Dr. Jay Harris of Burlington and Pinehurst, N.C., passed away Sept. 27. He was 81.
A service is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14 at the Emerywood Baptist Church, 1300 Country Club Dr., High Point, N.C. Casual golfing attire is recommended. Knickers/Plus Fours would be a nice touch.
Dr. Harris was one of the early guiding lights of the greater hickory community, an accomplished golfer and retired dentist from the Pinehurst area. He is survived by his wife, Jackie; a daughter, Kelly; a son, Cavan; and five grandchildren.
Bob Georgiade, a long-time friend of Dr. Harris said that he was living his dream with his home in Pinehurst, one of a few on the fairways of the famous No. 2 course. His was on the dogleg bend of No. 7.
“He worked for it, planned for it, and successfully achieved that dream,” Georgiade said.
The view of the seventh hole of Pinehurst No. 2 from Dr. Jay Harris’ former home.
An ardent fan of hickory golf, Dr. Harris often referred to himself as a “pied piper of hickory golf,” for the astounding number of players, both in the Carolinas and much further abroad, that he influenced to take up the sport. He was a founding member of the Carolina Hickory Golf Association, one of the world’s largest regional hickory golf associations. His rental hickory club business was created partly to ensure that any event would have clubs available, “for the good of the game,” he said. He worked hard to make the modern hickory sport inclusive, inviting people of all races and genders to give it a try.
He is still the only player to have won titles at both the National Hickory Championship (the Reserve Division at the first NHC in 1998 and the Open Division in 1999) and the U.S. Hickory Open in 2008, the first USHO, played at Mimosa Hills in Morganton, N.C.
Dr. Harris with one of his favorite photos of Ben Hogan, autographed, of course.
He had a great interest in golf art and his Pinehurst home was filled examples from some of the finest artists in the field. He was a huge fan of Ben Hogan and owned several examples of Hogan memorabilia including a golf bag, clubs and autographed photographs. His collection of rare clubs was not extensive, but included some of the finest examples from such makers as Morris, Philp, Park and McEwan.
“He was irascible, opinionated and loved to talk politics,” Georgiade said. “But you always new where you stood with Jay. He did not hold back. And he was one of the biggest hearted, most generous people you would ever meet.”
Click here to see a September 2013 article from the GCS Bulletin about Dr. Harris. It contains dated references, but also several photos, some added for this memorial story.
Words of remembrance from a few close friends.
It is sad to hear of the passing of Jay Harris. Jay was not only a tremendous hickory golfer, winning the first SoHG U.S. Hickory Open (where I finished second) as well as winning the modern hickory division of the very first National Hickory Championship at Oakhurst in 1998 (where I won the gutty division), but Jay was also a great guy, very candid in assessing his and other people’s golf games and VERY helpful, always sharing his insights freely.
Jay lived on Pinehurst No. 2 and had a huge collection of hickory clubs that he sold, rented, repaired, and let people borrow to get them started in hickory golf. Jay was very instrumental in helping to create the surge in hickory golf popularity that we see today.
Some are my fondest memories of Jay included the tremendous sportsmanship he displayed in a couple of very close head-to-head matches we had at the NHC; he also went out of his way to say some very nice things about me that I’ll never forget. Jay and Rob Ahlschwede had some unforgettable political discussions that were hilariously entertaining! All in good fun.
Jay invited me to play hickories at Pinehurst No. 2 with him at one point and we had a great time not only on the course but looking at his hickory golf club collection at his home, which was extensive!
Jay was an iconic early character in modern hickory golf, and I feel very fortunate to have known him and shared some special times with him.
Randy Jensen
Jay Harris, besides becoming a very close friend, was one of the first to push the idea of playing with wood shafted clubs. He made clubs available to many new-to-hickory people, maintained a large collection of rental clubs and would send/take them anywhere they were needed. An example of that is that he furnished the clubs for the Tufts Archives charity event at Pinehurst every year.
