Congratulations to Tom Tetrault

By George Darmody

Fall River- For those who know his contribution to golf and for the membership at the Fall River Country Club, it was never an “if,” but always a “when” Tom Tetrault would be introduced into the New England PGA Golf Hall of Fame.

                 The when became a reality this year when the New England Professional Golf Association Awards Committee of the NEPGA notified Tetrault that he would be the lone inductee into the New England PGA Gold Hall of Fame in October.

                “Tom has impacted almost all of our careers in some way. We would like to thank him for all of his mentoring and service over the years by supporting his induction to the fullest. Congratulations on an honor so richly deserved,” said Rhode Island PGA president Susan Bond.

                Tetrault is the 28^th person elected to the Hall of Fame and will join other club professionals, course architect Donald Ross and players Dana Quigley, Paul Harney and Les Kennedy enshrined by New England’s most knowledgeable golfers.

                Tetrault will be inducted Oct. 27^th at the Oakley Country Club in Watertown at the annual New England PGA awards dinner and will be accompanied by his wife Sue, daughter Christine, an athletic trainer at Hopkinton High School, and son Michael, a Fall River police officer.

                Tetrault first arrived on the Fall River scene as an assistant golf professional in 1972, following a successful “student career” as a captain and leader of the Roger Williams College and St. Raphael’s Academy (Pawtucket, R.I.) golf teams.

                 In 1976, Tetrault was appointed the head gold professional at the Fall River Country Club and its membership has been Tom’s first priority since.

                 Among the major factors in Tetrault’s nomination into the Hall of Fame was his work as a club professional and PGA members, serving on many NEPGA committees and as an officer for the PGA’s New England section and its Rhode Island chapter. (The Fall River Country Club is part of the Rhode Island chapter.)

                Tetrault also served two years as president of the New England Gold Association.

                “It is probably the highest honor you could receive because is it from your peers. Although I have won national awards, it is special because it’s from the people who know what you have done firsthand,” said Tetrault. “And, to be still actively working and receiving this awards is a special honor.”

                Tetrault added: “It also is a tribute to the members of the Fall River Country Club because they have allowed me the time to be active in promoting and bettering our sport throughout the region”

                Tetrault was named the Golf Pro of the Year in 1990 by the NEPGA and has received numerous other honors for his work in the golf community.

                The FRCC pro’s pet projects have always involved the young golfers if the area. He founded the Fall River Junior Open, which is among the top junior events of the summer season and was named the National Junior Golf Promoter of the Year by Golf Digest.

                He also has conducted seminars at  numerous public schools in Fall River, operated free clinics for the Parks Department of Rhode Island and was an active member of the and served on the Board of Directors for the Association of Retarded Citizens.

                 Tetrault also is a two-time winner (1986 and 1989) of the Bill Strausbaugh Club Relations Award, presented for his unselfish service and untiring efforts to assist clubs and PGA members.

                 Tetrault’s dedication to the betterment of golf also was rewarded in 1985 when he received the Horton Smith Award for this leadership in producing educational programs to the New England region.