HVCC's Jack Connelly earns Arnold Palmer Lifetime Service Award

Article available in the Winter issue of the GAP Magazine.

  Jack Connelly has been labeled many names in his 37-year tenure as gatekeeper of Huntingdon Valley Country Club’s professional shop. The practical joker in him would say some were worse than others. Regardless, anyone who knows Jack knows that the most accurate moniker is that of unrelenting champion of the sport.

  A military brat with an unquenchable work ethic, Connelly ascended from HVCC baby face to section stalwart to his profession’s highest office in a four-decade career. Throughout the journey, though, no matter where boardroom responsibilities took him, Connelly’s heart remained in the hills of Huntingdon Valley.

  “You never do something because you think you will win an award. You do something because it’s your job and that’s the way it should be done,” said Connelly, a native of Salisbury, Md. “It’s still kind of hard to believe. To be recognized by your own Association is one thing but to be recognized by the amateur body and what they do for golf is kind of special.” The Arnold Palmer Lifetime Service Award is presented to an individual from any golf related discipline, who has exemplified the spirit of the game at its highest level and who has made a substantial contribution to the game at the Philadelphia, national or international level.

  Added Richard P. Meehan, Jr., the Golf Association of Philadelphia President and a Connelly friend, “Jack represents the true spirit of the Arnold Palmer Award for the way that he passionately promotes the game. Jack's work ethic, sincerity, patriotism, sense of humor and friendship make him a real pro in golf and life.”

  Connelly and his insatiable sense of humor have been part of Huntingdon Valley CC since 1973. He was an assistant professional then for Ken Stear, coming to HVCC after a one-year stint on the PGA Tour. Prior, Connelly displayed his talents at a couple of stops, most notably with a trick show called Swings the Thing based out of the Bahamas. He came to the islands after serving with the Army in Vietnam for just over a year.

  In 1975, the club decided it was time to make a change at the professional position. Connelly became an immediate candidate, although his application for the job was a bit unconventional.

  Said O. Gordon Brewer, Jr., HVCC’s Golf Chairman at the time and a past Arnold Palmer Lifetime Service Award recipient, “There was pretty much unanimity that Jack was the right choice. We had gotten to know Jack as an assistant. He had a good work ethic, he was a talented player and was able to teach the game. He was just the right fit for Huntingdon Valley. He had those qualities that we were looking for as head golf professional.”

  Connelly’s talent on the golf course, in fact, is really the genesis for his ultimate run to President of the PGA of America, his profession’s highest office. After trying the Tour, Connelly came to the area and worked on his game with Bill DeAngelis. He also competed in Section events and though successful, wasn’t enamored with the administration of those tournaments.

  “I used to complain about the way section events were run. So Dick Smith [of Woodcrest CC], who is a good friend of mine, was tournament chairman and Ron Rolfe [of North Hills CC] was on the committee. They kept saying, ‘How can we get Connelly to shut up?’ Ron said that was easy, put him on the committee. So I got involved with the Tournament Committee.”

  He asked Huntingdon Valley CC for permission, and received it, in 1991 to run for District Director. In 1992, he was elected to the position, representing PGA of America professionals from the Philadelphia area, New Jersey and Metropolitan, N.Y., section.

  “That basically involves being on the national board of the PGA and traveling maybe 40-50 days a year,” said Connelly. “I served on that and then an opportunity came. A couple of past presidents liked my style, for whatever reason, and they thought I would be a good officer for the PGA of America.

  “To be totally honest, I didn’t go to college. I still feel kind of awkward about not doing that. But I’ve met a lot of college people with no commonsense. So what I lack in intellectual I make up for in commonsense and the way I treat people. I asked the club if I could run for national office and I couldn’t believe it, they said ‘yes.’”

  Whether it was through his work at national board meetings or as Chair of the Special Awards Committee from 1993-95, Connelly made a name for himself. In 1996, he was elected secretary of the PGA of America. Vice-presidency followed two years later and in 2000 he became the 32nd President of the PGA of America at the 84th PGA Annual Meeting in Charleston, S.C. His term was for two years.

