JUNO BEACH, Florida — The final chapter in one of golf’s most storied careers is about to be written: Bob Ford, who had not one but two dream jobs as Head PGA Professional at Oakmont Country Club and Seminole Golf Club, will retire from Seminole on June 1.
Ford has overseen Seminole’s golf operations since 2000. He stepped away from Oakmont in 2016 after working at the Pennsylvania club for 37 years, splitting his time at both clubs for 16 years.
Just as he chose the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont to serve as his departure date, Ford decided three years ago, when Seminole was awarded the Walker Cup (May 8-9), it would be the perfect time to step into retirement.
“I wanted to work through the Walker Cup, because that’s such a great event,” Ford said last week. “I wouldn’t say it was a difficult decision. Everybody has a shelf life.”
What a life the 67-year-old Ford has enjoyed in golf, spending more than four decades working at two of the most prestigious golf clubs in the world. The Jupiter resident has deservedly earned his share of accolades – both as a player and as a PGA Professional.
In 2005, Ford was inducted into the PGA of America Hall of Fame. He was also the recipient of the 2017 Bob Jones Award, the highest honor the USGA can bestow on someone. Typically, the low-key Ford downplays his accomplishments.
“I was unbelievably lucky,” Ford said. “All of us have some luck in our success. I was in the right place at the right time twice. I thank my lucky stars.”
It’s the two clubs and their high-profile members who should be thankful. Ford took his profession to another level with the service he and his staff provided.
“Bob’s impact on the game cannot be overstated,” said Jimmy Dunne, Seminole’s president since 2012. “I could go on and on about Bob’s achievements on the golf course, but what has made him truly special has been his dedication to mentoring younger generations of club professionals. If you look at golf clubs all over the country, you can find former assistants of Bob’s who have become leading club professionals.”
Bob Ford was the head professional at Oakmont Golf Club for 37 years.
It’s no surprise Ford’s replacement, Matt Cahill, is on his staff. Cahill becomes the ninth head professional in Seminole’s 92-year history, joining an illustrious list that includes Masters champion Claude Harmon, Henry Picard and Ford.
Bob Ford, right, is retiring as Head PGA Professional at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach and Matt Cahill will be his replacement.
Matt Cahill the latest Ford assistant to become head pro
Ford says the club made the decision to hire Cahill, but he supported it, just as he has approximately 50 former assistants who have moved on to be hired as head pros elsewhere.
“It’s my greatest legacy,” Ford said. “It means the world to me. My assistants did everything for me. They worked hard for me and I worked hard for them.”
Ford then smiled. “It means I’ll have a lot of places to visit to play golf,” he said.
Ford’s mentor was Lew Worsham, the 1947 U.S. Open champion who served as Oakmont’s head professional. Ford worked for Oakmont briefly during the 1973 U.S. Open, when Johnny Miller shot his famous final-round 63 to win.
Ford had been a top amateur player in Pennsylvania and at the University of Tampa. While in college, he asked Worsham for advice on what career path to choose, thinking he would say the PGA Tour.
Instead, Worsham offered Ford a job at Oakmont. Five years later, Ford replaced Worsham as head professional. At 25.
Right place, right time? Perhaps. But the right person.
“Bob is the epitome of a golf professional, the finest the business has ever seen,” said Kevin Murphy, the Head PGA Professional/GM at McArthur Club in Hobe Sound. “He set the gold standard for PGA Professionals.”
Ford proved in the 1983 U.S. Open at, naturally, Oakmont he could still play the game. Despite dealing with all his duties such as running the merchandise tent, he finished 26th. Ford remains the last host pro to make the cut at a national open.
He had no illusions about pursuing a career as a player, though. “I sat down a week after that and thought, ‘You’re likely not going to do anything better than this,’ ” Ford said.
Besides, why would he leave a job like Oakmont’s? A generation later, he added Seminole to his resume.
Asked what he would miss most about Seminole, Ford didn’t talk about the picturesque Donald Ross-designed course and the gorgeous Atlantic Ocean views. He talked about the relationships.
“I’ll miss interacting with my staff and the members every day,” said Ford, who spent most of his time near the first tee. “Every day someone from the golf world comes through here. To meet all these people has been extraordinary.”
Bob Ford’s not done with golf — he’ll be a starter
The job has its headaches, no doubt. You’re dealing with mostly famous and/or rich people who are used to getting their way. It can be a high-wire act for a head pro to remain at a club for a long time. Not for Ford.
“Not only is Bob everybody’s friend, but he makes everybody feel like you’re a lifelong friend,” said longtime Seminole member Nathaniel Crosby Jr., Bing’s son and the U.S. captain for the Walker Cup.
“Bob doesn’t play favorites. He doesn’t hang around with a clique of members. He’s the ultimate diplomat.”
Ford will not be buying a rocking chair after June 1. The USGA has asked him to be a starter for the U.S. Open as long as he wants, and he’ll still work as a consultant for Golf Business Network, a hiring company.
But when his friends ask him if he wants to join them for a weekend golf getaway, he can say yes. Another chapter is about to begin in his life.
“It’s phenomenal where the game has taken me,” Ford said. “I’ve had a storybook career.”
