Jimmy Thompson, a longtime popular professional golfer in Utah, has been named as the fourth recipient of the UGA Gold Club Award. He will be presented with the honor at the UGA annual meeting Monday at 6:30 p.m. at the Ogden Country Club.
The 72-year-old Thompson served as the head professional at the Timpanogos Golf Course in Provo and the Tri-City Golf Course in American Fork. He was at Timpanogos from 1949 to 1951 before going to California to work at three different courses including Rancho Park in Los Angeles.He returned to Utah in 1973 and became the head pro at Tri City, a position he held until 1986.
Robert McArthur, head professional at Riverside Country Club, who was an assistant to Thompson at Tri-City, said, "I'm pleased the UGA has chosen to recognize Jimmy Thompson with such an important honor. He is a pro's pro and a golfer's golfer. He did wonders for Tri-City, and we certainly appreciate all he did for us."
The UGA Gold Club Award is "presented annually to an individual who through significant achievement or unselfish service has contributed to the history and tradition of the game of golf in Utah and whose personal integrity, sportsmanship, common courtesy, loyalty and friendship earn him the love and respect of his fellow golfers."
Previous winners of the award have been George Marks, Steve Dunford and Karl Tucker.