Greenwood earns Distinguished Career Award

Herald-Citizen

March 2, 2010    Cookeville, Tennessee

NEWS

Greenwood earns Distinguished Career Award

Buddy Pearson

Herald-Citizen Managing Editor

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010

PHOTO CAPTION: Cookeville golfing legend Bobby Greenwood looks at the replica of the late Bobby Nichols Distinguished Service Award at Golf House of Tennessee. Greenwood was honored with the Tennessee PGA Distinguished Career Award Sunday, one year after his good friend Nichols was honored with the award.

 

FRANKLIN — Bobby Greenwood won enough trophies and plaques during his competitive golfing days to fill a house. A member of three different halls of fame, Greenwood can add another honor to his long list of accolades. The Cookeville native and former PGA Tour player has received the Tennessee PGA Distinguished Career Award. Greenwood was recognized on Sunday night at Golf House of Tennessee where the new permanent Distinguished Career Award display was unveiled.

“It’s just another award that I don’t feel like I deserve,” said the humble Greenwood. “To be a part of this display and all the history here, it’s beyond your wildest dreams.”

The Distinguised Career Award is the highest honor the Tennessee PGA can bestow upon a golf professional. It recognizes current or former Tennessee PGA Section members who have had outstanding careers as PGA Professionals based on service to their club, course or employer, service and leadership to the association, community service, professional playing record and teaching ability. The Distinguished Career Award acknowledges these Tennessee PGA Professionals as vital and significant contributors to the game of golf.

A member of the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame, Greenwood was recognized along with fellow Hall of Famers Pat Abbott, Cotton Berrier, Joe Campbell, Harold Elller, Gibby Gilbert, Lou Graham, Don Malarkey, Cary Middlecoff, Teddy Rhodes, Loren Roberts and Mason Rudolph, who were also receiving the Distinguished Career Award.

“It was great to see Mason Rudolph and see him looking so healthy,” Greenwood said. “It’s amazing to see some of these guys and to be recognized along with them.”

Greenwood joins an elite group of only 26 other PGA Professionals who have received this honor. Among those is the late Bobby Nichols, who passed away almost two years ago. As a long-time PGA Professional and owner of Ironwood, Nichols mentored many of the state’s PGA Professionals while he served more than 30 years as the head coach of the TTU golf programs.

As a player, Nichols won more than 100 tournaments, including the 1992 Tennessee State Open as well as the 1994, 1996 and 1997 Tennessee Senior Opens. He qualified and played in 21 PGA Club Professional Championships and two U.S. Senior Open Championships. Nichols also qualified for every Tennessee PGA Cup Match Team from its inception in 1968 to 2007, serving as team captain four times. Two of Nichols’ longtime friends, Elaine Garrison and Kim Meredith, were on hand to accept his replica, which will be on permanent display.

“It’s bittersweet,” Garrison said. “I should be happy and excited but I’m sad. I guess it will always be that way.” Nichols and Greenwood were the best of friends for nearly 50 years. After being introduced to golf at the Cookeville Country Club at the age of 12, Greenwood’s amateur career took off like a rocket. During the 1960s, he dominated amateur play in the state of Tennessee, winning the 1966 State Amateur and the 1968 State Open, becoming just the third of eight golfers to accomplish the feat. He was one of just seven golfers to ever win the prestigious Sunnehanna Amateur twice and was ranked by Golf Magazine among the nation’s Top 10 amateurs on two occasions.

Greenwood began a glorious collegiate career at Tennessee Tech, finishing as the Ohio Valley Conference runner-up as a freshman. After transferring to North Texas State, he was a three-time All-American while finishing second in three consecutive Missouri Valley Conference Championships.

After turning pro in 1969, he made the cut in 72 PGA events, finishing in the Top 10 six times and in the Top 25 in 15 different tournaments. “People are the most important thing,” said Greenwood, who is also a member of the North Texas University and Riverside Military Academy Hall of Fames. “I’ve got trophies and plaques where the name has fallen off and I can’t remember where I won them. People are the most important thing in the world.

