Mount Ogden head pro resigns

BY BRADY BINGHAM
Standard-Examiner staff bbingham@standard.net

OGDEN — Telling his friends he was ready for a new challenge, Kip VanDyke resigned as head golf professional at Mount Ogden golf course.

John Fister Jr., a longtime assistant pro at Mount Ogden who will take over the daily operations of running the clubhouse, said Van-Dyke informed him on Feb. 28 that he was leaving Mount Ogden to caddie for Mulligan’s North owner and professional Jimmy Blair on the PGA’s Champions Tour.

"I was shocked," said Fister.

"He said (being a caddie for Blair) was something he really wanted to do. He just wanted a new challenge," added Fister.

Fister said the city is not planning to hire a new professional at Mount Ogden and that Todd Brenkman, the head professional at El Monte, would oversee the administrative duties of both courses.

Fister and Mount Ogden superintendent Jeff McFarland will report to Brenkman.

VanDyke assumed the duties of head pro at Mount Ogden when the city did not renew the contract of longtime pro Steve Wathen in 2003.

He is believed to be in California with Blair, who will attempt to qualify Monday for events on the Champions Tour.

Blair is not entered in this week’s AT&T Classic in Valencia, Calif. The Champions Tour heads to Newport Beach, Calif., next week for the Toshiba Classic.

VanDyke, a 1994 graduate in technical sales from Weber State University, could not be reached for comment.

However, the 38-year-old repeatedly said, “It’s nice to give back to the community where I grew up,” after becoming the pro at Mount Ogden.

VanDyke has served as Blair’s caddie at several events on the PGA Tour and Senior Tour, including the PGA Championships and qualifying school.

He worked for Blair as an assistant at Mulligan’s from 2001-03 and was the head professional at Swan Lakes golf course from 1997-2001.