Charles Shelley Mayfield

Shelley Mayfield, 85, the longtime head golf professional at Brook Hollow Golf Club, noted instructor, golf course designer and a four-time winner on the 1950s PGA Tour, died on March 22 in San Antonio, Texas. Shelley was born to Robert B. and Permelia B. Mayfield in Liberty Hill, Texas on June 19, 1924, and grew up in Seguin, Texas as the youngest of three children. When his father passed away, Shelley began working as a clerk to help support his mother. A fine athlete, he became a skilled golfer. When he won the Laredo City Championship and reached the semifinals of the Mexican Amateur, friends and supporters urged him to turn pro. He turned professional in 1948, played briefly on the winter golf tour and was immediately hired by noted teacher and club professional Claude Harmon as one of Harmon's assistants at two famed clubs, Winged Foot Golf Club in New York and Seminole Golf Club in Florida. Shelley joined the PGA Tour in 1953 and won the St. Paul Open in his rookie year. He also won the 1954 San Francisco Open, the 1955 Thunderbird Invitational in Palm Springs, which later became the Bob Hope Classic, and the 1956 Baton Rouge Open. His distinguished playing career included a sixth-place finish at the 1954 U.S. Open, a semi-finalist in the 1955 PGA Championship, being bested by eventual winner Doug Ford in the match play event and an eighth-place finish at the 1956 Masters. Highly respected by his peers, Shelley was elected to the PGA Tournament Committee in 1954. When not competing, Shelley was the head professional at two fine clubs on Long Island. He began working at Rockaway Hunt Club in 1952 and was named to the staff at The Meadow Brook Club in 1955. Upon the advice of his good friend, professional Ben Hogan, Shelley applied for and won the head professional's post at Brook Hollow in 1963. A fine teacher of the game, he was named as one of the nation's top 12 golf instructors by Town and Country magazine and was featured with several other golf professionals on the cover of Sports Illustrated. During winter months during the 1950s and '60s, Shelley worked with the famed golf course architect Dick Wilson on some of Wilson's most famous designs, including Doral, La Costa, Bay Hill and Pine Tree. He remained at Brook Hollow Golf Club until he retired to his ranch in 1982. Skilled in every segment of his profession, Shelley Mayfield was widely respected as a consummate gentleman who was modest about his many achievements. Upon his retirement he was named as an honorary member of Brook Hollow Golf Club and in 1992 he was elected to the Texas Golf Hall of Fame. Shelley is survived by his daughter Dr. Ann and husband Jeff Epps of Dallas, daughter Sue and husband George Watts of Dallas, granddaughters Abigail Whitney Keever and Elizabeth Mayfield Keever, brother, Robert B. Mayfield, Jr. of Cleburne and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister Marian Mayfield Roseauer.

SERVICE

FRIDAY

MARCH 26, 2010

11:00 A.M.

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

1928 ROSS AVENUE

DALLAS, TEXAS

Memorials in Shelley's honor may be sent to the SPCA of Texas.