Cool Doug Pool More than Earns Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame Induction
By Brian Hurlburt, @LVGolfInsider
Doug Pool, one of the best to ever play the game in the Southern Nevada Golf Association (SNGA), isbeing inducted into the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame on Oct. 16 as part of the distinguished Class of 2015.This year’s class is Pool, longtime amateur and volunteer Barbara Christensen, Golf Channel analyst JerryFoltz, and the late Voss Boreta, the founder of Las Vegas Golf and Tennis and TaylorMade GolfExperience.
The Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame Night of Induction is the official kick-off event of the PGA TOUR’s Shriners Hospitals for Children Open and takes place on The Hill at TPC Summerlin. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at www.LasVegasGolfHOF.com. But don’t think for a minute that just because Pool has earned such prestigious recognition he is resting on his laurels. In fact, the honor might just be pushing him to keep competing at the highest level. Pool recently won the Nevada State Senior Amateur and continues to put in countless hours on the range, accompanied by his ever-present video camera. The victory was his third Nevada State Senior Amateur victory overall.
Pool is well known for video-taping nearly every practice swing he ever takes, so much so that fellow Las Vegas Golf Hall of Famer Brady Exber jokes that Pool’s camera should also earn a spot in the Hall. Pool is also known as one of the hardest working, consistent and most dedicated golfers in the history of the SNGA. “The one word that best describes Doug Pool is tenacious,” says Exber, a 2006 inductee into the Hall and also the 2014 British Senior Amateur champion. “He is also always prepared and is a great competitor who never gives in to an opponent. He is a tremendous ball striker and just plain out-ball-strikes a lot of guys during a tournament. It seems like he hits every fairway and knocks down every flag. A true great play controls trajectory very well, and I’ve watched Doug hit thousands of balls and he is one of the best at doing that that I know.” Pool has been playing at a high level for several decades, balancing his professional business career with that of being a lifetime amateur. He won six SNGA majors in the Open division as well as the 2001 Nevada State Match Play. Pool won the 1984, 1987, 2001, and 2008 Southern Nevada Amateur, the 1985 Clark County Amateur, and the 2010 SNGA Championship. He has played in the United State Senior Amateur several times in addition to the competing in the United States and British Senior Open. He has finished in the top 10 several times in the British Senior Amateur, highlighted by a runner-up placement in 2012. Pool also won six regional amateur events, including the Golf Week Senior Amateur in Palm Springs, the Senior Masters in Palm Springs, and the U.S. Senior Challenge. He has also won the Nevada State Amateur three times.
About the Class of 2015
Voss Boreta (1934-2013) was a longtime resident of Las Vegas who made an international impact on the golf retail business. From a small shop in Las Vegas where he utilized an ad in Golf Digest, he created the Las Vegas Golf and Tennis retail empire which at one time included 70+ locations and revolutionized the golf mail order business. He also created what is now the TaylorMade Golf Experience and was a benefactor to aspiring professionals including Edward Fryatt, a 2009 inductee into the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame.
Barbara Christensen is one of the longest-standing and most distinguished amateur golf volunteers in the history of the Las Vegas Golf Region. She began volunteering for Las Vegas golf organizations in the early 1960s and was named an honorary member of the public Las Vegas Golf Club in 2007 in recognition of her decades-long service. She also served as a United States Golf Association rules official and was the 1991 Women’s Southern Nevada Amateur Champion in 1991.
Jerry Foltz currently serves as a lead golf analyst with Golf Channel, but his roots in golf date back to Las Vegas. He grew up in Southern Nevada and was one of the best junior golfers in the history of the city. He represented the city in the America’s Cup tournament prior to attending college at the University of Arizona where he was an all-conference selection in 1984. He turned professional in 1990, but unfortunately three days later sustained a serious back injury that hampered his playing career. He won the 1995 Nike Tour (now the Web.com) South Carolina Classic and played in seven PGA TOUR tournaments in his career.
Additional Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame Inductees with Class Year: Frank Acker, 2014; Tommy Armour III, 2008; Craig Barlow, 2011; Charlie Baron, 2010; Jerry Belt, 1991; Jimmie Bullard, 2009; Helen Cannon, 2004; James Cashman, Jr., 1998; Clyde Cobb, 1991; James Colbert, 2002; Mike Davis, 2015; John Difloure, 2014; Eddie Draper, 2004; Eric Dutt, 2008; Brady Exber, 2006; Edward Fryatt, 2009; Brenda Knott, 2013; Las Vegas Founders, 2004; Robert Gamez, 2002; Butch Harmon, 2006; Ernest Haupt, 1998; Charley Hoffman, 2012; Richard Huff, 2004; Laurie Johnson, 2011; Joe Kelly, 2010; Dwaine Knight, 2009; Stephanie Louden, 2015; Bob May, 2013; Don “Mac” McCoy, 2012; Ryan Moore, 2012; Ray Norvel, 2013; Louis Redden, 2008; Stuart Reid, 1991; Chris Riley, 2004; Jerry Roberts, 2008; Art Sellinger, 2011; Jack Sheehan, 2009; Tom Storey, 2006; Charlie Teel, 1991; Tournament of Champions, 2010; 1997-98 UNLV Golf Team, 2002; Valley View Golf Club, 2012; C. Pat Walker, 1998. Bill Walters, 2013.
