Golf Nut Hall of Fame

Since our founding in 1986, the Golf Nut Society has uncovered thousands of truly certifiable golf nuts. Some of them have reached heights of commitment that earned them induction into the Golf Nut Hall of Fame. Following are our Hall of Fame inductees…

2021 Golf Nut of the Year!

Dave Wells (#2803)

Dave Wells, Certified Golf Nut #2803, was named 2021 Golf Nut of the Year by the Golf Nut Society. Wells, a resident of Memphis, Tennessee, is the quintessential golf nut in every sense of the word. An excellent golfer who has played golf with numerous tour players, Dave is still an autograph hound and inveterate golf memorabilia collector. Nicknamed “Iron Byron” by none other than Julius “Dr. J” Irving for his uncanny accuracy off the tee, Dave has shot his age over 200 times, and every time he tees it up he is a threat to do it again.

He lives on the first tee of TPC Southwind, the home of the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Classic and can literally sit in his backyard and watch players tee off in the event.

He has played golf all across America and has attended numerous world-class PGA Tour events and Ryder Cups.

And then there’s his golf museum which takes up a large room in his home…

In winning the title, “Iron Byron” had an Entrance Exam score of 11,614 Nut Points, and 37,207 Bonus Points for a total of 48,821 Nut Points, placing him fourth on the All-Time Leading Scorers list.

An 84-year-old 10.6 handicap golfer, his lowest Index was 1.0, Wells is a long-time member of the Golf Nut Society and one of our favorites for his active involvement, great sense of humor, and unmatched passion for the game. Here are some of his more impressive feats:

BONUS POINTS SUMMARY

Was given the nickname “Iron Byron” by none other than Julius Erving (“Dr. J”) after they were paired together in a pro-am and Dave hit every single fairway. 1,000 Points
Dave and Nancy Wells live adjacent to the tennis courts, with a backyard overlooking the first hole at TPC Southwind. 1,000 Points
On the first day 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 players tee off from his back yard. 500 Points
Has a spectacular golf museum on the second floor of his home. 5,000 Points

Has 65 trophies and 150 golf books in his home’s golf museum. 1,150 Points
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.” 500 Points
Almost every inch of almost every wall of his “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. 1,000 Points

There’s a 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. 1,500 Points
There’s also an autographed picture from Al Geiberger with this note: “You were here that great day,” when Geiberger shot the first 59 in tour history. 1,059 Points
Dave was also there in 1965 when Nicklaus won the Memphis Classic. 165 Points
“Iron Byron” would always bring a chair to the events to stand on so he could see over the people in front of him. 100 Points
He has a faded program from the 1979 Danny Thomas Classic that his son used to get autographs. When they came home, Dave asked how many he managed to get. “Three,” his son said. A few years later, Dave was leafing through the program in his son’s room and noticed the three autographs were Gerald Ford, Bear Bryant and Danny Thomas. 503 Points
On another shelf in his museum sits a photo of Patrick Reed from when he won an American Junior Golf Association event at TPC Southwind as a 14-year-old. 114 Points
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. 948 Points (See top photo)
Also has a Scrapbook given to him by Cary Middlecoff. It is one given to Middlecoff one year as a Masters participant, honoring the winner of the Masters the prior year. Cary received the scrapbook in 1965. It was entitled ‘Arnold Palmer’s Scrap Book’ honoring Arnie’s win in 1964…..many photos, scorecards, history of the Masters, newspaper headlines and articles written during the 1964 tournament and many other photos of the golfers playing in the 1964 Masters (See bottom of photo below.)

When Dave had the opportunity to play a round with Arnie in 1989, he carried the “Arnold Palmer Scrapbook” with him, and Palmer honored him by immediately signing it upon meeting him. So, you could say, it all started with the gift of this famous book from Cary Middlecoff…and Arnold’s autograph makes it a keeper for life. 2,500 Points
Has a photo of Arnold Palmer and himself walking together up the 18^th hole as they finished their round together. 1,018 Points

“Arnold Palmer told me the most important thing about the game of golf is who you meet on the golf course,” Wells said. 500 Points
After his round with Palmer, he asked Wells, “Dave, what do you do for a living?” When he returned home, he told his boss what Palmer asked and his boss replied, “I would like to have been there to hear your answer!” 500 Points
Has played every golf course on the West Coast Swing (Pebble Beach, Hawaii, Palm Springs, and San Diego). 500 Points
Won “Low Gross” in the CEO Open Gross at TPC Sawgrass which earned him a spot in the 1990 AT&T Pro-Am. 1,000 Points
Won two Father-Son championships (‘77/’78), proving that he has his priorities in order. 200 Points
Has made 4 holes-in-one. 4,000 Points
Has shot his age over 200 times. 2,000 Points
“Retired” the first 50 golf balls with which he shot his age, and still has them. 500 Points
Made a Double-Eagle – the shot of his life – on the 10^th hole at Nairn GC in Scotland. 200 Points
Has over 200 golfer autographs dating back to 1946 including Hogan, Snead, Palmer Middlecoff and many others. 2,000 Points
Has played golf with tour pros Arnold Palmer, Sandy Lyle, Tom Kite, Neal Lancaster, Ted Purdy, David Frost, Hubert Green, Doug Barron, Clark Dennis, Dale Douglass, John Inman, and Jeff Hart. 1,300 Points
Has autographed photos of Padraig Harrington and Steve Stricker. 500 Points

Got Bob Hope’s autograph while attending the 1990 Bob Hope Desert Classic. 500 Points
Has autographed photos of LPGA founder Marilyn Smith, Woody Austin, Boo Weekley, and David Toms. 400 Points
Witnessed Justin Leonard’s winning Ryder Cup putt in person and got Leonard’s autograph. 1,000 Points
In the “International Section” of his golf museum he has autographs from Louis Oosthuizen, Seve Ballesteros, Rory McIlroy, Ernie Els, Darren Clarke, Jon Rahm, Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell, Lee Westwood and KJ Choi, and also has Justin Rose’s glove from the 2021 Memphis Classic. 1,200 Points
Got an autograph from Gene Sarazen when he was 95 years old and still playing golf at Marco Island. 950 Points
Has Lee Trevino’s autograph. 500 Points
Has autographs from Ken Venturi, Jerry Pate, Ted Purdy (his Scottsdale neighbor), Billy Casper, and Johnny Miller. 600 Points
Has a birthday card from David Feherty. 500 Points
Has a golf book about Payne Stewart, autographed by Stewart. 300 Points
Has several autographed golf balls including from Greg Norman, Tom Kite, John Daly, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Andrew Magee and Dan Quayle. 600 Points
Has written 26 golf articles over the last 10 years for two local magazines. Quite an achievement for a non-golf writer! 2,600 Points

