Joe Black
Joe Black is a “doer” with a golfing career that spans four decades. It all began at Lamesa High School, continued at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene and three more years on the PGA tour. He became more successful as the Tournament Supervisor on the Tour Staff, where he served an eight-year tenure. His forte was as a rules expert. He was so knowledgeable of the rules of golf, he was a world-wide speaker on the subject and served as chairman of the rules committee at the major tournaments.
Meanwhile, Black made his home in Dallas, where he later became the golf professional at the 54 hole Brookhaven Country Club. He also served as Vice President of the Club Corporation of America, which owned such prestigious clubs as Brookhaven, Firestone, and Pinehurst at the time. Joe had extracurricular responsibilities as treasure of the Northern Texas PGA in 1969-1970 and president in 1971-1973. He became a national treasurer in 1977 and national president in 1981-1982.
The annual Joe Black Cup matches were started in 1981 by Black’s peers who hold him in such high esteem. The tournament matches the club pros of Southern Texas PGA against their Northern Texas counterparts. Black is a familiar figure at the Masters Tournament, where he was a announcer on the 18th green for many years. Joe and another former PGA President, Mark Kizziar, became partner in club operations and management in the late 1980’s.
Black served as:
Chairman of the PGA Rules Committee from 1969-1976
Chairman of the PGA Championship in 1979 and 1980
Chairman of the PGA Championship in 1983
Captain of the PGA Cup Team in 1981, 1983 and 1984
Chairman of the Ryder Cup Matches in 1983
Black is also a member of the PGA of America Hall of Fame and the Hardin-Simmons University Sports Hall of Fame.
He was integral in reestablishing the Texas Golf Hall of Fame in 2009 and continues to serve as Chairman Emeritus.
He resides in Bee Cave, located outside Austin, Texas. He is a living historian of the game of golf, having been a participant or an eyewitness to many of the famous events of golf in the last 60 years.
Credit = A Few Good Golf Stories written by Mr. Black
Birthplace: Snyder, Texas
Born: August 8, 1933