On Friday, November 17, 2006, the Florida State Golf Association inducted Gary Koch into its prestigious Hall of Fame. The ceremony was held at Palma Ceia Country Club, in Tampa, in conjunction with the Annual Dinner.
Gary Koch began his golf career early on in 1969 winning the Florida Open at the age of 16. That same year, he was on the winning Florida high school title team 
that set a scoring record that stood for thirty years. From 1968-1970, Gary won three straight Florida Junior Championships and won the US Junior Championship in 1970. He then captured the Florida Amateur in 1972 and went on to the University of Florida where he was a four-team first team All-Southeastern Conference selection, a three-time first team All American, and a member of the 1973 NCAA Championship team. Additionally, he was a part of the 1973 and 1975 winning Walker Cup teams. He graduated in 1974 with a degree in public relations.
In 1975, Gary joined the PGA Tour and won six events over 15 years, along with 55 top 10 finishes. Now on the Champions Tour and part of the NBC Golf announcer and analyst team, Gary also keeps busy with his golf course design and development business. He helped design the front nine of "The Forest" course at The Eagles Golf Course in Odessa, Florida. In 1992, the Governor of Florida named him the "Ambassador of Golf."
Gary currently resides in Tampa with his wife Donna. His name continues to make impacts on amateur golfers as he sponsors an annual Pro-Am at Old Memorial Golf Club in Tampa and a collegiate tournament hosted by University of Kentucky and Auburn University. Many well-known professionals, as well as aspiring amateurs, still know the effect that Gary Koch has had on the game of golf.
