John Schlee
Encyclopedia
John H. Schlee was an American
professional golfer
who played on the PGA Tour
in the 1960s and 1970s.
Schlee was born in Kremmling, Colorado
and grew up in Seaside, Oregon
, where he was known as Jack Schlee. He served two years in the U.S. Army starting in 1957. Schlee attended Memphis State University and was a member of the golf
team. Schlee took club pro jobs after college, and in 1965 was the individual medalist in the PGA Tour's inaugural qualifying school. He was the 1966 PGA Tour Rookie-of-the-Year making the cut in 13 events and finishing 48th on the money list.
Schlee played full-time on the PGA Tour from 1966–1977. He had more than 30 top-10 finishes in PGA Tour events. His career year was 1973 when he won the Hawaiian Open and finished one stroke behind Johnny Miller
in the U.S. Open
. Schlee had four top-10 finishes in major championships
: the aforementioned solo 2nd at the 1973 U.S. Open, a T10 at the 1975 PGA Championship
, a T4 at the 1976 PGA Championship
, and a T8 at 1977 Masters Tournament
.
Schlee was forced into part-time play on the PGA Tour in the mid-1970s due to a series of health problems starting with back surgery in 1975 and followed by knee surgery in 1976. Schlee took a club pro job in Rancho Viejo, Texas
in June, 1977 after his third serious ailment in as many years, a painful injury to his left thumb. His last appearance was at the Kemper Open in 1978.
In 1980, Schlee began a teaching pro career at Industry Hills Golf Resort, east of Los Angeles
. He also invented devices to help students of the game learn. In 1986, Schlee wrote a book, Maximum Golf, which was a collection of his instructional theories and a tribute to his mentor, Ben Hogan
.
After reaching the age of 50 in 1989, Schlee played in a few dozen Senior PGA Tour events but never came close to winning an event. His best finish in this venue was a T-42. Schlee lived in Texas
during most of his regular career years and in California
during his senior career years.
Schlee died in a Costa Mesa, California
hospital in 2000 of complications from Alzheimer's disease
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
who played on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
in the 1960s and 1970s.
Schlee was born in Kremmling, Colorado
Kremmling, Colorado
Kremmling is a Statutory Town in Grand County, Colorado, United States. The population was 1,578 at the 2000 census. The town sits along the upper Colorado River in the lower arid section of Middle Park between Byers Canyon and Gore Canyon...
and grew up in Seaside, Oregon
Seaside, Oregon
Seaside is a city in Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. The name Seaside is derived from Seaside House, a historic summer resort built in the 1870s by railroad magnate Ben Holladay. The city's population was 6,457 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, where he was known as Jack Schlee. He served two years in the U.S. Army starting in 1957. Schlee attended Memphis State University and was a member of the golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
team. Schlee took club pro jobs after college, and in 1965 was the individual medalist in the PGA Tour's inaugural qualifying school. He was the 1966 PGA Tour Rookie-of-the-Year making the cut in 13 events and finishing 48th on the money list.
Schlee played full-time on the PGA Tour from 1966–1977. He had more than 30 top-10 finishes in PGA Tour events. His career year was 1973 when he won the Hawaiian Open and finished one stroke behind Johnny Miller
Johnny Miller
John Laurence Miller is an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour. He was one of the top players in the world during the mid-1970s; he ranked second in the world on Mark McCormack's world golf rankings in both 1974 and 1975 behind Jack Nicklaus. He is currently the lead golf...
in the U.S. Open
U.S. Open (golf)
The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour...
. Schlee had four top-10 finishes in major championships
Men's major golf championships
The men's major golf championships, commonly known as the Major Championships, and often referred to simply as the majors, are the four most prestigious annual tournaments in professional golf...
: the aforementioned solo 2nd at the 1973 U.S. Open, a T10 at the 1975 PGA Championship
1975 PGA Championship
The 1975 PGA Championship was the 57th PGA Championship played August 7-10 at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. Jack Nicklaus won the championship.-Final leaderboard:-External links:* - at www.golfobserver.com...
, a T4 at the 1976 PGA Championship
1976 PGA Championship
The 1976 PGA Championship was the 58th PGA Championship played August 12–16 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. Dave Stockton won the championship.-Final leaderboard:-External links:* - at www.golfobserver.com...
, and a T8 at 1977 Masters Tournament
1977 Masters Tournament
The 1977 Masters Tournament was a golf tournament, which was held at Augusta National Golf Club. Tom Watson won the tournament.-Final leaderboard:-External links:*...
.
Schlee was forced into part-time play on the PGA Tour in the mid-1970s due to a series of health problems starting with back surgery in 1975 and followed by knee surgery in 1976. Schlee took a club pro job in Rancho Viejo, Texas
Rancho Viejo, Texas
Rancho Viejo is a town in Cameron County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,754 at the 2000 census. The town is named from a ranch in that area named "Rancho Viejo" or old ranch...
in June, 1977 after his third serious ailment in as many years, a painful injury to his left thumb. His last appearance was at the Kemper Open in 1978.
In 1980, Schlee began a teaching pro career at Industry Hills Golf Resort, east of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. He also invented devices to help students of the game learn. In 1986, Schlee wrote a book, Maximum Golf, which was a collection of his instructional theories and a tribute to his mentor, Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan
William Ben Hogan was an American golfer, generally considered one of the greatest players in the history of the game...
.
After reaching the age of 50 in 1989, Schlee played in a few dozen Senior PGA Tour events but never came close to winning an event. His best finish in this venue was a T-42. Schlee lived in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
during most of his regular career years and in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
during his senior career years.
Schlee died in a Costa Mesa, California
Costa Mesa, California
Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 109,960 at the 2010 census. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to a primarily suburban and "edge" city with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light...
hospital in 2000 of complications from Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
.