Even before coming to Iowa, Rodney Bliss Jr. had already made a name for himself.  Born and raised in Omaha, Neb, Bliss Jr. had won six Nebraska Amateurs and a Nebraska Open before moving to Des Moines at the age of 37.

Bliss continued his extraordinary amateur career in Iowa by winning three Iowa Amateur titles in 1951, 1955 and 1961. He also won the Des Moines City Championship three times. 

His accomplishments extended well beyond Iowa and Nebraska.  Bliss was twice an alternate for the USGA Walker Cup team and he played in two U.S. Opens, 10 U.S. Amateurs, and four U.S. Senior Amateurs.  His best finishes included the semifinals of the 1934 U.S. Amateur and the quarterfinals of the 1954 U.S. Senior Amateur. 

He was runner-up in the 1933 NCAA Championship and also recorded runner-up finishes in the 1933 and 1935 Western Amateur.  Bliss was also the low amateur in the 1934 U.S. Open finishing ahead of Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan.

Rodney Bliss Jr. was inducted into the Nebraska Golf Hall of Fame in 1991 and is also a member of the Cornell University Sports Hall of Fame.  Rodney Bliss Jr. passed away in 1989.

1933     NCAA Championship Individual Runner-Up

1933 & 1935     Western Amateur Runner-Up

1934     U.S. Open Low Amateur, finishing ahead of Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan      

1951, 1955, 1961     Iowa Amateur Champion

3-time Des Moines City Champion

2-time Alternate for the USGA Walker Cup Team

– Appeared in 2 U.S. Opens, 10 U.S. Amateurs with a Semifinal appearance in 1934, and 4 Senior Amateurs, reaching the Quarterfinals in 1954.

– Inducted into the Nebraska Golf Hall of Fame in 1991

– Member of the Cornell University Sports Hall of Fame