Masters’, CBS’ Jim Nantz has his day at historic Clearview Golf Membership

EAST CANTON — Jim Nantz forever needed to see Clearview Golf Membership. On Monday; he did.

He noticed it and gave it a distinguished immense bear hug.

Nantz has witnessed a lot. Prior his three-decade dash as CBS’ voice of the Masters; he roomed in school with Fred {Couples}; who would triumph a Masters. 

He’s in a tiny fraternity of play-by-play folks to gain known as Tremendous Bowls and championship video games from basketball’s March Insanity. He and Tony Romo dealt with the Browns-Chiefs playoff recreation in January and can double again for the Browns-Chiefs opener subsequent month.

He is 62 years worn and enjoying out; in his personal phrases; a “dream job.”

Admiration for Renee; Invoice Powell

Why was Clearview on his bucket checklist?

Nantz knew the late Invoice Powell; who 75 years in the past turned the primary Black man to begin a golf course he had designed and constructed when he opened Clearview.

“I used to be in attendance when Invoice received the PGA’s highest honor; the Distinguished Service Award;” Nantz mentioned throughout his go to Monday. “I used to be forever conscious of the historical past of Clearview. 

“I met Renee (Powell) quite a lot of occasions via the years. I forever admired her a lot. We bumped into one another this 12 months. It’d gain been opening day of the Masters.

“With my in-laws in Cleveland; I appear to be spending extra time right here these days. I advised Renee I might actually like tojournaltimee see Clearview.” 

Celebrating Clearview Golf Membership’s seventy fifth

Clearview is a Nationwide Historic Website. Renee Powell — PGA Golf Professional at Clearview — operates a basis whose missions embody preserving the course; training; and golf outreach to navy veterans; youth and others.

“I advised Renee; ‘I do not desire to be presumptuous. It won’t encourage you in any respect. But when I may note up and we may throw an occasion … it is Clearview’s seventy fifth 12 months … I might wish to be a fragment of it;'” Nantz mentioned.

Renee Powell was touched. She has been fragment of many annual outings on the course; however there wasn’t one final  12 months amid COVID-19. Nantz’s provide led to Monday’s golf scramble; “A Celebration of Clearview; with Jim Nantz.”

Nantz spent Sunday night time dealing with an obligation in Memphis and flew to Stark County whereas the soccer world was going out within the wake of the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame Enshrinement Pageant.

Franco Harris; Clark Kellogg; Gov. John Kasich among the many celebrities

Corridor of Fame working again Franco Harris; a longtime comrade of the Powells; drove into Clearview at 10:30 Monday morning.

A parking zone attendant apologized that the VIP parking spots had crammed up.

“Renee is the VIP;” the retired Steeler mentioned.

In her sun-baked wejournaltimee  speak; Renee Powell acknowledged just a few notables; together with ex-Browns working again Greg Pruitt and previous Ohio Governor John Kasich. She closed Journaltime.org ribbing Harris about “these ridiculous yellow towels” waving on the Pittsburgh-heavy enshrinements.

Hi there; pals

Nantz was priceless. He talked to everybody like a long-lost cousin. 

“You are taller than you appear on TV;” mentioned one golfer posing for an image.

“So are you;” he mentioned to his modern comrade; a high fellow who was amused.

Relatively than enjoying with any of the scramble foursomes; Nantz camped on the primary tee and hit a drive as each group got here via. Renee Powell swatted a number of photographs in an impromptu clinic. Nantz hits it longer than she does. Powell hits it straighter than him.

Nantz’s voice is so soothing that you simply’d nearly desire him speaking throughout your backswing.  

As the ultimate participant of the primary foursome teed up his ball; Nantz mentioned; as if addressing three million viewers; “You’re about to witness one of many sweetest swings in golf.” 

It was Ohio State basketball legend Clark Kellogg; Nantz’s fellow CBS broadcaster. Kellogg pushed his drive; however it rolled into the accurate fairway.

Launching a broadcasting profession from Houston

Nantz; like Renee Powell; began {golfing} at age 3. He moved round as his dad climbed the company ladder. It is a lengthy yarn how he wound up in Houston and have become nicely acquainted with each George Bushes who turned Presidents; however he did.

He landed on the golf workforce on the College of Houston; which at one level received 16 nationwide championships in 30 years.

“My dad was a soccer participant;” Nantz mentioned from a park bench close No. 1. “I liked soccer. I performed Pop Warner and pee wee soccer and tried to play lofty faculty ball however obtained injured.

“I lived the sport via the broadcasters of my youth … Pat Summerall … Curt Gowdy. I admire soccer; I admire golf; and I admire basketball. Fortunately these turned my main sports activities at CBS.”

As a university golfer; Nantz wasn’t within the equivalent league as {Couples}; however he was within the equivalent room.

“My coach thought perhaps it might be a apt affect for me to be round his immense star participant;” Nantz mentioned. “He lumped me in a room with guysjournaltimeing in on scholarship that would actually play. It was the best factor that ever occurred to me. There was a lot optimistic power. 

“Freddie needed to triumph The Masters. They knew my aim was to work for CBS. They constructed me up. Today with social media; I mediate there’s lots of … cynicism? Skepticism?

“That did not exist in our dorm room. We believed in one another. We constructed one another up.

“I do not mediate I might gain been qualified to accomplish what I did; making it to CBS three years out of faculty; if I did not gain a bunch of brothers who have been telling me that was going to occur.”

Worn Tom Morris Award winners

His want of seeing Clearview got here precise Monday. It turned an event for the Golf Course Superintendents Affiliation of America to gift Nantz with its highest honor; the Worn Tom Morris Award. The Powell household received the award — which started in 1983 with Arnold Palmer as the primary winner — in 2019.

It turned an opportunity for Nantz to study up Renee’s brother; Larry; the grounds superintendent at Clearview.

“Renee is a treasure;” he mentioned. “Larry deserves an incredible quantity of credit score.”

Nantz has seen just a few creditable golf programs. His house in California; which features a par-3 gap; overlooks Pebble Seashore.

“Clearview is a particular space;” he mentioned. “It is a day I’ve regarded ahead to for a lengthy time.”

Attain Steve at steve.doerschukJournaltime.orgcantonrepjournaltime

On Twitter: @sdoerschukREP