Malay inducted into Idaho Golf Hall of Fame in Boise

 The Sky Center, which sits high above Albertson Stadium on the BSU campus, also houses, among other venues, the press/media facility for BSU home football games.

 The inaugural Class of 2024 included Malay, Wayne Berry, Karen Darrington, Shirley Englehorn, Arnold Haneke, Scott Masingill and Jean Lane Smith.

 All inductees were chosen for their contributions to the sport of golf in Idaho.

 “This night has been many years in the making. On March 20, 2021, the IGA (Idaho Golf Association) brought forth a motion to create a golf hall of fame for the state of Idaho that would serve to celebrate and bring awareness of players, professionals, administrators, ambassadors, volunteers and other worthy golfers who have served the game in Idaho in a positive and meaningful way,” IGA Executive Director Caleb Cox said, in part, addressing a crowd of roughly 150 guests at the posh event. 

 “We are here to celebrate seven worthy golfers, their impact on the game that we all love, and their commitment to golf here in Idaho cannot be understated.”

 Former KTVB television sports and news anchor Mark Johnson introduced the inductees followed by videos of friends, teammates and others who expressed their thoughts about the players.

 When it came to Malay, however, Johnson especially praised his long-time friend before surrendering the microphone to him.

 “He’s not only had a number of titles and much success on golf courses and tournaments around the state and around the region, including playing on not one, but 50 different cup teams, but he will tell you that of all of his accomplishments on the course, his number one most prized accomplishment is being the founding father of the Idaho Junior Golf Foundation,” Johnson said, addressing the large crowd. 

 “Weiser is known for two things: it is known around the world as the Fiddle Festival Capital and as the hometown … of the 15-time cover boy for Northwest Pacific Golf Magazine and a friend to all golfers of all ages around the state of Idaho … I am happy and proud that my friend Joe Malay is an inductee.”

 Guests rose to their feet in spirited ovation of Malay who ultimately stole the microphone from Johnson to express some of his thoughts.

 “You can just sit down, I’ve got this,” Malay said, joking with Johnson and offering his thoughts and a few anecdotes on each of the other inductees as he walked through the crowd, heckling some of his friends as he went.

 Among his many accomplishments, Malay has held the course record at Rolling Hills Golf Course in Weiser for more than 40 years and has won the club championship 41 times. When necessary, he even jumps on the lawn mower to help out.

 Malay graduated from Weiser High School in 1967 and attended Kansas City Community College where he played on the golf team for a year before signing up for the U.S. Marine Corps in 1968.

 He received an honorable discharge in 1969 and returned to Weiser where he, “hung around, played golf and had no real plans.”

 Malay is routinely asked to emcee a variety of events due to his extroverted and humorous demeanor and can often be seen around town wearing a different colorful, eclectic outfit, drawing plenty of attention from those who know him and those who might not.

 He has helped organize many putting contests and still participates in golf tournaments.

 Malay helped found the Idaho Junior Golf Foundation in 1997, a nonprofit that provides essential funding to programs such as the Idaho Junior Tour, First Tee Idaho and sends Idaho juniors to college on the foundation’s Cody Hayes Scholarship.

 Every year, Malay hosts a putting competition and raffle at the Idaho Junior Amateur Championship for all players.

 During winter, when golf is finished for the season, he organizes the Ho-Ho Express, which has raised more than a quarter million dollars for underprivileged youth in the Weiser/Payette area. 

 He founded the charity and has run the event for more than 34 years along with Steve Dominguez of Steves Hometown Dealerships.

 In 2021, locals nominated the Ho-Ho Express for a national competition put on by Walmart to profile local charities. He won the competition, with Walmart sending a camera crew to film a commercial, which aired in all 50 states over the holiday season.

 In 2019, the IGA’s Senior Amateur Championship trophy was named in Malay’s honor.

 “It was really a wonderful event Friday,” he told the Signal American over the weekend. “It was truly an honor to be included in the inaugural Idaho Hall of Fame class and it’s something I’ll always remember. I’m very grateful to all the people who organized this event.”