Purvis "Jim" Ferree

1931 - 2023

Purvis "Jim" Ferree
June 10, 1931 - March 14, 2023
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina - Purvis "Jim" Jennings Ferree, Jr., lifelong professional golfer, mentor, coach to many and friend to all, died on March 14, 2023, at the age of 91.
Jim was born on June 10, 1931 in Pine Bluff, North Carolina to Purvis Jennings Ferree, Sr. and Catherine Butner Ferree. He quickly took up golf at a young age under the close instruction of his father, who was also a golf professional and longtime head pro at Old Town Club in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Jim's father set the stage for his eventual lifelong impact on the game of golf. Purvis worked at Pinehurst with the legendary golf architect Donald Ross, was appointed secretary-treasurer of the Carolina's Professional Golfers Association in 1942 where he served in that position for 24 consecutive terms, won the 1944 CPGA Carolinas Open, and was named 1969 CPGA Professional of the Year.
Jim idolized Purvis as a great player and ambassador of golf, and he inherited his father's deep-felt responsibility to respect, grow, and help others enjoy the game.
Jim played golf at Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, followed by his college career with his beloved Tar Heels at the University of North Carolina from 1951 to 1953. During Jim's time at UNC he won both the Southern Conference championship and NCAA long drive championship in 1953. He was a member of the Southern Conference 75th Anniversary team that included Arnold Palmer, Mike Hulbert, Brad Faxon and E. Harvie Ward. Jim was later selected as the first player inducted into the University of North Carolina's golf Hall of Fame in 1991.
After college, Jim served in the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Jackson, where among other duties, he served as the Fort's golf range manager and golf team leader for his Regiment. Jim was considered such an asset for intramural military golf competitions that his commanding officers refused to allow him to see battle, something that Jim always felt guilty about, and which sparked his life-long commitment to supporting, admiring and respecting America's armed service women, men and veterans.
Jim turned pro in 1955 following his service in the Army and proceeded to capture his first PGA victory at the 1958 Vancouver Open, which included a second-round, ten-under-par score of 61, and one shot victory over golf legend and longtime friend, Billy Casper (former Masters, PGA Championship, US Open, and British Open Champion). Jim's PGA career was complemented by success on the Latin America tour, winning events such as the 1961 Jamaica Open and 1962 Panama Open.
Jim's regular tour career concluded in 1966 when he became the head pro at Savannah Inn and Country Club in Savannah, Georgia, followed by his tenure at Westmoreland Country Club in Export, Pennsylvania. During his time in Pennsylvania, Jim started coaching formidable junior golfers, several of which went on to play NCAA Division 1 golf, as well as the LPGA and PGA tours, including well-known PGA Tour winner Rocco Mediate. He won several significant tournaments during his time in Pennsylvania, including two Tri-State Opens (1977/1983) and two Tri-State PGA Championships (1978/1981) which later earned Jim an induction into the Western Pennsylvania Golf Hall of Fame in 2019.
Jim's tour career found new life when he joined the Senior PGA (now Champions Tour) in the inaugural 1981 season, where he is often credited as being instrumental to the Tour's launch. Jim eventually captured two victories on the Senior PGA Tour, the 1986 Greater Grand Rapids Open and the 1991 Bell Atlantic Classic.
Thanks to his recognizable knickers, trademark hat, and signature swing, then PGA TOUR Commissioner Deane Beman chose Jim to be the model for the Senior Tour logo, providing Jim with his long-time joke that, "No matter how I play, I'm always at the top of the leaderboard."
While on the Senior Tour, Jim became the first Director of Golf at Long Cove Club in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina in 1981 and married his longtime friend and Long Cove golf pro Karen Shapiro. They welcomed their son, Randall "Randy" Purvis Ferree in 1987.
In 1998, Jim was inducted into the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame, and was joined by his wife Karen in 2014, making them the first husband and wife pair to earn the honor. Jim and Karen are also both members of the Lowcountry Golf Hall of Fame.
Jim became known for his health and longevity in the latter part of his life. His friends on tour, including PGA greats Billy Casper, Don January, Gene Littler and Miller Baber, often referred to him as "Popeye" in reference to his athletic physique and oversized forearms. Jim's physical and mental strength contributed to the Senior Tour awarding him the Ben Hogan Comeback Player of the Year Award in 1993 after he recovered from prostate cancer.
Jim built a reputation throughout the golf community as one of the best players tee to green and is continually noted by some of golf's greats as one of the best ball strikers of all time.
Outside of golf, Jim was an avid sports fan with most of his attention going towards all things UNC athletics, Pittsburgh Seelers, and the PGA Tour. He was a great admirer of nature, oftentimes finding his deepest spiritual moments in watching the wildlife around him as he played, and was the embodiment of someone who stopped to smell the roses. Jim remained committed to philanthropic causes throughout his life, most notably his support of the First Tee of the Lowcountry in his final years. Please direct any donations to the First Tee of the Lowcountry and/or Hospice of the Lowcountry.
Ferree is survived by his wife Karen, son Randy (Gabrielle), granddaughter Jennings, and sister Ann Humphrey (Hank).
For a partial list of Jim's achievements, please visit www.Keithfuneral.com.