STAN MURPHY

Stan Murphy’s name has been around Saginaw County golf circles for decades. He was born in Tweed, Ontario, Canada, and became hooked on golf at the age of 14 when he started caddying at the Saginaw Country Club. An intense competitor on the golf course, Murphy was an outstanding golfer as evidenced by winning the city amateur championship in 1941 and 1945. He gave up the game for a number of years as his children grew from toddlers toward adolescence. In 1955 he read about the first Saginaw District Tournament which brought together the area’s top amateur golfers. He went out and purchased a second-hand set of clubs and won his first district title three years later.

He totaled five Saginaw District golf championships (1958, 1960, 1961, 1965 and 1979) and numerous other amateur titles – including club championships at Maple Hill, Rolling Green and the Saginaw Country Club. He won the Saginaw Country Club Invitational championship five times while winning countless best-ball tourneys. His titles included eight club championships at four different private clubs in Saginaw. Murphy often left competitors behind on the golf course, never giving an inch. But away from the game those who knew him say he was a nice guy.  “There is only one Stan Murphy and there will never be another like him,” longtime friend and 10-time District champ Ron Stelter said. Byron Wilson has gotten to know a man he called “one of the best amateur golfers this area has produced.” Murphy was often called a great ambassador of the game. Others called him a natural because of his ability to shoot a 72 the first time out for the season without any practice. Most people refer to Murphy as “Mr. Maple Hill.” A highlight of his later years was certainly winning the District championship at the age of 63, and the Maple Hill Labor Day Invitational Championship with Walt Van Sickle at the age of 73. Murphy died May 20, 1998 at the age of 83 and is buried at St. Andrew Cemetery.