Western Michigan Coach Kim Moore Named GAM’s Champion of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Kim Moore went to the University of Indianapolis with plans to become a medical doctor, but success in competition as part of the college golf team led to three years of professional tour golf and coaching as well.

“I found my passion in coaching golf,” said the head women’s golf coach at Western Michigan University, who also continues to find success in competition.

Last summer she made golf history as an adaptive golf champion and she has been named the Golf Association of Michigan’s (GAM) Champion of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for 2023.

Moore, 42, went wire-to-wire to win the women’s overall champion title in the inaugural U.S. Adaptive Open at Pinehurst Resort’s Course No. 6 in North Carolina. Born without a right foot and a clubbed left foot, Moore called her win in the Adaptive Open and being honored by the GAM humbling and exciting.

“I’m so proud to win an award like this because it means the awareness is out there for disabled golf,” Moore said. “The more awareness the better and especially if it can inspire a younger person out there who is struggling.” 

Moore has been inspiring others for years. In 2015 the national Women’s Golf Coaches Association created the Kim Moore Spirit Award to recognize a student-athlete or coach who exemplifies a great spirit, mental toughness and a positive attitude toward the game. She has competed in U.S. National Amputee Golf Championships since 2003 and has won 14 titles. She also played last May in The Cairns Cup, a Ryder Cup-style competition for disabled golfers that was held at The Shire in London, England. She was the only woman that competed for Team USA.

Moore was hired as the Western’s coach in November of 2020 after seven years at Saint Mary's College (Notre Dame, Ind.) where she coached the Belles to two NCAA Division III Team Championship appearances and three consecutive Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association conference championships (2017-2019).

In addition to recognizing Moore, the GAM DE&I committee also awarded $1,000 grants to three organizations that have directly enhanced and grown diversity and inclusion – Tee-Set Golf Club, the Flint Junior Golf Association and the Cass Tech Alumni Association Golf Committee.