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Juan Antonio "Chi Chi" Rodriguez passed away on Thursday, August 8. The native of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico who would grow up to win eight PGA Tour events, 22 PGA Tour Champions events and earn induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1992 was known as one of golf's most charismatic characters. He was 88 years old. Though he was best known for his endearing on-course persona, including his matador-like performances after holing lengthy putts, Rodriguez leaves behind a legacy well beyond his competitive exploits.
As well as any professional athlete before or since, Chi Chi had a full grasp on his status as an entertainer and a role model. His charitable efforts are legendary; seemingly everywhere he went in golf, he left behind grateful fans. A Reddit thread of more than 200 comments in the wake of his passing includes numerous remembrances and fond memories of Puerto Rico's greatest golfer. "I will never forget the fun we had with the man who would use his putter like a sword after he drained a long putt and then pretend to sheath it," wrote one commenter. "He gave 10-year-old me a core memory. He made me fall more in love with the game of golf and led me to becoming a caddy just a few years later."
Chi Chi Rodriguez leaves behind a physical legacy as well in the form of Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club in Clearwater, Fla. Like its namesake, the course is diminutive but leaves a strong impression. Tipping out at just 5,454 yards from the tips, par 69, it's easy to overlook, but as evidenced by its solid average rating of 4.2 across more than 1,000 reviews, locals and visitors alike appreciate it.
"Great value, fantastic pace (got done in 3 hours with a hotdog stop at the turn), course conditions were really well maintained," wrote golfer 'TKoba75' of a July visit. "Can’t beat this for a summer round."
Originally opened in 1989, the course was designed by former ASGCA president Denis Griffiths, who has collaborated with numerous golf legends on design projects, including Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. Griffiths found Rodriguez an easygoing collaborator, and like everyone, remembers Rodriguez fondly.
"An incredible ambassador for golf; I don't know that I ever saw him without a smile on his face," Griffiths said. "He was like an everlasting friend."
Just as its namesake was more than just a golfer, Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club is far more than just a golf course. In addition to partnering with The First Tee of Clearwater, it is home to the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation, which predates the course by a decade and has helped enhance the education of countless children in Pinellas County. By partnering with the school system and providing dedicated teaching facilities on golf course property, with activities that include golf instruction, the foundation has enriched the lives of at-risk youth for decades. The 2024 edition of its annual golf tournament, the first since its namesake's passing, is scheduled for November 10 and 11 and is sure to be a moving event.
"There were several times it brought tears to my eyes, seeing the kids out there," Griffiths said of his experiences seeing Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club pursuing its mission. "It's so rewarding."
More golf course news & notes
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ENGLAND COURSE FORFEITED - Mill Ride Golf Club, a Donald Steel design west of London, has been taken from its owner as part of an investigation into fraud and embezzlement. [LINK: BBC]
TN MUNI REOPENING - Old Fort Golf Club in Murfreesboro, south of Nashville, is set to welcome golfers back on August 30 with new Prizm Zoysia greens and some other updates overseen by architect Nathan Crace. [LINK: WGNS Radio]
GOLF-ADJACENT - Godfrey Nsubuga makes history this week as the first golfer from the country of Uganda to play in the U.S. Amateur. [LINK: AmateurGolf.com]
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