Last, but not least, Dave has his wife’s grandfather’s golf clubs from 1924 proudly displayed in his golf museum. They include six clubs (Jackson Park Driver not shown because shaft/clubhead were broken), five Irons (Mashie Iron, Mid Iron, 1-Iron, and two putters (one a Champion brand hand-made putter). Also in the bag were two Spalding golf balls and three short tees from that era. 600 Points

Dave Wells, Certified Golf Nut #2803, embodies everything that makes the Golf Nut Society what it is…a society for golfers who will never win a major, but who love the game with a passion that surpasses all understanding. We proudly celebrate Dave “Iron Byron” Wells’ victory! He is a worthy recipient of the title 2021 Golf Nut of the Year.

The Head Nut

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Peter Moore (#0002)

Co-Founder of the Golf Nut Society

Sadly, we lost Peter Moore on April 30, 2022 to a long and difficult struggle with a vicious disease that finally took his life.

Peter Moore was a legend in the marketing and design world, with primary focus on athletic gear (sneakers and other athletic apparel). Below are a few examples of his life’s work…

The iconic first Air Jordan shoe. Buyers lined up around the block to buy these shoes the day they arrived at shoe stores across America. To this day the shoe is a highly sought after collector’s item.

Michael Jordan promoting the first Air Jordan shoe.

The Nike Jumpman logo can be seen on athletic apparel worldwide.

The ubiquitous Shark logo defined Greg Norman.

Peter redesigned the TaylorMade logo years ago and it remains their official to this day.

Peter revitalized adidas with his adidas logo redesign, adidas Equipment.

The redesigned Wimbledon Championship logo.

And then there were the unique Nike posters, many of them collector’s art today…

Imagine the posters Peter could have done for Tiger Woods…but Peter had already left Nike for adidas when Tiger arrived on the scene.

There are many other examples of Peter’s work, but needless to say, he is a legend, having earned multiple Clios and Beldings (The design industry’s version of the Oscar.)

And of course, our favorite Peter Moore logo is this one…

Peter was also an excellent golfer, having won the California Public Links Championship when a young amateur golfer in San Diego, and other events in the Pacific Northwest including the high profile Boy’s Club Chapman Pro-Am back in the 70s with boyhood friend and former tour player David Gibson.

Peter Moore was co-founder of the Golf Nut Society and had a profound impact on its presence and popularity in the world of golf.

May He Rest In Peace,

The Head Nut

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Here is Peter Moore’s obituary…

Jim Whittemore (#1746)

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…

Charlie Madge #4025

Charlie Madge is our reigning Golf Nut of the Year, and a Golf Nut Society legend. To say that Charlie is a golf nut is the understatement of the 21st century. Here’s a letter from #4025 that should answer why he is 2019 Golf Nut of the Year We did not name a 2020 Golf Nut of the Year due to the lovely coronavirus.) Here are a few (OK, a LOT of words) from Charlie…

Dear Founder,

I started playing golf at Purdue in 1949 just before I graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering. Within three months I was shooting in the low 70’s. Over sixty eight years I have documented a list of 90 golfing accomplishments that I am publishing in a book I am currently writing. Included are shooting my age or better 342 times with my best at age 86 when I shot a 69 or seventeen under my age. I shot a 29 for nine holes. I have played 525 different courses with 27 outside the US. In December 2017 I won my fifth Florida State Senior Olympics championship at age 90. Have played 34 of Golf Digest’s top 100. I really am the world’s weirdest golf nut.

I am currently working with the new PGA Tour Superstore in Altamonte Springs, FL to analyze my swing to find a better fit of equipment to improve my driving distance. I normally build my own clubs and have compared the latest Callaway and Ping drivers to my own driver. I am disappointed and proud that after an expert club fitting, their latest is still not as good as my current Snake Eyes adjustable weighted driver with an “A” flex shaft, one inch longer that normal with a mid-sized grip. Hope to go in tomorrow to try the latest TaylorMade ladies driver that seems to be a possible fit for my ever decreasing swing speed.

I am strictly an amateur and do not publish for sale, mostly to family or friends. Two genealogy books, one for my parents and one for my wife’s parents. One history of the High Pressure Polyethylene Process for Union Carbide. A copy is in the Othmer Library in Philadelphia for the World Chemical processes. One history of the Port Malabar Club where I was a member for twenty-three years with seven senior championships, one putting championship to qualify for the David Pelz World Putting Championship where I finished 14th in Florida against the pros. My record practice putts at home is 2,489 in a row from five feet and 99 in a row from nine feet.

My fifth book, Golfing with Charlie is over 400 pages and documents 90 specific accomplishments in the 68 years that I have been playing. I have designed and built 163 different putters. I make 100 putts in a row from five feet every month. My previous records were 2,489 from five feet and 99 from 9 feet over six years ago. My new record is 3,100 in a row. The goal was 3,000 but after making it, I just kept going. It took a couple of years because my weak back starts to hurt and get stiff.

I am lucky to still be here. Playing with wife and friends at Hammock Dunes in FL. I was even par after 14 holes when a terrible rain storm with really dark clouds and multiple lightning strikes accompanied by loud thunder occurred. I needed one more birdie to shoot my age of 71. My wife begged me to quit and my friends suggested I was nuts to continue play. They quit but I continued, got the needed birdie and three pars, was ringing wet but VERY happy. My wife joked that my tombstone would have read, “Died Trying!”

Fore,

Charlie

Click to here read the rest of the story about the amazing Charlie Madge!

Michael Jordan (#0023)

There is only one Michael Jordan. And that goes for golf as well as basketball. Michael joined in our first year (1986) and was one of our first members. As fate would have it, I was able to assign him Nut #0023 when he joined. I guess it was destiny.

