Billy Martindale
Encyclopedia
Billy Martindale is an American
professional golfer
who has also had career interests as a white-tailed deer
breeder, golf course designer, and oil & gas entrepreneur.
Martindale was born in Jacksonville, Texas
, and graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1957, where he was an All-State quarterback
and All-State golfer. He was also the National Junior Skeet Shooting
Champion in 1948 - 1950 at the ages of 10, 11, and 12.
Prior to his professional golf career, Martindale was an accomplished amateur player. After transferring from Southern Methodist University
to Texas A&M University
in the middle of his freshman year, he went on to captain the golf team and become an NCAA All-American his junior and senior years, graduating in 1961. After graduation, he served in the Army from 1962 to 1963.
After playing a partial season in 1963, Martindale played full time on the PGA Tour from 1964 to 1968, and was recognized as the PGA's "Sophomore of the Year" in 1965. In his five years on tour, he had three 2nd place finishes, five 3rd place finishes, and 35 top-25 finishes. His best finish in a major
was a tie for 15th at the 1966 PGA Championship
at Firestone Country Club
.
After the 1968 season, Martindale left the PGA Tour to partner with Don January
to form JanMart Enterprises, a golf course development and design company. Their business partnership would last until 1979, when January left to join the Senior PGA Tour upon reaching age 50. In their 10 years together, Martindale and January developed some 23 courses together, mostly around their home state of Texas. Their most notable course development is Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas, Texas
, home to notable golfers Harrison Frazar
, Justin Leonard
, D. A. Weibring
, Lee Trevino
, and Colt Knost
. During that time Martindale also served as the head coach of the Southern Methodist University
golf team from 1970-73.
Since 1980, Martindale has ventured into several other successful businesses including casinos, white-tailed deer
breeding, real estate, and oil & gas. He is the older brother of Tony Award
-nominated stage, television, and film actress Margo Martindale
.
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 has also had career interests as a white-tailed deer
White-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
breeder, golf course designer, and oil & gas entrepreneur.
Martindale was born in Jacksonville, Texas
Jacksonville, Texas
Jacksonville is located in Cherokee County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,868 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Jacksonville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Cherokee County and part of the larger Tyler-Jacksonville Combined Statistical...
, and graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1957, where he was an All-State quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
and All-State golfer. He was also the National Junior Skeet Shooting
Skeet shooting
Skeet shooting is one of the three major types of competitive shotgun target shooting sports . There are several types of skeet, including one with Olympic status , and many with only national recognition.- General principles :Skeet is a recreational and competitive activity where...
Champion in 1948 - 1950 at the ages of 10, 11, and 12.
Prior to his professional golf career, Martindale was an accomplished amateur player. After transferring from Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
to Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
in the middle of his freshman year, he went on to captain the golf team and become an NCAA All-American his junior and senior years, graduating in 1961. After graduation, he served in the Army from 1962 to 1963.
After playing a partial season in 1963, Martindale played full time on the PGA Tour from 1964 to 1968, and was recognized as the PGA's "Sophomore of the Year" in 1965. In his five years on tour, he had three 2nd place finishes, five 3rd place finishes, and 35 top-25 finishes. His best finish in a major
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...
was a tie for 15th at the 1966 PGA Championship
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship...
at Firestone Country Club
Firestone Country Club
The Firestone Country Club is a private golf club located in Akron, Ohio, United States.The Club comprises three courses—those of the North, South, and West—each of which hosted a televised golf event, respectively the American Golf Classic, the CBS Golf Classic and the World Series of Golf, in...
.
After the 1968 season, Martindale left the PGA Tour to partner with Don January
Don January
Donald Ray January is an American professional golfer.January was born in Plainview, Texas, and graduated from Sunset High School in Dallas...
to form JanMart Enterprises, a golf course development and design company. Their business partnership would last until 1979, when January left to join the Senior PGA Tour upon reaching age 50. In their 10 years together, Martindale and January developed some 23 courses together, mostly around their home state of Texas. Their most notable course development is Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, home to notable golfers Harrison Frazar
Harrison Frazar
Harrison Frazar is an American professional golfer who has played on the Nationwide Tour and the PGA Tour.Frazar was born in Dallas, Texas and was raised there and in Abilene, Texas. He attended Highland Park High School, where he won two state golf championships and was a three-time all-Texas...
, Justin Leonard
Justin Leonard
Justin Charles Garrett Leonard is an American professional golfer.Leonard was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He attended Lake Highlands High School and graduated in 1990. He attended the University of Texas at Austin and was the individual NCAA champion in 1994. He was a two-time All-American...
, D. A. Weibring
D. A. Weibring
Donald Albert "D.A." Weibring, Jr. is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments including several on the PGA Tour and Champions Tour....
, Lee Trevino
Lee Trevino
Lee Buck Trevino is an American professional golfer. He is an icon for Mexican Americans, and is often referred to as "The Merry Mex" and "Supermex". He won six major championships over the course of his career.-Early life:...
, and Colt Knost
Colt Knost
Colt Knost is an American professional golfer who currently plays on the PGA Tour.-Amateur career:Knost was born in Cleveland, Ohio and grew up in Pilot Point, Texas. He was the Class 3A State Champion his senior year of 2003. He graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2007. While at SMU,...
. During that time Martindale also served as the head coach of the Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
golf team from 1970-73.
Since 1980, Martindale has ventured into several other successful businesses including casinos, white-tailed deer
White-tailed Deer
The white-tailed deer , also known as the Virginia deer or simply as the whitetail, is a medium-sized deer native to the United States , Canada, Mexico, Central America, and South America as far south as Peru...
breeding, real estate, and oil & gas. He is the older brother of Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
-nominated stage, television, and film actress Margo Martindale
Margo Martindale
Margo Martindale is an American stage, television and film actress. In 2011, Martindale won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her performance as Mags Bennett on Justified.-Early life:...
.