World of golf lost some notables during past year

Wally Goodwin, legendary, Hall of Fame golf coach at Stanford University in the 1990s, passed away in July at age 94. Goodwin led his Stanford Cardinal team to the NCAA title in 1994. While in Palo Alto, he recruited Tiger Woods, who won the individual NCAA Championship in 1996, along with two other notable recruits - Notah Begay III and Casey Martin. Goodwin was Stanford’s coach for 13 seasons; he was named National Coach of the year in 1992 and 1994.

Golf course architect Arthur Hills died in May at 91. Hills, who was a strong influence in modern golf course design, had a hand in the design of more than 350 golf courses, including some 200 from his original designs, many of which are in the Midwest and Florida. Hills was a past president of the American Society of Golf Architects (1992-93) and was a member of the Ohio and Michigan Golf Halls of Fame. As a graduate of both Michigan State University (science) and the University of Michigan (landscape architecture) Hills was a prolific and highly respected golf-course designer. Among his many achievements is the renovation work he made to Oakland Hills before the 2004 Ryder Cup. Hills has been known as an environmental pioneer, designing the first Audubon Signature Sanctuary courses in the U.S., Mexico and Europe.

Frank Thomas, golf equipment expert turned USGA equipment watchdog, passed on March 17, 2021 at age 81. Early in his career, from 1966 to 1974, he was chief design engineer for Shakespeare Sporting Goods Company where he perfected a filament winding technique for graphite fibers (first for fishing rods) that led to the first graphite shafts for golf clubs. During his 26-year tenure as the USGA chief equipment regulator (1974 to 2000), he oversaw the development of multiple landmark protocols and testing procedures, including regulations on everything from the shape of irons, woods and wedges to the trampoline-like effect of drivers. Thomas was also responsible for implementing new ways for testing a golf ball’s flight, devising the USGA’s Slope System for handicap uniformity and for envisioning the USGA’s Research and Test Center with an indoor t,esting range. Acting as the guardian of reasonable and suitable golf equipment did not come without controversy. Some charged the USGA with being too lax in its regulations, while others demanded more freedom in design. In 1985, Ping filed a $300 million antitrust lawsuit over the USGA outlawing Ping Eye2 irons’ square grooves. Thomas was named personally in that lawsuit, which was ultimately settled out of court. There have been many other controversies over the years, in no small way involving the rapid acceleration in technology since the 1990s. However, the reams of equipment rules, many of which Thomas wrote, were intended to maintain traditional golf values, but not stifle innovation and technology.

Bruce Fleisher’s love for golf began at age 7 when he started working as a caddie with his two older brothers in rural Tennessee. At age 19, he became the third youngest player to win the U.S. Amateur Championship, and he followed that up two years later by placing as the first amateur at the 1969 Masters tournament. He died of multiple medical complications on Sept. 23, 2021. Fleisher was in real terms a “late bloomer” in golf, who won only once on the PGA Tour – the New England Classic. He was regarded as a “journeyman” in pro golfer circles. That is until he turned 50 and proceeded to become the first player to win back-to-back championships on the Senior PGA tour (now Tour Champions). He would go on to win 18 times, including the 2001 U.S. Senior Open. While his golfing career was admired by many, Fleisher was mostly revered, respected and celebrated for his character on and off the golf course. As one biographer wrote, “He was gentle, he was kind, he was giving and most of all he was grateful.”

        Next week, remembering Lee Elder, who was the first Black golfer to play in the Masters.

Dr. Charlie Blanchard is a licensed psychologist specializing in sports and leadership. Contact him at docblanchard71@gmail.com.