Hoffman Passes Away (article)

[Geoffrey_Walsh]

Hoffman covered golf for over 60 years

WESTFIELD, N.J. -- Arthur K. "Red" Hoffman, a golf writer for more than 60 years, has died. He was 86.

Hoffman died Saturday at Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center after a brief illness, his daughter, Lisa Hoffman Apperman, said Tuesday.

"I think it's just disappointing that he didn't make it until August with the PGA being played at Baltusrol," she said. "He really wanted to see Tiger Woods play."

A Minneapolis native, Hoffman was also a skilled player. A seven-handicap, the Plainfield Country Club member had six holes-in-one.

Hoffman played rounds at more than 550 golf courses in the United States and 15 foreign countries. He twice qualified for the Metropolitan Amateur, and once for the New Jersey Amateur.

His first association with the game was as a caddy in Minnesota.

"He found out he could make more money as a caddy than delivering newspapers," his daughter said.

After five years in the military during World War II, Hoffman got a job with the Newark News, covering news and sports, with golf being his primary beat.

After the newspaper folded in 1972, Hoffman spent 11 years as a publicist for golf architect Robert Trent Jones. He also wrote stories for Dorf Features, which appeared in the Star-Ledger of Newark and GolfWorld magazine and worked as a publicist for the New Jersey State Golf Association.

"You could ask Red Hoffman anything about golf and he had the answer, whether it was about a tournament, a player or an architect. Red was an encyclopedia," New York Times columnist Dave Anderson said.

Anderson started to chuckle, noting that most people know about the great golf course designers, Jones, Donald Ross and A.W. Tillinghast.

"Red would know guys like 'Steamshovel' Banks," Anderson said. "He had courses with big, deep bunkers that he made using steam shovels. Only Red would know that."

Hoffman was a member and former president of the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association and a lifetime member and former director of the Golf Writers Association of America.

In addition to his daughter Lisa, Hoffman is survived by another daughter, Loren Kyle Hoffman of Southwick, Mass. He was predeceased by his wife, Erna Augusta Hoffman.

Funeral services will be private.

[Geoffrey_Walsh]

"Red would know guys like 'Steamshovel' Banks," Anderson said. "He had courses with big, deep bunkers that he made using steam shovels. Only Red would know that."

Sometimes we forget just how obscure some of the information we discuss on this board is to the casual fan, much less a experienced sports columnist like Dave Anderson...

[Matt_Ward]

Geoffrey:

I had the pleasure and privilege in knowing Red for many years and as a Jersey guy and fellow golf writer I considered Red not only a friend but a mentor.

Red had a deep baritone voice that could wake even those in a deep coma! He also possessed a strong loyalty to those he knew and while many might consider his initial demeanor as gruff there was always a kind heart under the surface.

Red is one of the last of the old style media guys. I can envision Red with the likes of Walter Winchell and others of that generation. He had total knowledge of golf and could easily remember even the most obscure events and players who he had seen played over the years.

Red will be missed because he is one of the remaining few -- Dan Jenkins is also one of them -- who can tell stories that keep your interest. Red knew tons of stories and the interplay between the facts and his flavoring up of the details made for a real joy to listen.

I shall miss Red because too much of today's writing is really black'n white type stuff -- there's not enough of the slant -- the unique perspectives / angles Red provided.

Sleep well my friend ...

P.S. One last thing -- Red was exceptional in developing a myriad of sources and relationships -- something that very few media people are capable in developing and sustaining.

[Tom_Doak]

Red was a great old guy full of strong opinions.  He would have done well on this board.

When I went to Mr. Jones' office back in 1983 (right after my year overseas), it was Red Hoffman who had more interest in me than anyone else.  I had just seen all those great courses in the UK and he wanted to know all about them.

Every few months now someone passes away and I think how lucky I was that I got around and met so many of these people when I was 20-21 years old.  Not many from my generation got to know them.  Robert Trent Jones was the same way ... he told me stories about his visits with MacKenzie and Tillinghast and Bob Jones, and there weren't many people left by 1980 who had any real interaction with them.