A 13-time winner of the Muskegon District Amateur Golf Tournament, Cliff Taylor dominated the local golf for 40 years. In 1950, at the age of 22, Taylor fired a two-round 146 for his first district crown. The Spring Lake resident added a second title in the spring of 1957. A two-round sudden death victory in the 1960 tournament was the beginning of a seven-year championship run by Taylor. Among the consecutive crowns was a record-breaking four-under par 140 in 1965. A victory in 1968 pushed his total to 10 district titles in the 20-year history of the event. Two-stroke victories in 1976 and in 1978 boosted Taylor’s total to 12 districts. From that point on, he began concentrating on the senior amateur tournaments, having turned 50 in 1978.

In 1983, Taylor missed the U.S. Senior Amateur by one stroke. He advanced to the final eight in 1984. In 1985, he reached the semifinal round. That accomplishment gave him a spot in the United States Golf Association’s 1986 U.S. Senior Open in Columbus, Ohio. With a two-round score of 153, Taylor advanced to the final two rounds. He also has competed in the British Senior Amateur Tournament and the U.S. Senior Amateur.

In 1991, Taylor returned to win his 13th district title against a field crowded with younger players. The 63-year old emerged with a one-over-par 145 to win the event. Later that year, the Golf Association of Michigan named him to the first Senior Honor Roll.