About Ross Collins, PGA

A leader in the North Texas golf community and golf community at large, Ross Collins was president of the Texas PGA Section from 1961 to 1962, when all of Texas was one Section. The division to Northern Texas and Southern Texas Sections took place in 1968. Collins again served as President of the Northern Texas PGA in 1977.

Before his professional golf career, Collins served as athletic director and basketball coach at Arkansas A&M. As a talented amateur, he won the Arkansas Open in 1951 and claimed the Arkansas State Amateur Championship three years in a row (1951–1953). He also captured the National Lefthanders Championship four times—twice as an amateur (1950 and 1951) and twice as a professional (1966 and 1967).

In 1954, he began his career in golf as an assistant professional at Dallas Athletic Club. He then became the head professional at Lakewood Country Club from 1956 to 1964. In 1965, he was hired as the head professional at Dallas Country Club where he stayed until 1968. Collins then returned to Dallas Athletic Club in 1968 as the head professional. A role he remained in until 1980. Before he retired, he spent six years, from 1980 to 1986, at Riverhill Country Club in Kerrville.

Collins pioneered the Section’s first education programs in 1959. His influence extended beyond his own career; 17 of his former assistants went on to become PGA of America head professionals. In recognition of his commitment to teaching and mentorship, he was named the PGA of America’s Golf Professional of the Year in 1971.

In 1986, Collins retired from serving as head professional at Riverhill Country Club in Kerrville. In retirement, Collins remained passionate about the game, playing golf daily. 

Collins was born in Mingus, Texas. A natural athlete, he earned 10 varsity letters in tennis, golf, and basketball while attending North Texas State (now the University of North Texas). During World War II, he served as a carrier-based Navy pilot and was awarded the Navy Cross and three additional air medals for his valor. 



Collins was honored with inductions into the North Texas Athletic Hall of Fame, the Arkansas Golf Hall of Fame, the Texas Golf Hall of Fame (class of 1984), the inaugural class of the Garland Sports Hall of Fame, the PGA of America Hall of Fame (class of 2005) and the Combat Airman Hall of Fame (class of 2009).