Michael kept scoring from all over the course and soon had enough Nut Points to put hi over the top in the Golf Nut of they Year competition, winning the title in 1989. It made worldwide news even though at that time there was no Internet, email or social media. He was that big. Here is a summary of his Nut Points…

Michael Jordan’s 1989 Golf Nut of the Year Summary

EXAM SCORE: 5,923 POINTS

BONUS NUT POINTS: 20,859 POINTS

TOTAL : 26,782 POINTS

BONUS NUT POINTS

1. Plays no basketball during the off-season. Ruling: 300 Points.

2. Takes his clubs with him everywhere during the off-season. 300 Points.

3. Played over 150 rounds of golf in 1989 during his four-month off-season. That’s 37.5 rounds a month, in addition to all of his other off-season promotional and business activities. 375 Points.

4. Played in 5 PGA Tour and 12 charity events during the summer of 1989. 170 Points.

5. Plays golf or hits balls everyday during the off-season. 200 Points.

6. Has a six-hole putting green in the basement of his home. 60 points.

7. Has been seen on more than one occasion practicing his swing in front of the picture window in the front yard of his Chicago home im the dead of winter in below-freezing temperatures. 100 Points.

8. Hits whiffle balls in the living room of his home while his wife films his swing with a video camera. 250 Points.

9. Is building a new home with a nine-hole outdoor putting green and an indoor golf center complete with driving net, high- speed video camera, computerized golf swing analyzer and six- hole putting green. 2,000 Points.

10. Immediately after playing in the 1988 Fred Meyer Challenge Pro-Am in Portland, Oregon he drove across town to another golf course and played until dark, then boarded a Lear jet the next morning and flew to Vail, Colorado where he teed-off that afternoon in the Jerry Ford Invitational Pro-Am. 300 Points.

11. Hosted the Michael Jordan Charity Golf Classic in North Carolina on June 19, 1988, and then took a “red-eye” to Portland, Oregon where he played the following morning in the United Cerebral Palsey Charity event. He then skipped the post-round dinner and played until dark, caught a late-night flight to Seattle, Washington where he enjoyed a friendly foursome match the following morning. Three rounds in three cities in three days, coast-to-coast. 350 Points.

12. Teed-off with The Head Nut at 2 p.m. in Vancouver, Washington and played 45 holes of golf (eight consecutive hours), finishing his “round” at 10 p.m. in total darkness. Michael then boarded an 11:15 p.m. flight and flew all night to Chicago where he drove directly to Olympia Fields Golf Club and played another 54 holes of golf. A grand total of 99 holes in less than 24 hours in two cities half a continent apart. 500 Points.

13. Was a “no-show” for his 1988 NBA MVP award in Chicago. He was at Pinehurst Golf Resort in North Carolina playing 36 holes of golf, and had been there since the day after the NBA season ended.

He began each day with a 7:30 A.M. lesson, followed by 18 holes of golf, followed by a one-hour practice session on the range. After lunch, another hour of practice, followed by a second 18 holes, followed by yet another hour of practice. This continued for two consecutive week.; the final total being 504 holes of golf and who knows how many practice balls! Ruling: 1,000 Points.

14. The day following the end of his 1989 NBA season he left Chicago at 5 p.m. and drove all night to Pinehurst, North Carolina (a distance of 800 miles) where he joined friends the next morning for a 10 a.m. tee time and 36 holes of golf, without a wink of sleep the night before. He then drove to Rexford Plantation, South Carolina and played 54 holes a day for four consecutive days. 252 holes of golf in 5 days in 2 different cities. 300 Points.

15. Has “Registered Golf Nut” license plate frames on the front and back license plates of all four of his automobiles, including his Ferrari Testarossa. 200 Points.

16. Organized the first-annual “Michael Jordan UNCF Celebrity Classic” golf tournament this past year. 500 Points.

17. Played until after dark and missed most of the pairings party on the first evening of the “UNCF Celebrity Classic”. 200 Points.

18. Missed the cocktail hour and was a half-hour late for the black-tie dinner the second evening of the “Classic”, because he was getting in a few extra holes. 200 Points.

19. Played 36 holes in Phoenix with three Certified Golf Nuts the day before he and the Bulls defeated the Phoenix Suns for the 1993 NBA Championship. 1,036 Points

In winning the 1989 Golf Nut of the Year title, Michael Jordan also became the all-time leading scorer in the Golf Nut Society, a title he held for a few years before relinquishing it to Bob Fagan a few years later.

Additional bonus points earned after winning Golf Nut of the Year title…

1. Withdrew from 1990 NBA “Slam Dunk Contest “due to injury”, and played 36 holes of golf the same day. 360 Points

2. Respectfully declined to attend a White House reception for the 1991 World Champion Chicago Bulls. Played golf instead. 1,000 Points

3. Upon being notified of a one-game suspension by the NBA two days before the All-Star Game in Orlando, he immediately flew to Orlando and played 36 holes of golf while his Bulls teammates were playing a game in Phoenix. He also skipped the NBA All-Star Game’s “Media Day” to play another 36 holes. 860 Points

4. Challenged Mickey Mouse to a putting contest while in Orlando. 100 Points

5. When the 1993 All-Star Game was held in chilly Salt Lake City, he skipped “Media Day” and flew to Las Vegas with two other All-Stars to play golf at famous Shadow Creek. When asked why he flew to Las Vegas, he stated that the NBA should arrange to hold All-Star Games only in warm-weather cities so he could more easily play golf. 500 Points.

6. Played 36 holes of golf with T.H. Nut on the day before the first game of the 1993 NBA Finals in Phoenix, squeezing basketball practice in between the two rounds. 360 Points.

7. Played another 18 holes on the day between Game 1 and Game 2 of the NBA Finals. 180 Points.

8. Retired from basketball at the peak of his career in order to play more golf. 3,000 Points

9. Lived on a golf course while playing minor league baseball in the summer of 1994. 500 Points

10. Played golf everyday while playing in the Phoenix Fall Baseball League. 500 Points

11. Got up at 4 AM in Chicago on the morning after having his jersey retired, and flew to Carefree, Arizona to play 27 holes of golf with T.H. Nut, Roy Green and Garry Templeton. 400 Points

12. In 2019, he built his own exclusive golf course in Florida and he doesn’t even live in Florida. 5,018 Points

This is only a partial listing of Michael Jordan’s accumulated bonus points. He has even more Nut Points, but you get the idea.

