Golf Nut Society Announces the 2008 Golf Nut of the Year
#0047 – Scott Masingill becomes the 23rd Golf Nut to be awarded GNOTY!
I called Scott Masingill last week. The purpose of the call was to tell him that all the Nut Points had been counted, recounted and audited and that he was now officially the 2008 Golf Nut of the Year. He thanked me with nervous excitement in his voice. It was clear to me that he was proud and very happy but as the conversation progressed he also expressed some interesting things.
First, Scott told me that winter was cold in his hometown of Payette, Idaho. Duh! He explained that although he certainly would and has played in cold weather, his motivation to practice tapered off somewhat during the frigid months. He then let me know that he had played with his father just last weekend, when the temperature reached a “balmy” 36 degrees. He told me thatthe time with his dad had been very special but his game had not. Scott is really looking forward to this weekend.
when he and his wife, Laurie, travel to Las Vegas for the 2nd
Annual Golf Nut of the Year Cup at Dragon Ridge Country Club…the forecast is
sunny and 72 degrees! Eat your hearts out you Canadian Nuts!
During our
conversation, our newest GNOTY (Golf Nut of the Year) made a comment that
amazed and confused me. His offhand remark was; “As much of an honor as it is
to be Golf Nut of the Year…I can’t help think that it’s a little strange. I was
actually inducted into the Golf Nut Hall of Fame BEFORE I won Golf Nut of the
Year.” Laughing off his remark, I continued to chat, all the time looking up
the GNS Hall of Fame on my computer. And danged if he wasn’t right!
Hall of Fames
should be something to which Scott Masingill is accustomed. He is a member of
the U.S. Amateur Golf Hall of Fame. He deserves the honor. Scott honed his
interest in golf in 1963 when he was 12 years old. Incredibly, he would go on
to win at least one golf title — somewhere and of some significance — every
year from 1967 through 1998. Those he beat along the way had some outstanding
credentials. In the 1971 Pacific-8 Championship he beat Tom Watson (Stanford),
Peter Jacobsen (Univ. of Oregon) and Craig Stadler (USC.)
My first
exposure to #0047 was shortly after I joined the Golf Nuts in 2002. I was
informed by the founder of this nutty group of a bit of Golf Nut lore. It is
told that when Scott Masingill was informed that he would need corrective
surgery on his wrists, he flew to Los Angeles and became the patient of famed
orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert Kerlan. Once a patient, Scott directed the famous
surgeon to design and rebuild his wrists specifically for golf. Kids…don’t try
this at home, Scott is a Professional!
There should
also be little doubt that Scott Masingill can play golf. In 2007, Masingill
reached golf’s “Holy Grail” when he carded a 59 in the opening round of the
Pepsi Idaho Open at Twin Falls Golf Course. Read that again, please…59,
fifty-nine, 5er 9er…Oh yes, Scott Masingill is a stick! He can play with the
big boys!
Later in
2007, Scott would make headlines again when he was tied with Professional
Baseball Player, Rick Rhoden for the lead after three rounds at the Champions
Tour Q School at TPC Eagle Crest in Florida. Scott would go on to earn status
on the Champions Tour in 2007. Scott has Career earnings of over $155,000 on
the Champions Tour while still holding a full-time job.
In July 2008,
Scott won the Southwest U.S. Senior Open Qualifier at Dragon Ridge Country
Club, in the third hole of a sudden death playoff.
As if it
isn’t enough to be a great guy, have a lovely wife and play killer golf, Scott
(with the help of his father) designed and for-the-most-part built Scotch Pines
Golf Course in Payette, Idaho. The 6,487 yard par 72 course opened in 1988.
From what I’ve been told, greens fees are still only about $35 for 18
holes…even if you know the designer!
If a Golf Nut
of the Year represents the whole of the membership, no one could be more
deserving of this honor than Scott Masingill. His humility and good nature make
him a pleasure to be around on and off the golf course. When Scott talks about
his attitude towards golf it is always the same credo. . “Golf,” Scott
explains, “Is just hitting fairways and greens, and hoping the hole gets in the
way when you putt.” You know what…the hole gets in the way when he putts…a lot!
