Paul R. Barkhouse, who made it all the way to the PGA tour from his beginnings as a “Valley Rat” at Gannon Golf Course, died Monday, the New England Professional Golf Association announced Tuesday.
Barkhouse, a member of the New England Professional Golfers Association Hall of Fame, had worked at Ferncroft Country Club back when it was simply Topsfield CC and was the head pro at Woburn CC prior to his retirement.
“He was what we called a ‘Valley Rat,'” said Tara Friedman of Gannon. “He was always there, caddying, playing, whatever.”
Later in the 1960s, Barkhouse became assistant pro at “Happy Valley” for Larry Gannon, for whom the course is named now.
“He was a great guy,” said Tom Newhall, who has won several club championships at Gannon. “I loved him. He was an energetic, outgoing guy who loved golf.”
“In the days I grew up at Gannon, ‘Barky’ was the guy we all wanted to be like,” Newhall said. “I watched him hit shots, and I’d say ‘Oh, my God …’ If I could hit the ball like that, I’d be on the tour.”
Former Gannon head pro Mike Foster called Barkhouse “a people person. We have a lot of stories about him.”
Foster said that by 1969, Barkhouse, a Lynn native, was ready for bigger things, and he tried to join the professional tour.
“He made it,” Foster said. “In the beginning, he struggled, like we all do. But he made some cuts and made some money. But of course, he came back home and ended up first in Topsfield and then several other places before landing in Woburn.”
“Barkhouse dedicated his professional career to the New England PGA, his fellow PGA professionals, and to promoting the great game of golf,” the NEPGA said in a statement at the time of his election to the Hall of Fame.
“He was actively involved on every level, constantly striving to improve the association and the delivery of services to its members,” the NEPGA said. “His leadership abilities and his strong desire to continually improve the association have inspired him to service within the New England PGA.”
Barkhouse received the coveted NEPGA Professional of the Year award in 1981 in recognition of his outstanding performance and achievements as the ideal club professional and was honored as the New England Section’s Merchandiser of the Year in 1980 and again as the Southern Ohio Section’s Merchandiser of the year in 1989.
Barkhouse may be among the best and most consistent players in NEPGA history, the NEPGA said. He earned the Wogan Award Player of the Year trophy twice, in 1969 and again in 1977, for overall excellence in playing achievements. In 1979 and again in 1980, Barkhouse teamed with Paul Harney to win the NEPGA Senior-Junior Championship. In 1980, he also played in another Senior-Junior Championship, PGA of America’s, and took home National champion accolades. Paul won the NEPGA Individual Match Play Championship twice, in 1981 and 1984. The Pro-Pro Stroke Championship ended with Paul at the top three times, in 1979 with partner Les Bond and in 1982 and 1997 with partner Paul Parajeckas. He also teamed with Parajeckas in 1984 to win the Pro-Pro Match Play Championship.
“Throughout his career, Barkhouse has not only excelled as a great player of the game, he is also a much sought-after teacher of the game of golf. He has consistently demonstrated unwavering commitment to making golf a better game and in service to the New England PGA and is a true ambassador of the game,” the NEPGA said.