Class of 2017

Buddy Cook

Golf Professional / Teacher

Biography

James E. “Buddy” Cook was inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame in 2017, nearly five decades after his career as a PGA golf professional began.

His vast experience at notable clubs across the Lone Star State includes developing the Briggs Ranch Golf Club and The Golf Club of Texas, as well as stops as the director of golf or head professional at Royal Oaks Country Club, The Dominion Country Club, and La Cantera Golf Club. He began his career as an assistant pro at San Antonio’s Oak Hills Country Club, where he learned the craft under Hardy Loudermilk, an inaugural Texas Golf Hall of Fame class member.

Outside of the state, Cook also had stints as Director of Golf at The Vintage Club (Indian Wells, Calif.) and Tulsa (Okla.) Country Club and served as a golf professional at Indian Springs Country Club (Broken Arrow, Okla.).

Among the notable celebrities that Cook has taught are professional football coach Tom Landry, country music star George Strait, tennis legend Martina Navratilova, motorsports driver Mario Andretti and actress Kathryn Crosby. At Royal Oaks, he worked with junior golfer Justin Leonard, who went on to become a Ryder Cup and PGA Tour star and a major champion.

Cook was named the 1999 Southern Texas PGA Golf Professional of the Year. He has mentored more than two dozen apprentices, including Texas Golf Hall of Famer Randy Smith as well as Billy Harmon and Warren Chancellor.

He later served as tournament director of San Antonio's Champions Tour event. Tabbed by Joe Black to relaunch the Texas Golf Hall of Fame, Cook served as the organization’s chairman from 2009-15.

Legacy Video

Inductee Highlights

Professional

Co-owner and Director of Golf at Briggs Ranch Golf Club and The Golf Club of Texas 2000 to 2007
Head Professional, Royal Oaks Country Club, Dallas, 1976 to 1981
Teaching Professional, Houston Country Club
Tournament Director – The Dominion Invitational, a Senior PGA Tour Event, San Antonio, Texas
Tournament Director – PGA Senior/Champions Tour Event, San Antonio, 2000 to 2005
Named the 1999 STPGA Golf Professional of Year
Instructor at PGA Business Schools I & II
Invited by Joe Black to help reconstitute the Texas Golf Hall of Fame and served as Chairman, 2009 to 2015

Tour Guide to Tournaments!

Buddy took a few years off from the game and re-started his career at The Dominion Country Club just north of San Antonio. He was a part of building the membership at The Dominion and quickly hosting national tournaments once it opened.

Training and Serving

Buddy's first job was learning under Hardy Loudermilk (Class of 1978) at Oak Hills Country Club as an assistant pro. Deeply ingrained in Buddy is the ability to recognize talent in people and help them reach their full potential. Over 30 head golf professionals started as assistants learning from Buddy Cook! Like his mentor, Buddy was inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame and made a lasting mark on the men and women who learned from him.

Mother's Influence!

Buddy's mother started him in the game when he caddied for her at age nine in Graham, Texas.

2017 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Video

Giving Back - Fundraising for Cystic Fibrosis

When close friend Pat McMahan asked Buddy to help raise money for cystic fibrosis in 1990, Buddy jumped in and, over time, helped raise over $750,000 for the charity. Pat's daughter, Meredith, was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, so Buddy and Pat started a golf tournament together. The money raised has helped extend the median age from 18 to 54.