A community of competitive senior amateur golfers continuing the traditions established by our founders in 1983
What is the Society of Seniors?
Who we are
Founded in 1983, the Society of Seniors is the preeminent men’s senior amateur golf organization in the country. From its inaugural event at Atlantic City Country Club in Northfield, NJ, its 800 plus members enjoy the ten (10) events it conducts annually throughout the United States.
BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Our elected officers and board members are responsible for planning, organizing, financing, and general oversight of the Society of Seniors.
Membership Committee: Bob Beck, Walker Grant, Happy Rakestraw, Chairman
Tournament Committee: Robbie Dew, Kip Estep, Mike McDonald
Finance Committee: Ed Shaffran, Bob Beck
Nominating Committee: Ed Shaffran, Happy Rakestraw
Disciplinary Committee: Bob Beck, Ed Shaffran
Future Planning Committee: Ed Shaffran, Robbie Dew, Kip Estep
Ed has served as President since January of 2015. He has been developing real estate in the Ann Arbor, Michigan community since 1982, where he is known as ‘Mr. Downtown’ for his community activism and restoring a number of historic buildings. Ed and his wife Polly have 2 daughters and 3 grandchildren. Though competing in golf is no longer a passion, he still enjoys playing. Ed remains active in his real estate business in addition to serving on a number of community boards.
Happy has served on the Board of Governors since 2018. He resides in Naples, FL and spends the summers in Somerset, KY on his farm. Rakestraw is retired from the transportation industry and currently active in community banking. He is very active with his family, farming and Christian faith.
He retired from Rockwell-Collins as Vice-President, Government Operations in January, 2007 and moved to his first retirement in Williamsburg, VA.
Mike won both the Virginia Senior Amateur (2009) and the Virginia Super-Senior Championship (2017) before taking his 2nd retirement to Iowa in 2021. He lives in Ankeny, Iowa with his wife Gayle, and is close to his two daughters and four grandchildren. They are all active in supporting Iowa State Athletics where Mike played Varsity Golf from 1969-1972.
A graduate of Lehigh University, he lives in Allentown, Pennsylvania with his wife Jackie. Bob works as a wealth management consultant with Stifel with over 35 years of experience in the field.
Born in Toronto, Canada, he is an alumnus of Indiana University and built, owns and operates Abacoa Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida. Robbie also served on the board at the Georgia State Golf Association for ten years, Ontario Golf Association for six years, and is a current two-year member of the Palm Beach County Golf Association.
Kip has served on the Board of Governors since 2022 and lives in Rockwall, Texas. Estep began playing competitive golf in his teenage years, and has been a Society member since 2009. As an established businessman, a career highlight was working together with is father in building, owning and operating their own golf course for several years. Estep now has plans to expand the family tree farm.
Walker has served on the Board since 2019 and is the current president of the Alabama Golf Association. He lives in Alexander City, AL with his wife Angie and they also enjoy time in Naples, FL. Walker owned and operated a beverage distribution company for over 30 years.
PAST PRESIDENTS
Dale E. Morey
1983 - 1991
Ralph M. Bogart
1991 - 2003
Yancey Ford
2003 - 2009
Mark Mulvoy
2009 - 2015
Our History
The Society of Seniors was founded in 1983 by three celebrated amateurs, Dale Morey, Ralph Bogart, and Ed Tutwiler, aiming to create opportunities for competitive golf for players in their 50s and beyond. The SOS attracted top senior amateur golfers, and it quickly became the pre-eminent group in senior amateur golf, with numerous members boasting impressive golfing achievements.
The organization not only provided competitive golf events but also fostered camaraderie and friendships among its members. It played a significant role in the development of senior golf by inspiring other associations to create similar events. The Society of Seniors emphasizes the passion, competitive spirit, and enjoyment of golf shared by our membership.
The Society of Seniors officially formed in 1982 with 72 charter members contributing $35 each at the Wild Dunes Invitational. However, the idea for the organization emerged in 1978, as three senior amateur golfers, Ed Tutwiler, Dale Morey, and Ralph Bogart, expressed a desire for more competitive tournaments for senior players. They envisioned scratch events that adhered to the Rules of Golf, unlike other organizations like the American Seniors or U.S. Seniors, which featured net events and were more exclusive.
The SOS aimed to create opportunities for serious senior amateurs with strong golfing resumes. Our founders wanted to maintain their competitive spirit as they grew older, especially after the PGA Tour introduced the Champions Tour in 1980. The SOS initially focused on hosting scratch tournaments for the best senior amateurs under the guidance of Dale Morey, the group’s first president.
The Society of Seniors (SOS) boasts a remarkable lineup of competitive senior golfers, holding numerous prestigious titles:
Twenty-three SOS members have won a total of 47 national championships, including 19 British Senior Amateurs, 16 U.S. Senior Amateurs, three U.S. Mid-Amateurs, four British Amateurs, two Irish Senior Amateurs, two Welsh Senior Amateurs, one U.S. Amateur, one Canadian Amateur, and six Canadian Senior Amateurs.
Notable champions include Dale Morey, Bill Hyndman, Dick Siderowf, Gordon Brewer, Paul Simson, Chip Lutz, Doug Hanzel, and Kemp Richardson, to name just a few.
Fourteen SOS members have represented the United States in the Walker Cup, with Bob Lewis, Dick Siderowf, and Vinny Giles each playing in four matches. Jim Holtgrieve and Downing Gray participated in three matches each.
Seven SOS members have captained the U.S. Walker Cup team, including Siderowf, Giles, Holtgrieve, Gray, Lewis, Danny Yates, and Buddy Marucci.
Twenty SOS members have competed in 73 Masters tournaments, with Giles, Siderowf, Dale Morey, Lewis, Gray, Holtgrieve, Ed Tutwiler, and Don Allen having multiple appearances.
The Society of Seniors includes a distinguished group of golfers with Major Amateur Championships and strong international representation, making it one of the most impressive organizations for competitive senior golfers in the world.
From the very first competition at Atlantic City Country Club in New Jersey, to Indian Wells in Palm Springs California and to Waterville Golf Links in Ireland, Society members have enjoyed some of the finest venues golf has to offer.
Download The
History Book
A history of the Society of Seniors: Read the fascinating story of the humble beginnings of what has become the preeminent senior golf organization in the country. Dale Morey and Ed Tutwiler hatched the idea, and along with Ralph Bogart and John Owens, brought their vision to life through their passion for competitive amateur golf.
OUR STAFF
He resides in Downingtown, PA with his wife Johanna, and their children Leah, 7, and Robbie, 4. He also enjoys playing competitive golf and rooting for the Steelers, Eagles, and Nittany Lions.
Matt lives in Pittsburgh, Pa. with his wife Marisa and two daughters Stella & Hannah. His entire career has been in the golf industry beginning as a caddie in the summers of college, then as a golf professional, then into club management and finally golf association rules and competitions, which he has been involved with for both the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association and the Pennsylvania Golf Association for the past 13 years. He spends his time away from competition golf as a realtor mainly involved in investment properties.
Gary Taylor, PGA, or ‘G.T.’ as he is affectionately known, wrapped up an Ohio Golf Hall of Fame career that began in 1976 at Columbus Country Club. Taylor eventually spent 27 years the Head Golf Professional at Columbus CC until his retirement in 2013. He has been a long-time Starter for the Society of Seniors since 2013. G.T. splits his time in Ohio and Florida these days with his wife of 47+ years, Linda. Taylor is also a Vietnam War veteran.
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