Fairways • Winter 2010
A Life Lived Inside the Ropes
by Dick Harmon
Karl Tucker was a guy who could trade jokes with TV stars, stymie fast-talking politicians and walk with head held high among Hall of Fame golf legends. When he died in early January, a part of Utah golf lore ended, although stories about this gifted man will surely be told for seasons to come.
 The College Hall of Fame golf coach, who built Brigham Young University’s golf program into a national entity, died Friday, Jan. 8 at his home with his children and wife Joanne at his bedside. Tucker had battled complications stemming from congestive heart failure.
Former BYU and University of Alabama athletic director Glen Tuckett provided a colorful and astute tribute to Tucker during funeral services. He was not only a friend of Tucker’s, but a coaching colleague and administrator for more than two decades alongside the departed buddy.
“I can’t remember Karl doing anything he didn’t want to do,” said Tuckett, who can’t help poke fun of Tucker’s idiosyncrasies.
“He never paid a green fee whether it was Kean Ridd’s Provo course, or Pebble Beach, Augusta National, or St. Andrews. He never paid for a ski pass. He never bought shoes, shirts, sweaters, or trousers. He did purchase a suit of clothes once in a while but only because Ping, Nike, Taylor Made or Footjoy didn’t make them.
“Karl always assumed that the ropes along the fairways of a golf tournament were for other people. Karl not only walked inside the ropes – he figuratively lived inside the ropes. The fairway was his personal HOV lane.
“Karl could talk himself into Buckingham Palace. At the LA Open at Riviera Country Club he tried to park in the player’s parking lot. The attendant wouldn’t let him, but Karl persisted even with a long line of cars waiting behind him. Finally the window of the next car rolled down and Johnny Miller stuck out his head and yelled to the attendant ‘Hey, let those two guys in.’”
Tuckett said Tucker was a pioneer at getting things done at BYU, a school where many administrators like to flex their muscles with the control button. Tuckett was amazed at what Tucker got done in the early days of his golf program.
“Karl knew that if BYU golf were to succeed he needed a golf course that would be a showcase — a selling point to recruits. It became Karl’s crusade to have playing privileges for the BYU golf team at the newly constructed Riverside Country Club. He was obsessed. He cultivated, lobbied, and intimidated both the BYU central administration and the Board of Directors of Riverside. And as always, Karl was successful and the cordial association with Riverside made all the difference.
“Karl was by far the most popular golf coach in the NCAA. He knew all of the golfers on the opposing teams, and they secretly wished they were playing for Karl Tucker.
“I have been to many PGA Tour events with Karl and the pros crowd around to talk with him and reminisce about the friendships.
“Few people have ever been able to mix blarney, flattery, smoke blowing and genuine affection as well as did Karl Tucker,” said Tuckett.
Sometimes a coach can transcend his title.
At his funeral, most of his former players were in attendance, a signal of the loyalty and love he cultivated during his storied golf career.
“Coach Tucker was much more than a coach,” said former player Pat McGown. “He was the ‘away from home’ dad that would really listen, the mentoring older brother, the athlete that understood the game, and the loyal friend. Coach’s smile, work ethic, and competitive spirit were contagious. Karl Tucker made all of his players better people.”
“I would just say that Coach’s legacy was obviously first, his undying love for Joanne, but second was a very unique and unmatched loyalty to his players that spanned some forty years,” said Keith Clearwater. “Every coach at BYU tries to emulate his program and relationship with players. That legacy will never end.”
“He is a legend and he left a past and legacy we’ll all honor,” said Gary Golightly, a close friend and former Executive Director of the Provo Open.
Tucker, who once said he was the luckiest man alive, coached BYU’s golf team to an NCAA championship in 1981. He also loved to ride his horses as well as ski. He served for two decades as chairman of the Provo Open and created a charity to benefit the junior golfers in Utah County and the Boys and Girls Club of Utah County.
According to USCTrojans.com, Tucker, along with the late USC golf coach Stan Wood, Dave Williams of the University of Houston and Jess Haddock of Wake Forest are all recognized as the Founding Fathers of modern collegiate golf.
Beginning in 1966 when Johnny Miller and Mike Taylor earned All-American honors, his players have earned more than 60 All-American citations.
From 1969 through 1991, two years before Tucker retired as BYU’s golf coach, his teams won 19 conference championships and had 17 Top 10 finishes in the NCAA Golf Championships.
Golfers who came through his program include a myriad of All-Americans including Mike Reid, Keith Clearwater, golf designer John Fought, former Master’s champion Mike Weir, Dick Zokol, Pat McGowan and TV golf analyst Bobby Clampett, who was the college player of the year in 1980.
Most of Tucker’s former players, including Clampett, who had never returned to Provo, attended Cougar Day this past fall at Riverside Country Club in Provo, knowing the event might be the final opportunity to visit with their former coach.
After an emotional dinner the night before the event, associate BYU athletic director Brian Santiago commented the event was “all-time,” seeing all that golf talent saluting their coach and trading stories.
“The only thing bigger than Karl’s smile was his heart,” said Fairways magazine publisher Randy Dodson. “I learned many things from him, none of which had to do with golf, although he tried to fix my swing many times. I have a great admiration for his ability to treat all people, regardless of their position in life, the same. I will miss his friendship.”
Fought, who is now an acclaimed golf course designer, said, “He was a great leader and friend to all of us, his former players. He was a lot more than just a coach. He was an inspiration and the firmest of foundations. He led with class and guided us through the years. His legacy is all the memories we have of the great times we spent together playing golf, but mostly I will remember and cherish his advice to a rather immature boy from Portland, Oregon. He gave us all so much and we will miss him.”
Dick Harmon is a sports writer for the Deseret Morning News and a frequent contributor to Fairways. |
