Claude “Butch” Harmon Jr. — the semi-retired professional golf instructor who trained legends like Tiger Woods — visited Manhattan for the first time this week.
Harmon’s visit was prompted by his friend Russ Bunker losing a close friend, Paul Van Nostran. Van Nostran died in October.
An event honoring his memory was held Monday at Manhattan Country Club.
“It was a celebration of his life,” Harmon said. “We raised money for his charities. It was just a lovely evening.”
Harmon said he’d never been to Manhattan and liked the courses in town. He played on Monday at Manhattan Country Club and on Tuesday at Colbert Hills.
“I love Manhattan Country Club,” he said. “What was it, 1916 I think it was built? It’s one of those wonderful old gems that you see.”
Harmon also praised Colbert Hills.
“It’s a lovely golf course, great facility,” he said. “I see that K-State has their practice facility in there. That first tee is here. This is just a great, great place. It’s a beautiful clubhouse.”
Harmon explained he has personal ties to Colbert Hills.
“What they’ve done out here is beautiful at Colbert Hills,” Harmon said. “Jim (Colbert) is sitting right there with us. Jimmy and I were roommates together on the PGA Tour in 1969 when we were both rookies on the tour, so we’ve known each other a long time.”
While Harmon stays busy, he plays when he can and enjoyed his time in Manhattan, where he “had two great days of two great clubs in a town I’d never been to.”
Harmon said golf will always be his life.
“I’m semi-retired, but I still work a lot,” he said. “I mean, I’m 80 years old. I love golf. I’ll always teach, I mean, it’s what I’ve done my whole life. I’ve always been very successful at it, and had a great career. I love just being around people (who) love golf.”
Harmon said his dedication to the game runs in his family. His father, Claude Sr., won the Masters in 1948. Harmon and his three younger brothers all coached, and Harmon’s son is also a instructor.
“This is our life,” Harmon said. “Golf is what we do, and I’ve been in golf for 60 years now. That’s all I know how to do. So I love the game of golf. I love the people that I’m with. I mean, I’m with four or five people today I’ve never met before, and I’m just having the best time.”
Harmon said he is still an active trainer.
“We’ve got the US Open this week, starts tomorrow, which I have players playing in,” he said. “I’ve got Tommy Fleetwood playing there. I got Rickie Fowler playing there … and Gary Woodland’s playing there — he’s a Kansas boy, one of my players. And so I’ll be interested to see how they do. And like I say, I’ve got two Tour players who aren’t in the Open that I’m working.”
Harmon coached Tiger Woods from 1993 to 2004, an incredibly successful time in the golf superstar’s career. In that span, Woods won three US amateur titles in a row and then eight majors as a pro, which included the Tiger Slam in 2000 and 2001 where he owned all four major trophies simultaneously. He also won 34 PGA Tour titles under Harmon.
Woods’ father, Earl Woods, was born and raised in Manhattan and went on to break the Big Eight Conference color barrier in baseball in 1951. He’s buried at Sunset Cemetery.
In addition to Woods, Harmon was Phil Mickelson’s golf coach from 2007 to 2015. He also has worked with other major champions such as Ernie Els, Stewart Cink, Greg Norman, Davis Love III, Fred Couples and Justin Leonard, and with younger stars such as Nick Watney and Fowler.
While the circumstances of their reunion were unfortunate, Harmon appreciated the opportunity to see Bunker and spend time in Manhattan.
“It was just an opportunity to get to come and spend some time with some people that I hadn’t seen in a while — and my wife’s from Iowa, so I love Midwestern people. (They’re) the nicest people in the world. And it was a great trip; I looked forward to it. I’m glad I came.”
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Source: Tampa Bay Times
