For more than 25 years, Vince Gill hosted The Vinny Pro-Celebrity Invitational at The Golf Club of Tennessee in Kingston Springs, Tenn., which raised more than $8 million for junior golf in the Volunteer State. Photo by Action Sports/Shutterstock.com
Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill will be the recipient of the 2022 Old Tom Morris Award from GCSAA. Gill will be presented with the honor Feb. 10 during the Closing Celebration of the 2022 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in San Diego.
The Old Tom Morris Award has been given annually since 1983 to an individual who, through a lifetime commitment to the game of golf, has helped mold the welfare of the game in the manner and style exemplified by Old Tom Morris. Morris, a four-time Open champion, was the longtime superintendent at St. Andrews in Scotland until his death in 1908.
Gill, an avid golfer and advocate of the game, helped create the annual Vinny Pro-Celebrity Invitational golf tournament to support junior golf programs throughout Tennessee. Held from 1993 to 2019, the event raised more than $8 million for youth golf in the state. The Little Course at Conner Lane, a nine-hole course located at Golf House Tennessee in Franklin, Tenn., includes a practice green and putting course named in Gill’s honor. The facility also houses a research and demonstration area for university turfgrass researchers.
Others who have benefited from Gill’s philanthropic work include military members and families transitioning to civilian life, and people with cancer.
Gill chats about his love of golf, shares some pointers and takes some swings in this 2018 clip:
A scratch golfer, Gill grew up playing on public courses in his native Oklahoma. He was inducted into the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame in 2005.
“Vince Gill is known the world over for his singing and songwriting, but he is so much more. He is a golfer, a family man and a philanthropist, ” says GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans. “His lifetime love for and promotion of the game is in keeping with the spirit of Old Tom.”
A 22-time Grammy winner, Gill is the only country artist to win a Grammy in 10 consecutive years. He was twice named the Country Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year and is a five-time winner of CMA’s Male Vocalist of the Year Award. Gill has had four songs reach No. 1 on the Billboard country chart: “Don’t Let Our Love Start Slippin’ Away,” “I Still Believe in You,” “One More Last Chance” and “Tryin’ to Get Over You.” He has been performing on tour with the Eagles since 2017.
Born in Norman, Okla., Gill played golf at Oklahoma City’s Northwest Classen High School before embarking on his music career. He is married to singer-songwriter Amy Grant.
“This just came completely out of left field,” Gill said after learning of being named the Old Tom Morris Award winner. “I am really grateful.”
Past Old Tom Morris Award winners
2021: Jim Nantz
2020: Gary Player
2019: The Powell family
2018: Ernie Els
2017: Paul R. Latshaw
2016: Herb Kohler
2015: Dan Jenkins
2014: Annika Sorenstam
2013: Michael Hurdzan, Ph.D.
2012: Peter Jacobsen
2011: Nick Price
2010: Judy Rankin
2009: Col. John Morley
2008: Greg Norman
2007: Charles Sifford
2006: Joseph M. Duich, Ph.D.
2005: Jack Nicklaus
2004: Rees Jones
2003: Pete Dye
2002: Walter Woods
2001: Timothy W. Finchem
2000: Nancy Lopez
1999: Jaime Ortiz-Patiño
1998: Ken Venturi
1997: Ben Crenshaw
1996: Tom Fazio
1995: James R. Watson, Ph.D.
1994: Byron Nelson
1993: Dinah Shore
1992: Tom Watson
1991: William C. Campbell
1990: Sherwood A. Moore, CGCS
1989: Juan “Chi” Rodriguez
1988: Gene Sarazen
1987: Robert Trent Jones Sr.
1986: Patty Berg
1985: Gerald Ford
1984: Bob Hope
1983: Arnold Palmer