Mike Goodart’s connection to golf began almost as soon as he could walk.
Born and raised in Roswell, New Mexico, Mike grew up across the street from a nine-hole municipal golf course, where he first learned the game at just three years old. That early introduction sparked one of the most accomplished junior golf careers in New Mexico history.
Mike won the Western Junior Championship in 1967, qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur four times, and later played collegiate golf at the University of New Mexico. Beyond golf, he built successful automobile dealerships throughout Colorado and New Mexico before retiring to Denver with his wife, Dianna, where they became members at Cherry Hills Country Club.
Since becoming involved with the CGA through the Solich Invitational in 2019, Mike has become a strong supporter of programs like the Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy and golf’s ability to shape young people.
KK: You’ve had a unique journey—from growing up in New Mexico to building a successful career and now living in Colorado. Can you tell us a bit about your background and how that path unfolded?
MG: I was born in 1947 in Roswell, New Mexico. After World War II, there was an Air Force base there, and a lot of the pilots who had flown B-29s came back and were retiring. It was kind of a country club atmosphere.
We had a pilot living across the street from us, Lieutenant Colonel Flanagan, and he would go play golf every morning. He had a pull cart before they had electric carts, and he cut off an old mashie for me with a wooden shaft. I would follow him around, and if I got tired, I could climb on his cart and he’d pull me.
I was three years old.
As I got older, the golf professional in Roswell, Crawford Usrey, looked after me while I practiced around the course. Everybody knew me there, and I started playing tournaments when I was eight years old.
KK: Were there people early in your golf journey who had a major influence on you?
MG: Colonel Flanagan started me in golf, and Crawford Usrey was the pro, but Vic Kline was the one who really guided me.
Vic was stationed in Roswell in the Air Force, and I would caddie for him when I was young. He gave me lessons and taught me how to play. He always told me, “Learn how to hit the ball long first and straight second.”
The thing I remember most about junior golf was being around adults and learning to respect the people I was around. It really taught me what it was going to be like to be a grown-up.
KK: You were a highly accomplished junior golfer, including winning the Western Junior Championship in 1967. What stands out when you look back on those years?
MG: I played in the Western Junior for the first time in 1960 in Albuquerque, and I finished dead last.
Then in 1967, I won it.
I qualified somewhere around the middle of the pack for match play. I beat Ron Barchi in the second round, Eddie Cook in the quarterfinals, Jim McLean in the semifinals, and Andy North in the finals, 4 and 3.
I also qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur four times between the ages of 13 and 17.
One memory I’ll never forget happened years later when I was playing with Steve Jones in Arizona. I looked over and realized Crawford Usrey was standing there.
He had driven out with photographs he had taken of me as a little kid in 1955. He had held onto those photos for more than 30 years.
KK: You had opportunities to play at several schools but ultimately chose the University of New Mexico. What went into that decision?
MG: I was recruited by the Air Force Academy, Houston, Colorado, and Wake Forest, but I decided to stay home and go to the University of New Mexico.
I loved my college experience. I met all kinds of people and played against incredible golfers. Hale Irwin was at Colorado at the time, and New Mexico and Colorado were rivals.
During that time, I also became friends with Lee Trevino. After I won the Western Junior, I received an exemption into the Western Open at Olympia Fields.
I was nervous on the practice tee trying not to be noticed, and Lee Trevino turned around and said, “Mike, is that you? What are you doing here?”
I told him I had gotten an exemption from winning the Western Junior, and he said, “Drop your balls right here next to me.”
So suddenly I’m standing between Lee Trevino and Jack Nicklaus on the practice tee.
KK: After college, you built and operated successful automobile dealerships across Colorado and New Mexico. What did that chapter teach you about leadership?
MG: I started out in accounting and eventually became a general manager and owner of dealerships throughout Colorado and New Mexico.
One of the best leadership lessons I ever learned came from a service manager. He put a piece of rope on the desk and said:
“That piece of rope is your job. Your job is to tie it into a nice neat bow instead of a hangman’s noose. I will do anything you ask about that rope except touch it.”
That stuck with me forever.
The car business gave me far more than I deserve in life.
KK: Even in retirement, you’ve stayed connected to the business through your family. What has that been like?
MG: It’s fun watching it continue.
My son-in-law runs the dealerships now, and one of the reasons I moved to Denver was because the person running the business needs to run it. Employees didn’t need to be disagreeing with him and then coming to me.
I still stay involved in the insurance side and review operations every month, but I don’t touch the rope anymore.
KK: What inspired you to become involved with the CGA and support programs like the Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy?
MG: I was invited to play in the Solich Invitational by Doak Jacoway, and that really introduced me to the CGA. I played with Rob Foss, Ed Mate, and Joe McCleary, and immediately connected with the organization and its mission.
Before that, my wife and I were members at The Tradition Golf Club in Palm Springs, where they had an Arnold Palmer scholarship fund for employees’ children. I saw firsthand how much good those scholarship programs could do.
The things I learned through Vic Kline and growing up around golf — learning respect, being around adults, having goals — that’s what these programs teach kids.
Golf is the second part of it.
The first part is learning how to become an adult and having goals in life.
KK: Looking back on your golf journey, what advice would you give to young golfers today?
MG: Go out there and play golf, learn the etiquette, and enjoy the people you meet.
Golf teaches lessons in life that other sports may not teach you if you pay attention.
The relationships stay with you forever. Just like Crawford Usrey showing up 30 years later with those photographs of me as a child.
Even after setbacks, you don’t give up. I once made a 15 on a hole during U.S. Open qualifying at Cherry Hills and still came back and shot 71 that afternoon.
Golf teaches perseverance.
KK: What legacy or impact do you hope to leave behind?
MG: I hope people look at me and say there’s somebody who learned from an early age to respect people, commit to doing things the right way, and understand that if you do the right things, good things will follow.
Golf was a huge part of teaching me that.
