Harvey Penick
1904 - 1995 

Renowned Hall of Fame Teaching Professional

Harvey started as a caddie at the Austin Country Club’s original Hancock location when he was eight. Later, working weekends, summers and after school he became shop assistant; then, assistant professional. He was offered the Head Professional’s job while still in school but had to decline when his family insisted he finish high school.  In May of 1923 when he was 18, Harvey graduated from Austin High School and became ACC’s Head Professional, a position he would hold for the next 48 years. In 1971 he was named Professional Emeritus when his son, Tinsley, succeeded him as Head Professional.

Harvey Penick taught golf for seven decades and coached the University of Texas golf team for 33 years. Among his well-known pupils were Ed White, Betty Jameson, Morris Williams Jr., Betsy Rawls, Mickey Wright, Kathy Whitworth, Sandra Palmer, and most notably Tom Kite and Ben Crenshaw (pictured above). Those ladies won over 240 LPGA tour events, two U.S. Women’s Amateurs and 10 U.S. Women’s Opens. The men account for five NCAA individual titles, two Masters, one U.S.

Harvey was a gentle, modest and unassuming man, but he taught with a confidence which allowed his pupils to retain their individuality. He avoided negatives and technicalities, and taught with unfailing courtesy and generosity. The lesser skilled were equally as important to him as the notables he helped. Ever so carefully, he chose the words he used in teaching. And he did this for more than 70 years, saying “When I quit learning, I’ll quit teaching”. And he never quit teaching until the day he died.

Accomplishments

Harvey Penick's University of Texas teams won  22 Southwest Conference titles between 1931-63.
PGA of America Teacher of the Year: 1989
Head Professional, Austin Country Club: 1923-1971
University of Texas Golf Coach: 1931-1963
President, Southern Texas PGA: 1932-1934
PGA Teacher of the Year: 1989
Best-selling author