Standard Golf Tour

Sep 11, 2024

Standard Golf Company was founded in 1910 by Walter K. Voorhees and four other local businessmen. The company, originally called Standard Manufacturing Company, produced steel farm gates. In its early days, the company expanded its farm gate line to include ornamental gates and wagon tongues. Later, a diverse range of products including cistern covers, street signs, boat docks, automatic hog waterers and furnace humidifiers were also produced.

Walter Voorhees was a member of the Cedar Falls Park Board when the Washington Park Golf Course was built in 1921.  At that time, no company offered a complete, standardized line of golf course equipment.  So in 1926, Voorhees decided to add golf course equipment to Standard’s product line.  “The idea struck me” he said, “that here was a new field for an alert manufacturer.  Why not develop a complete line of needs in this field, a standard line. Why not develop a product so good that it would be in demand all over the United States.”

Over the years, golf course equipment became an increasingly important part of Standard’s business.  In 1971, the last of the agricultural and miscellaneous lines of business were sold, and in 1974, the company changed its name to Standard Golf Company.  Today, Standard is the world’s leading producer of golf course accessories. Its products are sold by over 250 distributors on six continents.

Walter K. Voorhees served as President and General Manager from 1910 until his retirement in 1956.  At that time, his sons, Robert W. Voorhees and Maynard K. Voorhees, became President and Vice President respectively.  Peter E. Voorhees, who is the son of Robert Voorhees, served as president from 1982 until 2021, and continues to serve as board chairman.  Sara Gregory, Robert Voorhees’ daughter, joined the company in 1982, and served as Vice President until her retirement in 2002.  In 2017, an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) was established, thus making the company 100% employee owned.  The current officers of the company are Scott Hottle, President and CEO; Matt Pauli, Vice President; Ionela Verzescu, Secretary; and Roxanne March, Treasurer and CFO.

A Sample of the products

2627 Center Street

Cedar Falls, Iowa

Scott Hottle, President and CEO

Dinner includes:

• Dinner roll,
• water, soda pop, coffee or tea,
• Salad with French or Ranch Dressing
• Pork Chop
• Baked potato
• Green beans
• Tapioca pudding

6620 Nordic Drive

Cedar Falls, Iowa