Southwest Florida golf column: Longtime Fort Myers professional Rich Lamb remembered

Steve Anderson was the only person to speak at Rich Lamb's memorial on Saturday who wasn't a family member.

But he represented Lamb's golf family, one that extends to dozens and dozens and dozens of people who encountered the late City of Fort Myers director of golf at either Fort Myers Country Club or Eastwood Golf Course. Lamb died of complications from cancer on Sept. 12 at the age of 67.

More: Watch: Golfer Rick Lamb -- no relation to Fort Myers pro Rich Lamb -- wins Yuengling Open

More: Ex-PGA, Champions Tour player, 5-time Yuengling Open champ Marion Heck dies at 81

More: Southwest Florida golf legend gone: City of Fort Myers director of golf Rich Lamb dies at 67

"Even on a modest 100 rounds a day times 45 years, I said three million golfers passed through the doors and met Rich Lamb," Anderson said he mentioned in his speech. "I guarantee not one of them walked out and didn't say 'Wow, that's a nice guy.'

"Rich didn't have a selfish bone in his body. He just wanted everybody to have fun and enjoy golf. He mentored, it's got to be hundreds."

Lamb's brother, sister, nephew and daughters also spoke at Fort Myers Country Club.

Anderson first met Lamb in 1991, when he traveled down from Orlando and just showed up at various courses in Southwest Florida trying to get a job. One pro told him he needed to go look up Lamb, because he knew everybody.

Lamb certainly did. He knew that Ken Venturi was opening a teaching school in Orlando, where Anderson lived. Anderson had no idea, so he drove home, found the number, called and inquired, and got the job.

"It put me on the golf map as an instructor," Anderson said.

Lamb also indirectly played a role in Anderson meeting his future wife in Hilton Head, South Carolina, and also when Anderson came back down looking for a job in Southwest Florida, Lamb named him teaching professional at Eastwood, he stayed there from 1998-2004.

Anderson said he received a text from Lamb's widow Karen about speaking at the memorial. He had done so a couple of years ago, when friends organized a celebration for Lamb at Fort Myers Country Club.

"I think Karen had remembered that," said Anderson, who has been director of instruction at River Hall in Alva for 13 years.

Anderson, a master professional and PGA of America life member, happens to know Jim Richerson, the president of the PGA of America, and reached out about Lamb's lengthy service to the game of golf. Richerson responded by writing a letter, one that Anderson had framed, and read at the memorial.

"He typed up the nicest letter you've ever read," Anderson said. "I brought up his daughters and I presented it to them. They were holding it. I read the whole thing. Everybody started crying. It was just incredible."

The text of the letter:

To All that know and Love Rich:

On behalf of the PGA of America, it is with tremendous respect that I offer my condolences on the passing of South Florida PGA member Rich Lamb.

Rich was a true role model to so many in our association. His passion, drive and commitment helped inspire a new generation of PGA Professionals, hundreds in fact, to follow his lead and take up PGA membership.

Through the work of Rich and his mentees the sport of golf has been able to impact countless lives for the better.

Simply put, for many years Rich was the face of golf in Ft. Myers who helped use our great sport to give back to his community.

Rich's character and career are great examples for all PGA members. He will truly be missed.

The PGA of America sends our deepest sympathies to his family and friends.

God Bless,

Jim Richerson, PGA

President, PGA of America

PGA Assistant Professional Championship: Jeremy Wells of Cypress Lake tied for third and Evan Bowser of LaPlaya tied for seventh on Sunday at PGA Club in Port St. Lucie.

Wells was in contention but shot a final-round 74 to finish at 6-under 282. Bowser fired a 68 to shoot a 284.

Jin Chung from Georgia shot a 2-under 70 to win by seven strokes.

Eric Steger, a former Yuengling Open champion, of the Indiana PGA Section tied with Wells for third.

Golf World Demo Days: The Fort Myers facility has released its demo days schedule, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each of the days. Schedule -- Thursday, Mizuno; Thursday, Dec. 2, Cobra; Thursday, Dec. 9, TaylorMade; Tuesday, Dec. 13, Tour Edge; Thursday, Dec. 16, Callaway.

