Vollstedt, Snyder and Kneebone Accept Arizona Golf Hall of Fame Awards at Camelback

Contact Russ Christ
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PHOENIX (November 27, 2002) - A collective body of Arizona golf associations with representation on the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame Committee, including the Arizona Golf Association, Southwest Section PGA, Arizona Women's Golf Association and the Cactus & Pine Golf Course Superintendents Association of Arizona inducted seven new members Nov. 25 at Camelback GC in Scottsdale. Joe Garagiola, Sr. served as the honorary emcee and handed out the Hall of Fame plaques to the inductees or family and friends representing them.

Three of the seven new inductees, Linda Vollstedt, Jack Snyder and W.R. Kneebone, Ph.D, were given the awards in person. Missy Farr-Kay accepted for her sister, the late Heather Farr, Bob Hunsick III accepted for his father, the late Bob Hunsick Jr., Jody Potts received the award for her husband, Al Potts, who passed away in 2000, and Chuck Giebel of Avondale accepted the award for his former employer, John Reuter, Jr.

This year's class made significant contributions to the Arizona golf scene. Dr. Kneebone dedicated his life to science and teaching turfgrass as an educator at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Snyder, who turns 85 on Saturday, was perhaps Arizona's most accomplished golf course architect during a long and distinguished career. Farr was an amateur legend and budding LPGA star who died of breast cancer in 1993 at 28. Vollstedt, still a member of ASU's athletic department, was arguably one of the most successful coaches in NCAA history during her tenure as women's golf coach at ASU. Hunsick, deceased since 1963, was a prolific teacher and player from 1930 to 1960 at the Arizona Biltmore. Reuter invented the famous "Bulls Eye" putter, and Potts was a longtime volunteer for many organizations and clubs, especially the AGA..

Quotes from acceptance speeches from the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame Ceremony Nov. 25, 2002 at Camelback GC

Linda Vollstedt:

"One thing that I've learned is that you always give back to this wonderful game ... there's nothing better than being at the golf course and being with nature ... you learn about the spiritual side of golf ... golf opens your heart to give back, be with your friends and be able to appreciate what life is all about ... I would like to thank my parents ... my father Lyle is here tonight ... they brought me up on the golf course and that's how I learned how to play ... I'd really like to thank ASU for hiring me over 20 years ago and taking a chance on me ... I was a high school coach for 10 years ... I'd like to thank the Solheim family because of everything they have done for golf and for the golf course they built for the university ... without the Solheim family we would not have that facility ... and for all the things they do for golf around the state ... I would like to thank the staff at ASU and for all the things you've done for me as a person ... I would also like to recognize the Farr family (Missy Farr-Kaye accepted the award for her sister) and Heather ... to be able to go into the Hall of Fame with her is special ... when she first came to ASU she had more charisma than any player I'd seen ... she taught me so much as a coach ... she taught me I could learn more from my players than they could learn from me ... to know that Missy will continue the tradition of that family with our program is great ... I appreciate this so much ... it's an honor to be here."

Bob Hunsick III (accepting for his father):

"I would like to thank Milt Coggins, Jr. and Bob Goldwater for their efforts. We Hunsicks want to convey to the Arizona Golf Foundation and all those involved in the Arizona Hall of Fame selection committee how much we appreciate your efforts and your decision. We are humbled by your generosity. We thank you very much."

Jody Potts (accepting for her husband):

"This is truly an honor for my husband and I wish so much he could be here to accept this himself. It is with great pride that I accept this honor for his family."

Chuck Giebel (accepting for John Reuter, Jr.):

"John personally would inspect every putter himself ... he spent a lot of time on junior golf ... Heather Farr would demonstrate and test our putters at our plant tester ... nobody else was allowed that privilege because we loved her so much ... John would never talk politics because he thought there was no room in golf for it and he loved making friends ... he never lost a friend in his life ... God smiled on Arizona when John moved here ... I would like to thank the committee for recognizing John and for the honor of accepting this award."

Jack Snyder:

"I'd like to thank my father (a caddy at Oakmont in 1907 and a member of the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame) for getting the family started in the business ... being elected to the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame is I think the greatest thing in my life ... my father, even though he was given the highest honors by the U.S. Golf Association and the GCSAA-- one of the honors he cherished most was his membership in the Arizona Golf Hall of Fame and I feel very much the same way ... and I appreciate very, very much being elected."