An extensive list of achievements in the game of golf has
earned Mike Bell the honor of Indiana Golf Hall of Fame member. He was
inducted on November 20, 2009, at his home club, the Country Club of Indianapolis
in front of friends and family.
accolades date back to 1965 when he was the recipient of the coveted Evans
Scholarship from the Western Golf Association for his caddy and academic
achievements. He went on to serve on the WGA Evans Scholarship selection
committee, one of many ways he has given back to the game. Other ways include
devoting time to the CCI Board of Directors, Indiana Golf Foundation Board of
Directors and acting as Caddy Chairman for the US Women’s Open held at CCI in
1978. In 2002-03, Bell served as President of the Indiana Golf Association
Board of Directors after years as a Director and Officer.
Whether serving as a board member or participating as a
player, Bell’s involvement with the IGA goes back decades. In 1973 he was victorious
at the Four Man Team and in 1977 he won the Four Ball Championship. Three other
Four Man Team titles followed in 1984, 1985 and 1996. In 1999 and 2004, he took
the Mid Amateur Team Championship, and in 2002 won the Indiana PGA Senior Pro
Am. Individually, he claimed the Senior Open Championship in 1999, Senior
Amateur Championship in 2006, and Senior Match Play and Mid Amateur
Championships in 2005. At the closing tournament to the 2006 IGA season, the
H.H. Gregg Indiana Golf Championships, he placed first in the senior division.
Bell’s competitive success earned him a spot on the IGA Challenge Cup team an
impressive 24 times. It also made him the Senior Player of the Year in 2005 and
2006.
His success spilled over into non-IGA events in Indiana as
well. The Country Club of Indianapolis’ Club Championship title has gone to
Hills Golf Club awarded him victories at the Mid Am Invitational in 1993 and
Senior Championship in 2003 and 2004. He succeeded at the Pete Dye Cup as the
Senior Champion in 1999, as well as at the Leer Cup Senior Champion the same
year. Additionally, from 1973 to 1988, Bell won the Indianapolis Spring Four
Ball seven times.
On the national scene,
is familiar with the top of the leader board as well. Perhaps his greatest
achievement in golf was winning the 2006 USGA Senior Amateur Championship at
Victoria National in his home state. He qualified for the Championship in 2005
as well, but it was his showing in
that placed him in the class of USGA champions. Other USGA championships he has
competed in include the 1999, 2003 and 2006 Senior Open, 1988 and 1999 Mid
Amateur Championship, and the 2001 State Team Championship. Non-USGA events
where he left with victories include the Sarasota City Senior Amateur from 2000
through 2002 and the Gator Creek Club Championship three times.
The
2006 season included many triumphs for Bell that led to Golfweek naming him the National Senior Amateur Player of the Year.
In addition to the US Senior Am, he was the senior champion at the Porter Cup,
Lupton Cup, Adams Golf Senior Championship, Gasparilla Senior Invitational, Golfweek
Senior Amateur Championship, and Riverwood Invitational.
For his numerous golfing accomplishments both on the course
and as a volunteer,
has earned his spot as the 88th inductee into the Indiana Golf Hall of Fame.