(The Kentuicky Golf Foundation photo)
Princeton native Emma Talley was recognized this week as a member of the newest class of the Kentucky Golf Hall of Fame.
A special evening was held Monday, Nov. 17, at the Marriott Louisville East to celebrate individuals who have made a meaningful and lasting impact on golf in Kentucky.
The 2025 class featured Hall of Fame inductees Emma Talley, Josh Teater, Keith Ohr, PGA, and Andy Roberts, along with Distinguished Service Award honorees Barbara Peak and Tim Reeves, PGA. The event highlighted exceptional accomplishments, character, and dedication that continue to shape and strengthen the golf community across the Commonwealth.
Talley has built a legacy defined by excellence, integrity, and inspiration. Her journey through the game of golf is marked by historic achievements, national titles, and a deep commitment to giving back.
Talley’s amateur career is one of the most decorated in Kentucky history. She is a three-time KHSAA Individual State Champion (2008, 2010, 2011), 2013 U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion, and 2015 NCAA Division I Individual Champion while playing for the University of Alabama. She is one of only six women to ever win both the U.S. Women’s Amateur and the NCAA Individual Championship.
After turning professional in 2017, Talley joined the LPGA Tour, where she has earned over $1.4 million and competed at the highest level globally. Her career includes appearances in the Junior Ryder Cup, Junior Solheim Cup, Junior World Am, the Curtis Cup and numerous LPGA events.
Yet Talley’s impact goes far beyond trophies and scorecards. She is celebrated for her sportsmanship, most notably self-disqualifying from a high school state tournament due to a scoring error while still in a winning position. That moment exemplifies her integrity and character.
Talley has continued to give back to the game through her work as a broadcaster with ESPN+ Golf, as an ambassador for Girls Golf, and by joining the Western Kentucky University Women’s Golf coaching staff in 2024. Her charitable work includes partnering with Golf Fore Africa, helping raise funds for clean water initiatives in underserved communities.
(Information from a release by The Kentucky Golf Foundation)
