Tutored by two legendary Bills — Barclay and Flynn — Donnie Lyons learned from the best and proceeded to enjoy an acclaimed 45-year career as a PGA club professional.
But now it’s time for the Peabody native and long-time Danvers resident to step aside and retire from the game he loves.
“It’s been a love affair lasting more than 50 years,” said the 67-year-old Lyons, “ever since that day I was exposed to the game for the first time at Middleton Golf Course by Father Joe Kelley.
“That love affair with golf isn’t ending. It’s just taking a different, more subdued approach now that I need to slow down and give up those seven-days-a-week work schedules covering eight months a year.”
Lyons departs the NEPGA scene as a former NEPGA president, as an NEPGA Hall of Fame member, as a PGA national vice president and a friend to anyone with whom he crossed paths during his distinguished career. That includes his time serving at Thomson Country Club, George Wright GC, Beverly Golf and Tennis Club, the two Town of Lynnfield-owned nine holers, Reedy Meadow at Lynnfield Centre and King’s Rail Reserve (the former Colonial Country Club); and the two central Massachusetts public courses he co-owns with former Lynnfield Town Manager Bill Gustus, Settler’s Crossing in Lunenberg, and Westminster golf course.
“Donnie served as our Section President (1997-99), received the Golf Professional of the Year Award (2002), was inducted into the NEPGA Hall of Fame (2015), served on numerous NEPGA Committees and sat on the PGA of America Board of Directors on two separate occasions,” noted Michael Higgins, executive director of the NEPGA. Very few PGA professionals have dedicated as much of their lives to their association and to the game as Donnie Lyons.
“I can only hope that he finds time to catch his breath in retirement. But knowing Donnie, he will be growing the game and volunteering somewhere soon.”
An Emerson Park product, Lyons worked at Salem Country Club for Barclay for nearly a decade: first as a caddy, then in the bag room. When Barclay retired after 32 years at Salem CC after the 1980 season, Lyons turned pro and worked under Flynn at Thomson for two years.
When Flynn agreed to manage (and restore) Boston-owned George Wright in the city’s Hyde Park neighborhood in conjunction with Mass Golf, Flynn promoted Lyons to GW’s head professional, a position he held for 20 years (1982-2001). All the while, he broadened the Donald Ross-designed layout’s outreach to the community, focusing on a dynamic junior program and a variety of instruction offerings.
“I’ve been a public course professional my entire career and loved it all,” Lyons made clear. “I might not have succeeded if it had not been my times working with Barclay and Flynn. Bill Barclay was an old school head pro who taught me about tradition, service to whoever came onto the club property, respect to all.
“Working for Bill Flynn, he continued impressing upon me everything that Bill Barclay had,” continued Lyons. “Flynn showed me the business side of the game. He worked at private clubs, but learned quickly the value of the public course golfer.”
Lyons was a good student. His reputation grew as an organizer, merchandiser, instructor and an enthusiastic promoter of the First Tee program, which was initially geared to inner city youth.
“Golf starts for most of us at the public course level,” Lyons said. “I’m grateful I was able to start and grow junior programs that led to a lot of those young people securing jobs with me and becoming Ouimet scholarship recipients; persons who have remained friends for life.”
His contemporaries admired Lyons’ unmatched professionalism and commitment to the game.
“Donnie led by example,” says Bill Safrin, the retired 37-year head pro at Myopia Hunt Club now based in Naples, Fla. “He impacted positively all PGA members he worked with based on his countless volunteer hours on the NEPGA and National PGA Boards.
“His selflessness and inner strength made him a total giving person. He encouraged me to get involved with the NEPGA Education Committee and Club Relations, geared to helping NEPGA members succeed, all great experiences for me.”
Added former NEPGA president and NEPGA Hall of Famer Jack Neville, “The game of golf was meant to have a man like Donnie Lyons have such a positive effect in so many ways. He was a doer, a facilitator. His devotion to the New England PGA and National PGA has been exceptional.
“He was born to be a public course professional,” Neville continued. “I saw Donnie function up close. I was at Ponkapoag about the same time he was at George Wright. I saw how he was good and respectful to everybody; a sincere, caring person who exemplified all the qualities that make an outstanding professional.”
Many of his colleagues have described Lyons as “the best example we in the game have for an ambassador of golf.” That’s a reputation enhanced by the support of his wife of 41 years, Peggy, plus his sons Andrew and Sean and daughters Meghan and Colleen.
“Peggy understood the many hours I had to be away from our family, often in a volunteer role,” he said.
“I’ve simply tried to promote the greatest game there is any way I could.”
