Max Arrowood continues to enjoy life on the links

by Bryan J. Smith

SBJ Staff

Twin Oaks Country Club has become a part of Max Arrowood.

It would also seem that Max Arrowood has become a part of Twin Oaks Country Club.

Since 1960, Arrowood has served in some capacity with Twin Oaks, and his golf experience ranges from caddie to club professional.

Arrowood was raised in Springfield, and his family lived at Hickory Hills Country Club. His father worked as a course superintendent for the club.

As he got older, Arrowood began working for the club and serving as a caddie. The jobs he held at Hickory Hills came naturally to Arrowood.

"I was very interested in golf," Arrowood said. "That's all I'd ever done."

And though he played the sport often, the thought of becoming a touring pro never crossed his mind. Instead, he had more desire to work in a position like club professional. "I like to work with people," Arrowood said.

While at Hickory Hills, Arrowood also had the opportunity to play with another club member, Payne Stewart.

Though he saw the talent that Stewart had, he didn't give any thought to him becoming a future star on the PGA Tour.

"At that age, I didn't think much about it," Arrowood said.

In 1960, Arrowood's father died, and the family had to move out of Hickory Hills. Their next home was at Twin Oaks.

As soon as he arrived, Arrowood began working with Gene Selee, the club pro at Twin Oaks at the time.

Arrowood worked with him until 1965, when he was called into the armed forces. He stayed in the service for three years, then took a job in Kansas City at the Leawood South Golf Course.

For two years, Arrowood worked in Kansas City. But by 1970, he was back at Twin Oaks, working for Selee once again.

The five-year period when he was in the service and in Kansas City was the only time that Arrowood has not worked at Twin Oaks since 1960.

Arrowood worked for Selee until 1979, when Selee retired. That same year, he earned his PGA license and took over the position that he had worked under for so long. He's held that title ever since.

Arrowood looks at the sport he grew up with as a challenging one.

"I guess I gained a lot of respect for the game," Arrowood said. "It's a very intimidating game."

And Springfield is supportive of the sport of golf, as well as the Nike Ozarks Open.

"I think the community has gotten behind it a lot," Arrowood said. "It's just a great golfing town."

Arrowood credits the resurgence of golf in recent years to fathers who teach their children, and to golf professionals who work specifically with kids, teaching them the sport.

As for his home course, Arrowood said that the club is a place golfers can easily enjoy, but players must shoot a good round of golf to be competitive.

"Twin Oaks, in my opinion, is a very playable course," Arrowood said. "They can set it up real hard where you don't play as well."

Regarding this year's PGA Tour, though he throws his support behind Kansas City native Tom Watson, he said he feels no one person will dominate the tour this year, and followers of the sport will see a lot of fresh faces.

"I think the pro tour has a great future," Arrowood said. "These guys are tuned for the pro tour."

And regarding his own future, "Twin Oaks is home for me," Arrowood said. "I look forward to having a few more years here."

PHOTO CAPTION:

Twin Oaks Pro Max Arrowood has made golf his life for more than 38 years. [[In-content Ad]]