(Mike Muranyi and Jim Reinhart)
Photo provided by Gary D’Amato of Wisconsin.Golf
After receiving the news in late June, it was finally time for Mike Muranyi to take his official place in the Wisconsin Golf Hall of Fame. On the evening of October 30 a group of family, friends, and several others from the golf community gathered at Milwaukee Country Club to honor Muranyi and fellow inductee Jim Reinhart.
For Muranyi the journey into the Hall of Fame was well earned both on and off the course. Elected to PGA membership in 1980, he spent nearly 30 years as the head PGA professional at Monroe Country Club. At the conclusion of 2009 he retired from the position. Around the same time he was wrapping up his career he founded the Mike Muranyi Junior Golf Foundation. The foundation has played a key role in making the game accessible to numerous junior golfers in the Monroe and Green County area.
Throughout the years Muranyi has also been active in all facets of the Wisconsin PGA. He first took on a role on the WPGA Board of Directors in 1985, and ascended to the presidency of the section in 1993. Throughout his time on the board he headed up several committees and was a key voice when it came to the section tournament program.
On the course his playing record is stacked with impressive accomplishments. Included in the list are;
- Wisconsin State Open Champion – 1983
- Wisconsin State Senior Open Champion – 2003
- WPGA Member Match Play Champion – 1998
- Wisconsin Assistant PGA Professional Championship – 1978
- Wisconsin Senior PGA Professional Championship – 2001
- Numerous Appearances at the National PGA Professional Championships
- Greater Milwaukee Open Participant – 7 Times
- Nelthorpe Cup Participant – 24 Times
When asked by Gary D’Amato and Wisconsin.Golf in June about the best moments of his career, Muranyi had this to say.
“I would think it’s staying competitive for as many years as I have,” he said. “I won the assistants championship at Milwaukee Country Club in the ‘70s. To go on and win the State Open and the (WPGA) Match Play and a bunch of tournaments and then to win the senior stuff, too, is pretty cool.”
Since 1975 when professionals were added to the list of eligible individuals the Wisconsin Golf Hall of Fame has inducted over 25 PGA members. Prior to Muranyi the most recent were Rich Tock, Ryan Helminen and David Roesch. The number of total inductees stands at ninety-eight, seventy-four of which were elected after 1975.