Harvey Penick
Encyclopedia
Harvey Morrison Penick was an American golf
professional and coach, who coached many Hall of Fame players. Late in life, he became a best-selling writer
. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame
in 2002, seven years after his death.
. He began his golf career as a caddy
at the Austin Country Club at age eight. He became the club's assistant pro five years later, and after his graduation from high school, was promoted to head professional in 1923, where he remained until 1973. After 1973, Penick continued teaching at the club.
Penick was the golf coach at the University of Texas
from 1931 to 1963, coaching the Longhorns to 21 Southwest Conference championships in 33 years, including 20 out of 23 seasons from 1932 to 1954 (1932–38; 1940–47; 1949–52; 1954). He coached the following members of the World Golf Hall of Fame
: Tom Kite
, Ben Crenshaw
, Mickey Wright
, Betsy Rawls
, and Kathy Whitworth
. Other outstanding players coached by Penick include: Sandra Palmer
, Judy Kimball
, Terry Dill
, Don Massengale
, Rik Massengale
, and Edward White
. In 1989, Penick was honored by the PGA of America as Teacher of the Year.
. The day after serving as a pallbearer at Penick's funeral, Crenshaw began play in the 1995 Masters Tournament. With the memory and spirit of his longtime friend and mentor to guide him, he became the second oldest Masters champion, winning his second Masters at the age of 43. In the post-tournament interview, Crenshaw said: "I had a 15th club in my bag," a reference to Penick. (The "15th club" reference is based on the golf rule that limits a player to carrying 14 clubs during a round.)
Penick died in Austin. In 2002, he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame
.
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
professional and coach, who coached many Hall of Fame players. Late in life, he became a best-selling writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame
World Golf Hall of Fame
The World Golf Hall of Fame is located at World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Florida, in the United States, and it is unusual among sports halls of fame in that a single site serves both men and women. It is supported by a consortium of 26 golf organizations from all over the world.The Hall of...
in 2002, seven years after his death.
Golf career
Penick was born in Austin, TexasAustin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
. He began his golf career as a caddy
Caddy
In golf, a caddy is the person who carries a player's bag and clubs, and gives insightful advice and moral support. A good caddy is aware of the challenges and obstacles of the golf course being played, along with the best strategy in playing it. This includes knowing overall yardage, pin...
at the Austin Country Club at age eight. He became the club's assistant pro five years later, and after his graduation from high school, was promoted to head professional in 1923, where he remained until 1973. After 1973, Penick continued teaching at the club.
Penick was the golf coach at the University of Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
from 1931 to 1963, coaching the Longhorns to 21 Southwest Conference championships in 33 years, including 20 out of 23 seasons from 1932 to 1954 (1932–38; 1940–47; 1949–52; 1954). He coached the following members of the World Golf Hall of Fame
World Golf Hall of Fame
The World Golf Hall of Fame is located at World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Florida, in the United States, and it is unusual among sports halls of fame in that a single site serves both men and women. It is supported by a consortium of 26 golf organizations from all over the world.The Hall of...
: Tom Kite
Tom Kite
Thomas Oliver Kite, Jr. is an American professional golfer and golf course architect. He spent 175 weeks in the top-10 of the Official World Golf Rankings between 1989 and 1994....
, Ben Crenshaw
Ben Crenshaw
Ben Daniel Crenshaw is an American professional golfer.Crenshaw was born in Austin, Texas. He attended and played golf at Austin High School and the University of Texas, where he won three NCAA Championships from 1971 to 1973...
, Mickey Wright
Mickey Wright
Mary Kathryn "Mickey" Wright is an American professional golfer. She is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.-Early life:...
, Betsy Rawls
Betsy Rawls
Elizabeth Earle "Betsy" Rawls is an American professional golfer.Rawls was born in Spartanburg, South Carolina. After attending the University of Texas, Rawls joined the LPGA Tour in its second season in 1951. She won 55 tournaments on the tour, including eight major championships...
, and Kathy Whitworth
Kathy Whitworth
Kathy Whitworth is an American professional golfer. Throughout her playing career she won 88 LPGA Tour tournaments, more than anyone else has won on either the LPGA Tour or the PGA Tour. In 1981 she became the first woman to reach career earnings of $1 million on the LPGA Tour...
. Other outstanding players coached by Penick include: Sandra Palmer
Sandra Palmer
Sandra Palmer is an American professional golfer.Palmer was born in Fort Worth, Texas. She attended North Texas State University where she was a cheerleader and Homecoming Queen....
, Judy Kimball
Judy Kimball
Judy Kimball Simon is an American professional golfer best known for winning the 1962 LPGA Championship, an LPGA major.Kimball was born in Sioux City, Iowa. She graduated from Kansas University in 1960...
, Terry Dill
Terry Dill
Terrance Darby Dill is an American professional golfer who has competed on the PGA Tour, Champions Tour, and most recently, the European Seniors Tour....
, Don Massengale
Don Massengale
Donald Ray Massengale, Sr. was an American professional golfer who won tournaments on both the PGA Tour and the Senior PGA Tour.-Career:...
, Rik Massengale
Rik Massengale
Rik Massengale is a former American professional golfer who played full-time on the PGA Tour from 1970–1982.Massengale was born and raised in Jacksboro, Texas. He developed an interest in golf as a result of his older brother, Don, being a professional golfer. He attended the University of...
, and Edward White
Edward White (golfer)
Edward White is an American amateur golfer and retired engineer. He had impressive golf achievements in the early-to-mid 1930s, winning several significant titles, and represented the United States, but never turned professional at golf, since the prize money was low at that time...
. In 1989, Penick was honored by the PGA of America as Teacher of the Year.
Author
In 1992, he co-authored (with Bud Shrake) Harvey Penick's Little Red Book; filled with insightful, easily understood anecdotes, it became the highest selling golf book ever published. While Penick was a strong all-around teacher of the game, he was perhaps the most gifted instructor of the mental game who ever lived. He advocated that "once you address the ball, hitting it to the desired target must be the only thing in your life. Allow no negative thoughts, and focus on your goal." Penick and Shrake collaborated on four more golf books on similar themes; all sold well. The final three Penick-Shrake books were published after Penick's 1995 death, based on Penick's extensive notes from his lifetime of golf instruction.Death
During his final illness, he gave lessons from his deathbed to longtime student Ben CrenshawBen Crenshaw
Ben Daniel Crenshaw is an American professional golfer.Crenshaw was born in Austin, Texas. He attended and played golf at Austin High School and the University of Texas, where he won three NCAA Championships from 1971 to 1973...
. The day after serving as a pallbearer at Penick's funeral, Crenshaw began play in the 1995 Masters Tournament. With the memory and spirit of his longtime friend and mentor to guide him, he became the second oldest Masters champion, winning his second Masters at the age of 43. In the post-tournament interview, Crenshaw said: "I had a 15th club in my bag," a reference to Penick. (The "15th club" reference is based on the golf rule that limits a player to carrying 14 clubs during a round.)
Penick died in Austin. In 2002, he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame
World Golf Hall of Fame
The World Golf Hall of Fame is located at World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Florida, in the United States, and it is unusual among sports halls of fame in that a single site serves both men and women. It is supported by a consortium of 26 golf organizations from all over the world.The Hall of...
.