Nora McGuire was a pioneer for women’s golf in Minnesota, and while she experienced several firsts in her career, she has spent her life working to ensure that opportunities continue to grow for female golfers across the state.

McGuire joined the LPGA in 1974, but, as a woman, was unable to join the PGA until 1980 - which she did. In 1982, she became the first female Head Golf Professional not only in St. Paul, but in the state of Minnesota, when she became the Phalen Golf Course Head Pro, a position she held until retirement in 2010.

During her time at Phalen, McGuire hosted and co-directed the HOPE Classic benefiting the Komen Foundation for 10 years, raising more than $100,000 for the cause. She coached for several years at Cretin-Derham Hall, and currently organizes local female golf professionals to provide golf clinics for girls interested in golf.

For the past 12 years, McGuire has been involved with the First Tee Program in Ramsey County, which serves youth of all ages, genders and backgrounds. She added a special session at First Tee for girls that included affirmations and an opportunity to learn about careers in the golf profession. She was the starter at the MSHSL Girls’ State Golf Tournament in 2021 and 2022, has been a rules official for the Minnesota Golf Association, served as the President of the Midwest LPGA for nine years and two years as the LPGA national president.

McGuire is a two-time LPGA National President’s Award winner, and was named the LPGA Midwest Section Professional of the year in 1994. She is a member of the Cretin-Derham Hall Athletic Hall of Fame, and in 2011 she joined just a handful of other women to be inducted into the Minnesota Golf Hall of Fame.