Campbell League enters 78th year

It’s been played at Pine Lakes Golf Course every year.

HUBBARD — One of the oldest golf leagues in the area will be starting up shortly at Pine Lakes Golf Course.

The Campbell Golf League will begin its 78th season Wednesday night.

The league, believed to be the second oldest league in the area behind only the YMCA League at Mill Creek, was established in 1931. It was organized and sponsored originally by the Campbell University Club, a group of Campbell school teachers.

The league has played at Pine Lakes (formerly Hubbard Golf Course) since its inception.

The league began as a tournament play league and in the first season James Ward defeated John “Rosy” Brayer for the Class A Championship.

In 1935 team competition began and the initial team champion was the Toppers. By 1939 the league had 54 members.

Over the years there have been over 670 individuals who have been members of the league at one time or another. The 1962 season was the year of highest membership as 143 golfers took part in the league.

Two Campbell Golf League members later became PGA club professionals, George Sertich, who was head pro at Countryside Golf Club, and Conrad Kovach, who was the head professional at Mill Creek Golf Club.

League member Ted Katula Jr., went on to captain the Ohio State golf team and later became golf coach and athletic director at Depauw University in Indiana where one of his players went on to become Vice President of the United States, Dan Quayle.

League member Dr. Bob Katula, Ted’s brother, was also a four-year letterman at Ohio State and later became a prominent area amateur golfer, winning club championships at both Fonderlac Country Club and Tippecanoe Country Club. In 1990 and 1991 he won the senior club championship at Oak Tree Country Club.

The league has 44 members this year and is comprised of 10 teams plus a taxi squad. The format is match/medal head-to-head play.

Over the years there have been 25 holes-in-one scored during league play. Two members have made two aces, Frank Brayer (1947 and 1962) and Norm Krajanak (1959 and 1987). The last hole-in-one scored in league play was by Ken Oravec in 2001.