Bob Hope was also one of our earliest members. The Head Nut sent a letter to him, offering Mr. Hope a position on our board of directors and he quickly accepted in this gracious letter we received at Nut House back in 1989…

Thank you, Mr. Hope. Rest In Peace. – The Head Nut

Ken Hoel (#1231)

Ken is known within the Society by his nickname, “ATSCL”, which stands for All-Time Swing Change Leader. Nobody in the history of golf has ever changed their golf swing more than ATSCL. His personal best is six swing changes in a single round, and his enjoyment of the game comes solely from trying new swings. ATSCL has been known to write his backswing swing key on the toe of his left shoe with a Sharpie, and is downswing key on the toe of his left shoe. He also writes swing keys on the thumb of his glove so he can see it just before he starts his backswing. His greatest challenge is that he might just decide to change his swing sometime between his backswing and his downswing!

Howdy Giles (#2073)

Howdy, perhaps Arnold Palmer’s best friend when The King was at the peak of his popularity, would fly to The Masters with Arnie in his private jet every year. It was just he and Arnie and the co-pilot.

A dentist, he gained worldwide fame shortly after becoming Arnold Palmer’s dentist. When The King would make his semi-annual visit to Howdy to get his teeth checked, cleaned and filled, Howdy would steal a little bit of the gold from Arnie’s teeth. When, after a few visits, he had enough to make a gold ball marker, #2073 did just that. Then he had a brainstorm. He bought some black velvet, stopped by his local bank and rented a safe deposit box, placed the black velvet in the bottom of the box, lovingly placed the ball marker in the middle of the velvet, closed the safety deposit box and locked it, earning himself 3,000 Nut Points.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Here’s how he won the 1994 Golf Nut of the Year title…

EXAMINATION SCORE: 4,672 Points

BONUS POINTS: 14,816 Points

TOTAL 19,488 Points

BONUS POINTS SUMMARY

1. Has been attending The Masters since 1968. 260 Points

2. First met Arnie 24 years ago, in 1970, at the grand opening of one of his Pitch & Putt courses, and had his picture taken with The King. 340 Points

3. Has golfed with Arnie over 100 times. 1,000 Points

4. Has been Arnie’s dentist since 1977. 1,077 Points

5. Has a gold ball marker made from the gold in Arnie’s dental fillings. 3,000 Points

6. Tending the bar in his home is a life-size cut-out of Arnie from a past Pennzoil promotion. 100 Points

7. Has a mock locker room near the bar with two lockers. The nameplate on Locker #1 reads “Arnold Palmer”; Locker #2, of course, reads “Howdy Giles”. 200 Points

8. Most of the flat surfaces and walls are dedicated to Palmer memorabilia (visors, clubs, photos, golf gloves, magazine covers, books, golf balls, letters, scorecards, etc.) Doc Giffin, Arnie’s long-time publicist, likes to say that Howdy’s home is decorated in “early, middle and late Palmer.” 100 Points

9. Is a member of three Palmer-owned or designed golf courses (Bay Hill, Latrobe, Isleworth). 300 Points

10. Drives a Cadillac, and buys them only from dealerships owned by Arnold Palmer. 200 Points

11. His personal stationery has an image of Arnie in the center. 100 Points

12. Was named “Commander-In-Chief” of Arnie’s Army by Arnie’s wife, Winnie. 1,000 Points

13. In the mid-1960’s his fiance, Carolyn (now his wife), bought him a set of Arnold Palmer golf clubs. Soon thereafter, he began buying all of his clothes from “The Arnold Palmer Collection” at Wanamakers. 260 Points

14. Both of his daughters attended Wake Forest, Arnie’s alma mater. 200 Points

15. Bought a condo at Bay Hill that was located under the unit once occupied by Arnold Palmer, and that was the reason he bought it! 300 Points

16. The other reason he bought the condo was that it was across the driveway from where Arnie currently lived. 300 Points

17. He built a deck on his condo so he could sit on the deck and watch Arnie work on his clubs in his garage. 300 Points

18. Is a member of six golf clubs, including Pine Valley and The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. He is one of only 1,000 members of the R&A worldwide. 1,000 Points

19. On one occasion he flew to the R&A “Autumn Town Members vs Out-Of-Town Members tournament, but his wife booked him on a flight to London from Philadelphia through Chicago, and he got caught in a snowstorm in Chicago. He called St. Andrews from Chicago and asked to have his tee time moved from 12:30 to 2:00 P.M., but he still arrived late, joining his partner on the front nine where he had built a 2-Up lead playing alone. They went on to lose the match. 200 Points

20. Is a USGA Rules Official and officiates at most major USGA events. 500 Points

21. He and his wife have dined with Arnie and Nicklaus and their wives. 200 Points

22. Has had dinner with Jack Lemmon (Registered Golf Nut #0819). 100 Points

23. Has had cocktails with Bob Hope (Registered Golf Nut #0025 and GNSA Board Member). 100 Points

24. Has walked 18 holes with George Bush and Arnold Palmer, and took 220 photos during the round. 220 Points

25. Took all of the photos for the recent book, “Arnie — Inside The Legend”. 250 Points

26. Has a print of Palmer, Nicklaus, Kite, Ballesteros, Crenshaw and Hal Sutton, autographed by all of the players. 100 Points

27. Heard about a special Masters album that had been made for each Augusta member on the occasion of Arnie’s victory in 1964. Decided that he just had to have one of those albums, and located a collector who owned one. The collector said that the only thing he would trade for would be a putter that Arnold Palmer had used. Knowing that Arnie never gives away any of his clubs, he bought a new “Arnold Palmer” putter and arranged for Arnie to play with it and sign a letter of authenticity. The collector was thrilled and made the swap. 164 Points

28. Putts with a putter once owned by The King, but it was like pulling teeth to get it. 500 Points

29. Plays with Arnold Palmer autographed Peerless woods; but these are real autographed woods. He had Arnie autograph them, and then he had the finish put on! 300 Points

30. Arose last November at 5:00 A.M. and drove the seven hours from Orlando to Augusta to play Augusta National that afternoon and the following day. His caddie turned out to be the nephew of “Iron Man”, Arnie’s famous Masters caddie. He had his picture taken with Iron Man’s nephew. 200 Points

31. Attended the U.S. Senior Open at Pinehurst to watch Arnie play. After the round, he and some friends went to Pinehurst Plantation (designed by Arnie, of course) to play eighteen holes. Arnie showed up unexpectedly with a cart full of beer and followed Howdy’s group around, driving the beer cart and taking photos of everyone. 300 Points

32. Attended Arnie’s final U.S. Open at Oakmont. Was a guest at Arnie’s home in Latrobe on Tuesday evening. Arnie also autographed and gave Howdy the ball that he used to sink the birdie putt on the 18th hole on Thursday. Howdy was also a rules official for the event. 500 Points

33. Arnie and Winnie called Howdy at 6:30 A.M. on his birthday recently, hoping to wake him up from a sound sleep to wish him “Happy Birthday”. Unfortunately, he had been up since 5:45 A.M., organizing his collection of over 100 Arnold Palmer videos. 145 Points

34. And the ultimate golf nut’s dream, he flies to The Masters every year in Arnie’s Lear Jet, with The King at the controls! 3,000 Points

Dr. Howdy Giles, Certified Golf Nut #2073, won the 1994 Golf Nut of the Year title by amassing 19,488 points, the second-highest point total in Golf Nut Society history up to that point. He had a solid entrance examination score of 4,672 points but blew away the competition with 14,816 bonus points. Howdy is definitely living a golf nut’s dream!

