Ernie Vossler
| Ernie Vossler | |
|---|---|
 Vossler in the 1950s | |
| Personal information | |
| Full name | Ernest Orville Vossler |
| Born | November 29, 1928 Fort Worth, Texas |
| Died | February 16, 2013 (aged 84) La Quinta, California |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Weight | 175 lb (79 kg; 12.5 st) |
| Sporting nationality |  United States |
| Spouse | Marlene Hagge |
| Career | |
| Turned professional | 1954 |
| Former tour(s) | PGA Tour |
| Professional wins | 4 |
| Number of wins by tour | |
| PGA Tour | 3 |
| Other | 1 |
| Best results in major championships | |
| Masters Tournament | 38th: 1956 |
| PGA Championship | T15: 1961 |
| U.S. Open | T5: 1959 |
| The Open Championship | DNP |
Ernest Orville Vossler (November 29, 1928 – February 16, 2013) was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour; he later prospered in the fields of golf course design and construction, golf course management services and real estate development.
Vossler was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, where he played on the Pascal High School golf team.[1]
Vossler turned professional in 1954 and began play on the PGA Tour in 1955.[1] His best finish in a major championship was T-5 at the 1959 U.S. Open.[2]
As his full-time touring days were winding down, Vossler became a club pro and worked at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma,[3] and later Quail Creek Golf & Country Club in Oklahoma City.[1] He was named "PGA Golf Professional of the Year" in 1967.[4] He later became involved in a series of businesses relating to golf course development starting in 1971.[5] Some of his business partners include former tour players Joe Walser, Jr. and Johnny Pott.[1] In 1974, Vossler and Walser founded the Oak Tree Golf Club, now known as Oak Tree National, which has hosted the 1988 PGA Championship and is scheduled to host the 2014 U.S. Senior Open.[6] He was the Chairman of Landmark Golf, a golf/real estate development firm serving the southwestern United States.
Vossler was inducted into the PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame in 2005.[4]
Vossler was married to World Golf Hall of Famer Marlene Hagge. He died in La Quinta, California in 2013.[7]
Professional wins (4)
[edit]PGA Tour wins (3)
[edit]| No. | Date | Tournament | Winning score | Margin of victory | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 25, 1958 | Kansas City Open | −19 (67-65-70-67=269) | 2 strokes |  Billy Maxwell |
| 2 | Jan 12, 1959 | Tijuana Open Invitational | −15 (69-65-71-68=273) | 2 strokes | John McMullin |
| 3 | Sep 18, 1960 | Carling Open Invitational | −12 (69-69-66-68=272) | 1 stroke | Paul Harney |
Other wins (1)
[edit]- 1960 Panama Open
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Ernie Vossler bio". Landmark Golf. Archived from the original on January 5, 2009. Retrieved May 6, 2009.
- ^ "Golf Major Championships". Retrieved May 6, 2009.
- ^ Elliott, Len; Kelly, Barbara (1976). Who's Who in Golf. New Rochelle, New York: Arlington House. p. 194. ISBN 0-87000-225-2.
- ^ a b Inaugural PGA Golf Professional Hall of Fame prepared to open its doors
- ^ Biller, Steven; Kleinschmidt, Janice (October 2007). "The Influencers". Palm Springs Life.
- ^ "Oak Tree National". Retrieved March 15, 2010.
- ^ "Valley golf pioneer Ernie Vossler dies". mydesert.com. February 16, 2013. Retrieved February 17, 2013.