“It’s such an honor to have people who care about you come down and be a part of this,” Greenwood continued. “To see friends of Bobby Nichols come down — they love me, too.”

PHOTO CAPTION: Cookeville’s Bobby Greenwood, right, poses with fellow Tennessee Golf Hall of Famer and Distinguished Career Award recipient Mason Rudolph Sunday night at Tennessee Golf House.

Copyright © 2010 Herald-Citizen, a division of Cleveland Newspapers, Inc. All rights reserved.

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“Memories” – Frontpage News Article by Buddy Pearson

Greenwood appreciating past success these days

by Buddy Pearson

Herald-Citizen Managing Editor

Sunday, July 27, 2008

Photo Caption: Bobby Greenwood first learned to play golf at the age of 12 at the Cookeville Country Club. His accomplishments in Amateur and professional tournaments throughout his illustrious career are being recognized more and more these days.

~*~

COOKEVILLE — When you have accomplished as much in golf as Bobby Greenwood has, it’s kind of hard to keep up with it all. But the hall of famer has found a new appreciation for his success on the links. Like a treasure that’s been discovered and put in a museum for everyone to see, Greenwood’s golfing achievements have been found again and put on the Internet for the world to view. With the help of his wife Elma, Greenwood’s storied golf career is chronicled on the Internet at http://www.greenwoodpga.net.

“Honestly, the Internet and my website and the wonderful articles by the sports editor of the paper validated what I did,” said Greenwood. “Even I had forgotten.”

Some of Greenwood’s more memorable golfing escapades are already noted in five different books: My 55 Ways to Lower Your Golf Score by Jack Nicklaus; My Story by Jack Nicklaus; Southern Golf Association: The First Hundred Years by Gene Pearce; The History of Tennessee Golf by Gene Pearce; and, most recently, The History of Sunnehanna Country Club and the Sunnehanna Amateur by John Yerger III. But once he and Elma began researching his past successes for the website, even Greenwood was impressed.

“When my wife put this stuff together and we put the stuff together for the paper, I should of had more confidence (as a player),” Greenwood admitted. “I was a better player than I realized. I think it’s important for a golfer or an athlete to make a note of his accomplishments and awards and read those while they are playing. We forget.”

Greenwood’s career is hardly forgettable. Once he began teeing it up at the Cookeville Country Club at age 12, his work ethic and desire to be the best helped propel him to star status as an amateur and in college.

During the 1960s, he dominated amateur play in the state of Tennessee, winning the 1966 State Amateur and the 1968 State Open, becoming just the third of eight golfers to win both tournaments. He was ranked by Golf Magazine among the nation’s Top 10 amateurs on two occasions. He is just one of seven golfers to ever win the prestigious Sunnehanna Amateur twice, setting the course record with a 63. Most recently, Greenwood was honored in June by the tournament officials at Sunnehanna in Johnstown, Pa., for his past success as a two time champion.

“It was a moving experience. It was really gratifying the way they treated me,” said Greenwood. “They gave me a sport coat and some framed pictures and they were glad to see me. That’s always nice.”

The day after Greenwood flew home to Cookeville, his record fell to one of the participants in the Sunnehanna tournament after 43 years.

“They thought the course record was going to last forever because it had for 43 years,” Greenwood said. “I’ve had somewhere around 30 course records. This was the last course record that hadn’t been broken.”

Records were meant to be broken and Greenwood certainly had his share. In college, he began his career at Tennessee Tech where he finished as the runner-up in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament as a freshman. He then transferred to North Texas State where he was a three-time All-American, placing second in three consecutive Missouri Valley Conference Championships.

Perhaps his most notable, and gratifying, golfing experience came during his college years when he playing at Colonial Country Club in Memphis. Greenwood took on Jack Nicklaus, who has won more major championships than any other golfer, and beat him in match play.

