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Meet Your All-Time Leading Scorer

So you think you’re nuts?

Meet Bob Fagan, Nut #3468, the Golf Nut Society’s All-time Leading Scorer with 122,289 Nut Points. Check this out…

Bob is the Golf Nut Society’s All-Time Leading Scorer and the only Nut who has over 100,000 Nut Points. The man is a prolific scorer. My favorite story is the time he played several courses in the Palm Springs area in a single day…in the summer in 100+ temperatures…and he walked. The following is a very long summary, leaving no doubt that he’s the real deal…

EXAMINATION SCORE:                17,861           Nut Points

BONUS POINTS:                             104,428           Bonus Points

TOTAL:                                             122,289           Total Nut Points

Bonus Points Summary

Bob has been addicted to golf since 1962.  His incredible golf exploits are even more unbelievable when measured against the fact that he has long suffered with severe hay fever (500 points) from April through July (he’s very allergic to grass as well as some tree pollens of all things.)  He has also suffered from occasional painful foot problems (250 points), and is legally blind in his left eye (200 points).  Not to mention that for most of his life, including the present, he has enjoyed only a modest income.  His goal is to play 500 different (and new to him) golf courses in a single year, once he retires.  Don’t bet against him.

Here is a summary of his insanity…

  1. Has played over 1,641 golf courses in the United States.  In doing so may have played with more different people on more different courses than anyone alive.  The record is held by Ralph Kennedy, deceased in early 1950’s at over 3,000.) 10,600 Points
  2. Has played more of the top ranked courses in America than anyone else – 650 of those currently in the Golfweek listing.  The next closest Golfweek Panelist is reportedly more than 350 courses behind him.  1,650 Points
  3. Has played all Top 100 American Courses on most lists.  (He has not played all the brand new courses on some lists.)  1,000 Points
  4. Played 98 of Golfweek’s 100 Best Classics; and 79 of the 100 Modern Classics in the current listing. 
  5. Has played more than an estimated 140 courses that are or have previously been on Top 100 Lists.  140 Points
  6. At the age of 51, played 6 different 18-hole courses in 124 degree heat in Palm Springs in July in a single day.  624 Points
  7. At the age of 48, played 6 different 18-hole courses in 114 degree heat in Palm Springs in July in a single day, while walking and carrying his bag on three of the rounds.  And on the sixth and final course, Tamarisk CC, he had no drinking water and the clubhouse was closed.  “It was like the Burma Death March,” said Bob  1,114 Points
  8. Has played at least 100 new (never played before) courses per year since 1991.  1,991 Points
  9. At the age of 43, played 7 different courses in one day in Northern Michigan while also driving 118 miles, plus spoke with teaching pro/architect, Rick Smith, for 15 minutes, and Director of Golf, Roger Jabarra for a similar amount of time.  718 Points
  10. Additionally, he has played more than twenty different courses in 7 or less consecutive days on 8 occasions.  728 Points
  11. Played five courses in one day three times.  503 Points
  12. Has played four or more courses in a day more than thirty times; all since 1993, age of 43.  430 Points
  13. Has played a round of golf in less than 80 strokes on a regulation course in less than 60 minutes while carrying his bag of 14 clubs/umbrella, and walking/running.  160 Points
  14. Owns 319 golf caps.  319 Points
  15. Has achieved the “Golf Nut Slam” by playing on Easter, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spouse’s Birthday, plus Anniversary in a single year.  1,000 Points
  16. Played in 65 mph winds and rain (was only group on course and umbrellas were destroyed) on the morning of his wedding (matched par).  650 Points
  17. Played in 85 m.p.h. (gusts exceeding 100 m.p.h.) winds and had trouble keeping his bag on his shoulder, breathing, and dodging falling branches, and walking let alone anything else, but got in 9 holes.  385 Points
  18. Playing in a Florida downpour with former touring pro and NCPGA President. Paul Wilcox Jr. at PGA Annual Meeting festivities at PGA – Reserve, they were so thoroughly drenched by the second tee that their clothes stuck to their bodies and you could practically see through them.  Their partners deserted them 200 yards down the first fairway.  Nevertheless, they continued the entire round through torrential rains as the only golfers.   218 Points
  19. Priorities – In 2000 and 2001, he spent more money on caddies, carts, and green fees than he realized in total household income.  2,001 Points
  20. Took a six-figure pay decrease to gain an entry level job with an airline so he could get travel privileges to play more courses outside his driving area.  As a result, in 10 months in 2002 he took 29 different golf trips by airplane.  1,235 Points
  21. After graduating first in his MBA class with the most lucrative starting job offer, he took a job as an Assistant Apprentice Golf Professional at a prestigious private club in Philadelphia at minimum wage.  500 Points
  22. As an aspiring touring professional, had his only two potential sponsors die before committing to me.  Ended up sponsoring himself with savings.  He only lasted a brief season on J.C. Goosie’s Space Coast Mini-Tour.  502 Points
