Editor’s note: Dick Hendrickson, known to many as, “Mr. West Seattle Golf,” passed away on Nov. 5 at the age of 89. His life was celebrated by friends and family at the West Seattle Golf Course on Dec. 8. According to his obituary in the Seattle Times, Hendrickson was “born May 21, 1921 to William and Goldie Hendrickson in Early, Iowa. Dick passed away peacefully while receiving care at the Kline Galland Home in Seattle on November 5th at the age of 89. Dick was preceded in death by his loving wife of 63 years Janet, in September, and by his brother William Jr. in 1977. He is survived by his son Robert, nieces Sally Nichols and Mary Ann Hendrickson, nephews Mark (Kathy) Hendrickson and Mike (Chris) Hendrickson and their families and sister-in-law Mildred Hendrickson.”

The following story was written in his honor by Tim Robinson.

A big story about a little kid.

1929....Babe Ruth hit his 500th homer. President Herbert Hoover would be blamed for the stock market's crash. Out in Seattle, up on Beacon Hill, one early summer morning young Dick Hendrickson walked up to the caddie master at Jefferson Park Golf course. He was eight. Dick was looking for work lugging mashies and cleeks. "Go away kid, you're too small," the caddie master bellowed. In those days there were no golf carts, no cart paths. Only a small shed near the pro shop where teens and younger kids in woolen hats, corduroy pants and floppy leather shoes hung out hoping to earn 25 cents a day caddying. Dick did not go away. He got tough. He continued to show up that summer winning over the caddy master and learning the game from the ground up. He learned it well enough to be competitive, eventually becoming assistant pro at Jefferson Park after a stint as a Navy pilot during WWII.

Since his retirement, Dick lived with his wife Janet, who passed away in September 2010, and son Bob in West Seattle. He was not far from the course he transferred to in 1956 to become one of the most respected golf teaching professionals in the northwest. At 89, Dick no longer played but like every golfer cherished his memories of the game. His PGA debut in 1956 at Blue Hill Country Club in Canton, Massachusetts was against Mike Dietz. It was match play back then. Dick lost but so did Dietz. The eventual champion was Jack Burke Jr who had also won the Masters that year.

When Dick arrived at West Seattle there were some lonely days ahead. "Sometimes, in winter, we'd get one or two players all day," he recalled. “One specific occasion a fella came in and rented a set of clubs for a round of golf. He was the only golfer all that day and I had to wait for him to finish so he could return the clubs before dark," Dick chortled. Biding his time, Dick would find himself up the hill at Abe and Dick LaBelle's driving range. It was a great place to keep loose and share some time in that dreary weather of those years.

When not running the counter or giving lessons, Dick managed to get out on his course occasionally during the year, once agreeing to play a round with a local player who goaded him into a nine-hole match late in the afternoon. It was a Hendrickson moment as Dick ran off six straight birdies, finishing the round at 5 under par.

His memory still keen over the years, Dick told of the challenge he faced at Glen Acres in the early 50's. A partner whispered to Dick on the final green that a 30-footer he was facing would close out the competition unless he three-putted. As every golfer knows, that is a no-no. The mental demons can jinx the attempt. Dick was strong to the task, two-putting the slippery downhill putt for the win. Dick was known for his accuracy and good golf fundamentals. What few know is that he also scored five holes-in-one and could still describe the three at West Seattle, one at Rainier and one at Jefferson.

Over the ensuing years, Dick played in many Northwest events, competing with local pros like Don Bies, Bob Tindall, Bob Duden, Ray Bennett, Al Mengert and Ken Tucker. Some of those pros are gone now, but all were glad the little kid from Beacon Hill did not go away.