06/18/2026
Karen Ferree: A Full Circle Midland Valley Story
This Throwback Thursday, we’re looking at the story of Karen Ferree, formerly Karen Shapiro, an Augusta golfer whose journey in the game began right here at Midland Valley.
Karen’s connection to Midland Valley goes all the way back to her teenage years. Her father, Harold Shapiro, owner of Hartley’s Uniform Shop in Augusta, was both a well-known local businessman and a member here. Karen played out of Midland Valley as one of the area’s rising junior golfers. In 1967, she made headlines by winning the Carolinas Junior Girls Championship, an early sign of the talent and competitive spirit that would define her golf career for decades.
As her golf life continued, Karen’s story eventually crossed with another familiar name in Midland Valley history: Jim Ferree. Jim was already known throughout the golf world, but their story was not just about his career. Karen was a talented golfer and golf professional in her own right, and the two were connected through the same game that shaped both of their lives. Sources describe Karen as Jim’s longtime friend before they married, and together they built a life centered around golf, family, teaching, and giving back to the game.
Their shared story became closely tied to Long Cove Club in Hilton Head, where Jim served as the first director of golf and Karen became part of the professional golf world as well. She became one of South Carolina’s early female club professionals and later served as head pro at Long Cove. Together, Jim and Karen became a true golf couple—not just because they both played the game, but because they both helped grow it.
Karen’s own playing résumé is incredible. Over the years, she won championships across the Carolinas, including WSCGA stroke play, match play, senior, four-ball, and Carolinas titles. She competed in USGA championships, helped develop women’s golf, co-founded the Hilton Head Junior Golf Association, and played an important role in growing the game for future generations.
That commitment to junior golf continues today through the Jim Ferree Junior Invitational at Long Cove Club on Hilton Head. The invitation-only high school tournament brings together top teams from Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, and Jim and Karen’s son Randy helps carry on the family’s golf legacy by running the event.
But one of the best chapters of Karen’s story brought her right back to where it started. In 2002, Karen Ferree returned to Midland Valley for the South Carolina Women’s Amateur Championship. By then, she was 57 years old, already respected throughout the golf world, and still plenty competitive. This was a return to her childhood course—a place she knew so well from years of playing there. “I spent all my nice teen-age years playing here,” Ferree said. “I had a great childhood playing golf here.” That deep familiarity paid off. “That experience gave me an advantage this week—especially on the greens. The course had changed over the years, but the breaks on the greens haven’t.” Competing on familiar ground—and with a little extra comfort—meant even more. “It’s nice to win at home,” she said, adding, “I was happy they were having the tournament here because I was able to stay at home and see my parents.” With that blend of experience, comfort, and competitive fire, she went on to win the championship. "That was a treat to grow up on that golf course," she said, noting the positive influence of Sam Marsh and Orville White, who were the pros at the time. "I just fell in love with it (golf). It became a passion." She would have never believed she'd one day be married to a co-owner of the very course she grew up on.
From junior champion Karen Shapiro, to golf professional, to Hall of Famer Karen Ferree, her story is one of talent, history, perseverance, and a lifelong love of the game.