Scott Houston (#1186)

The nuttiest Nut of all, won the Scott was the #1 caddie at Pebble Beach for years, and when Palmer’s group purchased the course he became The King’s caddie whenever he visited. On one visit, Palmer was 148 yards from the green on #18 and a conversation ensued between he and Arnie. They settled on an 8-iron for the shot and Arnie stiffed it. Scott gave him his putter, took his 8-iron and put it back in the bag, retrieved the divot and put it in his caddie jacket’s pocket. After the round, #1186 made history by buying a flower pot and planting the divot in the pot, and kept it alive for several years. Here’s the rest of the amazing story…

And here is #1186’s 2002 Golf Nut of the Year Bonus Points Summary…

EXAMINATION SCORE: 15,918 Nut Points

BONUS POINTS: 43,818 Bonus Points

TOTAL: 59,736 Total Nut Points

BONUS POINTS SUMMARY

Left his full-time position as executive director of the Monterey Peninsula Chamber of Commerce to follow his dream and become a full-time caddie at Pebble Beach. 5,000 Points
Has been caddieing full-time at Pebble Beach for eight years. 800 Points
Regularly competes in the Pebble Beach Caddie Cup, a four-man team event among the caddies at the various courses on Monterey Peninsula. It is the only tournament in the world that includes Cypress Point in the rotation. 500 Points
Has caddied for Arnold Palmer at Pebble Beach on several occasions, and when Arnie comes to Pebble Beach, he requests Scott as his caddie. 5,000 Points
While caddying for Arnold Palmer, he pocketed a divot taken by Arnie on the 18^th hole at Pebble and planted it in a flowerpot. After two years he continues to cultivate it, takes it with him when he goes to the range to practice, and even takes it out for Sunday drives in the country so “Arnie The Divot” can get some much-needed sun. 5,000 points
His letters about his caddying experiences with The King were so well-written and such compelling reading that they made it into the Golf Nuts Society’s official book, Golf Nuts – You’ve Got To Be Committed. 1,000 Points
Has caddied for Clint Eastwood, Roger Staubach, and Carlton Fisk. 700 Points
Was named to the Professional Caddies Hall of Fame for his commitment and service to the caddie profession. 5,000 Points
For five years he has kept a personal diary of dubious, humorous, and inspirational golf experiences while caddying at Pebble Beach. 1,005 Points
Has played Cypress Point, Pebble Beach, Poppy Hills, Spanish Bay and Spyglass Hill at night. 500 Points
Once hit a golf shot in seven states in the northeastern U.S. (New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and Rhode Island) in a single day. 1,700 Points
Has found over 500 “signature model” golf balls during his golf career, many of them while caddying at Pebble Beach. 500 Points
Once paid $90 for a “Lighthorse Harry Cooper” signature model ball, which is now worth over $300. 390 Points
Was there on the day that they dredged the lake at Pacific Grove Golf Course, and found so many old classic balls that he created his own personal Golf Ball Museum. 500 Points
Included in his golf ball collection are autographed signature balls from Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Sam Snead. And any golf nut knows that golf professionals rarely if ever autograph golf balls. 400 Points
When invited to play Spyglass Hill Golf Club on Masters Sunday in 2000, he accepted the invitation but brought a portable television set with him so he could watch the tournament while playing. 180 Points
Has played night golf at Spanish Bay Golf Links with glow in the dark golf balls. 500 Points.
Created the “Pebble Beach Caddie” web page on the Pebble Beach Golf Links web site. 2,000 Points

This is only a partial listing of Scott Houston’s bonus points accumulation.

Scott is the first professional caddie to win the prestigious Golf Nut of the Year award, and the first Certified Golf Nut to be inducted into the Professional Caddies Association Hall of Fame.

The boy is totally nuts…

Joe Malay (#0020)

1986 Golf Nut of the Year Bonus Points Summary

EXAMINATION SCORE: 1,876 Nut Points

BONUS POINTS: 7,223 Bonus Points

TOTAL: 9,099 Total Nut Points

Joe is our first-ever Golf Nut of the Year, which makes him unique, and unique is the perfect description of Joe Malay. Here’s a little background on Joe, written the year he won the title, just in case you might not think he’s unique…

Bonus Points Summary

Joe Malay doesn’t have a job…

“Well, it’s a problem,” he says. “It would have a negative effect on my golf. You see, I love golf too much to work, and golf and work are incompatible. I love to play in golf tournaments, so that’s what I do. I plan to get a job when I’m too old to work.” His source of income?

“To be determined at a later date,” says Joe. “I’m independently happy.”

Joe Malay has always marched to the sound of a different drummer. He lives in Weiser, Idaho, a small town in western Idaho, and everybody knows Joe. Well, except his Wife, Mary. Joe isn’t home a lot during the golf season, so when someone calls and asks, “Where’s Joe?,” Mary replies, “I don’t know, let me check the IGA (Idaho Golf Association) schedule.” Every golf nut needs an understanding wife, but Mary breaks all the records.

Joe played in 53 tournaments in 1986, and the tournament season is only nine months long so that adds up to nearly six tournaments a month! In fact, he’ll often play in two tournaments on the same weekend, getting a morning tee time in one, and an afternoon tee time in the other.

Joe gets in plenty of practice rounds too. He averages over 300 rounds of golf a year, and that’s done in only nine months, since it gets pretty cold in Idaho in the winter. If you run the numbers, you’ll quickly determine that Joe averages thirty-eight 18-hole rounds of golf a month! The final tournament of the year for Joe is the Pneumonia Open, which pretty much says it all about Joe.

