Minnesota Golfer - Travel 2022 - 34

Michael
Turnbull:
1955-2022
" M
innesota golf lost a good one " was the oft-repeated refrain
as news circulated that Michael Turnbull, the longtime
Brookview Golf Course teaching pro, had passed away Oct. 6.
Warm, friendly and unique, Turnbull was iconoclastic in his
approach to teaching the game. His renown as a teaching pro
was due to his affable nature, love of the profession and the joy
he brought others.
" He utilized his study of Taoism and Eastern Philosophies to
simplify golf instruction and bring joy to learning, " Turnbull
wrote in his own obituary.
Turnbull grew up in Northeast Minneapolis and caddied at
Gross National Golf Club, where he observed the top local players
and picked up pointers while on the bag.
He played for the Gross Junior team, competed in some
MGA Junior competitions and made two trips to the Minnesota
State High School golf tournament for St. Anthony Village
High School (finishing 15th in 1971). He later competed as a
University of Minnesota golf team member.
After college and a stint as a pro at Rolling Green Country
Club in 1983, Turnbull became a teaching pro at Sea Cliff CC
in Huntington Beach, Calif. He later returned to the Twin Cities
and began teaching at the University Golf Course and then Baker
National, where he was the manager and head golf professional.
Turnbull embraced the game at every level. He was a member
of Minnesota Golfer magazine's editorial advisory board, an
occasional " Pro Tips " contributor as well as, an insider source
for several golf industry features. He was elected president of
the Midwest Public Golf Managers Association and became an
appointed director on the MGA Board of Directors from 19982000.
A member of the Board of Directors of the Minnesota
Section PGA from 1991-96, Turnbull earned Youth Development
Awards in 1994, 1996 and 1997.
For the past 17 years, Turnbull taught at Brookview, where he
also ran the lawn bowling court. Various health issues throughout
Warm, friendly and unique,
Turnbull was iconoclastic in his approach
to teaching the game. His renown as a
teaching pro was due to his affable nature,
love of the profession and the joy
he brought others.
his life ultimately shortened his career (but never extinguished
his smile), and he retired in 2017. He still taught at Brookview,
though, a few times a week. In fact, on the night before Turnbull
died, he was teaching a golf lesson, helping another player learn
and come to enjoy the game.
Our Address Is Changing
The MGA is moving its office location within the Southdale Professional Building located in Edina
at 6550 York Avenue South. Effective in the spring, the MGA's new office space will open on the
4th floor, Suite 411. All other contact information will remain the same, see the MGA website at
mngolf.org for staff contact information.
Stay current on the latest Minnesota golf news at mngolf.org.
34
MINNESOTAGOLFER Travel 2022
mngolf.org
PHOTO: MATT SEEFELDT

http://www.mngolf.org https://www.mngolf.org/Home http://www.mngolf.org

Minnesota Golfer - Travel 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Minnesota Golfer - Travel 2022