Class of 2022

Gordon Johnson

Golf Professional / Teacher

Biography

Elected to PGA membership in 1986, Gordon Johnson has served the state of Texas almost his entire career. Assistant professional jobs at River Oaks and Oak Hills, led to a PGA Head Golf Professional role at New Orleans Country Club. From there Johnson became the PGA Head Golf Professional at Preston Trail Golf Club in Dallas from 1992 until 1999. Since 2000 Gordon has called Houston Country Club home, as its PGA Head Golf Professional.

During his PGA tenure, Johnson has mentored 17 fellow golf professionals to head golf professional roles, played in eight Texas Joe Black Cup Matches (serving as a captain in 2010), competed in the 1990 US Open and the 1992 PGA Championship as a Club Professional. He has also qualified for 15 National Club Professional Championships.

He has received numerous honors including 1995 Merchandiser of the Year (Northern Texas Section), 2008 Merchandiser of the Year (Southern Texas Section), 2009 Bill Strausbaugh Award (Southern Texas Section), and 2013 Golf Professional of the Year (Southern Texas Section). Johnson’s service includes the STPGA Board of Directors, the Ronald McDonald Golf Tournament Board of Directors, and board member of the Will Erwin Headache Foundation golf event.

Legacy Video

Drive for Show and Putt-Putt for Dough

Johnson and his father both began playing when Gordon was eight years old living in Worcester, Mass. However, the duo didn’t start at a country club, or even a municipal course. Instead, they started playing nightly at a miniature golf course and driving range while waiting to pick up his mother from her job. He went on to play collegiately at the University of Alabama, where following his freshman year he earned a partial scholarship, and ultimately became team captain and earned a full scholarship his senior year.

Perfect Harmon-y

Following college, Johnson had an employment opportunity at venerable Oak Hill Country Club in New York in 1978. There, he worked for Craig Harmon, who was widely regarded as one of the nation's top 50 teaching pros, and became a personal assistant for renowned golfer and instructor Claude Harmon, the 1948 Masters Tournament champion. He later served as an assistant under Texas Golf Hall of Fame Member Dick Harmon at River Oaks Country Club in Houston. The Harmon family had such a profound impact on Johnson’s life that he named his son Craig.

A Pro’s Pro

During his tenure as a PGA professional, Johnson has mentored 17 assistant golf pros who have gone on to become head golf professionals. Johnson has been a head professional in the state of Texas for three decades, first at Preston Trail Golf Club in Dallas (1992-99) and ever since at Houston Country Club. He has played in eight Joe Black Cup matches, and served as a captain in 2010. Johnson played in the 1990 U.S. Open and the 1992 PGA Championship as a club professional, and also has qualified for 15 National Club Professional Championships.

Keepsake: A Ryder Cup to Remember

Johnson befriended Texas Golf Hall of Fame Member Lanny Wadkins during his time at Preston Trail Golf Club. Johnson helped organize a group of more than 100 club members to fly to Rochester, N.Y., to attend the 1995 Ryder Cup at his former club, Oak Hill. Prior to the start of the event, Wadkins realized he needed more help tracking the results, so he offered Johnson the chance to serve as an assistant captain. Therefore, Johnson was inside the ropes during the epic battle between the United States and Europe ultimately won by the Europeans, 14.5-13.5, in comeback fashion.

Keepsake: Augusta National Shadowbox

Some aces are better than others.

Keepsake: The President and the Cowboy

Sometimes the game brings together the most interesting people...

Deep Dive Interview

More fun stories from longtime PGA Professional Gordon Johnson.

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Gordon Johnson - Raised

Deep Dive Video Interview