Albert J. Fenstomocher "AL"

Albert John Fenstomocher “Al”, 78 of Temple Hills, MD passed on August 10, 2017. Al was born in Sykesville, Pennsylvania on June 22, 1939 to Myrl and Cleo Fenstomocher. He grew up in Akron, Ohio and began playing golf at the age of 10. Al attended St. Vincent/St. Mary, a private Catholic high school, on a football scholarship. He excelled in sports and was dubbed “the Golden Arm” because of his strong and accurate passing ability. Al worked during the summer months of high school at St. Mary’s Country Club in Pennsylvania, where his Uncle Joe was a golf professional. Joe showed him the ins and outs while working at various courses in Akron including a stint as a caddy at Firestone Country Club. After high school, he attended Akron University for two years and then went on to graduate from American University with a bachelor’s degree in Police Administration. Al continued to play golf while serving in the Marine Corps from 1957 through 1965 (active and reserve), and in 1963 joined the Washington-Metropolitan Police Force. In 1970, with friend and fellow police officer Bob Dennell, he started the annual HEROES (Honor Every Responsible Officer’s Exemplary Service) Golf Tournament. This charitable organization supports the education of widows/widowers/children of police officers slain in the line of duty. Al served as the golf coordinator for this tournament for 25 years. After 13 years of dedicated service, Al was medically retired from injuries received while serving on the police force. It was then that he decided to pursue a career in the golf industry. Al’s first golf-related job was in 1976 when he worked for Larry Gray at Brandywine Country Club in Maryland. When Larry left, Al took over as Head Golf Professional for two years. In 1977. He entered the PGA Apprentice Program while working at Oxon Run Golf Course in Washington, DC. Al’s active participation in the Section’s junior golf programs began when he was an apprentice. He was also a regular instructor in the Paul Berry’s Neediest Kids clinics, the Kemper Open Junior Clinic, and had taught golf in Maryland’s public elementary and high schools. He helped conduct numerous junior camps and clinics throughout the Section, and at the University of North Carolina Golf Camp. Continually demonstrating selfless service, Al had also ran golf schools for fellow professionals. He was elected to PGA membership in 1980. At that time he was working under Phil Hutton, Head PGA Professional at Henson Creek Golf Course. In 1981, Al accepted a position at Hogan Driving Range as an instructor and Assistant PGA Professional under Head PGA Professional Larry Hogan. In 1983, he accepted a position as Head PGA Professional at the Naval Ordnance Station Golf Club in Indian Head, Maryland. In 1984, Al returned to Hogan Driving Range where he worked until in closed in 1986. From 1986 to 1992 he was an Assistant PGA professional at various facilities, including East Potomac Golf Course, Lake Arbor Golf Course, Henson Creek Golf Course, and Port America Country Club (also known as Tantallon). Al also had his own golf club repair business during this time. In 1992, he accepted an assistant’s position at Fort Belvoir Golf Facility and in 1994 was elevated to Head PGA Professional at the South facility where he worked until 2003. Since that time, Al had also been the Assistant PGA Professional and junior golf leader at Mount Vernon Country Club. Al’s patience and his ability to make instruction entertaining for all ages were considered his personal trademarks by many of his peers. The combination of his love of golf and his genuine interest in people set the stage for positive learning experiences about the fundamentals of the game. It was truly heartwarming to observe Al teach and see the incredible influence he had with the junior golfers at the many clinics in which he participated. From their exposure to his image as a PGA Professional, his strong leadership, and his ability to make learning fun, Al’s protégés had a desire to advance their knowledge and reach for higher levels in the industry. Being very conscientious of his responsibility to his profession and to continuously develop and improve his leadership skills, Al welcomed every opportunity to expand his professional development. His quest for self-improvement was demonstrated by him being named to the PGA’s prestigious President’s Society in 1991. PGA President’s Society members are recognized by their peers for their high ideals and standards of service. Only ten percent of all PGA members nationwide achieved this select honor in 1991. In 1998, because of Al’s loyal service and enthusiastic contributions to the MAPGA, Section President Chuck Bassler, PGA selected Al as his President’s Award recipient. Since 2003, Al had taken over the Dennis O’Leary Class for Kids Program. He traveled all over the section picking up old clubs, cutting them down, and providing them to facilities for their junior programs. In May 2008, Al was honored with the Chairman’s Award (for volunteerism) from the Paul Berry Neediest Kids Foundation for over 21 years of helping the kids. The MAPGA salutes Al Fenstomocher for his dedication, commitment, and perseverance toward excellence! Loving husband of Barbara Newman-Fenstomocher; devoted father of Ricky Fenstomocher (Cindy) of Huntington, MD, Kristin Rodriguez-Olstrom (Michael) of Glen Ridge, NJ, Erin Fenstomocher of Lake Ridge, VA and Todd Newman (Kim) of Monroe, LA; dear brother of Nancy Barnhart of Canton, OH; beloved grandfather of Kaitlyn Holesworth, Cooper Fenstomocher and Cole Fenstomocher all of Huntington, MD, Maddie Rodriguez and Ruben Rodriguez of Glen Ridge, NJ, Christopher Peterson and Jewel McGirt of Lakeridge, VA, Kelly and Ty Newman of Monroe, LA; great-grandfather of Alijah Peterson of Lakeridge, VA; uncle of Bob Sax and David Sax of Akron, OH, Denise Lorraine of Satellite Beach, FL, and Melissa Simpson of Charlotte Hall, MD. Al was predeceased by his grandsons, Reagan Newman and his sister Barbara Fenstomocher. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Al’s memory to the American Cancer Society, PO BOX 42040, Oklahoma City, OK 73123; Wounded Warrior Project, PO BOX 758517, Topeka, KS, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 8908 Old Branch Ave, Clinton, MD 20735 and The First Tee, 425 South Legacy Trail, St. Augustine, FL 32092. Or www.thefirsttee.org To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Albert J. Fenstomocher "AL" please visit our Sympathy Store.