R.I.P. Roger Dunn

Dennis McLellan's excellent LA Times obit on the golf pro turned discount retailer who certainly revolutionized how we West Coasters buy golf equipment, and in some sense, how all of us buy clubs and balls. Dunn was 81.

This is neat:

In 1978, he sponsored his son Steve with golf equipment and some financing to open a Roger Dunn Golf Shop in Santa Ana. By 1986, they had 16 stores across California.

Steve bought out his father in 1988 and sold the chain to Worldwide Golf Enterprises because he wanted to concentrate on his golf-manufacturing company, The Times reported in 1993. There now are 18 Roger Dunn Golf Shops in California and Hawaii.

"Roger was such an icon in L.A.," said Kopacz, who managed the Roger Dunn shop in North Hollywood in the late '80s.

"He would still frequently go into the store in North Hollywood and talk to customers," Kopacz said. "We loved having him around. He was so passionate about golf itself."

In 1988, Dunn returned to teaching golf in Studio City at what is now Weddington Golf and Tennis, giving lessons until he was hospitalized in May.

"People were always impressed when we would mention, 'There's Roger Dunn,' " said general manager George McCallister. "They'd go to see him because it is the Roger Dunn; he had the name recognition."