  23. Drove solo from Williams, Arizona non-stop without sleep to Philadelphia to get in a round of golf at the Pine Valley Golf Club.  1,000 Points
  24. Played 18 holes in 35 degree below zero wind-chill temperatures (-4 degrees F.) winning over $800 in bets while breaking par.  135 Points 
  25. Played in wind so strong in Las Vegas in 2002 that the ball was blown off of nearly every putting surface during the first of two rounds.  Also, the temperature never got warmer than 34 degrees.  Needless to say, he was the only person out on the 54-hole Paiute Golf Complex, playing two of the three courses.  254 Points
  26. Played in wind so strong in Florida that it blew all the sand out of the bunkers closing the course afterwards and gave him and his playing partner wind and sand burns.  218 Points
  27. Played 18 holes through a violent lightning storm in Park City, Utah.  “Never again!” he recounted.  “That would have qualified for a Darwin Award.”  218 Points
  28. Routinely has played 18 holes in rain, snow, sleet and hail conditions. Has been the only golfer on the course in wind, rain, cold, heat, (combo) more than three dozen times.  360 Points
  29. Has played and won two NiteLite golf tournaments.  200 Points
  30. Won low gross in a 9-hole Mixed Nude Golf tournament (don’t ask about the trophy.)  109 Points
  31. Once played through 12 groups in a single 18-hole round at the Shanty Creek Legends Course (He plays fast!)  512 Points
  32. After playing Yale Univ. GC in the morning,, he got caught in a massive traffic jam, missing the ferry to get to Fishers Island, so he chartered a plane ride for the 1.5 mile distance to the Island and made his tee time.  515 Points
  33. Has played Oakmont CC in Pittsburgh  in a foursome (walking) while experiencing a 90 minute thunderstorm delay and then drove the length of Pennsylvania and got in a quick 18 (twosome walking) at Merion’s East Course outside of Philadelphia that same day.  290 Points
  34. Driving between courses, he has played 18-hole rounds in Palm Springs and Lake Tahoe in the same day.  236 Points
  35. Driving between courses, he has played 18-hole rounds in Los Angeles and San Francisco in the same day.  236 Points
  36. Driving between courses, he has played 18-hole rounds in Portland and Seattle in the same day.  136 Points
  37. Drove from Miami to Augusta, Georgia to play Augusta National for the first time only to discover that his “buddy” forgot to make arrangements to play.  Turned around and played three courses on the way back to Florida, but missed Augusta. 
  38. Woke up early in Toronto, Canada, drove and played Oak Hill CC East Course in Rochester, NY with another golf nut.  Was on the 16th tee 60 minutes from aircraft takeoff, finished round, packed car, thanked professional, returned rental car and still caught flight to Long Island at which point he drove to and played both Piping Rock in a downpour and The Creek Club – all in the SAME DAY.  560 Points
  39. Played one of the courses at Blackwolf Run in  Kohler, WI in the morning, drove to Chicago and played Cog Hill #4 in the afternoon, got in the car and drove through the night, reaching Camargo in Cincinnati and was on the tee at 7 a.m.  Watched a Reds’ baseball game that afternoon, and was home in California that evening, and at work at 7 a.m. the next morning.  736 Points
  40. Played 26 top ranked courses in Michigan in a five-and-a-half-day period, while setting four course records, and driving more than 1,300 miles.  One of his best golf weeks ever.  1,326 Points
  41. In a seven day stretch, played 24 top ranked courses in Colorado together with a side auto trip to Sand Hills in Mullen, NB for 36 holes (shot one of his all-time bests 129 for 36 there with a bogey on the 36th hole).  724 Points
  42. Has struck all three of his sisters with golf shots (fortunately, none was seriously injured or physically scarred).  300 Points
  43. Have richocheted balls off cars, a school bus, a police squad car, and homes as well as smashed a lamp and dented several ceilings while practicing indoors.  300 Points
  44. Playing blindfolded, he played and defeated a blind golfer.  “Neither of us were very good that day,” he recalled.  118 Points
  45. Have played golf in tri-cornered hats, army helmets, flippers and masks, bathing suites, wet suites, and wigs.  200 Points
  46. Have utilized water pistols, grease, fart machines, whistles, exploding golf balls, and various other items to play practical jokes on my golfing buddies.  200 Points 
  47. Impersonated a tour player to get into the Players’ Locker at the Florida Citrus Open and then found himself at the urinal between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Weiskopf.  502 Points
  48. Not having credentials or a ticket, once talked himself into the second round of the 1997 Masters (as a spectator).  1,002 Points
  49. Had peach cobbler next to Byron Nelson and Gene Sarazen in the second floor dining room/veranda at Augusta National during The Masters.  250 Points
  50. Recruited Hollis Stacy to Rollins College who later introduced him to his ex-wife.  100 Points
  51. Have one ex-wife from a 19-year marriage and about 6 ex-girlfriends who didn’t share his passion for golf.  619 Points
  52. Played four courses on his honeymoon.  400 Points
  53. Dated a well-known LPGA Touring professional for two years.  200 Points
  54. Though he lives in Northern California, he joined a golf dating service in Southern California to meet similarly interested ladies, met six women and dated three, and all are still friends.  306 Points
