Hal Purdy grew up in the small town of Wabash, Indiana. In his early years, he went to work for a local engineering firm. Once the Depression hit, he operated Lost Creek Golf Club in Lima, Ohio. After World War II, he parted ways with Lost Creek Golf Club and was promoted to executive vice president of a construction firm. Several years later, he became a construction supervisor for Robert Trent Jones in 1956.

Purdy committed his career to help grow the game in the Northeast with his design work. Purdy was elected into the ASGCA in 1973 and served four years with the organization.