The passing of Clyde Luther on March 30, 2018, at the age of 88 has left a hole in the hearts of many who have played competitive golf. Luther was a past president of the Virginia State Golf Association, a member of the inaugural class of the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame, a nationally celebrated Rules official, the NCAA Division I golf head rules official and a winner of the U.S. Golf Association’s Joe Dey Award for meritorious service to the game.
Anyone he touched on and off the golf course would gladly offer a tribute to him. Anyone he touched has a Clyde Luther story to tell. Here are just a few:
Matt Smiley, assistant executive director of the VSGA:
"Clyde’s knowledge of the Rules of Golf was unquestionable, but the thing that was even more impressive about Clyde was his passion for the Rules. It didn’t take long hearing Clyde speak about the Rules to realize how strongly he felt about them and you couldn’t help but be sucked in to whatever he was saying. I firmly believe that his passion for the Rules is a big part of the reason that we have so many knowledgeable Rules officials from the region – his passion bred passion in others.
His passion was not only for the Rules, but also for etiquette and teaching players, especially juniors, right from wrong. There would be multiple occasions per event where he would seek out a player after the round to talk to them about something they could have done differently on the course – either from an etiquette or Rules standpoint. Those are the things not everyone saw, but showed you how he truly cared about what is best for the players in the long run.
My first year on the VSGA staff I went to my first PGA/USGA Rules of Golf Workshop and really didn’t know much about the Rules of Golf. Clyde was neither an instructor nor attendee of the workshop, but he appeared in the back of the classroom on the morning of the second day of the workshop (because that’s what he did for fun).
I barely knew Clyde, but he came to me at the lunch break and invited me to lunch with him. For the next hour, he talked about the difference between a line of putt and a line for putting so passionately that he not only taught me something that I’ll never forget but raised my level of interest for the Rules that has continued ever since."
Richard Wight, past president of the VSGA and longtime rules official:
"By the time I became involved as a Rules Official with the VSGA, Clyde was already one of the top Rules Officials in the country as well as the Rules Chairman for the VSGA (a post he held for nearly 30 years). I learned quickly that Clyde intended for VSGA Championships to be conducted on par with USGA national championships. I also learned that if you wanted to perform at that level, he would show you how.
His enthusiasm was particularly evident in the rules classes he conducted, and he became one of the best and most popular instructors for the USGA at the national level. My best scores on the Rules exam were made when taking Clyde’s (and later Lew Blakey’s) classes.
By 2000 Clyde’s reputation was such that he was picked to run the NCAA Men’s Golf championships. I was fortunate enough to be his administrative assistant and course marker, a job we frequently did together. Once while marking Karsten Creek (Oklahoma States’ course), Clyde almost stepped on an enormous rattlesnake in a hazard. He had me finish marking that one!
My 25 years of working and traveling with Clyde showed me what a dedicated and determined volunteer can accomplish and how much that enriches one’s own life. You go places you might never go, see great golf courses and great players. Most importantly you make great and enduring friendships. Clyde made much of this possible for me. He will always be an inspiration."
Mark Lawrence Jr., member of the Virginia Tech golf team and reigning Virginia Amateur champion:
“I was fortunate to get to know Mr. Luther over my junior golf career. I believe Mr. Luther helped me become a better player growing up with his strict policy on the way you act on the golf course.
Mr. Luther was always so supportive of me throughout my junior golf and into my amateur career. It was such an honor to have him out at King Carter when I won my first VSGA Junior Match Play. I was thrilled to get my name on the trophy named after him.
I’ll never forget over the summer at the VSGA Amateur I saw him during the second round of the stroke-play qualifying. I had just teed off on number 5 and was not in the greatest of moods given I’d gotten stuck in a bunker a couple holes before and made a 10.
I went to say hello and told him what happened. He replied with “Ouch, that; all right. I believe in you.” I really think that helped me calm down for the rest of the day, and it carried over for the rest of the week. I will miss seeing Mr. Luther at tournaments. He was a huge part of my junior golf career and someone I have always looked up to."
Galen Hill, longtime rules official:
"I first met Clyde in 1980 when he worked his first VSGA event. From that time on we worked closely together as both friends and rules officials.
While he was very involved with the USGA, I think his true love was junior golf with college golf as a continuation of that. We worked many college events together, and I always enjoyed watching the young players come over to greet him. Twice at the U.S. Amateur I saw Tiger Woods go out of his way to greet Clyde. To influence young people that way was Clyde's greatest accomplishment."
Gib Palmer, past VSGA president and 2018 recipient of the USGA’s Joe Dey Award, an honor he shares with Luther:
"Sometime in the early 1990s I was introduced to Clyde Luther by my father when both were working as Rules Officials at the U.S. Open. Clyde encouraged me to volunteer at Virginia State Golf Association tournaments, which I did. Later, he was the official in charge at the U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier at the Country Club of Virginia, and I volunteered to assist him at that event. Following that qualifier, Clyde said, “I want you to go to Rules school.” When Clyde Luther tells you to go to Rules school, you go to Rules school. In 1996, I was asked to join the USGA’s Junior Championship Committee, reputed to be the best committee in the USGA because of members like Clyde. For many years after that, Clyde and I conducted the U.S. Junior qualifiers in Virginia, and it was fun to watch the juniors when they saw Clyde on his golf cart, observing play on the course. They always greeted him with great respect and affection. He was definitely an inspiration to the young participants in the event. What they probably didn’t know was all the work Clyde had put into the preparation for the qualifier. He believed that the U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier should be conducted at the same level as the national championship because, for most of the players in the field, this would be their one and only exposure to a USGA tournament.
