior PGA Championships, four Champions Tour events and a dozen PGA Club Professional championships. He was enshrined into the Midwest Section PGA Hall of Fame in December in 2011.