  55. While playing golf in Savannah, picked up a book about Young Tom Morris in a major bookstore.  Read the book and discovered the author happened to be local, Anne Kinsman Fisher.  Looked her up and went out on two dates as well as met her step-father, Bob Thomas.  Thomas grew up and caddied near Ben Hogan in Philadelphia and subsequently authored a book about him.  100 Points
  56. Was the featured subject of a golf – sports page article written by Mark Soltau in the San Francisco Examiner about being a “golf nut” and “playing golf as if he’s being chased by the law”.  200 Points
  57. Was the featured subject in a 5-page golf article by architect/writer Tom Doak for being “The Marathon Man.”  105 Points
  58. During college sneaked on to Brunswick CC (GA) with a teammate for a round of 18-hole moonlight golf and finished the round at 5 a.m. as the maintenance crew was arriving.  118 Points
  59. Sneaked onto Shinnecock Hills and then shot a 66 with a bogey on the last hole.  266 Points
  60. Caddied for LPGA stars Kathy Whitworth and Betsy Cullen.  200 Points
  61. George Knudsen let me hit his shag balls while at the Philadelphia Golf Classic and called him “little George”.  300 Points
  62. Has hit full fairway woods and one-irons between sliding glass doors out of motel room into adjacent farm field (broke nothing) and wedges over 3-story motels into their swimming pool.  300 Points
  63. Has played cross-town and country golf spanning more than five-mile distances.  105 Points
  64. Played beach golf advancing a ball on the sand from Atlantic City, NJ to Margate, NJ, approximately 4 miles along the surf with one ball.  400 Points
  65. While a professional, played 59 courses in 29 days starting in Miami and finishing in San Francisco (driving solo) and in the process had 19 consecutive rounds in the 60’s on courses that he had not before played including Pebble Beach, LA North, Pecan Valley, Pauma Valley, Torrey Pines South, and Cypress Point.  It ended at Spyglass Hill when he was the only golfer who opted to play in wintry monsoon conditions and shot a 73.  Tthe day after Spyglass, he was snowed out at The Olympic Club during a rare San Francisco snowfall in 1976.  590 Points
  66. In November, 2002, twice drove 9 hours in one day to play a single golf course.  918 Points
  67. Played two courses (90 minutes apart), had a two and a half hour lunch with Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Robert Trent Jones, Jr. at their course, Coral Ridge Country Club, and attended the entire Super Bowl with tickets from the Joneses (Niners beat Chargers in Miami) all in the same day!  290 Points
  68. Assisted Davis Love Jr. at Golf Digest Schools.  100 Points
  69. When he turned professional, Davis Love, Jr. gave him his first and only formal golf lesson – an 18 hole playing lesson at the Atlanta Country Club.  He mentioned that his two boys, particularly Trip (Davis Love III) showed quite a bit of promise for a ninth grader.  118 Points 
  70. Has a library of more than 2,820 golf books and have read nearly all of them (many several times).  2,820 Points
  71. Has a computer inventory highlighting author, title, subject, date of issue and acquired, cost, value, etc. on each of his golf books.  282 Points
  72. Has kept a written record of every 18-hole round that he’s ever played.  518 Points
  73. Has an alphabetized collection of over 4,500 score cards.  1,450 Points
  74. Has a collection of over 1,000 bag tags.  1,000 Points
  75. Has an alphabetized collection of over 800 yardage books.  800 Points
  76. Has a collection of more than 1,200 golf pencils of courses that he has played.  1,200 Points
  77. Has a collection of more than 220 logo hats.  220 Points
  78. Has a collection of more than 200 golf shirts not including more than 40 others he has given to his father.  240 Points
  79. Has a logo ball collection.  300 Points
  80. Has a collection of 403 golf videos spanning instruction, mental, courses, and history.  1,403 Points
  81. Wonder where the combs went?  He has a collection of over 300 logo club combs from men’s locker rooms of many of the country’s most prestigious clubs.  300 Points
  82. He has taped the four majors every year since the VCR was first invented.  400 Points
  83. Has a collection of 84 “conventional” putters (none of them worked.)  84 Points
  84. Owns 13 long putters.  “They work better than the short idiot sticks!” he commented.  130 Points
  85. Owns 91 wedges.  910 Points
  86. Has purchased at least 10 infomercial clubs or practice devices.  110 Points
  87. Keeps clubs and a virtual locker in the trunk of his car in case of an emergency.  200 Points
  88. Has a collection of more than 32 drivers including two 50” drivers.  132 Points
  89. Currently owns 14 sets of irons.  114 Points
  90. Subscribes to over 20 golf magazines.  220 Points
  91. Keeps back issues of Golf, Golf Digest, Golf Journal, Met Golfer, NCGA Magazine, Golf For Women, The Golfer, Fore, Executive Golfer, Golf Today, and has a collection of all Golf World, Golf Digest, and Golf Magazine issues dating back to the 70’s.  1,070 Points
  92. Has a collection of more than 125 club histories.  525 Points
  93. Wrote a tutorial on the “Concepts of Golf Course Architecture” as a high school student  200 Points
  94. Published “A 75-Year History of the Northern California PGA.  575 Points
  95. Wrote a thesis on “Marketing & the Golf Shop” for his MBA program.  500 Points
  96. Authored a book on “Hawaii Golf” for Foghorn Press.  500 Points
