Hall of Famer. Period.
Las Vegas PGA of America Professional Joe Kelly Is in Not One, Not Two, Not Three …
Story by Brian Hurlburt
Most would judge any career or life journey successful with induction into one Hall of Fame. For Joe Kelly, his journey through Las Vegas golf has culminated with inclusion in four halls of fame.
In 2026, Kelly earned induction into the Southwest Section PGA Hall of Fame during a ceremony in Arizona. He became the first Southern Nevada professional to be honored since his good friend, Jerry Roberts.
Kelly is also a member of the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame, Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame, and the Callaway Golf Club Professional Hall of Fame. “It’s a major honor to be involved in that, and especially to be only the second person in 40 years from Las Vegas to receive the honor,” he says. “After 50 years in golf in Las Vegas, it’s a great honor to be nominated and voted in unanimously by my peers in the Southwest Section. I am so appreciative because I have dedicated my life to the sport. This is the highest level I’ve achieved, and I don’t take it lightly.”
Kelly, originally from Utah before fate brought him to Las Vegas and the old Desert Inn Country Club, remains active and serves as Director of Golf at the historic Las Vegas National Golf Club. It is fitting that he serves as a steward of the course that opened in 1961, hosted an LPGA major championship, and was one of the courses used when Tiger Woods earned his first PGA TOUR victory. Woods won the 1996 Las Vegas Invitational.
The rest, for Tiger and Kelly, as they say, is history.
“I do this for the love of the game, and I still love going to work,” Kelly says. “I love being around golf. It’s been my dream since I was 12 years old to be a golf professional, and I’ll continue to work and do this because it’s my passion.”
Las Vegas National Golf Club, which originally opened as Stardust Country Club, is home to the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame exhibit. Kelly enjoys watching people from all over the world tour the exhibit and is always willing to share a story.
He also hopes he has led by example for other professionals to become involved in the community at every level, from junior golf to countless other opportunities to make an impact. He regularly speaks to UNLV PGA students. “Never stop giving and never stop being involved is what I tell younger professionals. We are making a difference in the golf community and in the sport that we all love and can play our entire lives. If you’re involved in golf, be involved 100 percent. Never, ever stop.
“Golf in Las Vegas is a close-knit community, and it’s very important to the city. It’s important to the locals and to tourism. I love being in Las Vegas, and I’ve loved my career of making a difference, especially in junior golf. To see these young kids over the last 50 years grow up to become great citizens across Las Vegas and throughout the nation is very special.”
About Las Vegas National
“The National” has a long and storied history in the Las Vegas Valley. Shortly after opening in 1961, the facility, then the Stardust Country Club, hosted its first professional golf event, the LPGA Championship. From that point forward, history was made. The layout, designed by Bert Stamps, remains a traditional and challenging test of golf. Over the decades, The National has become a Las Vegas landmark. It was featured in the movie Casino, starring Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, and Joe Pesci. Former Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman also made a cameo appearance. The house used in the movie still sits to the left of the first tee, between the first and 18th fairways.
During the 1960s, The National played host to many of the biggest names on the Las Vegas Strip. Members of the Rat Pack frequently played golf before spending time in the clubhouse. While all four became accomplished golfers, it was widely known that Dean Martin and Peter Lawford were the players to beat. Locals still tell stories of late-night matches played under the glow of the driving range lights. Many evenings featured Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Peter Lawford, Joey Bishop, and Sammy Davis Jr. gathered around the piano, entertaining guests with songs, stories, and laughter.
Through the years, The National has had several owners and names. Originally called Stardust Country Club, the facility was owned by the Stardust Hotel and Casino and opened for play in October 1961. In 1969, Del Webb Corporation acquired the club and renamed it Sahara-Nevada Country Club. The name remained until 1982, when American Golf Corporation purchased the facility and changed the name to Sahara Country Club.
In 1994, a partnership was formed between American Golf and the Las Vegas Hilton, and the course became Las Vegas Hilton Country Club. In 1998, the name changed once again to the current Las Vegas National Golf Club. In 2008, the club was sold by American Golf to a partnership, and management of the course was awarded to Harrah’s Golf Management Group.
The National has hosted numerous professional tournaments, beginning with the LPGA Championship in 1961. The final LPGA event was played in 1966. The PGA Tour arrived in 1967 with the Tournament of Champions. From 1969 through 1976, the event continued as the Sahara Invitational.
