Michigan Golf Hall of Fame Inductees  

Bob Babbish

Bob Babbish was born in 1915 as one of 6 children in the Northeast part of Detroit. Although all of his brothers and sisters were athletic and played sports, no two exceeded in the same sport.

Bob became proficient in golf by playing at the 27 hole Highland Park Golf Course, which later became the site of Chrysler Corporation Headquarters. He often took the intercity streetcar to Bloomfield and walked several miles to Orchard Lake Country Club to Caddie.

After a collegiate career at the University of Detroit, during which he won the 1935 Michigan Amateur Championship, he went on to win 4 GAM Championships, 2 Michigan Medal Play Championships, and untold Country Club invitationals, which were the main competitive events in the 40s and 50s.

Bob qualified for 13 USGA Championships including 7 USGA Opens. His crowning victory was winning the prestigious Western Amateur in 1938 and he remains the only victor from Michigan, although the tournament has been held in our state over 40 times.