Class of 1991

Hal Underwood

Amateur Player

This Exhibit is Generously Sponsored by the Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation

Biography

A Del Rio native, Hal Underwood was introduced to golf while visiting his sister one summer in Oregon. Hal's brother-in-law, who worked at a local course, took him out to play. What began as a casual introduction quickly became a lifelong passion. By the 1960s, Underwood was making his mark on collegiate golf, earning First-Team All-American honors at the University of Houston in both 1967 and 1968.

Underwood’s collegiate record was impressive. He finished runner-up in the 1968 NCAA Championship, after placing fifth in 1966 and eighth in 1967. During that same period, he captured multiple prestigious amateur titles, including back-to-back wins at the All-American Intercollegiate (1967–68), as well as victories at the Border Olympics, the Morris Williams Tournament, and the Eastern and Trans-Mississippi Championships in 1967.

Leaving the University of Houston just 13 hours shy of his degree, Underwood turned professional in 1969. His international success included victories at the 1975 Portuguese Open and two Australian Tour titles, the Otago Golf Classic and the Queensland Open, in 1977. He also came within a shot of victory at the 1971 Jacksonville Open, finishing second after a playoff with Gary Player.

Today, Underwood shares his deep knowledge of the game as a respected teaching professional at Kingwood Country Club, just north of Houston, Texas.

Birthplace: Ballinger, Texas

Born: November 9, 1945

Legacy Video

Inductee Highlights

1966 and 1968 State Amateur Champion
1966, 1967 and 1968 - National Championship Teams - University of Houston
1967 and 1968 All-American - University of Houston
1967 Eastern Amateur Champion
1967 Trans-Miss Champion
Two-time winner on the PGA Australian Tour
1975 Portuguese Open Champion

Two Time All-American

Hal Underwood made a lasting impact at the University of Houston, where he was a two-time All-American. He played a key role in Houston’s 1967 NCAA national championship team and individually finished runner-up at the 1968 NCAA Championship, cementing his legacy as one of the Cougars’ elite performers.

From Del Rio to Two Time State Champion

Hal Underwood grew up in Del Rio, Texas, a town with only one 9-hole golf course, designed by legendary Texas golf architect and Texas Golf Hall of Fame Member, John Bredemus. While in high school, he competed twice in the State Junior Championship at Brackenridge Park, gaining valuable experience against the state’s top young golfers. He ultimately won the State Amateur Championship in 1966 and 1968. He practiced and competed alongside at least five other strong players from his hometown, which helped sharpen his skills and laid the foundation for his later success at the University of Houston.

U of H Hall of Honor Keepsake

During his Cougar career, Hal Underwood helped lead the program to back‑to‑back NCAA team titles in 1966 and 1967, earned first‑team All‑American honors in 1967 and 1968, and placed second in the 1968 NCAA individual championship.

His induction into the Hall of Honor recognizes those who have gone “above and beyond” in their achievements for UH Athletics, a fitting tribute to Underwood’s collegiate excellence