Fresno State Athletics
The 19th Hole
2/28/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Feb. 28, 2001
FRESNO, Calif. - In today's game, fame and fortune are just some of the expectations of becoming a professional golfer. Before, expectations that were once the result of hard work and dedication to the sport, is now simply the result of the increasing popularity of the game as it is today.
Becoming a professional golfer is an independent goal. There are no talent scouts at the ranges or putting greens. There are no offerings such as expensive cars or impressive signing bonuses to turn pro. Golf is a sport driven by personal determination. It is a sport in which the willingness to play for the love of the game, far outweighs the financial rewards.
When former Fresno State golf standout Tim Norris joined the ranks of professional golf with the likes of Jack Nicklaus and Curtis Strange on the PGA Tour in 1981, he never could have anticipated his own love of the game to result in three tournament wins, of which two were on the Masters' tour between 1981 and 1989.
Norris captured his first professional title his rookie year by winning the California State Open. Just two years later in 1982, Norris notched his second victory after winning the Sammy Davis Jr. Greater Hartford Open.
"I think that win would be the highlight of my professional career," commented Norris. "I was so young, only 24 years old. The win definitely increased my interest in golf and remaining on the tour."
After his second crowning, Norris had to undergo surgery on his right wrist. Overuse from too much practicing and playing caused tendinitis to hinder his ability to handle his clubs effectively. Unfortunately for Norris, there was to be a second surgery on the same hand just sixth months later. However, there was another win in his future. Norris' final win as a professional came in 1986. On the banks of the Pacific Ocean, on the infamous course known as Pebble Beach, Norris totaled 15-under par 272, three shots under his nearest opponent, Dan Forsman with a 275. Between 1987 and 1989 Norris came close to a few more wins but was incapable of playing to his potential and so in 1989 Norris took his last tee-time as a professional.
Today, Norris is giving back a piece of his experience as a professional golfer through coaching. Since 1990 Norris has been a golf coach at two NCAA Division I schools. He held his first coaching position at the University of Texas at El Paso from 1990 through 1997. At that time, Norris, his two children, Ashley and Tyler, and wife Shelley moved to Kansas. Kansas State was in search for a new head golf coach, and Tim Norris was the perfect fit for the job. Norris has held the position for the last three years and loves every minute of it.
"I love coaching," admitted Norris. "As a coach I am able to give something back to the kids." Norris credits some of his coaching ability to his former coach and current head golf coach at Fresno State, Mike Watney. "He (Watney) did everything a coach needs to do" stated Norris. "He respected his players and recognized their talent. He never got in the way of the players' progress."
Coach Watney certainly did not inhibit Norris' talent. On the contrary, Watney's do-whatever-it-takes coaching style appealed a great deal to Norris. After redshirting his first year at Fresno State from 1978-79, Norris joined Watney and his teammates for his only athletic year in the program from 1979-80. Norris was named the Harry Coffee Athlete of the Year and a First Team All-American, an honor not bestowed on any other golfer in Fresno State golf history. In fact, Watney credits Norris as being "one of the best ever to play golf at Fresno State."
Norris is not too sure that he agrees with Watney's statement, but he certainly is grateful for his short time with the program and especially the coach. There is one piece of advice from Watney that Norris has carried with himself since his time at Fresno State. The memorable quote explaining the difference between collegiate and professional golf, "Aim between the trees in college. Aim for the fairways and stay out of the rough in professional."
Upon graduation, Norris set out to take on the world of professional golf, pushing the boundaries of his own capabilities through constant practice. "I enjoyed becoming better. I was just very self-motivated." His persistence paid off and now that Norris is a coach himself, he hopes his student-athletes have learned to love and respect the sport, at least as much as he did.
