Ed Seay R.I.P.

One of the game's great characters has left us...

Golf Course Architect Ed Seay Dies at Age 69
 
ASGCA Past President and Winner of ASGCA Distinguished Service Award
Was Design Partner to Arnold Palmer for 35 Years
 
Ed Seay, a past president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, died August 14, 2007 at his home in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., after a long battle with cancer and related health problems.  He was 69.
 
Born in Dade City, Fla., Seay served as ASGCA president in 1976-1977 and was given the ASGCA Distinguished Service Award during the organization of golf course architects’ 2006 Annual Meeting. During a career that spanned five decades, he was responsible for nearly 300 new golf courses and more than two dozen golf course renovations, including Bay Hill Club. Most of his designs were created in partnership with golf legend and ASGCA Fellow Arnold Palmer, with whom Seay began working in 1972 and formed Palmer Course Design Company in 1979. Designing a golf course in Communist China in 1981, Seay was among the first American golf course architects to work outside the United States.
 
Among Seay’s representative golf courses are Sawgrass C.C., Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; The Tradition G.C., LaQuinta, Calif.; The K Club, Straffan, Ireland; Four Seasons Resort at Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica; Kapalua Village Course, Maui, Hawaii; Aviara, Carlsbad, Calif.; Old Tabby Links, Spring Island, S.C.; Tralee C.C., Tralee, Ireland; and Adios G.C. in Coconut Creek, Fla.
 
“ASGCA is saddened with the loss of Ed,” said President Steve Forrest, ASGCA.  “He was one of a kind as a person and did so much for the profession of golf course architecture.  For 40 years, he was one of ASGCA’s great leaders and contributed greatly to the growth and recognition of ASGCA.  He will be missed.”

A graduate of the University of Florida and a retired Commissioned Officer of the United States Marine Corps, Seay began his work in golf course architecture in 1964 near Pinehurst, N.C., where he worked for ASGCA Past President, Ellis Maples, a noted golf course architect Seay called one of the finest golf course architects ever knew.
 
Seay is survived by his wife, Lynn, and adult children Mason Seay and Tracy Raymond.
 
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, August 18, at 10 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. It will be followed by a reception at the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club at 11 a.m.
 
In lieu of flowers, ASGCA members may make donations to the ASGCA Foundation, 125 N. Executive Dr., Suite 106, Brookfield, WI 53005. Others making donations are encouraged to donate to the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation, P.O. Box 37, Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046.
 
More information on Mr. Seay’s career, as well as video clips of him discussing his work, is available at the ASGCA “Architects Gallery” on the internet. Simply visit www.asgca.org and click on “Inside ASGCA” then “Architects Gallery.”

Comments

[ian andrew]

At a time when I found myself questioning on why I was a member of the ASGCA - I found myself listening to Ed address the membership as a whole. Ed wasn't well at the time, but he still had the strength of personality to remind us why we were all there and why we should be very proud to be a golf course architect (and member of the ASGCA).

He reminded us of how the friendships that we had made in the ASGCA would be so very dear to us in the future. He explained how we really could make a difference to the profession and to the industry by respecting the people around you and simply doing the best work you could at all times. He inspired everyone in that room that night to care more - about each other and about what we build.

Here was a man who needed oxygen to get through the day, yet he took the stage with passion and was rivitting and compelling. It made me proud to be part of an association where somebody cared about everyone as much as Ed did.

I can't say enough about how much he effected all the new members that night - we talked about what he said late into the evening. He will be dearly missed - but certainly never forgotten

Ian Andrew, ASGCA

[86general]

With all of the architecture/design expertise among posters on this site, I'm surprised there isn't more commentary on Seay.

Isn't he a great designer?

[Four-putt]

86 --

This is not meant to disrespect Mr. Seay.

Arnie has been given far too much credit for Mr. Seay's work. As an architect, unfortunately, Mr. Seay was relatively unheralded by the media because he was a very distant contributor. Arnie was the "face guy" on their projects, while Mr. Seay toiled quietly in the background. Apparently, he was satisfied with this arrangement.

4p

[Bill Minus]

I first new Ed (Poog as a lot of friends called him) in the early seventies when he was just starting with Mr. Palmer. He was above all a friend. He was not only a great designer and worked as hard as any man I have ever known and for years with almost no credit. He was away from home and family for long periods working in some very strange places. He new he was working for and with one of the greats so he did his best to make Palmer courses great. He also watched over Arnold like a "mother hen". At a party, course opening or in a crowd Ed almost never lift Arnolds side.
There are so many great memories that we who new him will never run out of stories to share.
One I remember well took place in the mid seventies when a group of us were dirving to south Florida to go fishing. Ed was finishing up a course in some small town along the way and we stopped while he ran the entire 18 holes with spray cans painting the out line of the traps. He was a man.

[Thomas E. Brown]

He was my platoon commander in 1962 at Camp Lejeune, Company A, 22nd Marines (a company activated for the impending Cuban Missile Crisis).

As I was a young PFC, 2ndLt Seay didn't much care for me.

I'm truly saddened by his departure.