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PGA Hall to Include Don Essig III Indianapolis Star report Posted: March 4, 2009 Don Essig III, master professional at South Grove Golf Course and a 41-year member of the Indiana Section PGA, has been elected to the PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame, the PGA of America announced Tuesday.
Just another day in the life.
"In eighth grade, they had us write a paper on what we wanted to do for a career," Essig, 70, said Tuesday after the honor was announced. "I wanted to be a golf pro. I've lived my dream. I'm still living it." Essig will be inducted with some distinguished company during a May 5 ceremony at PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Classmates include Harvey Penick and Eddie Merrins, two of golf's most revered teachers, and Claude Harmon Sr., the 1948 Masters champion and father of Butch Harmon, who has served as swing coach for Tiger Woods Essig is a past president of the Indiana Section PGA and a tireless promoter of golf. He served on the PGA's rules committee for 34 years, during which he worked as a rules official at 33 PGA Championships, 11 Masters and five U.S. Opens, British Opens and Ryder Cup Matches.
He won the 1957 U.S. Amateur Public Links, played the PGA Tour 1961-63 and has been a top player, instructor, merchandiser and consultant for four decades, including 1973-90 as majority owner of the Hoosier Links Golf Course in New Palestine. Essig and his son, Chip, own Hickory Stick Golf Club in Greenwood and manage South Grove, Heartland Crossing in Camby and Pebble Brook in Noblesville.
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