The Day I Met a Golf Legend: Fred Couples

Summer 1980. Yuma, Arizona about 115 degrees (in the shade).

I was the Assistant Golf Professional at Yuma Golf and Country Club and things were pretty quiet on this particular day.

A taxi pulled up in the parking lot and a young man got out and walked up to the golf shop door. As he came in the golf shop he shyly offered his hand and said “Hi, I’m Fred Couples and I hope someone here can help me.”

In 1980 we did not have the press coverage of athletes like we do today but Fred Couples was already famous as an All American from the University of Houston Golf Team. We walked out the door toward the taxi where a stunningly beautiful blond, his first wife Deborah, remained in the air conditioned back seat. Fred explained that he was on his way to California to play in a mini tour event (I think it was the Santa Barbara Open) and his car had broken down. He needed about $300 to $400 to get his car fixed and he was wondering if he could sell some of his equipment to obtain the money. In 1980 I was making $600 a month so I had no chance of helping him out. I called my boss, Gerry Greenfield who was a very generous man except in paying his staff, and he said he would be right over with some money.

Gerry arrived and the only extra equipment Couples had was a Bullseye putter, an X Stiff Shaft MacGregor Driver and 6 dozen University of Houston Titleist Balatas. I think at least $400 changed hands and Fred Couples and Deborah taxied off to the car repair shop. Couples went on to the mini tour stop where he won the event giving him enough money to continue playing for the summer which led to a great career as a PGA Tour Player. The driver and putter were purchased the next spring during our Member Guest by Leaman Tankersly, a Phoenix native, and I am sure that the golf balls were used up over the course of a couple of months. I have never approached Couples to ask what he remembers about that day but I hope he is grateful to Gerry Greenfield for the assistance he received.

For those of you who travel it is a good idea to carry a couple of extra clubs with you in case you have car problems.