Rob Amundson’s golf clubs and bag were there.
So were his new Travis Mathew Apparel golf shirt and shorts, the clothes he had long looked forward to wearing at the world-famous Pebble Beach Golf Links this week.
Amundson’s brother Eric was there, too, as he always is for men’s league at Northern Hills Golf Course, as was Rob’s 16-year-old son Wyatt, a Mayo High School student-athlete.
Much of the Amundson family was also there, supporting Eric and Wyatt as they made their way around the golf course in northwest Rochester that Rob had played too many times to count.
They were only missing Rob.
Rob Amundson, a husband, father of three, son and brother to his family, and even more to the Rochester community, died unexpectedly last week, on Monday, Aug. 4, at the age of 39. He is survived by his wife, Bethany, son Wyatt (16), daughter Madi (14) and son Henry (3); his brother Eric (Kelly) Amundson; his parents Greg and Cathy Amundson and a large extended family.
Rob Amundson graduated from John Marshall in 2004, then spent a decade living in Arizona, working at golf courses and playing the game as much as possible. When he returned to Rochester, he began working at Hiller’s Flooring America, where he most recently served as the general manager, though, his family said, he was willing to do any job, big or small, and no matter the time of day, to help a customer.
He also enjoyed hunting and fishing, and spending time with family and friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Pax Christi Catholic Church in Rochester. Visitation will take place from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday at the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home in Rochester.
“He touched a lot of lives, more than he knew,” Rob’s mother, Cathy, told the Post Bulletin.
So has Wyatt, who, like his dad, is a golfer and hockey player. It was on the golf course at Northern Hills last week, where he brought his family a fun sliver of joy at such a difficult time. Wyatt, understandably, wasn’t feeling like his usual self on the course that night, Cathy Amundson said, as he played the first six holes next to his uncle, Eric.
But with his dad’s golf clubs and wearing his dad’s golf clothes, Wyatt stepped onto the tee box at hole No. 7, perhaps the toughest par 3 on the course. It plays anywhere from 175 to 190 yards.
His tee shot looked good from the start, but once it hit the green, the group didn’t see where the ball had stopped rolling. As they approached the green, they still didn’t see the ball.
“Wyatt just said ‘did that go in?’” Cathy Amundson said.
Wyatt’s aunt, Kelly, walked up to the green and looked in the cup. Her reaction didn’t call for words. The ball was there, in the hole. The entire group erupted in screams and cheers.
To add to the heartwarming moment: The ball Wyatt used to record his ace is the ball his dad had used a week earlier to make an eagle — a somewhat rare accomplishment for most golfers — during men’s league at Northern Hills.
“We were screaming and hollering,” Cathy Amundson said. “I think they heard us a few holes over. … We felt Robbie’s presence there with us.”
It wasn’t lost on Amundson’s family that Wyatt’s hole-in-one came on hole No. 7 at Northern Hills. Robbie Amundson had long looked forward to playing the famous hole No. 7 at Pebble Beach, which is the shortest par-3 on the PGA Tour (106 yards) but is also one of the most challenging and scenic, with bunkers surrounding the front of the green and the Pacific Ocean as the backdrop.
Rob Amundson often told his wife, Bethany, that playing Pebble Beach this week would be a bucket list moment and “it would be the trip of a lifetime,” and “he talked all about a hole he couldn’t wait to play.” She called the love and support the family has received from the community “overwhelming.”
“It’s quite overwhelming how much of an impact he had on our community,” Bethany wrote about her husband in a message to the Post Bulletin. “He always did everything for everyone. He set a high bar and he never thought he met it. But he did.”
Amundson’s family said they will see his love for sports, family and life carried on through his three children. Wyatt’s hole-in-one is a perfect example of that.
“Wyatt is a chip off the old block,” Cathy Amundson said. “He’s 16. Being able to go play 36 holes every day if he wants to, he’s living out his dad’s best dream.”
Wyatt Amundson, 16, stands with his mom, Bethany, after he made a hole-in-one at Northern Hills Golf Course last week. It happened just days after his dad, Rob, died unexpectedly. Wyatt was playing alongside his uncle, Eric Amundson, while taking his dad’s place in a men’s league event.
Contributed / Kelly Amundson
Wyatt Amundson, stands with his uncle, Eric Amundson, after Wyatt made a hole-in-one at Northern Hills Golf Course last week, just days after his dad, Rob, died unexpectedly. Wyatt was taking his dad’s place in a men’s league event.
Contributed / Kelly Amundson