  Connelly’s people person skills flowered as his stature rose. When elected secretary, he promised to call one PGA Professional a day during his two-year term. He did.

  When elected President, he contacted each of the 41 District PGA Directors for the birthdays of each boardmember and his/her significant other. He did the same for the National office’s past presidents. On their special day, each heard from Connelly.

  “To be elected to represent 28,000 men and women at that time, was an awesome responsibility,” said Connelly.

  The responsibility of President increased 10-fold on and after 9/11.

  Sure, Connelly was ultimately accountable for the Ryder Cup being postponed and rescheduled in even numbered years, but more importantly it was Connelly serving as the face of the PGA at a time when America’s focus had changed and, once again, family became the country’s primary thought.

  PGA of America CEO Joe Steranka, who headed the Communications and Broadcasting divisions in those years, recalls Connelly’s stirring words back then.

  “The PGA Tour was giving a tribute to America in San Antonio along with the Valero Texas Open. They had Lee Greenwood come down and sing Proud To Be An American and the heads of state for golf were to speak. Jack was the spokesperson for golf that day. In his remarks he talked about the importance that golf would play in helping the nation heal. Golf was where people got together with family and friends and shared a smile. He said the role PGA of America members would be one of the most important in their careers as golf helped a nation heal. You pray to have a spokesperson as good as Jack Connelly was that day to represent the game.”

  Connelly’s family has been supportive every step of the way. He and wife Inge recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary and son J.P. is also a golf professional. J.P. has been the head pro at Cohasett Golf Club since 2002. J.P. worked as an assistant with his father at Huntingdon Valley prior and actually provided Jack with perhaps his most memorable moment in office. Jack presented J.P. with his first PGA of America Membership card. The first time a father, serving as President, has had the honor to welcome a new member, his son.

  “To this day it’s probably one of the things that stands out in my 14 years as a golf professional,” said J.P. “Getting your membership is enough. I think that was the first time in history [for a son to receive it from his father]. It was incredibly special and it’s something I’ll cherish for the rest of my career.”

  Jack Connelly’s term ended in 2002, but he continues to serve on the board as a Past President. And he continues to make a difference in the lives of both PGA of America members and at his own club. A fact not lost by a very supportive membership.

  “Jack takes great pride in all he does at HVCC,” said Steve Christian, a longtime friend and current HVCC Club President. “He is a perfectionist and all activities he oversees, either member related or outside outings, are some of the best experiences [anyone will have].

  “Jack’s persona within the profession has brought much to HVCC. As a past president of the PGA of America and playing on tour at the highest level, he has no shortage of experiences to share with all. Wherever I go, in or out of the area, everyone has heard of Jack. We are proud to have Jack at HVCC and he has been an important part of our legacy.” As one would assume, Connelly holds the longest tenure of any Huntingdon Valley CC professional, at the club’s current site. The prior mark was 13 years.

  He was elected to the Philadelphia Section Hall of Fame in 2000 and the PGA Hall of Fame in 2005. A graduate of Deptford High School in New Jersey, he was part of that school’s inaugural Hall of Fame class in 2007.

  Connelly, obviously, has done it all as a Head Club Professional. He also has a bucket list second to none. He’s played golf with a United States President, George H.W. Bush (the older one); met heads of state such as Nelson Mandella; flown on the Concorde with the U.S. Ryder Cup team and seen his beloved Boston Red Sox win the World Series, twice.

  “Back when I got the job at Huntingdon Valley, there was a mindset at some of the top clubs that you need to move on every five or six years,” said Connelly. “I never understood that because if I was happy at a club and they were happy with me why would you ever consider moving. It’s all about being happy.”

  Safe it to say, there are a lot of smiles at Huntingdon Valley.

NOTES–In addition to the aforementioned Brewer, who was recognized in 2001, other Arnold Palmer Lifetime Service Award recipients include: Craig Ammerman (2007); Judy Bell (1997); Sir Michael Bonallack (1997); William C. Campbell (1997) and James D. Sykes (2001).