Dow Finsterwald isn’t going to be lost for words tonight when he is inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.
Although his golf accolades these days mainly are ceremonial, his past deeds on the golf course have had him on the podium many times. Most recently, he was inducted into the PGA of America’s Hall of Fame.
Before that he did the honors for induction into the state of Ohio’s Golf Hall of Fame, Ohio University’s Hall of Fame, the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame and the Colorado Springs Sports Hall of Fame.
He might even swipe a line or two from his previous speeches.
“Brevity is the right of virtue, and I plan to be virtuous,” Finsterwald said of his game plan. “I may use a couple of the remarks I made at the PGA ceremony, mostly about what golf has meant to me and what it has meant to many communities around the country.”
But tonight at the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet, Finsterwald can focus on his adopted state. Starting in 1963, he was director of golf for nearly 30 years at The Broadmoor Golf Club.
And to make it a Colorado golf night, Hale Irwin is coming home to introduce Finsterwald’s induction. Irwin, winner of the U.S. Open three times (1974, 1979 and 1990), was a sports star at Boulder High School and the University of Colorado, where he also played football.
Finsterwald’s Colorado Sports Hall of Fame induction is timely. This summer The Broadmoor is hosting the U.S. Senior Open (July 31-Aug. 3), and Finsterwald expects to be involved in some manner.
“It’s going to be a great week of golf,” Finsterwald said. “I think the course is going to stand up well to the top players on the Champions Tour. I’m looking forward to seeing some old friends — Mark Wiebe, R.W. Eaks, Dale Douglass and a lot of others.”
If Finsterwald has time during his portion of tonight’s program, he could tell some wonderful stories. Maybe the most memorable would be about the 17th hole at the 1962 Masters. A bogey on 17 erased his lead and forced a three-way playoff with Gary Player and Arnold Palmer, who won the playoff.
“It would have been at the top (of accomplishments) or very close to it if I had won,” Finsterwald would say.
But Finsterwald also could tell of winning the PGA Championship in 1958 at Llanerch Country Club in Havertown, Pa., the first year the format was stroke play.
He could include being on the Ryder Cup team four times and captain of the team once, winning 12 times on the PGA Tour and once posting a string of finishing in the money in 72 consecutive starts.
“He was a great player,” Palmer said of Finsterwald. “I always was on his case for not being more aggressive. But he had a plan and he stuck with it.”
One of Finsterwald’s favorite memories while on the tour also was in Colorado, the 1960 U.S. Open at Cherry Hills Country Club.
“I had a wonderful place to witness some great golf in that tournament,” Finsterwald said. “Arnold shot 280 to win, and Jack Nicklaus shot 281 as an amateur. I was in another group at about 283.”
Finsterwald fits the bill as an ambassador of his sport.
“Golf is not a team sport,” Finsterwald said. “You’re battling against an individual. But when the round is over, the manner in which the game is played allows opponents to build respect for each other.”
Dow Finsterwald bio
Born: Sept. 6, 1929, in Athens, Ohio
High school: Athens, 1945-47
College: Ohio University, 1947-52
Family: Wife Linda, daughter Jane, sons John and Dow Jr.
Hobby: Tinkering with golf clubs
Wish list: He never played in the British Open, but would like to have done so while at the height of his career.
