Tom Addis of Beaumont was honored with the 2023 Ken Venturi “Spirit of Giving” Award by the Friends of Golf at their 43rd Annual Konica Minolta Charity Tournament and Awards Banquet at Bel-Air Country Club in Los Angeles.
Addis, who served as President of the PGA of America in 1995 and 1996, currently is Executive Director Emeritus of the Southern California Section of the PGA after being a member of the Southern California PGA for more than 50 years.
“Tom Addis is the ideal recipient for this year’s Ken Venturi ‘Spirit of Giving’ Award, as he has dedicated his life, both personally and professionally, to growing the game of golf and establishing access to the sport for people from all walks of life,” Friends of Golf President Peter Best said. “He was joined by our other tremendous honorees, Max Homa and Juli Inkster, for what was a truly special event this year.”
Friends of Golf created the Ken Venturi “Spirit of Giving” Award in 2012 to honor the World Golf Hall of Famer, who was born in San Francisco and won 14 times on the PGA Tour, including the 64th U.S. Open at Congressional Country in Bethesda, Md., in 1964.
Venturi, who passed away in 2013 at the age of 82, worked closely with the Friends of Golf for many years and was committed to being an inspiring and motivating force for young golfers everywhere.
During those years, Venturi committed his time to support the mission of FOG, conducted numerous clinics for young players and helped attract many top professional golfers to contribute their time to the organization’s various initiatives.
Addis joined an illustrious group of past recipients of the “Spirit of Giving” Award, including Al Michaels (2022), Vin Scully (2020), Tom Debrowski and Joseph Sindelar Jr. (2019), and Ely Callaway and Oliver “Chip” Brewer (2015).
“I have respected and appreciated the work FOG has done for our youth and our school students through my years with the Southern California PGA,” said Addis, who will be 78 on Nov. 30. “Having grown up in golf and watched and enjoyed Mr. Venturi and his skills, dedication, and fortitude on the golf course, I am extremely proud, humbled and honored to receive the ‘Spirit of Giving Award.’ I am so happy to have the opportunity to emulate the spirit and carry that banner in the future.”
Addis was Director of Golf at Sun Valley Golf Club in La Mesa in 1969 when he was 24 years old after spending two years as an assistant at th33 club, and was the PGA Head Professional at Singing Hills Country Club in El Cajon (now Singing Hills Golf Resort at Sycuan) for 31 years beginning in 1972.
In addition, Addis served as president of the San Diego Chapter of the SCPGA in 1978 and 1979, and also was executive director of the SCPGA once before in 1980-82, and served for two years as secretary of the PGA of America and for two more years as the organization’s vice president.
Homa, from Valencia and Cal, who is a six-time winner on the PGA Tour and recently won the Nedbank Golf Challenge on the DP World Tour who is ranked seventh in the world, and Inkster, of Santa Cruz and San Jose Stare, who won 31 times on the LPGA Tour including seven majors, both received the FOG Honoree Trophy.
Inkster and Homa joined previous FOG Honorees Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Byron Nelson, Ernie Els of South Africa, Phil Mickelson of San Diego, Annika Sörenstam of Sweden, Dustin Johnson, Lorena Ochoa of Mexico, Patrick Cantlay of Los Alamitos and UCLA, Brooks Koepka and Collin Morikawa of La Canada Flintridge and Cal.
Emmy Award-winning sportscaster Jim Nantz, who has been with CBS since 1985, was the Master of Ceremonies at the Awards Banquet and presented awards in addition interviewing Friends of Golf honorees.
