NORTON, Massachusetts – What does it take to become an exemplary figure in a community?
In our small golf community, it means dedicating more than half your life to helping others, looking out for the little guy and making sure that no one is left out from even the tiniest aspect of the community.
PGA Professional Bob Beach, who officially retires on June 16 from Braintree Municipal Golf Course after 31 years, including the past 28 as head professional, is that exemplary figure and so much more in the Massachusetts golf community – a person whose impact extends well beyond the borders of the Bay State.
PGA Professional Bob Beach, who officially retires on June 16 from Braintree Municipal Golf Course after 31 years, including the past 28 as head professional, is that exemplary figure and so much more in the Massachusetts golf community – a person whose impact extends well beyond the borders of the Bay State.
“I would like to thank the people of Braintree for their friendship and support,” wrote Beach in a letter he penned in the Braintree Forum newspaper on April 3, the day he officially announced to the public that he would be retiring. “I always felt like I was not only the pro at the golf course but the town’s pro as well. I was able to run a unique junior program at Braintree that was accessible and included children with special needs.”
In typical Beach fashion, he used the letter to turn attention away from himself, instead using it to thank others – something we’ve come to expect from professional athletes when they’ve been traded, signed with a new team or have decided to hang up their cleats. Spoken like the true professional he is, Beach put the spotlight on the people who he felt truly deserve it – a way to recognize individuals for their accomplishments and ability to overcome adversity.
In reality, it should be the Mass Golf community that should be putting the spotlight on Beach and thanking him for all he’s done.
“Mass Golf and the entire golf community has been so deeply impacted because of Bob’s lifelong commitment and passion to the sport and the athletes under his tutelage,” said Jesse Menachem, Mass Golf Executive Director/CEO. “His tireless effort to grow golf throughout the city of Braintree, particularly with individuals who otherwise would likely not have picked up clubs, has become a model for others to emulate and we are grateful for his service to our game.”
Since becoming a class A member of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America in 1985, Beach has impacted thousands of lives through the game of golf.
He started a weekly special needs golf program at Braintree Municipal which originally consisted of a small group of Special Olympic athletes and grew to more than 100 people with different abilities.
Starting in April each year, the once-a-week clinics take place at Braintree Municipal and concludes each October with the annual NEPGA/Special Olympic Tournament – a tournament well over a decade old that pairs special Olympic athletes with their coaches and PGA professionals.
The tournament was originally started by Bob and his wife Cathleen, the former executive director of the WGAM and the current Director of Women’s Events & Player Development at Mass Golf.
Bob has diligently served on the Board of Directors for Golf For All, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to promote, advocate and publicize the free participation of all individuals with disabilities in the game of golf.
For Bob’s accomplishments, he has been awarded several accolades, including the New England Section of PGA’s Junior Golf Leader Award (1996), NEPGA Teacher of the Year (2005) and was even named the top golf instructor in Massachusetts by Golf Digest for the 2011-2012 season.
He was the 2013 recipient of the NEPGA Patriot Award, which is presented to a PGA Professional who personifies patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrates unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served and protected the United States of America.
On June 7, Braintree Mayor Joseph Sullivan will unveil a plaque at the putting green of Braintree Municipal to honor Bob Beach. Sullivan has also declared the week of June 3-9 as “Bob Beach Week” in honor of his longtime service to the Braintree community.
