Tom Flatt (2012)

Golf 1991 Tom Flatt joins a long line of Ridgewood High School Hall of Fame Inductees who have stayed connected to their sport well after their days at RHS and throughout their life. Tom graduated from RHS in 1991 as one of the greatest golfers to ever walk the fairways for the Maroons. He earned numerous honors while at Ridgewood and earned a full athletic scholarship for golf at St. John's University where he played four years for the storied "Johnnies" golf program. After graduating from St. John's, Tom began a career in the golf business as a PGA golf professional. He has worked as a Professional at some of the finest golf and country clubs in northern New Jersey including; the Ridgewood Country Club, Arcola Country Club and is currently the Head PGA Golf Professional at Apple Ridge Country Club in Mahwah. He joins his fellow Ridgewood High School Class of 1991 classmates Linda Zabielski and Jodi Hartwig in the RHS Hall of Fame. While at Ridgewood High School Tom was a rare four year starter and four year Varsity letter winner for the Maroon "Duffers", captaining the team in both the 1990 and 1991 seasons. He earned 2nd Team All-NNJIL honors in 1988, 1st Team All-NNJIL honors in 1989, 1990, and 1991 and 1st Team All-Bergen County accolades in 1989, 1990, and 1991 as well. In 1990 he won the Dan Luciano County Golf Championship and the Group IV Individual State Championship. In 1991 he won the NNJIL Individual Championship as well as the Bergen County Golf League Individual Championship. In his Ridgewood High School career, Flatt only lost a total of 5 head to head matches and was selected a National High School All-American. Flatt moved on to St. John's University where he was a 4 year letter winner and Captain of the 1994 and 1995 teams. He made the Academic All-Big East Team 3 times and was 1st Team All-Big East his Senior year when he also won the Met Intercollegiate Qualifier. He remains in the game of golf as not only the Head Professional at Apple Ridge Country Club but as one of the most respected and sought out teachers of the game of golf in the North Jersey area. He has built a great reputation as someone who can work with and teach players of all levels of ability in a very understated and professional manner. As many other Ridgewood High School Hall of Fame members have done before him he continues to be involved in the sport he played at Ridgewood and gives back to that sport, especially in mentoring and working with some of the best young golfers in the State of New Jersey. Tom enters the RHS Hall of Fame as the first golfer to be so honored, but he joins a long list of inductees who have made "their sport" something central to their adult lives. His achievement on the golf course both at the high school and college levels and his continued efforts and involvement with the sport he loves makes him another great addition to the Ridgewood High School Athletic Hall of Fame.