  97. Co-Authored 2 editions of “California Golf”  502 Points
  98. Co-Authored “California Golf Survival Guide” and a second edition.  200 Points
  99. Beginning a book with golf photographer Joann Dost on Courses in Northern California.  100 Points
  100. Lead writer for “intheloopgolf.com website  300 Points
  101. Drafted golf’s first truly fine art book with Joann Dost entitled “Golf In The Forest” about the golf on the Monterey Peninsula.  250 Points
  102. Drafted a book along the lines of Darwin’s “Golf in the British Isles”, entitled “Classic Courses of America” detailing a first-person actual visit to more than 150 of America’s best courses built before 1960.  300 Points
  103. Drafted Bob Fagan’s “American Golf Course Book of Lists” that has 193 different lists about golf courses, clubs, holes, etc.  593 Points
  104. Writing “The Little Black Book of Golf Secrets.”  100 Points
  105. Columnist for Golf Today Magazine (approximately 28 articles).  280 Points
  106. Contributor to Golf For Women Magazine.  100 Points
  107. Contributor to Golf Magazine.  100 Points
  108. Contributor to Northern California Golf Association Magazine (27 articles).  270 Points
  109. Member – Golf Writer’s Association of America.  100 Points
  110. Member – California Golf Writers Association.  100 Points
  111. Publisher/Editor NCPGA “Tee Shots” from 1992-98.  598 Points
  112. Current Course Rater – Golfweek Magazine.  500 Points
  113. Golf Digest Course Rater – 1993-98.  500 Points
  114. Television Golf Course “Spotter” – Hughes Sports Network (1970’s).  197 Points
  115. Set up a nationwide distribution network to sell an upscale golf magazine (1970’s).  500 Points
  116. Sold putters to golf shops (1970’s).  200 Points
  117. Assistant Golf Professional (1970’s).  200 Points
  118. During one season teaching at a private club, had 4 pupils win state or city titles and had members from 18 other clubs coming to him for lessons.  400 Points
  119. Has attended Dave Pelz short-game school.  300 Points
  120. Has organized clinics and given lessons to the deaf and the wheelchair-bound, and other physically challenged golfers.  200 Points
  121. Executive Director of the Northern California PGA (1991-98).  800 Points
  122. VP of Marketing and Sales for a golf equipment company.  500 Points
  123. Helped raise over $28 million to build the world’s first personal services robot, a golf caddie.  In conjunction with that project, he played golf with golf writers, James Achenbach (Golfweek) and Susan Fornoff (SF Examiner) and was mentioned in their articles.  528 Points
  124. His book reviews have been quoted on dust jackets and Amazon.com.  200 Points
  125. President/COO for a Golf Internet Software company that handled tournament event planning.  500 Points
  126. President/CEO for a golf media advertising company.  500 Points
  127. Organizing a national distribution force for a water conservation product for golf courses.  100 Points
  128. Sponsor of Allen Junior Golf Program (minority junior golf).  100 Points
  129. Board Member – Golf Advertising Ventures, Inc.  100 Points
  130. Golf Expert Witness in California Superior Court and Nevada – 10 cases.  510 Points
  131. Consultant to over 60 private clubs and golf facilities regarding course design, business practices, service, safety, golf pro selection and contracts.  600 Points
  132. Advisory Board Member for Alameda Junior Golf Foundation.  100 Points
  133. Advisory Board Member and Contributor to “Total Quality in Golf”.  100 Points
  134. College Lecturer on Golf Marketing, Golf Careers, and Service.  200 Points
  135. Have spoken at Regional Club Manager Association Meetings.  100 Points
  136. Have spoken at Regional Golf Course Superintendent Meetings.  100 Points
  137. Passed USGA/PGA Rules School.  100 Points
  138. Attended Henry-Griffitts Club-Fitting School.  100 Points
  139. Helped establish two chapters of the Executive Women’s’ Golf League in Northern California.  200 Points
  140. Initiated and championed the Women Pros vs. Women Amateur Cup Matches in Northern California.  200 Points
  141. Attended “Women in Golf Summit”.  100 Points
  142. Attended “Golf & The Environment” Seminar.  100 Points
  143. Hosted a national “PGA Teaching Summit”.  100 Points
  144. Attended a USGA Annual Dinner.  100 Points
  145. Attended 8 PGA National Annual Meetings.  108 Points
  146. Attended 23 PGA Shows.  1,023 Points
  147. Spokesperson for Golf For the Deaf on The Discovery Channel.  100 Points
  148. Golf Contributor to KNBR – Sports Talk Radio in San Francisco.  200 Points
  149. Passed PGA Business School & Playing Test.  500 Points
  150. Honorary Life Member of the Saddle Creek Golf Club.  100 Points
  151. Member, USGA Members Club.  100 Points
  152. Member, Donald Ross Society.  100 Points
  153. Member, Shivas Irons Society.  100 Points
  154. Co-founder of the Northern California Golf Foundation.  500 Points
  155. Captain of College, Club, and Junior Club Golf Teams.  300 Points
  156. Senior PGA Tour Winner Al Kelley, Jr. was his college team coach.  100 Points
  157. Won a net club tournament while having to add shots with a “plus 3” handicap – plus 4 was my lowest.  104 Points
  158. Had six hole-in-ones and have witnessed 11 by other playing companions.  6,000 Points
  159. Helped design Saddle Creek Golf Club which was the top ranked best course west of the Mississippi by Golf Digest the year it opened. 
  160. Have attended seven Masters tournaments driving non-stop through the night back and forth to Augusta, Georgia from southeastern Pennsylvania.  700 Points