Speaking of cold weather, one bitter cold day in the dead of winter, Joe decided that he needed a round of golf to keep from going nuts. The temperature was 18 degrees, the wind was blowing 20 mph, the fairways, greens and water hazards were frozen solid, and the flagsticks were frozen in the cups. Joe shot an unbelievable 62 at Gem County Muni in Emmett, Idaho, and that was with a ball out-of-bounds on one hole!

Yes, Joe can play. He won the 1986 Idaho Amateur and dozens of other tournaments during his storied career. But Joe is best known for his wardrobe and his antics. He dresses like a rodeo clown, and makes all of his own outfits. If Joe shows up wearing two socks of the same color, he obviously dressed in the dark. And all of his pants are knee-length. So it’s not hard to spot Joe from several fairways over, and if you ask him where he got the outfit, he answers, “Downtown Weiser! Joe was once given a pair of brand new $75 slacks that his benefactor had received as a birthday gift from his wife. “Joe, only you would have the courage to wear these pants,” he said. And, yes, Joe wore them.

One of Joe’s most famous antics was the time he had to charter a crop duster to fly him to a tournament. He was on his way to the Treasure Valley Open in Caldwell, Idaho, from his home in Weiser, when he had a flat tire. He got out to fix the flat, but was surprised to find that his spare was flat too. Undaunted, Joe threw his clubs over his shoulder, walked to the nearest farmhouse, got a ride to the airport, and hired the local crop duster to fly him to the tournament for $85.

As they flew over the course, Joe saw that his group was on the tee, and told the pilot to fly low over the small lake on the course, saying that he was going to jump in the lake with his clubs over his shoulder. Fortunately, the pilot talked him out of it, took him to the Boise airport, where Joe grabbed a cab, gave the driver $10 for a $3 fare and said, “Run all the lights!” Joe arrived at the first tee just in time to see his group walking toward the first green. They had already hit their second shots, which meant Joe was disqualified.

“No problem,” said Joe, “I just left my clubs with one of the officials, and caddied for a buddy the next four days.”

Speaking of caddying, Joe was named the “Best-Dressed Caddie” in the 1980 U.S. Open by one of the USGA officials. He was caddying for friend and fellow golf nut Scott Masingill, who had qualified for the event, and Joe caught the attention of everyone – officials and spectators alike.

Our favorite story about Joe, though, is the time he qualified for the Sunnehanna Tournament in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, but didn’t have the money for the airfare. So, no problem. Joe hitchhiked from Weiser to Johnstown. “It only took ten days,” says Joe, “But they were getting a little worried since I was the last one to arrive and nobody knew where I was, including my wife.” He hitchhiked home, too, after the tournament was over.

Joe is also well known for his drivers. They range in length from 48” to 60”, but perhaps his most famous driver was the 48” 9.5 Degree Taylor Made Tour Burner with reverse-wrapped carbon graphite shaft. What makes it unique is the valve stem inserted into the top of the grip. You see, Joe hits it pretty hard, and he kept caving in the steel head of his driver. So he decided that the club just needed a little reinforcement. Joe just made sure that there was plenty of epoxy down where the clubhead joins the shaft, inserted the valve stem in the grip, took the club down to the local service station, and pumped it up to about 58 psi. Now he can hit it just as hard as he wants. Joe claims to be the only golfer in the world who ever carried an air pressure gauge in his golf bag, and we’d have to agree with that!

Joe once made a hole-in-one in a tournament, but on the wrong hole. They were giving away a brand new car for a hole-in-one on the third hole, and Joe made a hole-in-one on the sixteenth. Not to be denied, however, Joe talked the car dealer into letting him drive the car for a week if he promised to leave the name of the dealer painted on the windows of the car for advertising.

In spite of Joe’s heavy schedule and obvious priorities, he still finds time to involve himself in numerous charitable and civic activities. He is a true living legend in Idaho, and a credit to the game of golf. In fact, in 1986 he received the Jefferson Award, a national recognition award presented by the Reagan Administration for his civic and charitable work around Idaho.

Nobby Orens (#2259)

On July 20, 1999 Nobby Orens entered the Guinness Book of World Records by playing 18 holes of golf in London, New York and Los Angeles. In a single day.

Honest.

He teed off at 4:58 a.m. at Stockley Park Golf Course in London, England then took The Concorde to New York, arriving at 9:20 a.m. There he had a helicopter waiting to take him to Clearview Golf Course where he played 18 holes in 1 hour and 5 minutes.

He then helicoptered back to the airport where he took a noon non-stop flight to Los Angeles. Upon arriving in Los Angeles, another helicopter was waiting to take him to Braemar Country Club, where he played his third 18-hole round of the day, finishing at 5:00 p.m.

“I had time for at least another nine,” quipped Nobby.

While it might sound strange, this sort of behavior is sort of normal for Orens. In 1999 he played 134 rounds of golf on 36 different courses in 27 different cities, five states, six countries and two continents. In 1998 he played 150 rounds in 41 cities, seven states, and 14 countries. In 1998 he flew a total of 38,445 miles during one 6-month period just to play golf.

For example, there was this trip to Hawaii from New York. On June 18, 1998 heplayed 18 holes of golf in New York, and 18 holes in Honolulu. . He teed off at 5:10 a.m. in New York and played his first round, finishing at 6:40 a.m. He then flew to Honolulu, connecting through Los Angeles. In Honolulu he chartered a helicopter to take him to the first tee of the Ko Olina golf course, teeing off at 5:05 p.m. and finishing at 7:15 p.m. He flew home the next morning.

It must be addictive, because on September 22, 1998 he flew to Auckland, New Zealand, leaving at 10:30 a.m. and arriving at 6 a.m. on September 24. He went directly to Gulf Harbor Country Club and played 18 holes. He then boarded a return flight to Los Angeles, leaving Auckland at 6:00 p.m. He arrived in Los Angeles at 11:00 am on September 24th, drove to his home club and played 18 more holes.

This ended the 13,008 mile journey on which he had played 18 holes in Auckland and 18 holes in Los Angeles in the same day. The following day, September 25, he flew to Maui, Hawaii to play in a 100-hole golf tournament.

Whew!

So, is there a point to all this? We’re not sure. But we think it might have something to do with the way he thinks. His front door mat reads, “A golfer and a normal person live here.”

