Born in 1907 in Kansas City, Mo., Farley began his golf career as a golf professional. He was drafted into the U.S. Army at age 36 in 1944. After serving until the end of the war, he returned to golf, winning two Oklahoma PGA Championships and the Oklahoma Match Play Open in 1947.

After designing his first course in 1932 – Woodlawn Golf Club in Oklahoma City – Farley found he liked the work and went on to design more than 100 more layouts.

Farley was elected into ASGCA in 1959 and served as ASGCA President from 1966-1967. He reached Fellow status in 1978 and served as a member of the organization for 46 years until his death in 2005.