“All I thought about was winning a tournament,” confessed Greenwood. “If I finished fourth or fifth, it didn’t mean anything. I went to Niagara Falls last year and I told Elma I played in the Porter Cup there. We went to Niagara Falls Country Club and they remembered me. They pulled out the program and said ‘Hey, you finished fourth.’ Fourth meant absolutely nothing to me at the time. It was just another failure. Then you look down the list behind me and those great players, who accomplished a lot more than I did, I beat them at that time. I didn’t know that.”

Greenwood beat some good players while he was on the PGA Tour. After turning pro in 1969, he made the cut in 72 PGA events, finishing in the top 10 six times and in the top 25 in 15 different tournaments. His lone victory on the Tour came in 1970 when he won the Rhode Island Open. But injuries played a key role in Greenwood’s decision to leave the Tour in 1975.

“The last tournament I played on tour was the Mexico Open in Mexico City. I remember having a three or four foot par putt and thinking this will be the last putt I will hit as a Tour player and it was,” recalled Greenwood.

“My wrist was in bad shape and my back was bad. I had neck problems and it was becoming pretty tough to play so I quietly retired.”

Greenwood began living the life of a club pro after retiring from the Tour, taking over the No. 1 club job in America at TPC Sawgrass. He recently returned to TPC Sawgrass and enjoyed some fellowship with current PGA Tour players during a recent PGA tournament.

“It was nice,” said Greenwood. “I had breakfast with the Tour players and they introduced me as a former Tour player. It was very gratifying.”

The attention and accolades Greenwood has been getting lately is very gratifying for the 69-year-old. In 2002, he was inducted into the North Texas Hall of Fame. This past year, Greenwood was one of the charter members inducted into Riverside Military Academy’s Sports Hall of Fame. At Riverside, in addition to golf, he excelled in baseball and basketball.

But for his golfing achievements, Greenwood was enshrined in the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame last fall, becoming the 30th member of the distinguished group.

“It’s an honor,” said Greenwood. “It’s nice to be appreciated.”

While Greenwood has found a new appreciation for his career, he also appreciates the people around him such as his wife and his 9-year-old daughter Viola. He also appreciates a man who was his longtime friend and golfing partner Bobby Nichols. After giving Greenwood’s introduction speech at the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame ceremonies, Nichols died a few months later from complications in his fight against cancer.

His loss has been felt more by Greenwood than any loss on the golf course.

“I miss him,” said Greenwood. “He and I were like brothers. There will never be another Bobby Nichols.”

Greenwood doesn’t get out and play much golf anymore. He spends time with his family and is still in the golfing business, giving lessons and working as a golf architect when called upon. If he wants to remember something from his great golfing past, all he has to do is log on to the Internet and look at his website and take a walk down memory lane.

Source: Herald-Citizen

Career Profile of Bobby Greenwood

 EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

North Texas State University (now University of North Texas-UNT), Denton, Texas,  B.A. Business Administration, 1964.
Athletic Hall of Fame, Inductee, University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, 2002.

Riverside Military Academy, Gainesville, Georgia, 1957. (Postgraduate)
Received Horton Society (Honor) Award at graduation.

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CAREER TIMELINE

1998 – Present: 

Golf Course Architect ~ Bobby Greenwood & Associates, Inc.

President, Greenwood-Clifton Golf Design Group, Deltona, Florida.

1996-1997:

Design Coordinator ~ Golden Bear International (Nicklaus Design), North Palm Beach, Florida & New Augusta Golf Club, Ena Japan.

1992-1996:

Golf Course Architect ~ Bobby Greenwood & Associates, Inc.
President, Greenwood-Clifton Golf Design Group, Deltona, Florida.
Golf Architect ~ The Fairways on Spencer Creek Golf Club, Franklin, Tennessee.

1989-1991:

Director of Golf Operations ~ Suntree Country Club, One Country Club Drive, Melbourne, Florida. (36-hole resort with 1,650 members; and Home of Senior PGA Tour event).

1986-1989:

President ~ Greenwood, Frazee & Associates, Brentwood, TN. (Golf Course Design & Planning Services).

1986-1987:

Editor-In-Chief & Founder of Tennessee’s First Golf Publication (1/3 ownership).  

1984-1986:

Golf School Coordinator ~ Master’s School of Golf. (Partnership with Dave Ragan & Jack Wall).

1980-1984:

Golf Director ~ Benchcraft Golf Co., 1921 Church Street, Nashville, Tennessee.       (Golf schools, clinics and exhibitions).

1978-1980:

Golf Course Architect ~ Greenwood, Tucker & Associates (Designed and supervised construction of Dorchester Golf Course – Permanent Home of TN Open for 8 years).

1977-1978:

Director of Golf ~ Sawgrass Country Club, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
(Home of Tournament Players Championship).

1974-1978:

Contract Consultant ~ Planned Recreation Consultants, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida.

1969-1975:

P.G.A. Tour ~ Player 

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GOLF CREDITS

 NCAA All-America ~ First Team, 1963.
NCAA All-America ~ Second Team, 1962.
NCAA All-America ~ Honorable Mention, 1961.
North Texas State University, Denton, Texas, (now University of  North Texas-UNT).

Co-Medalist USGA Amateur, 1964. Canterbury Country Club, Cleveland, Ohio.  

Qualified & played in Four USGA Amateurs.

Qualified and played in Two U.S. Opens.

Texas Cup Team (Ten member team), 1964. Defeated Byron Nelson in single match.

Tennessee Cup Team, 1968, 1976, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1999, 2000.

Top 10 Amateurs in U.S. by Golf Magazine, Twice.
Ranked 6th and 8th respectively.

Top 10 Amateurs in U.S. by Golf Digest, 1968.
Ranked 7th. His ranked is based on a victory in the Sunnehanna as well as theTennessee State Open & his  finished third in the Southern Amateur.

Sunnehanna Amateur ~ Tournament of Champions, 1965, 1968. Johnstown, Pennsylvania (Tournament record of 269 set in 1965 and current course record of 63 set in second round in 1965).

Rhode Island Open Champion, 1970.

Tennessee Open Champion, 1968.

Tennessee Amateur Champion, 1966.

“Champions’ Choice” ~ PGA Tour Rookie, 1969.
chosen to play in the Colonial Invitational (NIT) voted by past champions.
Fort Worth, Texas.

Attended 1969 PGA Tour Qualifying School, 1969.
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. (Tied Johnny Miller for 3rd).

PGA Tour Player for 7 years, 1969-1975.

Tournament Players Division – PGA Tour, 1972-1975.
(Voting member)

Winner of over 150 Amateur and Pro Tournaments in playing career.

PGA Member – Class A, 1971.

Tennessee Senior PGA Champion, 1991, 1992, 1994.

Tennessee PGA Section Championship, 1999.
7th place (72-72-70)

Tri-Cities Fall Pro-Am, Senior Champion (75-70=145) Bristol, Virginia.

Course Record: Southern Amateur Championship, 1968.
Score: 64 (-8 par), Lost Tree Golf Club,
North Palm Beach, Florida (Jack Nicklaus Home Course). 

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CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS

 Christian Partners, Inc., Board of  Directors

Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Upper Cumberland FCA Advisory Board Member, 2006.

Head Golf Clinician, FCA Camp, St. Augustine, Florida, 2006.

Head Golf Clinician, FCA Camp, Sawgrass CC, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, 2005.

Head Golf Clinician, FCA Camp, Powell, Wyoming, 2005-2006.

International Golf Professional Association ~ Vice-President (1991-1992).

Boy Scouts of America (Eagle Scout-1954, God & Country Award, Silver Award, Arrow Head Award, Commissioner Award and Order of the Arrow Award).

Boy Scouts of America ~ Unit Commissioner, Middle Tennessee Council (1999-Present)

Cookeville Rescue Mission, Board of Directors (1982-Present)

Lettermen Association, UNT – Member, Denton, Texas.

Fellowship of Christian Golfers (Co-Founder & Director).

Optimists Club (VP & Board of Directors).

Gideons International ~Vice-President, Cookeville, Tennessee (2002-2004).

First United Methodist Church, Men’s Brotherhood ~ President,(2005-Present). Vice-President (2004-2005).

First United Methodist Church, Backslider Class ~ President (2006-Present). Vice- President (2005-2006).

First United Methodist Church Council ~ Member (2005-Present).

 National Eagle Scout Association (Executive Committee Member).

Mason, Grand Lodge Free & Accepted Masons Of Tennessee.Shriner, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine in Al Menah Temple of Nashville, Tennessee. 

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SCHOOLS & EXPERIENCE

PGA Tour Player ~ seven years.
PGA Business Schools I & II, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.Co-Founder of Tennessee Cup Matches (Selected the entire amateur team – 1968).Golf Course Architect Consultant ~ Fairfield Glade, Inc. (1969-1972) Graduated: Service Maintenance School, E-Z Golf Car Division, (November 1976, Atlanta, Georgia).Golf Director ~ Supervised the golf program for Meadow Greens Country Club,
Eden, North Carolina, through busy season and hired the new pro for the club.Principal-In-Charge ~ Designed and supervised construction of second 18-hole golf course for Fairfield Glade, Inc. ~ Dorchester Country Club (Home of Tennessee Open).

Coached Little League Baseball and Babe Ruth Baseball (1979-1984)
Coached Junior – Pro Basketball (1980-1986)
Winner ~ Boys’ State Championship, 1983
Winner ~ Girls’ State Championship & National Championship, 1986

Golf Architect ~ Designed and supervised construction of Fairways on Spencer Creek Golf Club, Franklin, Tennessee, 1994-1996.

Design Coordinator ~ for Jack Nicklaus in Japan, 1996-1997. Golden Bear International, North Palm Beach, Florida & New Augusta Golf Club, Ena, Japan.  

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

        Upon arrival at Sawgrass Country Club in 1977, Bobby Greenwood instituted systems and reforms which resulted in an increase in revenue of $71,000.00 from merchandise sales in the pro shop. In addition, his responsibilities included that of being Host Professional for the first and second Tournament Players Championship held at Sawgrass. This included many diverse activities including PGA Tour and media responsibilities.

        Additional accomplishments during this period included:           

            ~ TV Golf Clinics for Channel 17, Jacksonville, Florida
            ~ Instructional Panel, Florida PGA Jr. Golf Academy
            ~ Gator Bowl Executive Committee
            ~ Hillier Cup Team – Member (1977)

        In 1980, Greenwood completed the design of the Dorchester Golf Course for Fairfield Glade Resort and supervised the construction in the field. Dorchester was selected by the Tennessee Golf Association as the permanent Home of the Tennessee Open Golf Championship for eight years. He also served as Golf Director for Benchcraft Golf Company where they conducted the Master’s School of
Golf with Dave Ragan and Jack Wall.       

        In 1987, Greenwood co-founded Tennessee’s first Golf Publication where he served as Editor-In-Chief. He was one-third owner of this newspaper.       

        In 1989, Greenwood was contacted by Suntree Country Club requesting that he supervise their entire golf operations through their busy winter season because of the sudden illness of their Director of Golf. Suntree is a 36-hole complex with 1,650 members and home of the oldest tournament on the Senior PGA Tour.   

        While in Florida, he established Bobby Greenwood & Associates, Inc. and formed an association with the Clifton, Ezell & Clifton Golf Course Design Group located in Deltona, Florida.

        In 1994, Greenwood designed and supervised the construction of The Fairways on Spencer Creek Golf Club in Franklin, Tennessee.

        In 1997, he was Design Coordinator for Golden Bear International. Greenwood worked for Jack Nicklaus in their main offices in North Palm Beach, Florida and finally went to Ena, Japan to supervise the construction of New Augusta Golf Club, the most expensive course ever built by Golden Bear at a cost of twenty-two million U.S. dollars.

        Back in the ol’ U.S., Greenwood continued golf course design and playing golf once again as a Super Senior!