The New World Club Championship Chairman, PGA Master Professional and Hall of Fame Member Bob Ford
Los Angeles (September 22, 2015) - During the 2015 World Club Championship, Mr. Eddie Merrins assumed the role of Chairman Emeritus for the Championship. The Li'l Pro has provided great leadership since inception in 2002. The Championship is indebted to Mr. Merrins for his vision and guidance over the past 13 years.
As the Committee considered the options for a new Chairman, it became apparent that the role required a golf professional who has dedicated his life to the game of golf at the Club level, as this is the essence of the World Club Championship. There are few in history who have achieved as much in this arena as Oakmont and Seminole Head Professional Bob Ford.
Chairman Ford serves at Seminole Golf Club during the winter from October to April, then moves north to work at Oakmont Country Club during the late spring to early fall months. In addition to his East Coast travels, Ford, who grew up in the Philadelphia area and caddied there at an early age, is an accomplished player. He has qualified for two U.S. Opens, nine PGA Championships, three Senior PGA Championships and is a two-time winner in the PGA National Stroke Play Championship. He has won a variety of PGA national club pro awards and briefly played on the PGA Tour. He joined the staff at Oakmont in1975.
Bob Ford has a long history with the World Club Championship and has supported the event with representatives from both of his Clubs through the years. His team from Oakmont played in the first Championship at Nine Bridges in Korea in 2002 and Oakmont out-dueled the Olympic Club to win the Championship at Nine Bridges in 2015. Seminole, Bob's winter Club, was victorious in 2012 when Diamante Cabo San Lucas hosted the tournament.
The Championship Committee could not be more proud that Bob Ford has accepted the position of Championship Chairman and we look forward to the future with great confidence under the leadership of Mr. Ford.