Former MLB veterans Ross, Palmer team up to win inaugural golf tourney at the Killearn Club

Published 1 day ago• 3 minute read

The Killearn Club held its inaugural member tourney, with Tallahassee residents and former MLB players David Ross and Dean Palmer winning on last hole of shootout.

Given their Major League Baseball experience and awards, a local golf tournament might not sound like a big deal to David Ross and Dean Palmer.

Wrong.

"It had definitely been awhile since I was nervous," said Ross, a two-time World Series champion as a player with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs and former Cubs manager.

Ross and Palmer teamed up to win the inaugural member-member golf tournament at the exclusive Killearn Club this past Friday and Saturday (May 16-17).

The two captured the second flight to advance into the six-team shootout, where they won the alternate shot format on the par-4, 9th hole with a par.

Palmer's fairway bunker shot from 170-plus yards settled on the back of the green. The pair, given a stroke based on flights, two-putted for the victory as fellow members watched from off the green.

"Now they have a little more hardware to sit next to their All-Star trophies and World Series rings," said Dr. John Dortch, a surgeon at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital and former Chiles High and college baseball player who was teamed with Brian Beck in the final group.

"Dean hit a career shot to the back of the green - they both can play and didn't need the stroke."

Flighted pairs played five nine-hole matches (45 holes) over the two days.

Three Tallahassee-born baseball players called up to Major Leagues in span of six days

The Killearn Club held its inaugural member-member tournament May 16-17th, 2025, won by former MLB players David Ross and Dean Palmer.

David Cummings, who played golf and baseball at Lincoln High (1998 graduate) and is an Atlanta-based tech entrepreneur, purchased the club for $2.6 million in March of 2022.

The private facility opened last fall and features a redesigned 18-hole championship course and other amenities. The entire project will include a 9-hole course, clubhouse and pool and is expected to be completed in 2026.

Cummings was "super thrilled" to see Ross, 48, and Palmer, 56, win the club's first tourney, saying he was Lincoln's baseball team in the mid-90s and "Dean Palmer was a local hero."

Ross and Palmer combined to play 29 years in the big leagues. While Ross is a two-time World Series champion, Palmer was an All-Star selection in 1998 with the Kansas City Royals and a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner with the Royals and Detroit Tigers. Both attended Florida High.

"We worked great as a team," Palmer said.

"It got my competitive juices following for sure. It was really a cool moment (bunker shot). I happened to pick it good out of the sand. It was such a great event, the staff did a phenomenal job. And the course is as good as you can get.

"I still can't believe we won."

Cummings, who has defended the club's three-tier membership rates, which are the highest of any Tallahassee course, said he has been pleased with members' feedback.

"Everything is going well," Cummings said.

Bobby Bowden statue at The Killearn Club honors coach's love for golf, community and FSU

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Former MLB stars David Ross, Dean Palmer win inaugural member golf tourney

Origin: