Memories: University of North Texas Athletic Hall of Fame 2002

Memories: University of North Texas Athletic Hall of Fame 2002

Bobby Greenwood was inducted to the Athletic Hall of Fame on November 2, 2002, at the University of North Texas (formerly North Texas State University) in Denton, Texas. He was inducted with other four inductees, namely: Bill Blakely, Barry Moore, G. A. Moore, and Dee Walker.

[EXCERPT from North Texas Athletics – Mean Green History:
“BOBBY GREENWOOD – Greenwood was a three-time letter winner in golf at North Texas from 1961-63, helping lead the Eagles to three consecutive Missouri Valley Conference championships. As a senior, he led the Eagles to the NCAA championship tournament in 1963, when North Texas placed third. Greenwood received honorable mention All-America honors as a sophomore in 1961 and was a first-team All-America as a junior and senior.”
-Source: North Texas Athletics: Mean Green History, http://www.unt.edu/northtexan/archives/f02/hallof.htm%5D

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[WRITTEN ON THE PLAQUE:
“University of North Texas, Athletic Hall Of Fame – BOBBY GREENWOOD 2002

In the early 1960’s, Bobby Greenwood was instrumental in enhancing North Texas’s stature as a collegiate golf powerhouse when he led the Eagles to three consecutive Missouri Valley Conference championships while earning All-American recognition all three years he was on the team.

As a sophomore in 1961, Greenwood won the Southwest Recreation Championship and earned honorable mention All-American honors.

The next year he was named second team All-American and in 1963 as a senior, Greenwood won the Southern Intercollegiate Championship and was named to the NCAA’s first team All-American team.

Since earning a Business Administration degree from North Texas in 1964, Greenwood has enjoyed a lifelong association with the game of golf, including playing as a PGA Tour professional from 1969-1975.

He won more than 150 amateur and pro tournaments during his playing career, including the Rhode Island Open Championship (while he was on the PGA Tour), the Tennessee Open Championship and the Tennessee Senior PGA Championship three times.
He served as the Director of Golf at the Sawgrass Country Club in Florida, which hosts The Players Championship, and has been active in golf course designing since 1978.

At the time of his induction, Greenwood was president of the Greenwood-Clifton Golf Design Group in Deltona, Florida.”
– Transcribed by Elma Greenwood, Cookeville, Tennessee, October 31, 2003.]

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[EXCERPT from Herald-Citizen, Cookeville, TN, December 19, 2002:
Greenwood inducted into North Texas Hall of Fame
By Buddy Pearson, Herald-Citizen Staff

It’s been almost 40 years since Cookeville golfing legend Bobby Greenwood played golf at the University of North Texas, yet the school located in Denton, Texas, still remembers the impact Greenwood had on the program. In a ceremony held recently at UNT, Greenwood was inducted into the North Texas Athletic Hall of Fame.
Greenwood and four other inductees were the 2002 recipients of the University of North Texas Sports Hall of Fame awards and were honored during enshrinement. They each received a plaque and a Hall of Fame ring at the Hall of Fame Breakfast.

“North Texas is a big school and they treated me so nice, giving me the ring and the plaque at the breakfast,” Greenwood said. “North Texas is a great golf school. For me to get voted into the Hall of Fame is humbling. There are other players who should be in it before me, but I’ll take it.

A three-time NCAA All-American, Greenwood is the only First Team NCAA All-America in the school’s history. During his years at North Texas, the Eagles won three consecutive Missouri Valley Conference Titles.

Greenwood was selected by the NCAA Golf Coaches Association to play in the North-South All-Star matches in his senior year. And, he was also selected to the Prestigious 10-member Texas Cup Team in 1964.

“The greatest thing about it to me was that after 40 years, all my teammates decided to show up for my induction,” Greenwood explained. “I think there was one guy who didn’t show up and nobody knew where he was.”

In his rookie year on the PGA Tour, Greenwood was selected as “Champions Choice” to play in the Colonial Invitational Tournament in Ft. Worth, Texas. Past champions of the Colonial Tournament vote on the rookie to receive a sponsor’s exemption to play.

After spending seven years on the PGA Tour, Greenwood served as Director of Golf at Sawgrass Country Club, home of The Players Championship and most recently Head Professional at Suntree Country Club, a 36-hole Resort and home of the Suncoast Senior Golf Classic.

Greenwood, who currently resides in Cookeville with his wife Elma and daughter Viola, spends his time as a golf-course architect and also gives lessons on a limited basis.

Other than the induction ceremonies, Greenwood doesn’t get back to Denton much to watch any of the Mean Green sports teams, particularly basketball. But he will get a chance to see his alma mater play on Saturday when Tennessee Tech takes on North Texas at 7 p.m. at Eblen Center.

So, who will Greenwood be rooting for?

“I love Tennessee Tech,” Greenwood said. “There’s a different feeling about North Texas and the Missouri Valley Conference. I had a great experience out there and I love Texas people — they are positive and encourage you. I really had a great time there and was successful but Tennessee Tech is my hometown team.”

– Source: Herald-Citizen, December 19, 2002, 3:06 PM CST]

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Sources:
*Personal recollections of Bobby Greenwood.
*BLOG: https://greenwoodpga.wordpress.com/2006/08/24/induction-to-the-hall-of-fame/
*BLOG: https://greenwoodpga.wordpress.com/2006/08/24/greenwood-inducted-into-north-texas-hall-of-fame/

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BOBBY GREENWOOD, PGA
Former PGA Tour Player
Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame
PGA of America Life Member

Official Website: http://www.greenwoodpga.net/
Official Blog: https://greenwoodpga.wordpress.com/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/greenwoodpga

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Greenwood received TPGA Distinguished Career Award Feb. 28

 Published by Fairfield Glade VISTA, March 14th, 2010

The Tennessee Section PGA unveiled the new Distinguished Career Award (DCA) Display at Golf House Tennessee February 28.  The Distinguished Career Award recognizes current or former Tennessee PGA Section members who have had outstanding careers as PGA Professionals based on service to his or her club, course or employer, service and leadership to the Association, community service, professional playing record and teaching ability.  The Distinguished Career Award acknowledges Tennessee PGA Professionals as vital and significant contributors to the game of golf.    The renovated hallway now recognizes twenty eight PGA Professionals including names such as Cary Middlecoff, Lou Graham, Mason Rudolph, Joe Campbell, Gibby Gilbert and Loren Roberts.

Joining that elite list of former PGA Tour players is Cookeville’s own, Bobby Greenwood. 

 

Photo Caption: Tennessee PGA President Hunt Gilliland (left) presents the Distinguished Career Award to former PGA Tour Player Bobby Greenwood.

 Greenwood was introduced to golf at Cookeville Country Club at the age of twelve.  After earning a three-time NCAA All-American career at North Texas State University, Greenwood was noted as one of the best amateurs in the country during the 1960’s. He was twice ranked in the Top 10 Amateur golfers in Americ

a by Golf Magazine.  Greenwood won the 1966 Tennessee State Amateur and the 1968 Tennessee State Open, and played the PGA Tour from 1969 to 1975 carding six top 10s and fifteen top 25s, while also winning the 1970 Rhode Island Open while on the Tour.  He played in two US Opens, two USGA Amateurs, eight Tennessee Cup Match Teams, three Senior Tenn

essee PGA titles and currently is the President of his own golf course architectural firm in Cookeville. Bobby designed and supervised construction of our Dorchester Golf Course in 1977. Greenwood is also a member of the University of North Texas Sports Hall of Fame, Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame and Riverside Military Centennial All-Sports Hall of Fame.

Greenwood was one of fifteen past and current recipients who were on hand for this special unveiling in Franklin, Tennessee in front of their fellow Tennessee PGA Professionals and special guests.

See a future edition of the VISTA for an upcoming special event featuring an appearance by Bobby Greenwood.

Source: FairfieldGladeVista.com

Bobby Greenwood receives Distinguished Career Award from Tennessee Section of the PGA

Published by Crossville-Chronicle, March 9, 2010

 Bobby Greenwood, longtime golf professional and Cookeville native, received the Tennessee PGA Distinguished Career Award last week at the Golf House of Tennessee near Franklin, where the award was unveiled.

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.

Greenwood and fellow  members of the Tennessee  Golf Hall of Fame – 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 received the Distinguished Service Award, according to Buddy Pearson of the Herald-Citizen.

Greenwood joins an elite group of only 26 other PGA Professionals who have received this honor.

Photo caption: Tennessee PGA president Hunt Gilliland, left, presents the Tennessee PGA’s Distinugished Career Award to former PGA Tour player Bobby Greenwood.

The Cookeville native was introduced to golf at the Cookeville Country Club at the age of 12, according to the Tennessee Section of the PGA.

After earning a three-time NCAA All-American career at North Texas State University, Greenwood was noted as one of the best amateurs in the country during the 1960s.

He was twice ranked in the Top 10 Amateur golfers in America by Golf Magazine. 

Greenwood won the 1966 Tennessee State Amateur and the 1968 Tennessee State Open, and played the PGA Tour from 1969 to 1975 carding six top 10s and fifteen top 25s, while also winning the 1970 Rhode Island Open while on the Tour. 

He played in two US Opens, eight Tennessee Cup Match Teams and currently is the President of his own golf course architectural firm in Cookeville. 

Greenwood is also a member of the University of North Texas Sports Hall of Fame, Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame and Riverside Military Centennial All-Sports Hall of Fame.

Greenwood was one of fifteen past and current recipients who were on hand for this special unveiling in Franklin, Tennessee in front of their fellow Tennessee PGA Professionals and special guests.

 Photo caption:  There was a special greeting of two old PGA Tour players, Mason Rudolph, left, and Bobby Greenwood at Golf House of Tennessee last week, when Greenwood received his Distinguished Career Award.

 

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.

Greenwood: Three-Timer!

Bobby Greenwood was inducted into the Riverside Military Academy on October 13, 2007 in Gainesville, Georgia during the Centennial Celebrations. He was chosen as one of the ten charter members of the school’s All-Sports Hall of Fame. This is Bobby’s 3rd Hall of Fame Induction!!!  This followed the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame on September 5, 2007  & UNT Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.

He was also a 3-time NCAA All-American!

We are proud of you… Congratulations!

 

Overton County News: State Golf Hall of Fame adds new members

State Golf Hall of Fame adds new members

Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame will receive four new members.

Tennessee Golf Foundation approved the induction of Ann Baker Furrow, Connie Day (posthumously), Joe Campbell, and Bobby Greenwood. The induction of Furrow, and Day will be held in Maryville during the 2007 Tennessee Women’s Amateur Championship. The date and location for Greenwood and Campbell’s induction is not yet determined.

Bobby Greenwood was introduced to golf at Cookeville Country Club at the age of 12. During the 1960s there was no better amateur player in Tennessee.

Greenwood won the 1966 State Amateur and the 1968 State Open, becoming the third of eight golfers to accomplish this double. Greenwood became one of seven players to win the Sunnehanna Amateur multiple times, winning the event in 1965 and 1968. Golf Magazine ranked him among the nation’s Top 10 amateurs twice.

From 1969 through 1975, he played on the PGA Tour. He made 72 cuts, six Top 10 finishes, and fifteen Top 25s.

Greenwood served as director of golf at Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, a design coordinator for Golden Bear International, president of his own golf course architectural firm, and the designer with Kevin Tucker of Fairfield Glade’s Dorchester course. He was editor-in-chief of one of Tennessee’s first golf publications, Nifty Knicker, and a partner in a golf school operation and a discount golf shop.

Ann Baker Furrow greatly affected Tennessee golf on and off the course. Furrow was a five time Tennessee Women’s Amateur Champion with victories in the event spanning nearly 20 years.

Along with her championships, Furrow placed second in the 1962 USGA Amateur Championship. She was recognized as the top-ranked junior golfer in the United States.

She is the first female to participate in a men’s varsity sport at University of Tennessee. She competed for the team in 1964 and 1965.

In 1991, she played a major role in the establishment of a varsity women’s golf team at UT. Through her dedication to the program, she was able to raise more than $2 million toward fully endowing the team.

Connie Day was a lifelong resident of Cleveland and a 4-time champion and a 3-time runner-up in the Tennessee Women’s Amateur Championship. In 1993, she claimed the State Senior Amateur Championship.

She was recognized as one of the top female amateurs in the country by Golf Digest in 1966, and appeared on the cover of Golf World Magazine in April 1967. She was exempt from qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open for two years, and was an alternate on the Curtis Cup team in 1966 and 1970.

Connie Day passed away August 30, 2002.

Before joining the PGA Tour in 1959, Joe Campbell established one of the nation’s most outstanding amateur golf records. Campbell was a standout golfer and basketball player at Purdue University. He won the 1955 NCAA Championship, along with the 1956, and 1957 Big Ten Conference Championships.

A win at the prestigious Sunnehanna Amateur in 1955 added to his impressive golf resume. Campbell competed in the Masters in 1956, 1957, and 1958 as an amateur.

After college, Campbell made his home in Knoxville.

During his 8-year career on the PGA Tour, he made 103 Top 25s, 43 Top 10s, and won three tournaments. He received Golf Digest’s Rookie of the Year Award in 1959.

From 1965 to 1972 Campbell won five State PGA titles. In the 1965 State Open, he set a record shooting 204, 12 under par, breaking the previous low of 207.

Campbell became the golf professional at Knoxville’s Whittle Springs in 1967 and remained there in 1974 before moving back to Indiana.

For more information on the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame call (615) 790-7600 or visit the Golf House website at www.golfhousetennessee.com.

Source: Overton County News

Greenwood’s RMA Hall of Fame Induction

Greenwood named to academy’s hall of fame

By Ed Greif / sports@crossville-chronicle.com

— Long-time PGA professional Bobby Greenwood was inducted into the Riverside Military Academy Hall of Fame recently in Gainesville, GA, as part of the school’s centennial celebration.

 

“So, when I was contacted by Colonel Guy Gardner, former space astronaut and superintendent of Riverside Military Academy that this year, 2007, was the Centennial Celebration for the school and I was to be one of the 10 to be inducted as charter members of the Sports Hall of Fame, I was surprised, but rather puzzled. You see RMA has always been a powerhouse school in athletics,” said Greenwood, who was also inducted into the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame on Sept. 5.

“The year that I attended RMA, 1957, I can recall 10 cadets that were better athletes than I was at school that year. But, I’ll take it,” Greenwaod added. “Then, Sept 5 of this year, I was inducted into the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame — another overwhelming experience. This award coming from my peers in Tennessee golf was indeed quite a surprise and also overwhelming.

“Being inducted into the North Texas University Sports Hall of Fame in 2002 was quite an honor for me. Especially when, after 40 years, all my teammates showed for the induction ceremony.”
Greenwood played three sports at RMA.

He was a third baseman/left fielder on the baseball team in 1957, when he batted .380 with a school record 10 home runs, and played point guard for the basketball team, averaging 20.1 points per game.
Greenwood played either number one or number two on the golf team.

Copyright © 1999-2006 cnhi, inc.

Photos

Bobby Greenwood at the RMA Sports Hall of Fame Museum. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame recently.

Published: October 18, 2007 06:00 pm   

Cookeville golf pro named to state Hall of Fame

CROSSVILLE CHRONICLE  

Published: September 19, 2007 11:37 am, CROSSVILLE, TN

Cookeville golf pro named to state Hall of Fame

 

— Long-time professional golfer Bobby Greenwood of Cookeville was inducted into the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame on Sept. 5 at Holston Country Club in Knoxville.

