Stan Utley (Photo: Missouri Golf)
West Plains native Stan Utley has been inducted into the Missouri Golf Hall of Fame, recognizing his accomplishments as a professional golfer, instructor and advocate for junior golf.
Missouri Golf announced the induction October 26, 2026, honoring a career that began in Missouri junior golf and included success at the collegiate and professional levels. Utley was an All-State golfer at West Plains High School in 1980 before competing in five consecutive Missouri Amateur Championships from 1980 through 1984. He later helped the University of Missouri win the 1984 Big Eight Conference Championship and earned two All-American honors during his college career.
Utley turned professional after college, winning the Kansas Open in 1986 and consecutive Missouri Open titles in 1988 and 1989. He also won the 1989 Chattanooga Classic on the PGA Tour and recorded three victories on the Nike Tour. He later built a reputation as one of golf’s leading short-game instructors, working with PGA Tour professionals and major championship winners. His 2006 book, The Art of Putting, became a bestselling instructional golf book.
Utley’s connection to Missouri golf continues through his commitment to developing young players. Missouri Golf renamed its Missouri Junior Tour the Stan Utley Junior Tour in 2026 to recognize his accomplishments and support for the next generation of golfers. Utley said his own experiences in Missouri junior golf helped him learn how to compete and handle adversity, adding that he wants young golfers across the state to have the same opportunities he had.
