Lee Martin, Golf

                                                               

 Prior to attending Ventura College, Lee Martin was a two-sport standout at Oxnard High School, where he graduated in 1956. In addition to golf, Lee was a member of the Oxnard High baseball team that reached the CIF finals.

 Lee began his career at VC in 1957, playing golf for the legendary coach and Ventura College Hall of Fame honoree, Bob Gowder. Matches were played at the Montalvo Municipal Golf Course, which was only a 9-hole course. In the two years Lee played at V.C., he was an All-Western States Conference selection each season.

 Lee continued his golf career at Los Angles State College (now Cal State University, L.A.) where he participated in the CCCA Golf championships in 1960 and 1961. In 1961, Lee was the individual golf champion, and he was selected to the 12-man All-West Golf Team.  This team defeated the All-East Team, led by Jack Nicklaus of Ohio State.  

 In 1994, Lee played in the U.S. Senior Open at Pinehurst, North Carolina.

 In 1998 and 1999, Lee was the SCPGA Northern Chapter Teacher of the Year. In 2002, Lee was honored as Club Fitter of the Year. Lee's present and past students have 14 wins on the Ladies Professional Golf (LPGA) and PGA Tours.    

 Lee is currently the Director of Instruction at the River Ridge Golf Club in Oxnard.  Some of his credentials include: 44 years as a golf professional, 36 years as a Professional Golf Association (PGA) member, 32 years as a Head Golf Professional at both private and public courses in California and Florida. Since 2002, Lee has been listed annually as one Golf Digest's top 50 California teachers.

 Some of Lee's former pupils who became outstanding golf pros are  Duffy Waldorf, Bobby Clampett, Dan Foresman and Janet Coles. 

 Lee's daughter, Stephanie Martin Barker, was a 2-time All-American Golfer at Oklahoma State in the early 1990's.