On July 22, 2018, Aaron Harrell broke the previous record for the Bedford City Golf Championship at Otis Park by a total of 13 strokes, finishing with a 22-under par 266. While on the surface, Aaron’s score is incredible enough, the story behind the score is even more awe-inspiring. 

Aaron’s rise to golfing prominence began in middle school, when he chose to quit baseball in favor of golf. “Around middle school is when I started to get burnt out on baseball. I had to choose another sport and golf was it.” Aaron’s decision paid off, as he went on to become a four-year letterwinner at Bedford North Lawrence High School and qualified to compete at the USGA Junior Amateur in Portland, Oregon in 2000. 

Aaron continued his success into his college career, participating in the NCAA East Regional in his sophomore year, earning a title at the Bedford City Amateur in 2005, and winning the Fidra Collegiate Series Tournament in Ann Arbor during his senior year.

Following his college career, Aaron continued his golfing journey through a variety of different avenues. He became the assistant golf pro at the Fort Wayne Country Club, was an assistant coach for the University of Louisville’s men’s golf team, and even had a brief professional career. 

However, after being away from his family since leaving for Indiana University in 2002, Aaron finally returned to his hometown as a course pro at Otis Park. Due to Harrell’s pro status, he could no longer compete in the Bedford Championship. So instead, he turned his focus to helping others.

As a pro at Otis Park, Aaron began a YouTube channel, featuring weekly videos tabbed “Tuesday Tips” which in combination with his other teaching roles at the course, helped to grow the game through the youth. According to Aaron, “I got to show the juniors how golf affected my life and tried to get them to work hard and show where golf could take them.” 

After four years at Otis Park, Aaron got a job at Bedford Federal Savings Bank, a small local bank in his hometown where he could build a family. With his eligibility returned due to a loss of his pro status, Aaron was able to enter back into the Bedford Championship, and break the tournament record as mentioned above. 

“I was very happy to win last year. Growing up in Bedford and at Otis Park, the City Tournament is what everyone talks about,” he said. Looking back on his career as a whole, Aaron is able to find the fruits of his time golfing through the social skills he learned. “Golf is a lifetime sport. Through my years of golf, I have the ability to talk to anyone.”