  161. Had one of the most exclusive spectator points at The Masters…the 9th at the adjoining exclusive Augusta Country Club.  One year, flew from California, watched the tournament in the morning, got on the Country Club in the afternoon, and paused while playing the 9th to peek through the fence and catch the action from behind the 12th green and 13th tee, a vantage point that Masters Patrons never see.  900 Points
  162. Close to history…laid on the ground no more than 3 feet from Lee Trevino’s feet as he hit his tee shot on the 72nd hole of the 1971 US Open at Merion.  Was within a few feet of Nicklaus as he hit his 2nd and 3rd shots (the famous 1-iron) to the 72nd green of the 1967 US Open at Baltusrol.  500 Points
  163. One of his most embarrassing moments involved his only time hitting a wrong golf ball.  He was a guest at the Interlachen CC in Winter Park, FL.  He sliced into an adjacent fairway and quickly advanced a fairway wood back to his par-five hole only to be confronted by none other than Davey Johnson, former Major League Baseball Player and Manager who was playing a high stakes money game and Bob had hit Davey’s ball.  He was very nice about the mistake however.  200 Points
  164. Another embarrassing moment for him – one of the country’s self-described “fast players” (polo golfers) and a decent player.  He was waved through by a threesome of average golfers early in the round on a par-3 at Shadow Ridge in Palm Springs, and proceeded to shank a 7-iron into a waste area, chili-dip the next shot, and blade the next one over the green.  The three probably thought they made a mistake and promptly left him behind, continued playing, and never allowed him through. After finishing the 9th, he beat them to the 10th tee.  Upon seeing him on the back of that tee, they drove past him and skipped the hole just to stay ahead of him.  “Never let a chop play through,” he recalled wryly.  300 Points
  165. During a practice round of the Space Coast Mini-Tour at Colony West CC in February, 1976 (of the persimmon era), he witnessed Big Cat Williams longest drive ever at sea-level.  It was the dead flat, almost straight, 444 yard 4th and Bob was just walking off the green when he heard a thump.  Williams’ tee shot had carried onto the soft fringe and released onto the putting service.  There was no wind and the temperature was in the low 60’s.  (Bob later confirmed this experience with him.)  144 Points
  166. Had the opportunity to chauffeur the late golf legend, Paul Runyeon, for more than an hour after a clinic at Silverado CC in Napa, CA.  160 Points
  167. Had the opportunity to play the famed Bel Air Country Club with none other than its renowned pro, Eddie Merrins, and aspiring touring pro, Bob May (later 2000 PGA Runner-up to Tiger Woods).  They had to wait on the 1st tee to let Jack Lemon and his son get off in front of them and got to chat with the actor several times.  318 Points
  168. During teenage years, his practice range time from the regular tees was restricted because he tore up too much turf.  He was relegated to the opposite end of the range.  200 Points
  169. Had lunch at a table of eight with Julie Inkster, Tom Lehman, and PGA President, Ken Lindsey.  200 Points
  170. Had dinner with Hale Irwin and Dan Forsman.  200 Points
  171. Had lunch with PGA Tour Commissioner, Deane Beman.  200 Points
  172. Had breakfast with Andy Williams at the La Quinta Resort clubhouse.  200 Points
  173. Julius Boros, Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, and Gary Player were his idols growing up.  He got to play 18 holes with young Guy Boros who a few weeks later contended in the Colonial Invitational.  “He played and acted very much like his Dad, recounted Bob.  118 Points
  174. Arnold Palmer wrote a letter of recommendation for Bob to attend Wake Forest University, and Bob later watched a Super Bowl in a room with The King.  500 Points
  175. Personally got Ben Hogan’s autograph, a rare feat indeed!  500 Points
  176. Paid his own way to cover and write about the PGA Championship, Tour Championship, CPC Championship, and numerous LPGA events, Tour and Senior Tour Events.  500 Points
  177. Through my time in the game, have had to chance to meet and spend time – in addition to those already mentioned – with Patty Berg, Sam Snead, Frank Beard, Gene Sarazen, Jack Nicklaus, Dinah Shore, Pat Summerall, Tom Doak, Jane Blalock, Jim Colbert, Skee Reigel, John Facenda, Harry Kallas, Richie Ashburn, David Graham, Vida Blue, Bob Toski, Doug Ford, Laura Baugh Cole, Jim Flick, Arthur Hills, Tom Fazio, Rees Jones, Robert Trent Jones, Robert Trent Jones, Jr., Kyle Phillips, Gary Player, Jan Beljan, Don Knotts, Joe Dye, Pete Dye,  Perry Dye, Billy Casper, Jan Stephenson, Herbert Warren Wind, Peter Tufts, Grant Spaeth, Sandy Tatum, Ken Venturi, Jay Sigel, Tiger Woods, Bill Hyndman,  Ben Crenshaw, Jim Awtrey, Jim Achenbach, Art Rosenbaum, Jack Whitaker, Frank Gifford, Roone Arledge, Fred Corcoran, LeRoy Nieman, David Fay, Jim Flick, Bob Toski, Peter Kostis, Ben Doyle, Jim McLean, Hal Greer, Michael Jordan, Rick Barry, John Smoltz, Dale Hauerchuck, Alex Migilny (sp.), Jim Kaat, Brent Jones, Dick Butkus, RC Owens, Dwight Hicks, Helen Alfredson, Mark Soltau, Mario Lemiux, Dick Butkus, OJ Simpson,  Chuck Bednarik, Joe Torre, Evan Lendl, Brian Morgan, Alice Cooper, Mike Klemme, Joann Dost, Bill Walsh, Joe Capp, Craig Morton, Charlie Owens, RC Owens, Art Spander, Scot Hoch, Roger Maltby, Dick Lotz, Patty Sheehan, Bill Strasbaugh, Bob Drum, Jerry Mowlds, Muffin Spencer-Devlin, Donna White, D.A. Weibring,, Dick Smith, Jack Connelly, Gary Schaal, MJ Orender, Dick Lotz, Bob Lunn, Lorne Rubenstein, Brad Klein, Johnny Pott, Tom Addis III, Bob Murphy, Simon Hobday, Bob Drum, Johnny Miller, Ted Kroll, and others.  2,000 Points