True Spec Golf: The custom club fitting and club building company is offering 50% off all fittings until the end of the year at both of its Naples locations.

True Spec Naples: 24850 Old 41 Rd, Bonita Springs, FL 34135 -- True Spec Naples includes two spacious indoor fitting bays, a world-class putting studio, and utilizes the industry’s first quadroscopic launch monitor, Foresight GCQuad.

True Spec Naples Grande: 7335 Premier Dr., Naples, FL 34105 -- Located at Naples Grande Golf Club, True Spec Naples Grande is home to one of our state-of-the art fitting containers and utilizes Trackman launch monitor technology.

Book a fitting at truespecgolf.com using the promo code NAPLES50

Club Champion: The club-fitting company began a 50% discount on fittings with an equipment purchase of $500 or more, from Nov. 1 until Jan. 31 of next year.

The new Naples store also is open at 13555 Tamiami Trail N Unit 3.

The promotion includes all club fitting, but a putter fitting only requires a purchase of a new putter for the discount to apply.

Promotional fitting costs: Full Bag Fitting — $200; Long Game Fitting — $125; Driver Fitting — $87.50; Iron Fitting — $87.50; Fairway/Hybrid Fitting — $62.50; Putter Fitting — $62.50; Wedge Fitting — $50

For more information or to book an appointment, go to clubchampiongolf.com.

Rodney Bungartz clinics: The Arrowhead Golf Club instructor has Play Golf For Life clinics each Monday through Nov. 22 from 4 to 5 p.m. There are four sessions -- Putting, chipping, and full swings for the last two. Cost is $115 per student with a limit of eight students. Golf clubs are available to use. Contact Bungartz at 596-1000 or rbungartz@pga.com.

First Tee of Naples/Collier: The chapter has released its fall program schedule. Remaining programs are:

Session A: Birdie -- The Quarry, Tuesdays, Oct. 5-Nov. 30; Eagle/Ace -- Golf Club of the Everglades, Thursdays, Oct. 7-Nov. 18; Home school -- Valencia, Thursdays, Oct. 7-Nov. 18;

Session B: PLAYer/Par/Teen -- Cypress Woods, Mondays, Nov. 1-29; Royal Palm, Mondays, Nov. 1-29; The Rookery at Marco, Tuesdays, Nov. 2-30; Valencia, Wednesdays, Nov. 3-Dec. 1; The Moorings, Nov. 4-Dec. 2; Coral Isle Golf Center, Thursdays, Nov. 4-Dec. 2

To register, go to https://firstteenaplescollier.org/register/

Impact Zone Golf: Bobby Clampett and his instructional staff are available for private, group, and corporate lessons, as well as New Student Assessments at both IZG Academies, which are located in Naples at the Indoor Performance Center at 1040 Collier Center Way and in Fort Myers, at the new Academy at the Club at Renaissance at the intersection of Daniels Parkway and Interstate 75.

Junior After School Program for ages 7-18 began Sept. 1 on Wednesday and/or Friday afternoons from 4:30 to 6 p.m. For kids ages 3-6, the FUNdamentals class runs on Saturdays from 1;30 to 2:15 p.m. all year. Both programs at the Club at Renaissance in Fort Myers. Private or semi-private instruction is conducted at both Naples and Fort Myers academy locations.

Impact Zone Golf is the first in Southwest Florida to use the new national U.S. Player Development Model for Junior Golf, through a partnership with U.S. Kids Player Pathways. This model is used within all of Impact Zone Golf’s junior programming.

To sign up or for more information on any program, contact Olivia at omesner@impactzonegolf. com or call/text 239-236-5536.

Durland Golf School: Mark Durland, who is located at Naples Grande, is available for lessons from Monday through Saturday.

Golf schools are based on a 3-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio with all instruction conducted by Durland. He also is available for lessons via Zoom.

The Ladies Learning Club started Nov. 10 with Samantha Morrell, with sessions at 9:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Tuition is $50 per student per session. Contact Morrell at ladieslearningclub@gmail.com.

To submit an item, send an email to ghardwig@naplesnews.com.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Family, friends remembered longtime Fort Myers golf professional Rich Lamb