GolfNewsRI

Pawtucket Country Club fixture Jim Tanner passed away earlier this week and the loss is devastating for the Rhode Island Golf community. 

Not only was he a PCC legend, he was an RI Golf legend. 

Tanner is in three Hall of Fames, including the RI Golf Hall of Fame, Pawtucket CC Hall of Fame and the U.S. Caddie Hall of Fame.

He even caddied for golf legend Sam Snead in 1955 at Pawtucket CC. 

Snead gave him a caddie rating of “very good.” 

I was fortunate to meet Mr. Tanner once or twice over the last couple of years, and there was definitely an aura about him.  

That aura will become obvious to everyone when you read the stories below. 

We hope you enjoy, and we thank everyone for sharing and helping us remember a legend…

– Joe 

Jim Tanner on Pawtucket CC, 2002: 

“I’ll always be grateful to Les Kennedy who hired me in the Sumer of 1952. I can’t believe my stay is 50 years and counting; that is half of the centennial we are celebrating. During most of my tenure, I have been the caddy master and director of the cart room, which really began to develop in the late ‘60s. 

Many of our present members were former caddies, and it is most gratifying for me to have watched them in their individual business successes while still being able to play the “game” in a place where they grew up. 

It’s wonderful ton enjoy the memories through the years, the state championships, the member-guest, and all the tournaments that have taken place through the years. 

It’s a joy to have discovered a place that has made me so happy. I wonder some times if I discovered heaven 50 years ago.” 

Jim Maynard, former Pawtucket Pro:

“I’ve known Jim Tanner since 1989 when I first became the assistant pro at Pawtucket Country Club. I was young and new to the business working for an up and coming pro in Steve Napoli. I was nervous, but I had JT to guide me through and keep me relaxed. He was a true gentlemen. 

As a caddie master, he would come across as a shrewd man, but it was the total opposite. He may not have shown it, but there were always a few kids he would find a special place in his heart for and he would look out for them. When I became Head Pro at Pawtucket, I wouldn’t make a move without consulting with JT first. 

Jim Tanner found what he loved to do for work and for him it wasn’t work. He was taking care of his second family as they took care of him. He came to work happy to be there and looking forward to the day. He influenced and mentored more people in his life than some would do in ten lives.” 

David Rampone 

“My Dad, Frank Rampone was a member at PCC for 60+ years. Near the end of his life, he suffered from Pulmonary Fibrosis. He needed constant oxygen therapy. Jim was one of my dads closest friends. In the last couple of years of his life, he wanted to play golf, but the walking was too much for him.  For two years every time my dad came to the club, JT would drive him around so he could still play once in a while with his friends.  

That meant driving him up onto every tee and to the edge of every green, raking bunkers for him, replacing divots and picking up tees.  All done from the kindness of his heart. He was truly one of the kindest men I’ve ever known.” 

Andrew O’Leary, Pawtucket Member, Notre Dame Star: 

One time he told me a story about when Sam Snead played Pawtucket and JT had the privilege of being his caddy. On the first hole they were in the fairway and Snead took a decent sized divot.

JT put his clubs down and ran after the divot to replace it. Sam yelled JT for dropping his clubs and told him never let them hit the ground. Later on he apologized to JT for being so harsh on him, but he must understand that those clubs are how he makes his livelihood and they are incredibly special to him.

That’s a good story JT told me a number of times. So sad to hear about his passing, but he will always be remembered. 

Steve Napoli, Former Pawtucket Pro:

“In 1983, I was a very young golf professional who had the good fortune to be hired as the golf professional at Pawtucket Country Club.  While I had some knowledge about how to play and teach the game of golf, I had very little knowledge of what skills that were needed to navigate the needs of a busy private country club.  I can vividly recall meeting Jim Tanner (JT) for the first time on a snowy winter day in the golf shop at Pawtucket. Little did I know that I had just met a brilliant individual that would quietly and confidently mentor me in the same manner that he had done for hundreds of caddies, junior golfers and those that worked for him during his 71 years at the club.

JT was much more than a co-worker, caddie master, or a member of the staff at Pawtucket.  His people skills were extraordinary!  He was not one who collected friends, he was a true friend to all and he had the knack of letting you know that whenever you were in his presence, you were the most important person in the world.  JT was special, he had found his heaven on earth at Pawtucket Country Club years ago, with his passing heaven has just welcomed an angel, he was loved and respected by all.”

Max Jackson, Pawtucket Member, Defending Club Champ: 

“He would always tell about this homeless guy who would sit in New York City with a can. People would constantly come by and ask him for directions on how to get to Carnegie Hall. His answer would always be “practice, practice, practice.” That quote stuck with me and is a main reason I spend so much time practicing on the putting green at Pawtucket.” 

Patrick Emery, Pawtucket CC Member:

“He was my first boss. I started caddying (looping) at age 10. Then I worked for him as an assistant “ caddy master” in and through high school. 

When you didn’t do a good job as a caddy, JT would tell you to go “count the telephone poles on Daggett Ave,” which meant you were in trouble. 

But you would go back the next day and all was forgiven and you would caddy again. No hard feelings. He controlled a caddy squad of 50-60 kids and adults during the late 70’s early 80’s then the caddy ranks thinned due to the club pushing members to rent carts rather than caddies. 

He had a million sayings / phrases. All unique to his his personality. Like when he assigned you a loop, he would say “take this one and this one – and don’t f** it up,” he will be missed.”

Jackie Doyle, Director of Clubhouse Operations at Pawtucket CC 

“I was lucky to spend almost everyday with JT over the past ten years. I’ve held a position at the Club that has been mainly dominated by men. JT always believed in my ability and was there to give me advice or a shoulder to lean on when I needed it. Pawtucket Country Club will never be the same without him. He will be missed beyond words.”

Pawtucket Country Club:

“It is with heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Jimmy “JT” Tanner. JT has been a fixture at Pawtucket Country Club for over 70 years. A friend to everyone that he met and a true gentleman, Pawtucket Country Club will never be the same without him.

In 70 years, he never missed a day of work and up until his last days, was still worried and asking to get to “the club” to open up. Words can never fully describe the impact he had on thousands of people and the void we feel in our hearts. We love and miss you JT.”

John O’Conner, Pawtucket Member:

“Jimmy is 84, i’m 82. I’ve known jimmy Tanner for probably 70 years. Just a class class act. I was chairman of the Pawtucket 100th Anniversary Committee and that story was on page four. That’s how important he was.  A lot of things that Pawtucket did “by accident” were because of Jimmy Tanner. When Steve Napoli was the pro there, he came to me and said Mr. O’Conner you have no idea how much Jimmy Tanner saves the members here. There was nothing that he would not do for his friends at Pawtucket.  Back into the early days Sam Snead played at Pawtucket, Jimmy caddied for him.”