San Francisco, United States: Frank ‘Sandy’ Tatum, a former United States Golf Association (USGA) President, has died at the age of 96.
Tatum won the 1942 NCAA individual championship while at Stanford University and later shepherded the restoration of the beloved Harding Park public golf course in his hometown of San Francisco.
“All of us at the USGA are deeply saddened by the passing of one of the great individuals ever involved with golf,” said Mike Davis, Executive Director and CEO of the USGA.
“Sandy Tatum certainly impacted the USGA in immeasurable ways, but more important were his countless and significant contributions to the game. He will long be remembered as one of the greats in golf.”
Tatum served as USGA President in 1978 and 1979 and was a member of the USGA Executive Committee from 1972-80. He said in a 2014 interview while attending the US Amateur Championship in Atlanta that he continued to keep tabs on all aspects of golf. “I like to stick an oar in the water from time to time,” Tatum said. “I never tire of it.”
Tatum, born on July 7, 1920, and raised in the Los Angeles area, led Stanford to back-to-back NCAA team golf titles in 1941-42 before accepting a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford University. He later returned to Stanford to earn his law degree in 1950, and was admitted to the bar in California that same year.
While he was a strong enough player to give professional golf a try, Tatum chose another career path with the law firm of Cooley Godward Kronish. He also served as general counsel to the University of San Francisco and as special counsel to the chief administration officer of the City and County of San Francisco.
Tatum, who had memberships at San Francisco Golf Club and Cypress Point, competed in the AT&T National Pro-Am – the PGA Tour event founded by Bing Crosby – with his close friend Tom Watson for 20 years. Both were former Stanford standouts and Tatum admired Watson’s grace and etiquette.
Watson said: “Frank D. Tatum Jr passed this morning, leaving a rich and passionate legacy to golf. We owe a great deal to him for what he did to enhance our great game. We will sorely miss him.”
Tatum is survived by six children and 11 grandchildren. His wife of 67 years, Barbara (Snyder), died in February.
*Article by David Shefter, a Senior Staff Writer for the USGA.