  178. Was visiting Ralph Hutchison – the late pro at Saucon Valley and red-coated announcer at The Masters – at his home in Philadelphia. One of his claims to fame was that he introduced Winnie Walzer to Arnold Palmer.  While Bob and Ralph were going through his scrapbooks and memorabilia from Harold Hughes, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Hutchinson got two phone calls.  He was too busy to exchange anymore than pleasantries with the two callers and said to Bob, “You talk to them”.  The first caller was Joe Dey of USGA and PGA Tour fame.  The second was the former President, Richard Nixon.  Bob continued the pleasantries with “How’s it going?”  500 Points
  179. Growing up and learning golf out in the country of rural southeastern PA, he developed his game in a cow pasture by placing balls on top of fresh cow pies.  It was particularly good for fairway bunker practices as he learned not to dig too deep on those long iron shots.  Early on, he went home with some pretty messy clothes!  200 Points
  180. When the local country club was closed on Mondays, a group of neighborhood kids would get into the clubhouse and invented a tag game that they played in the men’s locker room.  They’d run around inside the clubhouse and the bases or safety zones were the lockers with the member’s names starting with a certain letter of the alphabet.  100 Points
  181. Was a good enough player and ball striker, but a terrible enough putter to earn the reputation of being the “Second Worst Putter in the History of Philadelphia Golf” – could write a book on more about that.  Fortunately, he improved greatly with the long putter and when he moved to the West Coast, his reputation stayed back East.  200 Points
  182. Like Bernhard Langer, he conquered the “yips” twice.  In doing so, subjected himself to hypnosis, special diets, special exercises, every imaginable grip and stance, vitamins, eyes closed, left-handed, and more than 80 putters.  502 Points
  183. Tied a misbehaving putter to the trunk of his car and dragged it along the highway for an 18-mile trip home from the course.  118 Points
  184. Started putting with a long putter in the mid-80’s well ahead of most everyone else.  280 Points
  185. Hunting golf balls on the Palm Course at Disney World in the early 70’s, he quickly pocketed over 200 balls in less than an hour.  Then he came upon about eight balls all in a neat pile.  Upon looking closer, he realized that a snake was encircling them, and hanging above her were 3 to 5 more snakes.  He decided that he didn’t need the balls that badly.  200 Points
  186. Had the proverbial “ball in the air” as the millenium passed, but how many golfers do you know that started 2000 with a broken window from it?  1,002 Points
  187. Has found as many as 58 balls on a single hole while playing golf in the desert.  58 Points
  188. Has found more than 8 dozen balls on a course while playing – twice.  192 Points
  189. Has broken 80 playing with only a putter.  80 Points
  190. Has matched par playing a course backwards.  72 points
  191. Has broken par in a 4-club tournament.  104 Points
  192. Playing a Pictionary/Charade type of game in a swimming pool with a fellow golf architecture nut, they would hint about famous holes by making different motions in the water.  Incredibly, they both identified almost every hole!  100 Points
  193. Has two cats; one named “Hogan” and the other “Nicklaus”.  200 Points
  194. Has picked up more than 125 cigarette and cigar butts around the first tee of a private golf club.  125 Points
  195. Witnessed two all-out fistfights on the course.  Both instances included golf pros – one a Masters Champ!  200 Points
  196. Has repaired more than fifty ball marks several times on a single green.  50 Points
  197. Each year, he caddies for minority girls playing their first 9-hole round of golf – ages 8-11.  109 Points
  198. Has caddied triples, playing the back nine with the golfers’ clubs.  309 Points
  199. During high school/college, he used to caddie for the owner of the company where he worked.  On the back nine, the owner would claim that, “Even my caddie could beat you,” whereupon Bob would play in with his customers and join them in the bar for drinks and dinner at the local country club. 109 Points
  200. Had a hole-in-one at the Northern California Golf Association Annual Meeting while playing with Paul Spengler, VP of Golf, Pebble Beach, John Zoeller, the former Exec. Dir. of the NCGA, and the late Ty Caplin, former President of the Northern California PGA.  Since there were more than 500 attending and spread out among five courses, and that the hole was a temporary one of 210 yards so it was quietly decided  that Bob didn’t have to buy everyone drinks – fortunately.  210 Points
  201. One time (1983), he had a management consulting assignment to Chicago and a round at Medinah #3 planned.  Unfortunately, on his way out, his clubs were forever lost.  Worse, his bag contained a Wilson 8802 putter, a Tommy Armour 693 Driver, a MacGregor Hogan 4-wood, a Wilson R-90 sand wedge, and my favorite set of early 1970’s Wilson Staff irons that I had used as a playing professional, all in excellent condition.  No golf, no Medinah #3, and no clubs!  500 Points

