If you've "hit the links" in Beaver County, you undoubtedly know the name Garen Steele. He has been a great asset to the game of golf due to his tireless efforts.

Yet despite what Garen has done for golf locally, he didn't find the game until he was almost 30 years old.

A graduate of New Brighton High School in 1969 where he was a letter winner in baseball and football, Garen enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving three years with a tour in Vietnam. Upon returning to the States, he completed some credits at Kansas State University and then returned home to Beaver County's once booming steel industry. In 1982, after being laid off from Babcock & Wilcox, he interestingly turned to golf as a hobby while working part-time at several jobs to support his family. Garen quickly took to the game and the business and became the Assistant Pro to now lifelong friend and Head Pro Frank Aquino at Black Hawk Golf Course.

Garen became a PGA Professional, excelling as an instructor, a player finishing high in many Tri-State PGA events, and an overall promoter of the game of golf. Eventually becoming the Head Pro at Black Hawk, Garen has been named the Tri-State PGA Merchandiser of the Year, served as the Blackhawk High School Boys' Golf Coach, and was instrumental in bringing and teaching the First Tee Program for Youth to Black Hawk Golf Course. Garen has taught individual and group clinics for years to local golfers, and organized many successful and charitable golf events for local public and private entities.

Garen's proudest accomplishment in event planning has been the Beaver County Times/Black Hawk Golf Course Senior Tournament, which he created with the assistance of the Beaver County Times Sports Editor Ed Rose and Sports Writer Mike Bires (whom he now joins as members of the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame). The event remains one of the largest single day golf events for local senior golfers to display their talents.

After spending 27 years at Black Hawk, Garen finished his full time golf career at Shadow Lakes Country Club, retiring in 2012. He now works part-time at Stonecrest Golf Course, where he remains one of the most popular golf personalities in the area.

Garen is happily married to Sue and has two children: Dax and Shannon. He enjoys fishing and babysitting his three grandchildren: Macyn, Ren, and Corin.