b'PACIFIC NORTHWESTGOLFERRemembering PNGA PresidentDECEMBER 2006Raymond Spike BeeberA TRUE GENTLEMAN and legendarySenior Amateur.EXCLUSIVE!tournament golfer in theThe Riverside Best- Cell PhoneNorthwest for decades,Ball is one of the oldestControversywho had spent many yearstournaments in theBeeber uses Beeperdedicated to the Pacificregion, and in 2012 theto throw opponents offNorthwest Golf Association,tournaments Mastersat Sr. Mens ChampionshipDivision was named afterINSIDE BEEBER TIPS: Raymond Spike Beeber passed On putting.keeping it to 3 or lessaway on June 2, 2020. He was 91.Spike. He remained a member The art of the foot wedgeSpike Beeber Jangling change and the timely coughBorn in Seattle on Decemberserved as PNGAat Riverside until his passing. the pencil.best way to get under par21, 1928, Spikes family moved toPresident inWhile a member at Riverside,1 PACIFIC NORTHWEST GOLFER Printed MatterSpokane in 1938 where they lived1994-1995.Spike became a PNGA Club until 1946. It was in SpokaneRepresentative, and in 1976Spike was the leading force in founding Pacific was named to the PNGA BoardNorthwest Golfer magazine, with the first issue that Spike was introduced tocoming out in the fall of 1994. He always appreciated the game, caddying for his father atof Directors. During those years, asa good joke, so when he stepped down as the Chair of Wandermere Golf Course.PNGA vice president and member ofthe PNGA Publication Committee at the end of 2006,As a junior player at Spokanes Norththe PNGA Championship Committee,this cover was mocked up in his honor. Central High School, Spike made it toSpike helped the PNGA select sites for the final match of the 1946 Nationalchampionships. I had the view that the Jaycee Junior Golf Championship,conduct of our championships was the bowing to eventual PNGA Hall ofprimary function of the PNGA.Famer Al Mengert in the 36-hole finalIn 1992, Spike became the Chair of match, held that year at Indian Canyonthe newly-formed PNGA Publications Golf Course. In those days, before theCommittee, whose goal was to formation of the U.S. Junior Amateur,eventually publish a golf magazine, the annual National Jaycees event wasas a way of uniting the regions golf considered the national championshipcommunity and allied associations for junior players.under the PNGA umbrella. Of his nickname, the tall, lankyUnder Spikes guidance and vision, Raymond says, I dont know wherethe first issue ofPacificNorthwestGolfer that name came from. It showed up onemagazine was published in the fall of day when I was young, and it stuck. 1994, and would eventually become theSpike (left) and Dick Kanda received the PNGA In 1954 the Beebers moved toleading regional golf magazine, direct- Distinguished Service Award in 2001. It is the mailed into the homes of over 100,000Associations highest honor. Portland, Ore. and Spike began a career in health insurance. He joined RiversidePNGA members throughout the Pacific Golf and Country Club in 1962, andNorthwest and British Columbia. after several years away from playingIn the background of all this, (theDistinguished Service Award, the competitively to start a career and amagazine) is a service to the membersAssociations highest honor. young family with his wife Charlotte, heof the Association, Beeber said.With Spikes warm and friendly began to enter local tournaments.Its not intended to make a lot ofmanner, his ability to tell stories, and He would go on to win numerousmoney, but rather just being able tohis gentlemanly demeanor brought him regional titles, including the Royal Oakscommunicate with the members.respect and admiration from hundreds Invitational, Oregon Coast Invitational,In 2019, the magazine celebrated itsof friends and acquaintances over the Mirror Pond Open, Portland City Senior25th year of publication.decades. Spike epitomized the perfect Amateur, and in the late 1980s wonSpike also served on the PNGAsgentleman, on and off the golf course. four consecutive Oregon Seniors GolfHall of Fame and DistinguishedThe game in the Northwest is richer Association titles. He twice qualified toService Award committees. He servedbecause of Spike Beeber, and now we play in the U.S. Senior Open, in 1982 andas president of the PNGA in 1994- are somewhat poorer because of his 1985; and twice qualified for the U.S.1995, and in 2001 received the PNGApassing. He will be missed. 16PACIFIC NORTHWEST GOLFER|SEPT 2020'