Note: This is only a summary of Mr. Fagan’s bonus points, it is not a complete compilation.   Scary…

The Head Nut

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Golf Nut Flashback

Golf Nuts,

In one of the great moments in Golf Nut Society and Masters history, fellow Golf Nut #1746, Jim Whittemore, was attending the 2000 Masters as a guest of the inimitable Fuzzy Zoeller.

During the Wednesday practice round, Fuzzy stepped to the par 3 12th tee when he spotted his friend Whittemore in the gallery. The rest is now part of Masters lore.

Check it out here…

Jim Whittemore (#1746) earned 5,000 Nut Points and was inducted into the Golf Nut Hall of Fame for his great feat.

Way to go, Whit!

The Head Nut

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Dave “Iron Byron” Wells, Golf Nut #2803

At the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, Memphis golf history is just a few feet from the first tee

By Mark Giannotto, Gannett News

They were standing at the fence line as Bubba Watson, Brandt Snedeker and Paul Casey stood ready to tee off their practice round Tuesday morning. This is where Dave and Nancy Wells live, adjacent to the tennis courts, with a backyard overlooking the first hole at TPC Southwind.

So on the first day reporters were allowed at the first fan-less World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, Dave Wells was one of the few Memphians doing exactly what he would have been doing if the tournament hadn’t been completely altered by the coronavirus pandemic.

He was watching the world’s best golfers, and none of them could have possibly known that the history of professional golf in Memphis sat right up the hill from that first tee box.

“I’ve got a museum of sorts on my second floor,” Wells said. “Do you want to come inside to see it?”

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The scene this week at the Memphis area’s annual PGA Tour stop is strange. There are no grandstands. There are no concession stands. There is no buzz. Just the hum of a few generators, and the cascading sounds of pool water filtering from some of the homes in this exclusive neighborhood. About the only familiar face running around the grounds is Millie, the well-trained dog of TPC Southwind course superintendent Nick Bisanz.

But Dave and Nancy Wells are here, even if this is all a bit odd for them, too. Nancy has been volunteering at this tournament since it was the Danny Thomas Classic at the old Colonial Country Club. She started as a walking scorer and, in recent years, worked at the information desk.

“There’s no one to inform this year,” she said. “It’s kind of a shame.”

So this will be unprecedented for unfortunate reasons, which also means it might just need a place in the room Dave Wells, 82, turned into an homage to the game he loves.

The son of Memphis Amateur Sports Hall of Famer Buddy Wells, who oversaw Crump Stadium and then Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium for the city, Dave Wells retired almost 30 years ago from his job at Schering-Plough. And even then, when someone would ask what he did for a living, Wells would joke, “I play golf.”

“The business relationships, a lot of it had to do with golf,” he explained.

Dave Wells stands in front of one of the many bookshelves filled with golf memorabilia inside his house next to the first tee box at TPC Southwind. Photo by Mark Giannotto/The Commercial Appeal

It means almost every inch of almost every wall of this “museum” is filled with golf memorabilia from seemingly every significant golfer of the past century. Sam Snead. Ben Hogan. Arnold Palmer. Jack Nicklaus. Lee Trevino. Seve Ballesteros. Tom Watson. You name it, aside from Tiger Woods, Wells probably has an autograph up somewhere.

There are also golf clubs from 1924 and golf balls commemorating rounds at the golf’s greatest courses, or holes-in-one, or times when Wells shot his age.

But it’s the pieces of Memphis golf lore that feel so important, particularly this year when most of Memphis can’t be here.

There’s the Ben Hogan signature, which prompts Wells to tell the story of how he once met Hogan at old Cherokee Golf Course at the corner of Lamar and Prescott. There’s also an autographed picture from Al Geiberger with this note: “You were here that great day.”

That great day is, of course, the day Geiberger shot a 59 at Colonial Country Club back in 1977. Wells was there, and he was there in 1965 when Jack Nicklaus won in Memphis.

“You would bring a chair and stand on it so you could see over the people in front of you,” Wells said.

There’s the faded program from the 1979 Danny Thomas Classic that his son used to get autographs. When they came home, Wells asked how many he managed to get. Three, his son said. It was only a few years later, when Wells leafed through the program in his son’s room, that he realized who those three autographs were from.

Gerald Ford, Bear Bryant and Danny Thomas himself.

There’s a poster from the 1985 tournament that notes the purse for the entire event was $500,000. Last year, the top three finishers at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational all earned more than that. This year, the total purse is $10.5 million.

On another shelf sits a photo of Patrick Reed from when he won an American Junior Golf Association event at TPC Southwind as a 14-year-old.

Another prized possession is a signed picture from Cary Middlecoff, the greatest Memphis golf product. It’s the first piece of memorabilia Wells ever got. It’s from 1948.

There’s also a Masters scrapbook that sits near it, with Palmer’s impeccable signature. Wells had it signed when he played a round with Palmer at Bay Hill decades ago.

“Arnold Palmer told me the most important thing about the game of golf is who you meet on the golf course,” Wells said.

And so for a little while Tuesday, walking around that second floor room full of magazine covers and photos and balls and clubs, this year’s tournament felt a little like every other PGA Tour event this city has hosted. Because the best part of this tournament is rarely the golfers. It’s the Memphians, be they fans or volunteers, who you meet.

It’s people like Dave Wells, leaning against his fence watching the world’s best tee off in his backyard, just a few feet away from Memphis golf history.

