Calvin Peete
Calvin Peete was an American golfer who made history as the first African American to win twelve PGA tour events. He is best known for being one of the most accurate drivers in PGA history.
Nobody has ever hit the ball as consistently straight as Calvin Peete.
Ever.
Drive the ball straight
Calvin Peete showed us definitively that hitting the ball straight off the tee matters.
You can’t argue with his success.
Calvin Peete was born on December 11, 1944 in Detroit, Michigan. His father worked at a factory and his mother took care of him and his seven younger siblings.
At age 32, Peete began playing golf and turned professional in 1976. Peete won 12 PGA tour events during his career and was the first African American golfer to win a tournament with an all-white field.
Moreover, Calvin Peete is considered one of the greatest ball strikers in history. In 1985, he also helped lead the United States to a victory over Great Britain and Ireland in the Ryder Cup.
Peete was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2004. After his professional golf career ended, he continued to play golf and still stays active playing tournaments today. He resides in Florida with his wife Shirley and has three children.
Calvin is also known for another record: most holes-in-one (with 15). He is currently the only African American inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Nick Faldo
Nick Faldo is an English professional golfer who was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1997. He won six majors, three Masters and three Opens.
Faldo began his career at the age of 13 after watching Jack Nicklaus playing in the Masters on TV.
By the age 16 he was a club professional where he won his first tournament.
He turned professional in 1976 and received several offers to play on the European Tour, including an invitation from Arnold Palmer. He was one of the top players on the tour by 1979.
Keep your head down and keep grinding
He won all three of his Masters tournaments with dramatic come from behind victories.
When people say the Masters doesn’t start until the back nine at Augusta, they are talking about his 3 improbable wins.
Of course this saying had been around long before Nick came around, but his three victories, especially the one over Greg Norman in 1996 will ensure no one ever stops watching the Masters until the final putt on 18.
Additionally, Nick was named Sportsman of the Year in 1990 by Sports Illustrated and won the Vardon Trophy for lowest scoring average (68.33) on the European Tour in 1985 and 1989.
He has had a very successful TV career as a golf analyst, winning an Emmy Award in 2000 for his work with NBC Sports.
Francis Ouimet
Francis DeSales Ouimet was an American amateur golfer who is credited with helping to start the professional game of golf. He is best known for the incredible impact that he had during his first U.S. Open victory at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.
While Francis might not be as well-known as other great golfers, he has helped to inspire many professional golfers.
Francis was born on March 10, 1893 in Brookline, Massachusetts. As a child he loved to play outside with his brothers and neighbors. Francis spent most of his time practicing tennis but also loved to play baseball.
One day when playing with his friends, they realized that the only one who could not reach the ball across a road was Francis. He was frustrated that he couldn’t reach the ball but his friends suggested that they build a set of golf clubs for him.
Francis began to play when his father bought him a set of used golf clubs in 1910. After getting some pointers from his friend, Johnny McDermott, he began to practice every day. He soon became very good and started entering local tournaments.
Bringing golf to the masses
Francis Ouimet’s most talked about achievement was at the 1913 US Open where he beat Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in an 18 hole playoff.
The news was heralded around the world and brought forth a new era in golf. Up until this time, golf was a rich man’s game and it was dominated by Europeans and the British.
After Quimet won, this was no longer the case.
Ultimately, Francis went on to win the 1914 and 1931 US Amateur Championship.
He played on 8 Walker Cups and was the only American ever elected as president of the Royal and Ancient.
Ouimet died on September 2, 1967 in Florida. His legacy lives on through the children he taught to play golf at The Country Club. Francis is considered one of the best golfers of all time.
Conclusion
The three men who are being talked about are all amazing, influential golfers. They have achieved many things in their careers and continue to be successful in the game of golf today.
Calvin Peete is the most accurate drivers in PGA history with 12 tour victories under his belt. Nick Faldo is a six-time major winner, three Masters and three Opens. Quimet brought the game to the masses.
Photo by  Kenneth Allen under creative commons license