Nobby immerses himself in whatever he is doing, and lately that’s been golf. So he has a TV remote in the shape of a golf hole, complete with sand traps and a green with a flag. When first turned on, the remote says “Fore”, and you hear the ball dropping into a cup, followed by cheers. When you change channels it makes a sound like a golf club hitting a ball.

And his golf “by the numbers” is pretty impressive too. He has played two or more rounds in a single day 30 times in his career. His fastest round of golf is one hour five minutes. Has played more than 1,000 rounds, and in 75 golf tournaments since 1993.

“I also flew up to Alaska (in 1998) to play for 24 hours,” Orens reminds us. “But was given misinformation and had to quit at midnight so I only got in 200 holes.”

And he has every score of every round he’s ever played since starting golf in September 1993. He keeps statistics on average score for the month, and year-to-date, as well as total rounds, fairways, greens and putts.

Has 292 logo golf shirts. (“I don’t remember exactly why I started a ‘collection,’ ” Orens says. “But when I started playing golf I really didn’t have any “golf” shirts so I started buying them as a memento of each golf course I played along with a logo ball.”) 1,292 Points.

Has taken 6 golf lessons in a single day. 600 Points

A true blue Hall of Famer!

Bob Fagan (#3468)

Bob is the Golf Nut Society’s All-Time Leading Scorer and the only Nut who has over 100,000 Nut Points. In other words, 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. Since he is our All-Time Leading Scorer, following is a very long summary that will leave no doubt that he is 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…