Dave “Iron Byron” Wells, Nut #2803, is a legendary member of the Golf Nut Society. He earned thousands of points for this story and all that was revealed within. – The Head Nut #0001

The Legend (#2020)

Ken Kellaney (#2020) has been a local legend in Arizona competitive golf circles for decades. He has won 15 Arizona state golf titles including a record 5 Arizona state amateur championships and has been named Arizona Golf Association Player of the Year a record 10 times. He has also participated in 13 USGA championships.

Now 63 years of age, he recently shot 10-under par 62 which included a double bogey and a missed four-footer. Good grief… No wonder we call him “The Legend”.

For that feat, Nut #2020 earned himself 620 Nut Points. I would have had no alternative but to award him 1,590 Points had he made the four-footer and not had a double bogey during the round.

But wait, there’s more…

Rockford’s greatest golfers No. 2: Ken Kellaney becomes an Arizona all-time great

This just in from a recent news article in Kellaney’s hometown…

Matt Trowbridge

Rockford (Illinois) Register Star

Former Guilford and Illini star Ken Kellaney watches his tee shot in the 2020 Arizona State Amateur, a tournament Kellaney has won a record five times. Kellaney was picked as the No. 2 greatest golfer in Rockford-area history.

Golf? Or swim?

Ken Kellaney chose to golf.

But he didn’t just play golf. He worked at it. From the very start when he first began as a 10-year-old at Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Country Club.

“My parents joined and at that time in the summer you could either play golf or swim,” said Kellaney, 64, who would grow up to become the most decorated amateur golfer to ever come out of Rockford. “I decided I liked golf much more than swimming. I just absolutely loved it from the day I started.

“I would go there every day. Even when I couldn’t play the course, I would go to the driving range. I just wore out the driving range. I didn’t have an instructor at that age. I would read Golf Digest and bring the magazine with me. They would always have some pro pointers. I would try it out on the driving range and see if it would help my game.

“I just loved the process. I have always been a driving range guy. To this day, I try to hit balls every day.”

Kellaney, picked the second-greatest golfer in Rockford-area history, went on to become the only Rockford golfer to finish in the top five of the state tournament three times, finishing, third, third and fifth for Guilford from 1972-74. He also had a standout career at Illinois, leading the Illini in scoring average for three years and making team captain as a senior, when he finished third in the Big Ten and was named honorable-mention All-American.Kellaney decided to go into banking after he graduated rather than chase a pro career, but he still had many of his greatest golf achievements ahead of him. He moved to Arizona in 1987 and has gone on to win eight Phoenix city titles, a record five Arizona State Amateur titles and is the only player to win the career grand slam of Arizona amateur golf, winning the Publinks, Mid-Amateur, Match Play and Stroke Play state titles.

He’s also a record 10-time Arizona Golf Association Player of the Year.

“You don’t get those kinds of awards being a poor golfer,” said former long-time Rock Valley College golf coach Steve Benjamin. “He could really play. And he was a really nice gentleman. I miss him.

“Kenny and I played a lot together back in the day. He had all the tools and knew how to use them. He hit the ball long and was a very good putter. Ken, his shots were professional. You could hear them. I’ve only played with a few amateurs where when they struck the ball, you could hear it. Kenny was definitely one of them.”

Kellaney won two tournaments in college, including one where he beat John Cook, a future 11-time winner on the PGA Tour, by six strokes.

Ken Kellaney, who finished in the top five at state for three years at Guilford, hits a shot in 1975, the summer after his freshman year at Illinois.

Former Illini Butch Pegoraro, Boylan’s 1967 state high school champ who went on to become the head pro for many years at Forest Hills Country Club, helped Kellaney get a scholarship from Illinois.

“The University of Florida was talking to me, but they weren’t able to offer me any type of scholarship and Illinois stepped up,” Kellaney recalled. “Butch Pegoraro lived right across the street from me and went to Illinois eight years ahead of me. He paved the way for me to meet the golf coach. The coach liked me and offered me a scholarship.”

After graduating from Illinois in 1979, Kellaney went to work as a bank examiner for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago while also earning his MBA. When he moved to Phoenix in 1987, he began a 30-year career servicing the banking needs of middle-market businesses, including 23 years with the National Bank of Arizona.

Former Guilford golf star Ken Kellaney made honorable-mention All-American as a senior at Illinois in 1979.

He also was appointed last year as the Independent Director of the Southwest Section Board for the Arizona Golf Association.

But he’s mostly known in Arizona golf circles for winning the Phoenix area’s biggest amateur tournaments. Many, many times.

“I feel very fortunate,” Kellaney said. “There are a lot of great players who have come down here, and we’ve got some great golf schools. I was competing against kids from Arizona State and the University of Arizona, plus a lot of former professionals that got their amateur status back.”

Kellaney considers his fourth and fifth Arizona State Amateur titles as his favorite golf achievements.

“No one had ever won more than four, and I was recovering from a bout with melanoma a couple of years before that,” he said. “That really set me back. When I rebounded from cancer and won the Arizona State Amateur two years back-to-back, that was my most rewarding moment in golf, because of what I overcame.”

Ken Kellaney, Nut #2020, picked up 10,000 Nut Points for his 10 Player of the Year titles, 2,000 for his Rockford Hall of Fame induction, and another 1,500 for winning another Arizona State Amateur after defeating melanoma. No wonder they call him The Legend in Arizona competitive circles. The man can score. – The Head Nut