Southern California junior golf pioneer Len Kennett dies at 98

Kennett’s career in golf spanned more than five decades, earning him a place among the most revered figures in the Southern California golf community.

His journey began at Santa Anita Golf Course as a caddie, where his early passion for the sport flourished. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and winning the 1950 Southern California Intercollegiate Championship while at USC, he turned professional in 1953.

Kennett made a lasting impact on the Southern California PGA, both as a skilled competitor and a devoted mentor. He served as head professional at San Gabriel Country Club, Los Verdes Golf Club, and Lakewood Country Club, helping shape generations of golfers.

The starting point for Kennett’s contributions to junior golf was when he met fellow Southern California Professional Golfers’ Association Hall of Famer Paul Runyan, who invited him to team up and offer kids free golf lessons.

A love for inspiring the youth was born, and from it came one of Kennett’s lasting contributions to the sport.

In 1955, he founded the Len Kennett Junior Golf Championship, a free annual event that became a cherished tradition for young players across the region. Through his reach in the tournament, he became a well-respected mentor and teacher of the game in the area.

“He was a world-class golf professional,” longtime friend Jorge Badel said in an email. “He was laser-focused on improving your life through the game, be it free lessons for juniors, fitting you for golf equipment, golf tournaments for all, kids, women, seniors, professionals, or novices. He didn’t characterize or judge; you mattered, period.”

He’s a member of the SCPGA Hall of Fame and Long Beach Golf Hall of Fame as well.

His impact was further felt through his company, “People to People”—a U.S. government-sanctioned program promoting goodwill through golf. Kennett and his wife, Marie, hosted and led golf trips around the planet, with the goal of connecting people through the sport. They traveled to over 40 different countries.

“For those of us who were fortunate to work for him, Len gathered us under his umbrella, he pushed us, nurtured us, trained us, loved us, shaped us, humbled us, promoted us, and pushed us some more,” Badel said. “He helped us understand our potential, how to go beyond what we thought possible, and how to think about always raising the bar.”