Dave Pelz, the one-time NASA scientist who became a renowned short-game coach and innovator, died March 23 at his home in Dripping Springs, Texas. He was 85 and had fought cancer for several years.
Pelz was among the first to scientifically study golf performance and identify the short game as the primary factor in scoring success. His research led to the discovery that nearly 80 percent of shots lost to par occur within 100 yards of the hole. This groundbreaking insight became the foundation for his teachings, which attracted notable disciples such as Hall of Famers Phil Mickelson and Tom Kite. Pelz’s students collectively won more than 20 major championships.
“I have so many things to say about this incredible man,” Mickelson wrote in a post on X following Pelz’s passing. “I owe so much of my success to the many things he taught me and he lives on as I share those same insights to numerous other golfers.”
Pelz invented numerous training aids and authored many instructional articles and books about the short game, including “Putt Like the Pros” and “Dave Pelz’s Short Game Bible.” He also operated Dave Pelz Scoring Game Schools across the country and hosted “The Dave Pelz Scoring Game Show” on Golf Channel for 15 years. READ MORE
Carl Jackson is well known in golf circles as the longtime Augusta National caddie who was on the bag for Ben Crenshaw’s two Masters titles (1984 and ’95). But his story is reaching a wider audience through a documentary about his life titled “Rise Above: The Carl Jackson Story.”
The film, which is currently available on Amazon Prime and Apple TV+, has also received acclaim, winning for best feature documentary at the Cannes Indie International Film Festival last year. It chronicles Jackson’s beginnings as an 11-year-old who dropped out of school and joined his neighbors as a caddie at Augusta National to help support his family of 10. He went on to become the club’s longest-serving caddie, looping for nearly 60 years before retiring in 2015.
“I think people are impressed, even amazed that Carl has never forgotten his humble beginnings,” said Maryilene Blondell, the movie’s director, producer and writer, in a Chicago Tribune interview. READ MORE
Jack Nicklaus is free to use his own name, image and likeness, a New York trial judge ruled last Wednesday in a case brought by Nicklaus Companies.
Judge Joel Cohen granted Nicklaus summary judgment, mainly on grounds that the 85-year-old winner of a record 18 major championships never contractually granted exclusive licensing authority for his NIL. Businessman Howard Milstein bought Nicklaus’ GBI Investors (formerly Golden Bear International) and other assets in 2007 for $145 million, a deal that led to the creation of Nicklaus Companies. READ MORE
Tap-Ins
The USGA is accepting applications for tickets to the 2025 Walker Cup Match, slated for Sept. 5-7 at the famed Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach, California. Applications will be accepted through April 18, with ticket requests fulfilled via lottery. READ MORE
Renowned club designer Roger Cleveland has returned to Cleveland Golf, the company he founded in 1979, as an advisor. Cleveland most recently had spent nearly three decades as Callaway Golf’s chief club designer. READ MORE
Escalante Golf has acquired Canyata, an exclusive golf retreat in Marshall, Illinois, developed by businessman Jerry Forsythe for his family and friends. Canyata will become the home club for Escalante’s Icon Golf luxury membership program. Icon’s offerings will include a national membership at Canyata as well as playing privileges at eight other Escalante-owned properties. READ MORE
The Country Club of Rochester and Oak Hill Country Club’s West Course, both in Rochester, New York, have been selected to host the 2028 Junior PGA Championships. READ MORE
The PGA of America REACH Foundation announced the field for the 2025 PGA Works Collegiate Championship, to be played May 5-7 at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin. The field will consist of 27 teams and 45 individuals representing historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions and other minority-serving institutions. READ MORE
The PGA of America REACH Foundation will once again join forces with Folds of Honor to support veteran and first responder families throughout May with Patriot Golf Days, culminating Memorial Day weekend (May 24-26). READ MORE
The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, will host the 2032 Massachusetts Women’s Amateur, 131 years after it first hosted the championship. READ MORE
Compiled by Mike Cullity