He financed the manufacturing of quality authentic replica irons and his “Hickory Nut” woods that he graciously loaned to local professionals and sold to players in need of quality woods. Jay amassed a large collection of golf items, ranging from ancient clubs to literature to Ben Hogan “stuff” and he would share that collection with anyone showing an interest. On several occasions he and his wife, Jackie, would host players during the Mid Pines Hickory for an evening of refreshments and collection sharing.
He often could be found in his workshop working on clubs for anyone who needed a repair or restoration. Cut his own grips. And, he was a very good player. Won the very first USHO (2008), won the 1998 NHC, and, as an amateur, beat many players who later became touring pros. A retired dentist who made sure his partner was able to afford the practice he left behind. A fine pianist and enjoyed playing almost daily. Jay was one of the very best! Not afraid to speak his mind and surely rubbed some people raw, but never minced his words and always willing to listen to other points of view.
As he might say about his death – “I finally died for the last time.” Those of us who knew him well knew that he had “died” at least two times before and they brought him back! I will miss him so much but am thankful, so very thankful, for knowing him and will always cherish his long friendship. RIP my friend.
Rob Ahlschwede
It was with a heavy heart and a great deal of sadness that I learned of the passing of Dr. Jay Harris.
I first met Jay at the 2004 National Hickory Championship at Oakhurst. Later that same year I was in Pinehurst for the inaugural Mid Pines Hickory Open and was in Tom Stewart’s golf shop chatting with him when Jay came in. I said hello to him and he looked confused. Jay said he didn’t remember me, so I refreshed his memory. You could see the recognition light up his face and he said, “I remember now. I had you confused with another heavy-set guy.” We’ve had lots of laughs over the years about that encounter.
A group of us, including Jay, met at Mid Pines in December 2005 to discuss the founding of the Carolina Hickory Golf Association. Our mission was to grow the game of hickory golf and Jay turned out to be CHGA’s mover and shaker in our gaining traction with that mission. He lived alongside the 7th fairway of Pinehurst No. 2 and was a very active player at Pinehurst Country Club. Jay introduced many members there to hickory golf and brought them into the CHGA fold. He was active in restoring hickory clubs and put together playing sets for new members; he always had a few loaner sets with him. As Jay knew so many in the Carolinas golfing community, he was instrumental in getting the CHGA onto several of the premier Donald Ross courses which helped us recruit even more players and lasting friendships.
Jay had a classic golf swing exuding effortless power which resulted in drives of 240 yards or more. It was a joy to behold. He won the first four CHGA Hickory Haggis match play tournaments going away. He also won the first U.S. Hickory Open in 2008 at Mimosa Hills in Morganton, N.C. Inside a hundred yards he could get up and down from anywhere.
If you ever had a chance to play alongside Jay, you have treasured memories, the likes of which you’ll not find with anyone else. He was a one-of-a-kind person whose lights went out way too soon. He leaves a big void in the hickory golf community which will no doubt go unfilled.
If you listen carefully, you might hear the rattle of hickory clubs as Jay, along with Frank Boumphrey, Mike Just, Doug Marshall, Larry Moye, John McKee, Mike Brown, John Roth and many others as they gather on the first tee in the great beyond to begin a round of hickory golf. Save a spot for me, my old friend. I’ll see you again, but not for a very long time.
Godspeed, Jay Harris. We’ll never forget ye, lad.
Far and Sure,
Lang Willie, Bill Engelson
Jay Harris had the distinction of being the GCS member that lived closest to where I resided in North Carolina. He was in High Point and I in Greensboro, later Kernersville. Thus, I had been to his home many times and he to mine. Those were his early days of collecting. Being a low handicap golfer who played at the University in Chapel Hill, he quickly became keen on both the historical aspects of collecting as well as hickory play. He worked hard to learn the fine points of clubs and art and assembled some choice pieces.
Pete Georgiady
(Pete is the founder of the National Hickory Championship in which Dr. Harris played many memorable rounds.)