Steve Howe - PGA Professional

Steve has been a PGA member for more than a quarter of a century.  His golf career came from humble beginnings:  at the age of eleven, he was responsible for raking all of the bunkers on three holes in exchange for playing privileges; from the ages of thirteen to sixteen he caddied; and at the age of 18 through his college years, he worked on the Hiawatha GC golf staff.  

After a second place finish at the High School State Tournament in 1968, University of Minnesota Coach, Les Bolstad, offered Steve a spot on his roster.  At the age of 19, Steve qualified for the USGA Public Links National Tournament at Coffin Memorial Golf Course in Indianapolis.  Steve and his teammates at the University of Minnesota won the Big Ten Championship in 1971. 

In March of 1973, Steve moved to the Fox Cities to begin his apprenticeship in the PGA at Butte Des Morts CC. During his apprenticeship, he won three assistant stroke play events.  In 1977, he was offered the job as the head professional at Ridgeway CC.  Steve’s twenty-five year career at Ridgeway was marked by many competitive accomplishments as well as contributions to golf throughout the State of Wisconsin.  A fine player, Steve made the Nelthorpe Cup team 16 years in a row, seven times qualified to play in the GMO, played in the Wisconsin State Open each year from 1977 until 1997, won numerous PGA Stroke Play events, won the NEWGA Open seven times, qualified for 16 National Club Professional Championships and 3 Senior National Club Professional Championships and was The 1983 Wisconsin Section PGA Champion. 

Always a contributor to golf, Steve was on the executive committee of the Wisconsin PGA from 1980 until 1988.  During his tenure, he started the Jim McNicoll pro-am at Ridgeway – for fifteen years, it was the hallmark kickoff event for Wisconsin professionals and their members.  It was also under his direction that the first Section sponsored pro-am in Las Vegas was held.  Many other PGA Sections would follow the Wisconsin lead.  Always a leader and a fine businessman, Steve was recognized by his peers on many occasions:   1986 PGA Professional of the Year, 1987 Junior Leader of the Year, 1989 and 1991 Merchandiser of the Year.  The High School Coaches Association twice recognized him as “Junior Leader of the Year” for Wisconsin.  In 1986 he was named NEWGA Man of the Year.  A community leader as well, Steve served on the Menasha Joint School District Board of Education from 1989 until 2002, the last three years as president. 

In 2002, with his wife Carolyn, Steve helped start Swing Solutions.  As a favor to a friend, he subbed in as the golf coach at Xavier High School in 2003, eight conference titles, and one State Championship later, Steve is the longest acting sub in Xavier High School history!  Steve is the head coach for both the Xavier boys’ and girls’ programs.  He imparts his love of golf through coaching and teaching.