Finn Golf began in 1974. The founding fathers of the event were Jim Lopakka, Gene Kokko, Roy Selenius, Bill Martin, Arnie Lindgren, Collin Herrala, Paul Kaskinen and Rudy Hakala.

Initiated as a cultural sporting event, the founders decided that it would become an annual event and be played the Friday after Labor Day. Finn Golf was born 36 years ago and has been played ever since.

Current board members endeavor to keep the tradition, vision and orientation of the event alive. The tournament has been limited to people of direct Finnish lineage. Some golfers are first generation Finns, while others are descended from ancestors having relocated to North America several generations ago. This year however, marks several tournaments since a special "Friend of a Finn" flight was initiated. Realizing that several Finns are not married to Finns or have relatives without a Finnish ancestry, the organizers have scheduled a distinct tournament within the tournament for those that do not qualify under the ancestral rules of Finn Golf. The 2001 event marked the beginning of Finns, Friends and Family. Nobody is overlooked or slighted.

The real winners throughout all those years have been those that have participated. Annually, coming from as far away as the east-coast of the United States to play in the event, the Finn Golf regulars welcome all new-comers to the tournament. Everyone plays all 18 holes . .after all, Sisu dictates, we Finnish what we start . . but, it's more . . it's the friendships developed and friendships retained, throughout the history of Finn Golf, that lives on.