Two prominent figures in Idaho’s amateur golf scene, Scott Masingill and Joe Malay, have left a unique legacy based on their long-standing dedication to the game and their strong ties to their hometowns, Payette and Weiser, respectively.
For many years, Scott Masingill has been associated with golf in Idaho. He was born into a family that was involved in the creation of Payette’s Scotch Pines Golf Course. Masingill began his career in 1962, when the course was still known as Payette Golf Course, and went on to have a renowned amateur career. His accomplishments span four decades and include nine Idaho Men’s Amateur titles. Even in his seventies, he is still a powerful force on the course, having won his first championship in 1972.
Despite his initial success in a variety of sports, including baseball, Masingill eventually turned to golf as his career. His hometown baseball icon, Harman Killebrew, even advised him to concentrate on golf because of his thin build, a suggestion that certainly paid off. Masingill competed for Oregon State University, which defeated Tom Watson and Craig Stadler to win the PAC-8 title in 1971.
Masingill had a great time on the Champions Tour after going pro at the age of fifty. But amateur golf, where he connected with players from all walks of life—physicians, educators, and regular people who shared his passion—will always hold a special place in his heart. In 2019, the Idaho Golf Association honored him by naming the Men’s Amateur Championship trophy the Scott Masingill Cup, a fitting tribute to his enduring legacy.
Like Masingill, Joe Malay has dedicated his life to promoting golf in Weiser, and his influence goes well beyond his on-course accomplishments. Malay, who graduated from Weiser High School in 1967, is well-known for his unwavering dedication to giving back to the sport and his community in addition to his fierce competitiveness.
Malay has won the club championship an incredible 41 times and held the Rolling Hills Golf Course course record for more than 40 years. Although he has won the Idaho State Four-Ball seven times and qualified for eight USGA Public Links Championships, his career is defined by his charitable efforts and contributions to young golf.
In 1997, he co-founded the Idaho Junior Golf Foundation, which provides funding for initiatives like First Tee Idaho and the Idaho Junior Tour. Malay is also the inspiration behind “Santa’s Ho-Ho Express,” a holiday charity that has raised more than $250,000 for children in the Weiser and Annex (Oregon) regions. His dedication to junior golf is matched only by his commitment to his community, where he’s seen as a local hero.
In 2019, the IGA named the Senior Amateur Championship trophy in his honor, cementing Malay’s place as one of Idaho’s greatest ambassadors for the sport.
In addition to their shared passion for golf, Masingill and Malay are bonded by their commitment to their communities and to developing the next generation of golfers. Their influence on golf in Idaho is demonstrated by the fact that both have trophies named after them. In addition to their victories, Payette and Weiser’s names continue to endure because of the love and dedication they put into the game.
