EAST LANSING, MI – Two new members have been inducted into the Michigan PGA Hall of Fame. John Molenda and Roger Van Dyke were announced as members of the 2022 Induction Class. Both were recognized at the Michigan PGA President’s Dinner, Sunday, October 23 at Western Golf & Country Club as well as the Section’s Fall Meeting Monday, October 24 at Detroit Golf Club.
Molenda, known as Mo, was remembered for an ever-present suit jacket and smile. He was a PGA Member for over 35 years and spent all of his career at Knollwood Country Club.
He won the 1968 Michigan Open, 1971 Michigan PGA, 1974 Detroit Chevy Dealers Championship, 1990 Michigan Senior Open and was part of 13 Michigan Section two-player team titles. He also played in 10 National PGA Club Professional Championships, two U.S. Opens, two PGA Championships (making the cut in 1971), and the 1990 PGA Seniors Championship.
Before becoming a professional, he won the 1956 GAM Caddie Championship, was the runner-up in the 1961 U.S. Public Links, played college golf at Arizona State University and beat out long-time tour player, Orville Moody, to win the 1963 All Services Championship while serving his country.
In 1974, he was on the winning USA Diamond Cup team where the top US Club Professionals defeated the top Club Professionals from Great Britain. In 1985, he was named Michigan’s Golf Professional of the Year.
Van Dyke, during his 60years as a golf professional, served golf facilities in Illinois, Michigan,Georgia and Florida, Roger has maintained a high level of enthusiasm and passion forall aspects of this great game of golf. He has grown to appreciate and learn from thosewho play the game, and the golf professionals and amateurs who serve the game of golf.
Roger played collegiate golf at Eastern Illinois University receiving a Bachelor ofScience Degree in Business Education. Following college, he became a member of thePGA of America, serving as Head Golf Professional at Flint Golf Club (Flint, MI),Director of Golf at The Landings Club (Savannah, GA), and Manager/Head GolfProfessional at Hawk’s Nest Golf Club (Vero Beach, FL).
During his years in Flint, Roger developed the golf instruction program for the FlintJunior Golf Association, which was and remains the largest local junior golf association inthe country with over 1,300 participants. Roger served as President of theMichigan Section PGA followed by election to National Director of the PGA of America.
Roger chaired the 1981 National PGA Junior Championship and served on committeeshosting the National Club Professional Championships, Ryder Cup Matches and PGAChampionships. He was the recipient of the 1985 National Bill Strausbaugh Award forcontributions in Employment and Golf Facility Relations.
Roger attained “PGA Master Professional” classification in 1988. Following hisretirement from Hawk’s Nest Golf Club in 2007, he founded and currently serves asPresident of the Indian River Golf Foundation. He is a participant on the Treasure Coast Senior Golf Tour and serves as the Head Golf Coach at Vero Beach High School Girls Golf Team.
The Michigan PGA Hall of Fame was founded in 2011 and exists to recognize and acknowledge those PGA Professionals who have excelled in their profession, achieved remarkable accomplishments, and made significant contributions to the game, the industry, and the Michigan PGA.
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