Hall of Fame Spotlight: Gary Deetscreek

The only two-time All-America golfer in Temple history, Gary Deetscreek (1979-83) participated in three NCAA Championships, making the cut in 1982 and 1983 finishing 65th and 44th respectively.

A two-time all-conference honoree, he placed fourth overall in both 1981 and 1982 while helping the Owls win the conference championship three times. The team captain and Most Valuable Player as a senior, he was also earned All-District honors three times (1981, 82, 83).

Deetscreek fared well against the best competition, placing third in 1981, fifth in 1982, and fourth in 1983 to help Temple win the Eastern Championships all three years. In the 1981, he shot a still standing school record of five-under 67 in the first round of Eastern Championships. The following year he set another school record with a three-under 69 at the 1982 NCAAs.

Overall, he helped Temple win 14 tournaments, post a 37-2 match play record and participate in the NCAA all four years. He later served as a Temple assistant golf coach under John MacDonald for three years.

A 1978 Upper Dublin high graduate, the Hatboro, Pa. native and his wife, Jean, have three grown children, Michael, Christina and Jamie, and four grandkids with a fifth on the way.

Talk about your decision to attend Temple University?

"The only schools I considered going to were St. Joe's and Temple. I had a real good friend, John Truax, who played golf for St. Joe's and another real good friend, Jack Hubbert, who has already been inducted into the Temple Hall of Fame, playing at Temple.

My senior year in high school I was physically real small. I grew to my current height of 5-10 from my late senior year in high school through my first year in college. So, my freshman year Jack Hubbert tried to get John (MacDonald) to let me play on the team, but he said I just did not hit it far enough to be a college golfer.

I did not play my freshman year and went to school for architecture, but I still really wanted to play golf for Temple. In the summer of 1979 I won the Patterson Cup and Jack said to Coach, 'Is he good enough now?'

Coach then gave me a tryout and a scholarship my sophomore year. I was then a scholarship golfer the next four years."

Talk about your time at Temple, as a student as well as a golfer?

"Following my first year, when I made the Temple golf team, I was not able to stay with architecture as a major. I changed majors three times until settling on history. I knew what I wanted to do with my life at an early age, that was to be a golf professional, and stay in the golf business. I valued earning a degree, but it did not really matter what my major field of study was in regard to my future career.

Making the golf team was an honor as Temple was the best team east of Ohio State and north of Virginia.   From what I recall, every single year I was on the team we were ranked in the Top 20.

Playing for Temple meant the world to me.   We had so many guys the same age as me. Kevin Klier, David O'Kelly Steve Tasho, Randy Rolfe.   We all came in together."

You are the only Temple Golfer to earn a place on All-America teams twice. Talk about how you elevated your game at the NCAA Championships and what that means looking back now?

"Making All-America was based on your season, but your play at the NCAA Championships was weighted more heavily. From what Coach told me the reason I made All-America my final two years was because I made the cut at the NCAAs.

My junior year at Pinehurst I played really well. I shot three under the first round and was in fourth place. I specifically remember the pride Coach had and he was on the selection committee for All-American. His pride really stuck with me.

I also recall playing in the Sun Bowl Tournament, which was unbelievable. Underclassmen All-Americans were invited to the tournament that took place in the fall before the Bowl Game. I played with Brandel Chamblee from Texas, who would go on to a PGA Tour career.

As far as becoming an All-American, I remember both times when Coach told me I made it. When he called, it was so unexpected and I was at a loss for words. It was a very humbling experience."

Talk about your post Temple golf career in the PGA and Head Golf Pro at Five Different Clubs?

"Following graduation, I played mini tours in Florida for two years before returning to the area and competing in the local PGA section from 1985 for the next 15-20 years. I won around 20 tournaments during that time.

As far a being a club professional, I just kept moving up in that profession until I landed my final job as the head pro at Five Ponds Golf Club in Warminster. It was the perfect job for me as I was a township employee and loved it.

I have never had a bad time in the golf business from Temple through Five Ponds. I have enjoyed every minute as a PGA member.

In 2014 there was a change in ownership at the club. I ended up working junior camps in the summer and have been in the construction business as well."

What does being inducted into the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame mean to you?

"I was speechless when I got the call.   How many people can say they are in the Hall of Fame of something, so it means a lot. It is awesome looking back on my career now and being that it has been a long time since I played, I appreciate this honor even more."

Temple University Athletics

Hall of Fame Spotlight: Gary Deetscreek

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