Steve Anderson was the only person speaking at the Rich Lamb Memorial on Saturday who was not a family member.
But he represented Lamb’s golf family, which included dozens and dozen of people who met the late Fort Myers City Golf Director at either Fort Myers Country Club or Eastwood Golf Course. Lamb died on September 12 at the age of 67 of complications from cancer.
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“Even with a modest 100 rounds a day times 45 years, I said three million golfers walked through the doors and met Rich Lamb,” said Anderson in his speech. “I guarantee none of them left and didn’t say, ‘Wow, this is a nice guy.’
“Rich didn’t have a selfish bone in his body. He just wanted everyone to have fun and enjoy golf. He worked as a mentor, there must be hundreds.”
Lamb’s brother, sister, nephew, and daughters also spoke at the Fort Myers Country Club.
Anderson first met Lamb in 1991 when he was traveling down from Orlando and was just showing up on various courses in Southwest Florida to find a job. A professional told him to look for Lamb because he knew everyone.
Lamm definitely did. He knew that Ken Venturi was opening a teaching school in Orlando, where Anderson lived. Anderson had no idea so he drove home, found the number, called and inquired, and got the job.
“It put me on the map as a golf instructor,” said Anderson.
Lamb also indirectly played a role in Anderson meeting his future wife in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and when Anderson returned looking for a job in Southwest Florida, Lamb appointed him a teacher in Eastwood, where he served from 1998 to 2004 stayed.
Anderson said he received a text message from Lamb’s widow, Karen, about speaking at the memorial. He had done this a few years ago when friends were throwing a party for Lamb at the Fort Myers Country Club.
“I think Karen remembered it,” said Anderson, who has been a teaching director at River Hall in Alva for 13 years.
Anderson, a Master Pro and Life Member of the PGA of America, knows Jim Richerson, President of the PGA of America, and has learned about Lamb’s longstanding service to the game of golf. Richerson responded by writing a letter Anderson designed and read at the memorial.
“He wrote the nicest letter you have ever read,” said Anderson. “I raised his daughters and presented it to them. They kept it. I’ve read everything. Everyone started to cry. It was just amazing. “
The text of the letter:
To all who know and love Reich:
On behalf of the PGA of America, I offer my condolences with great respect on the death of PGA member South Florida, Rich Lamb.
Rich was a true role model for so many in our club. His passion, drive and dedication have helped inspire a new generation of PGA professionals, hundreds in fact, to follow his example and take on PGA membership.
Through the work of Rich and his mentees, golf has changed countless lives for the better.
Simply put, Rich was the face of golf in Ft. Myers for helping use our great sport to give back to his community.
Rich’s character and career are great examples for any PGA member. He will really be missing.
The PGA of America expresses our deepest condolences to his family and friends.
God bless,
Jim Richerson, PGA
President, PGA of America
PGA Assistant Professional Championship: Cypress Lake’s Jeremy Wells tied third and LaPlaya’s Evan Bowser seventh at the PGA Club in Port St. Lucie on Sunday.
Wells was in the competition but shot a final 74 round to finish at 6-under 282. Bowser fired a 68 to shoot a 284.
Jin Chung of Georgia shot a 2 under 70 and won by seven strokes.
Eric Steger, a former Yuengling Open Champion, Indiana PGA Section, shared third place with Wells.
Golf world demo days: The Fort Myers facility has published its schedule for the demo days, which are open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. Schedule – Thursday, Mizuno; Thursday December 2nd, Cobra; Thursday, December 9th, TaylorMade; Tuesday, December 13th, Tour Edge; Thursday, December 16, Callaway.
Real spec golf: The bespoke club fitting and club building company is offering 50% discounts on all fittings at its two locations in Naples through the end of the year.
True Spec Naples: 24850 Old 41 Rd, Bonita Springs, FL 34135 – True Spec Naples includes two spacious indoor accommodation bays, a world-class putting studio, and uses the industry’s first quadroscopic launch monitor, Foresight GCQuad.
True Spec Naples Grande: 7335 Premier Dr., Naples, FL 34105 – True Spec Naples Grande is located in the Naples Grande Golf Club and houses one of our state-of-the-art fitting containers and utilizes Trackman Launch Monitor technology.
Book a fitting on truespecgolf.com with the promo code NAPLES50
Club champions: The club fitting business started November 1 through January 31 next year with a 50% discount on fittings on equipment purchases of $ 500 or more.
The new store in Naples is also open at 13555 Tamiami Trail N Unit 3.
Promotion includes all club fittings, but a putter fitting only requires the purchase of a new putter for the discount to apply.
Customization Promotion Costs: Full Bag Fitting – $ 200; Long Game Customization – $ 125; Driver Customization – $ 87.50; Iron fittings – $ 87.50; Fairway / Hybrid Adjustment – $ 62.50; Putter customization – $ 62.50; Wedge fastener – $ 50
For more information or to book an appointment, go to clubchampiongolf.com.
Rodney Bungartz Clinics: The Arrowhead Golf Club instructor offers Play Golf For Life classes from 4pm to 5pm Monday through November 22nd. There are four sessions – putting, chipping, and full swing for the last two. The cost is $ 115 per student with a limit of eight students. Golf clubs are available. Contact Bungartz at 596-1000 or [email protected].
First tee from Naples / Collier: The chapter has published its fall program schedule. Remaining programs are:
Session A: Birdie – The Quarry, Tuesdays October 5th-November 5th. 30; Eagle / Ace – Golf Club of the Everglades, Thursdays, Oct. 7th-Nov. 18; Home School – Valencia, Thursdays October 7th – November 18th;
Session B: PLAYER / Par / Teen – Cypress Woods, Mondays November 1-29; Royal Palm, Mondays November 1-29; The Rookery at Marco, Tuesdays, 2.-30. November; Valencia, Wednesdays, Nov. 3 Dec. 1; The Moorings, Nov. 4 Dec. 2; Coral Isle Golf Center, Thursdays, Nov. 4th Dec. 2
To register, go to https://firstteenaplescollier.org/register/
Impact Zone Golf: Bobby Clampett and his teaching staff are available for private, group and corporate classes as well as for New Student Assessments at both IZG Academies, which are located in Naples at the Indoor Performance Center at 1040 Collier Center Way and in Fort Myers new academy at the Club at Renaissance at the intersection of Daniels Parkway and Interstate 75.
The Junior After School program for 7-18 years started on September 1st on Wednesday and / or Friday afternoons from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. year. Both programs at the Club at Renaissance in Fort Myers. Private or semi-private classes are held at both the Academy locations in Naples and Fort Myers.
Impact Zone Golf is the first in southwest Florida to adopt the new US national player development model for junior golf through a partnership with US Kids Player Pathways. This model is used in all Impact Zone Golf junior programs.
To register or for more information on a program, contact Olivia at omesner @ impactzonegolf. com or call / SMS 239-236-5536.
Durland Golf School: Mark Durland, who is based in Naples Grande, is available for classes Monday through Saturday.
Golf schools are based on a 3-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio, with all teaching being conducted by Durland. It is also available for teaching via Zoom.
The Ladies Learning Club began on November 10th with Samantha Morrell, with sessions at 9:15 am and 10:30 am. Tuition fee is $ 50 per student per session. Contact Morrell at [email protected].
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