Hall of Fame inductees Langford, McCrate watched and learned from the best

February 19, 2025February 21, 2025 Ken MacLeod

By Ken MacLeod

It’s little wonder Dan Langford Jr. is being inducted into the South Central PGA Hall of Fame, he’s spent his career learning from and sharing his knowledge with other Hall of Fame professionals, including his fellow inductee the late Pat McCrate. (Read much more about Pat and the reaction of his fellow pros to his untimely passing at age 56 in late 2023 here.)

Both were assistants to the legendary Hall of Famer Jerry Jones at LaFortune Park in Tulsa. While McCrate purchased Jones’ business and went on to manage the Tulsa County Courses until his passing in 2023, Langford took a different path in Oklahoma City

He worked for Hall of Famer Alsie Hyden at Lake Hefner from 1983-1990, then became the head professional at Trosper Park from 1990-96. For the past 29 years he has run Earlywine Golf Course. In his time he learned from two legends at Lincoln Park, both U.C. Ferguson and Steve Carson. And previous to all that were the lessons he learned from his Hall of Fame father Dan Langford Sr., the head professional at Oakwood Country Club in Enid from 1951-80.

Dan Langford Sr., longtime head professional at Oakwood Country Club in Enid, was Dan’s first teacher.

“Dick Middleton (owner of Texoma Golf) used to say I had a doctorate degree in golf,” Langford said. “I was fortunate to have the influence of Jerry Jones. Alsie taught me about customer service and relationships and how it’s a business of relationships. My dad and uncle both caddied at Lincoln Park as kids and U.C. was their caddie master. I was basically born into the game and surrounded by it and it’s been a lovely life and career in the game of golf.”

Pat McCrate with daughters Molly and Maddie and parents Marie and Dennis McCrate

Langford has been one of the cornerstones of the Oklahoma City public golf courses known far and wide for providing excellent course conditions at a more than reasonable price, and full service in all areas, thanks in large part to the support of the Oklahoma City Golf Commission and city leaders. Now he is the receipient of the system’s latest major capital improvement project, a glorious new clubhouse and restaurant along with improvements to the driving range.

“The highlight of my career has been the golf professionals I’ve gotten to know and learn from,” Langford said. “When you go watch a Buddy Phillips do merchandising, or how Cary Cozby runs a tournament, you cant help but learn. Alsie Hyden, Steve Carson, Jerry Jones, Tim Fleming, those are the guys that made me a better pro. I always wanted to do it the right way and if you paid attention to these guys you couldn’t help but get better.”

Langford had long conversations with fellow inductee McCrate about every aspect of running a full service golf operation.

Dan Langford Jr. in the new clubhouse at Earlywine.

“Pat and I used to talk all the time,” Langford said. “He was a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat and I might have been a little right of that, but he was like me in that you watched how other people did things and you knew you always wanted to imitate the best. What all these great golf professionals had in common was that they were great teachers, not of just the golf game, but teachers to their assistants and to the people around them.”

McCrate and Langford will be honored Sunday night at the South Central Section’s Awards dinner at the Hard Rock Hotel in Catoosa. Pat’s award will be accepted by daughters Maddie and Molly.

McCrate was hailed not only for making LaFortune Park and South Lakes full service centers of their communities, but for his astute business knowledge. The pro shop at LaFortune Park consistently won recognition for being one of the best in the nation and he was constantly striving to improve.

“Pat was a shrewd businessman with a great sense of humor,” said 2024 Section Professional of the Year Corey Burd of Bailey Ranch in Owasso. “He would call me and rip me and say, ‘are you just giving it away out there at Bailey Ranch.’ But he was great. I could stop by any time, sit down in his office and he would make time and bounce ideas around. He was just a fantastic businessman as well as a great golf professional.”

McCrate purchased the contract to run LaFortune Park and South Lakes from Jones in 2001 after receiving approval in a separate contract with Tulsa County. They were consistently two of the state’s most successful municipal courses.