“It’s overwhelming. I’m speechless,” Greenwood said to the Herald-Citizen. “The biggest honor is to be inducted with Joe Campbell. I’ll take it. God is great. I’m speechless.”His long-time friend Bobby Nichols, who is the golf coach at Tennessee Tech, introduced Greenwood, who will also be inducted into the Riverside Military Academy’s All-Sports Hall of Fame later this year. This will be his third hall of fame induction.

“We have been friends for many years and we grew up together,” remarked Nichols. “I’ve watched his game progress through the years. I know what king of player he was back then and how good he was. He is a great man. He’s done all the things you need to do to be in the hall of fame. It is a great honor for him to receive this award and a great honor for me to present it to him.

“I’ve learned so much from him. I think it’s good for someone from Cookeville to be inducted into the golf hall of fame. It’s a great honor,” added Nichols.

“It’s overwhelming. The most important thing to me are people and people who came from El Paso, TX and Melbourne, FL and from South Carolina to be here. It was so moving. I had a great speech all ready and I got so tore up I couldn’t say too much. It tugs at your heart-strings. One time I was about ready to cry and I thought ‘This can’t happen,'” added Greenwood.

Bobby Greenwood was introduced to golf at Cookeville Country Club at the age of twelve. During the 1960s there was no better amateur player in Tennessee. Greenwood won the 1966 State Amateur and the 1968 State Open, becoming the third of eight golfers in history to accomplish this double.

Greenwood became one of seven players to win the Sunnehanna Amateur multiple times, winning the event in 1965 and 1968, setting the course record in 1965 with a 72-hole record of 269 and course record 63 in the second round. Golf Magazine ranked him among the nation’s Top 10 amateurs twice. A three-time NCAA All-American at North Texas State University, Bobby was selected to play on the 10-man Texas Cup Team in 1964. Bobby was inducted into the UNT Hall of Fame in 2002.

He qualified for the PGA Tour in 1969, tying Johnny Miller for third place, and played the PGA Tour for seven years, from 1969 through 1975. He made seventy-two cuts, six top 10 finishes and 15 Top 25s while also winning the 1970 Rhode Island Open while on the Tour.

After leaving the Tour, Greenwood served as director of golf at Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida and was the Host pro for two Tournament Players Championships at Sawgrass; a design coordinator for Golden Bear International; president of his own golf course architectural firm and the designer of the Dorchester course at Fairfield Glade; editor-in-chief of one of Tennessee’s first golf publications, “The Nifty Knicker,” and a partner in a golf school operation and a discount golf shop in Nashville. Greenwood won over 150 tournaments in his career.
 

Editor’s note: Buddy Pearson, managing editor of the Herald-Citizen, contributed to this story.

Source: Crossville Chronicle

Copyright © 1999-2006 cnhi, inc.

Photos

Bobby Greenwood, left, is introduced at the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame ceremonies by Bobby Nichols.

Bobby Greenwood, left, is joined by fellow Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame inductee Joe Campbell.

TN Golf Hall of Fame – Schedule of Events

TPGA Section Championship
Sep 5 – Sep 7, 2007
Holston Hills CC

Sep 5   6:00 PM – 9:00 PM Hall of Fame Dinner 
Dinner will be held in the main ball room starting at 6 PM. Hall of Fame inducties include Bobby Greenwood, PGA and Joe Campbell, PGA.  Bruce Pearl Head Basketball Coach of the University of Tennessee will be the special guest speaker of the night.

Source: TNPGA

Excerpt from WBIR.com – TN Golf Hall of Fame

Knoxvillians share TPGA Section Championship lead

Steve Phillips, Sports Director  

Last Updated: 9/5/2007 7:05:02 PM

In addition to the Championship’s activities, the Tennessee Golf Foundation is inducting two PGA Members into the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame during the annual dinner being hosted by HHCC. Bobby Greenwood, PGA and Joe Campbell, PGA are the inductees of the 2007 class.

Source: http://www.wbir.com/printfullstory.aspx?storyid=48797