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
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
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
Played 98 of Golfweek’s 100 Best Classics; and 79 of the 100 Modern Classics in the current listing.
Has played more than an estimated 140 courses that are or have previously been on Top 100 Lists. 140 Points
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
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
Has played at least 100 new (never played before) courses per year since 1991. 1,991 Points
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
Additionally, he has played more than twenty different courses in 7 or less consecutive days on 8 occasions. 728 Points
Played five courses in one day three times. 503 Points
Has played four or more courses in a day more than thirty times; all since 1993, age of 43. 430 Points
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
Owns 319 golf caps. 319 Points
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Played 18 holes in 35 degree below zero wind-chill temperatures (-4 degrees F.) winning over $800 in bets while breaking par. 135 Points
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
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
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
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
Has played and won two NiteLite golf tournaments. 200 Points
Won low gross in a 9-hole Mixed Nude Golf tournament (don’t ask about the trophy.) 109 Points
Once played through 12 groups in a single 18-hole round at the Shanty Creek Legends Course (He plays fast!) 512 Points
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
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
Driving between courses, he has played 18-hole rounds in Palm Springs and Lake Tahoe in the same day. 236 Points
Driving between courses, he has played 18-hole rounds in Los Angeles and San Francisco in the same day. 236 Points
Driving between courses, he has played 18-hole rounds in Portland and Seattle in the same day. 136 Points
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.
Woke up early in Toronto, Canada, drove and played Oak Hill CC East Course in Rochester, NY with another golf nut. Was on the 16^th 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
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
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
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 36^th hole). 724 Points
Has struck all three of his sisters with golf shots (fortunately, none was seriously injured or physically scarred). 300 Points
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
Playing blindfolded, he played and defeated a blind golfer. “Neither of us were very good that day,” he recalled. 118 Points
Have played golf in tri-cornered hats, army helmets, flippers and masks, bathing suites, wet suites, and wigs. 200 Points
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
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
Not having credentials or a ticket, once talked himself into the second round of the 1997 Masters (as a spectator). 1,002 Points
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
Recruited Hollis Stacy to Rollins College who later introduced him to his ex-wife. 100 Points
Have one ex-wife from a 19-year marriage and about 6 ex-girlfriends who didn’t share his passion for golf. 619 Points
Played four courses on his honeymoon. 400 Points
Dated a well-known LPGA Touring professional for two years. 200 Points
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
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
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
Was the featured subject in a 5-page golf article by architect/writer Tom Doak for being “The Marathon Man.” 105 Points
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
Sneaked onto Shinnecock Hills and then shot a 66 with a bogey on the last hole. 266 Points
Caddied for LPGA stars Kathy Whitworth and Betsy Cullen. 200 Points
George Knudsen let me hit his shag balls while at the Philadelphia Golf Classic and called him “little George”. 300 Points
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
Has played cross-town and country golf spanning more than five-mile distances. 105 Points
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
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
In November, 2002, twice drove 9 hours in one day to play a single golf course. 918 Points
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
Assisted Davis Love Jr. at Golf Digest Schools. 100 Points
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
Has a library of more than 2,820 golf books and have read nearly all of them (many several times). 2,820 Points
Has a computer inventory highlighting author, title, subject, date of issue and acquired, cost, value, etc. on each of his golf books. 282 Points
Has kept a written record of every 18-hole round that he’s ever played. 518 Points
Has an alphabetized collection of over 4,500 score cards. 1,450 Points
Has a collection of over 1,000 bag tags. 1,000 Points
Has an alphabetized collection of over 800 yardage books. 800 Points
Has a collection of more than 1,200 golf pencils of courses that he has played. 1,200 Points
Has a collection of more than 220 logo hats. 220 Points
Has a collection of more than 200 golf shirts not including more than 40 others he has given to his father. 240 Points
Has a logo ball collection. 300 Points
Has a collection of 403 golf videos spanning instruction, mental, courses, and history. 1,403 Points
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
He has taped the four majors every year since the VCR was first invented. 400 Points
Has a collection of 84 “conventional” putters (none of them worked.) 84 Points
Owns 13 long putters. “They work better than the short idiot sticks!” he commented. 130 Points
Owns 91 wedges. 910 Points
Has purchased at least 10 infomercial clubs or practice devices. 110 Points
Keeps clubs and a virtual locker in the trunk of his car in case of an emergency. 200 Points
Has a collection of more than 32 drivers including two 50” drivers. 132 Points
Currently owns 14 sets of irons. 114 Points
Subscribes to over 20 golf magazines. 220 Points
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
Has a collection of more than 125 club histories. 525 Points
Wrote a tutorial on the “Concepts of Golf Course Architecture” as a high school student 200 Points
Published “A 75-Year History of the Northern California PGA. 575 Points
Wrote a thesis on “Marketing & the Golf Shop” for his MBA program. 500 Points
Authored a book on “Hawaii Golf” for Foghorn Press. 500 Points
Co-Authored 2 editions of “California Golf” 502 Points
Co-Authored “California Golf Survival Guide” and a second edition. 200 Points
Beginning a book with golf photographer Joann Dost on Courses in Northern California. 100 Points
Lead writer for “intheloopgolf.com website 300 Points
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
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
Drafted Bob Fagan’s “American Golf Course Book of Lists” that has 193 different lists about golf courses, clubs, holes, etc. 593 Points
Writing “The Little Black Book of Golf Secrets.” 100 Points
Columnist for Golf Today Magazine (approximately 28 articles). 280 Points
Contributor to Golf For Women Magazine. 100 Points
Contributor to Golf Magazine. 100 Points
Contributor to Northern California Golf Association Magazine (27 articles). 270 Points
Member – Golf Writer’s Association of America. 100 Points
Member – California Golf Writers Association. 100 Points
Publisher/Editor NCPGA “Tee Shots” from 1992-98. 598 Points
Current Course Rater – Golfweek Magazine. 500 Points
Golf Digest Course Rater – 1993-98. 500 Points
Television Golf Course “Spotter” – Hughes Sports Network (1970’s). 197 Points
Set up a nationwide distribution network to sell an upscale golf magazine (1970’s). 500 Points
Sold putters to golf shops (1970’s). 200 Points
Assistant Golf Professional (1970’s). 200 Points
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
Has attended Dave Pelz short-game school. 300 Points
Has organized clinics and given lessons to the deaf and the wheelchair-bound, and other physically challenged golfers. 200 Points
Executive Director of the Northern California PGA (1991-98). 800 Points
VP of Marketing and Sales for a golf equipment company. 500 Points
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
His book reviews have been quoted on dust jackets and Amazon.com. 200 Points
President/COO for a Golf Internet Software company that handled tournament event planning. 500 Points
President/CEO for a golf media advertising company. 500 Points
Organizing a national distribution force for a water conservation product for golf courses. 100 Points
Sponsor of Allen Junior Golf Program (minority junior golf). 100 Points
Board Member – Golf Advertising Ventures, Inc. 100 Points
Golf Expert Witness in California Superior Court and Nevada – 10 cases. 510 Points
Consultant to over 60 private clubs and golf facilities regarding course design, business practices, service, safety, golf pro selection and contracts. 600 Points
Advisory Board Member for Alameda Junior Golf Foundation. 100 Points
Advisory Board Member and Contributor to “Total Quality in Golf”. 100 Points
College Lecturer on Golf Marketing, Golf Careers, and Service. 200 Points
Have spoken at Regional Club Manager Association Meetings. 100 Points
Have spoken at Regional Golf Course Superintendent Meetings. 100 Points
Passed USGA/PGA Rules School. 100 Points
Attended Henry-Griffitts Club-Fitting School. 100 Points
Helped establish two chapters of the Executive Women’s’ Golf League in Northern California. 200 Points
Initiated and championed the Women Pros vs. Women Amateur Cup Matches in Northern California. 200 Points
Attended “Women in Golf Summit”. 100 Points
Attended “Golf & The Environment” Seminar. 100 Points
Hosted a national “PGA Teaching Summit”. 100 Points
Attended a USGA Annual Dinner. 100 Points
Attended 8 PGA National Annual Meetings. 108 Points
Attended 23 PGA Shows. 1,023 Points
Spokesperson for Golf For the Deaf on The Discovery Channel. 100 Points
Golf Contributor to KNBR – Sports Talk Radio in San Francisco. 200 Points
Passed PGA Business School & Playing Test. 500 Points
Honorary Life Member of the Saddle Creek Golf Club. 100 Points
Member, USGA Members Club. 100 Points
Member, Donald Ross Society. 100 Points
Member, Shivas Irons Society. 100 Points
Co-founder of the Northern California Golf Foundation. 500 Points
Captain of College, Club, and Junior Club Golf Teams. 300 Points
Senior PGA Tour Winner Al Kelley, Jr. was his college team coach. 100 Points
Won a net club tournament while having to add shots with a “plus 3” handicap – plus 4 was my lowest. 104 Points
Had six hole-in-ones and have witnessed 11 by other playing companions. 6,000 Points
Helped design Saddle Creek Golf Club which was the top ranked best course west of the Mississippi by Golf Digest the year it opened.
Have attended seven Masters tournaments driving non-stop through the night back and forth to Augusta, Georgia from southeastern Pennsylvania. 700 Points
Had one of the most exclusive spectator points at The Masters…the 9^th 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 9^th to peek through the fence and catch the action from behind the 12^th green and 13^th tee, a vantage point that Masters Patrons never see. 900 Points
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 72^nd hole of the 1971 US Open at Merion. Was within a few feet of Nicklaus as he hit his 2^nd and 3^rd shots (the famous 1-iron) to the 72^nd green of the 1967 US Open at Baltusrol. 500 Points
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
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 9^th, he beat them to the 10^th 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
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 4^th 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
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
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 1^st 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
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
Had lunch at a table of eight with Julie Inkster, Tom Lehman, and PGA President, Ken Lindsey. 200 Points
Had dinner with Hale Irwin and Dan Forsman. 200 Points
Had lunch with PGA Tour Commissioner, Deane Beman. 200 Points
Had breakfast with Andy Williams at the La Quinta Resort clubhouse. 200 Points
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
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
Personally got Ben Hogan’s autograph, a rare feat indeed! 500 Points
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Started putting with a long putter in the mid-80’s well ahead of most everyone else. 280 Points
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
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
Has found as many as 58 balls on a single hole while playing golf in the desert. 58 Points
Has found more than 8 dozen balls on a course while playing – twice. 192 Points
Has broken 80 playing with only a putter. 80 Points
Has matched par playing a course backwards. 72 points
Has broken par in a 4-club tournament. 104 Points
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
Has two cats; one named “Hogan” and the other “Nicklaus”. 200 Points
Has picked up more than 125 cigarette and cigar butts around the first tee of a private golf club. 125 Points
Witnessed two all-out fistfights on the course. Both instances included golf pros – one a Masters Champ! 200 Points
Has repaired more than fifty ball marks several times on a single green. 50 Points
Each year, he caddies for minority girls playing their first 9-hole round of golf – ages 8-11. 109 Points
Has caddied triples, playing the back nine with the golfers’ clubs. 309 Points
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
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
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…

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