WATERLOO TECHNICAL SOCIETY

September 11, 2024

Standard Golf Tour 

Speaker: Scott Hottle, President and CEO

Following dinner, we travel to Standard Golf, 6620 Nordic Drive, Cedar Falls for a tour. 

Description:  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

Reservations: reservations@waterlootechnicalsociety.org, by 11am Monday, September 9th

Social period: 5:30 P.M, September 11, 2024, Dinner: 6:00 P.M.

Presentation: Tour at Standard Golf, 6620 Nordic Drive, Cedar Falls following the dinner.

Program Chair: Steve Crouse

Guests are always welcome. We need your reservation to enable us to have a name tag for you as well as to send you a reminder in email. 

You are welcome to make a reservation for dinner or just come for the program. A program-only reservation is appreciated for a head count.