Wogan leaves a rich legacy throughout New England

By Gary Larrabee

The North Shore golf landscape has absorbed several profound losses since we went to print last August. Unfortunately, the list is an awfully long one. It includes Stan Brown, Dean Downie, Howie Rich, Larry Nicolini, Jack McMahon, Hazel M. Friel (mother of 2010 Curtis Cup captain Noreen Friel Mohler), Fordie Pitts, Peter Paskowski, Boston Five Classic chairman Bob Spiller (from earlier in 2009), Linda Robbin, Kinky White, Arthur Fiste, Jim McNamara, J. Hilary Rockett, Charlie Sagan, Chuck Frithsen, Phil Wogan, Arthur Kiernan, Paul Munro, Dee Wemyss, Bill Anthony, Bobbie Porter, Justin Remis, Norma Yeaton and Dr. Frank Barry among others.

Here’s a closer look at a few of the individuals we said goodbye to.

Phil Wogan, one of the two most important golf course architects with North Shore roots, along with Beverly native Ron Kirby, died on January 15 at 91. The long-time Topsfield resident was the son of Eugene “Skip” Wogan, who served as Donald Ross’s assistant at Essex County Club from 1910 to 1913, served as head professional and grounds superintendent from 1913 to 1957, and founded the New England PGA. Phil succeeded his father as superintendent in 1957, a post he held until his retirement in 1985, at which time he began his full time devotion to golf course architecture. Phil designed more than 40 courses, most in New England, including The Georgetown Club, Point Sebago in Casco, Maine, Stonebridge in Goffstown, N.H., and River Bend in West Bridgewater. Phil’s love and commitment to the game was a fitting legacy for his famous father.

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Chuck Frithsen, former head professional at Rockport and Thomson, a fine tournament player and the teaching pro and assistant manager at the Nekoroski family’s Golf Country facility in Middleton for the past 10 years, died January 20 at the age of 56, the victim of cancer. Son of the late John Frithsen, another prominent North Shore golfer, Chuck was a Cape Ann native who caddied at Bass Rocks where his dad was a dominant club champion, and captained the Gloucester High golf team. For three decades he was a PGA professional whose best playing days seemed to come after he turned 50. After reaching that milestone he won the New England PGA Seniors, played in the 2006 PGA Senior Championship in Oklahoma and was the top player in 2004 in the NEPGA Eastern Mass. Chapter. Chuck was a credit to the game, his communities and his family.

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Arthur Kiernan, 77, was a long time Salem CC member and club champion, Gillette executive, former New England Senior Golf Association titlist and Massachusetts Golf Association executive committee member. Your day would always be brightened if you bumped into Arthur, a great friend to the game.

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Edith “Dee” Wemyss, died at 94 in West Palm Beach, Fla., where her late husband, George, and she moved after George retired as the first executive director of the New England PGA. While George was a “director”, Dee was called by many in the know the “assistant director” for the prominent role she played in the organization. She ran the NEPGA offices, first at Ferncroft, then at the old Colonial in Lynnfield, as well as at tournament sites and at their Wakefield home. Her soft-spoken approach was the perfect balance to her husband’s firm, but friendly authoritative nature.