The Harvey Penick Papers Finding Aid Abstract Access Restrictions ...

T h e H a r v e y P e n i c k P a p e r s
The H.J. Lutcher Stark Center for Physical
Culture & Sports
The University of Texas at Austin
at the club and Harvey wanted to join them, but his mother had a rule: no caddying
until you are 8. In 1913, the first full year in which Harvey had attained that age, he
joined his brothers. He observed the golfers, their idiosyncrasies both mental and
physical, and transformed into a student of the game. Leaders of the Austin Country
Club took note of his passion and dedication and when the head professional left for a
new position, they appointed Harvey Penick to the post. The Country Club even held
the job open for Penick so that he could graduate from high school first, as stipulated by
his mother.
Penick took out almost all the money he had in the bank, bought the previous
golf professional’s clubs and equipment, and became the head professional in 1923 at
the age of 18. One year later he saw Helen Holmes in the church choir and they
married in 1929, remaining so until his passing. Together they had two children: a
daughter, Kathryn and a son, Tinsley. Early on, Harvey Penick had dreams of
becoming a touring professional, that is, until he heard about a certain player at the
1928 U.S. Open at Olympia Fields in Chicago. While he was on the practice green a
friend came over and said, “you’ve got to see this guy hit.” That guy turned out to be
Walter Hagen and Harvey later related that when Hagen hit the ball it went like a
bullet. He stated with competition like that around he decided he would be better
served being a golf teacher rather than a touring pro. He taught legends such as Betty
Jameson, Sandra Palmer, Betsy Rawls, one of the first LPGA standout performers,
Kathy Whitworth and Mickey Wright. Along with being the pro at the Austin Country
Club, Harvey Penick also coached the University of Texas golf team from 1931 to 1963,
during which time the Longhorns won 22 of a possible 31 Southwest Conference titles.
In the 1960s, Harvey Penick began coaching two of the most famous golfers in
the modern era: Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite. Each of them credits his faithful devotion
and positivity with molding them as both people and golfers. Tom Kite declared that
he would never have won any tournaments without Penick’s teachings. Kite was once
the all-time leading money winner in PGA Tour history and won the 1992 U.S. Open,
making that quite a statement. Crenshaw credited a putting tip that Harvey gave him
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