Michigan Golf Journal July 2019

He also became widely known as a consummate shotmaker and ball-striker. Hill once told golf writer Tom Cleary, “I felt like I had more shots in my bag than 90% of anybody that played out there. A little old lady 90 years old can putt—I want to see her hit a high cut with a 2-iron.” In 1969, Hill won the Vardon Trophy for the lowest stroke average on the PGA Tour. He is only one of two Michigan players (the other being Dan Pohl) to have won this coveted recognition. Besides being a member of three Ryder Cup teams, Hill was proud of his consistency during his PGA Tour career. For sixteen straight years (1960-1976) he finished in the Top 60 annual money winners on Tour. Hill went on to further glory on the Senior Tour, now known as the PGA Tour Champions. He won six times on the “golden mulligan” circuit, the last coming in 1989. Although Hill is sometimes associated with remarks about Hazeltine, later in his distinguished career he reflected on them. “I put up with a lot of heat from that but hell, I said it so I gotta live with it.” Then he added, “They should have waited another 5-6 years for it to mature. That course was very young.” And after visiting a revamped Hazeltine in 1991, he described it as “a fun and demanding golf course.” A softer side of Hill was exposed when asked in the ‘80s about his late father. “I would die tomorrow if they let me see him for just 15 minutes today.” George passed away before Dave and his younger brother Mike had their greatest successes on the golf course. Dave Hill’s golf legacy must be seen in the success of the Jackson community. Ed Mitchell, a Jackson native and founder of the Mitchell Golf Company, was quoted upon learning of Hill’s passing in 2011 saying, “From my perspective, he inspired a lot of people to take up the game.” Dave Hill Mike Hill Michigan Golf Journal Legacy of Dave Hill