At the U.S. Junior Amateur championship for many years, Clyde conducted a brief review of match play rules called the “putting clock” for each of the 64 players who were about to embark on their first-round matches. Thirty-two times, often in the heat of a July sun, Clyde would patiently remind the players about the differences in stroke play and match play. They listened intently, no doubt learning much about this form of play.
In 2015, when the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame Committee first met to elect its inaugural class, all agreed on the importance of selecting individuals who were the most significant Virginia contributors to golf. Clyde was among that group. I had the privilege of contacting all the Inductees and the first person I called was Clyde. What an honor that was for me, after all those years we spent together on the U.S. Junior Committee, to tell him of his election. And when I called Vinny Giles, Curtis Strange and Lanny Wadkins to notify them of their election, they all asked who else would be inducted. When I told them Clyde was among the group, they all expressed their enthusiastic approval.
To me, and to so many others, Clyde was a role model, mentor, and distinguished contributor to golf in Virginia and the world, and there will never be anyone quite like him."
Bowen Sargent, University of Virginia golf team coach for 14 years and decorated college golfer at N.C. State:
"I will preface the story by stating that I grew up in our organization/state where rules officials, should I say, relished “punishing” competitors rather than assisting. So I recall needing a ruling at the 1988 ACC Championship and given my history with rules officials I was naturally on the defensive as Clyde approached.
Much to my surprise, Clyde came up, asked how he could help and explained my options as a player. To say the least I was shocked and stunned!! To have an official who was there to assist. That will be my lasting memory of Clyde as it was a microcosm of Clyde and his nature. In my opinion, Clyde introduced a compassionate side to officiating and forever changed my opinion of rules officials. I believe other officials followed suit and adopted Clyde’s philosophy. I am convinced he forever changed the game."
Lew Blakey, longtime rules official and 2018 inductee into the Virginia Golf Hall of Fame:
"We have all lost a best friend with the passing of Clyde Luther and now it’s a time of prayer and remembrance. So, let me share a few memories.
Clyde and I first met in the spring of 1964 at Springfield G&CC, where we were both new members and seemed to have an instant bond through our common interest in the Rules of Golf.
Clyde was beginning on a track to ultimately become recognized as one of the world’s great authorities on the Rules of Golf. My interest was more modest and stemmed from my collection of past years Rules of Golf booklets, an interest that continues to this day.
Besides our common interest in the Rules, I was struck by Clyde’s devotion to his wonderful wife, Claudette, and their children. During our many trips together over long distances and time, he always had many kind words to say regarding his family.
At dinner the other night, Clyde and I laughed about a few things from the past.
In 1964, the dues at SG&CC were only $36 per month, which included a government tax of 20% (or $6). We were assured by the club membership chairman that this tax was to terminate shortly because of a bill just passed by the Congress. Thus, our dues in the future would only be $30. At the time, Clyde and I agreed that would not happen as the club would surely raise our dues by $6, which they did.
Once, Clyde said he had gotten a great bargain in procuring asphalt for paving some of the cart paths at the club, which at the time were just sand. The contractor, who was a member, would provide the roller and operator to finish the paving if Clyde and I would shovel the asphalt. Not being trained in such matters, we put down about twice the amount needed and thus the total price doubled, wiping out the cost savings.
At a long ago Northern Virginia high school championship, Clyde was in charge with me as his helper and there was mole damage near one of the putting greens and certain to affect play. Although the Rules would give relief from holes created by moles, we felt that this was something that should be marked with white paint to help the high school students who might not be familiar with the Rules. After having marked this large area, we returned later in the morning to see how things were going. We found that the moles had ignored our marking and created an additional very large damaged area that of course was not marked.
To me personally, in addition to him being a wonderful friend, I owe so much to Clyde for all the help he gave me when I started out as a rookie Rules official those many years ago. He was always there to answer all my questions and make sure I learned things the right way. I could never have achieved anything without his constant support for which I am eternally grateful, and I will miss him greatly."
Kathy Gordon, director regional affairs-Southeast for the USGA:
"As I reflect on my 20-plus year friendship with Clyde, we celebrate his unselfish sharing of his passion for the game and Rules of Golf expertise.
Twenty-two years ago he welcomed a new USGA Director of Regional Affairs to teach a Rules of Golf seminar. I learned so much with his excitement of bringing the Rules to all golfers, not just championship players. Clyde also made me look as like a seasoned Rules expert instead of a rookie that day.
Clyde always made time for me and always supported the USGA when requested. Like many others, I’m thankful for my time with Clyde."
Jamie Conkling, executive director of the VSGA:
"I met Clyde about 25 years ago when we both served on the USGA Junior Committee. Throughout the past 2½ decades, he and I stayed in contact, but it wasn’t until I joined the VSGA staff in 2006 that I was really able to understand the significant impact he had on the game and on so many golfers and volunteers at the local, regional, state and national levels.
Personally, Clyde was a true supporter of mine for which I am grateful. I will miss his sense of humor, his jokes, his laughter, and his passion for the Rules of Golf. We had some good times together."