Jeff McMinn McAndrew

1939 - 2021

Jeff McMinn McAndrew Jeff McAndrew arrived at Indian Valley Golf Club in 1964 and became the Golf Professional, General Manager, instigator of good-natured ribbing and face of the club. As much a fixture at Indian Valley as any of its 18 holes or its hilltop clubhouse above Stafford Lake. He was proud of the work and time he put into Indian Valley, proud of the blue-collar roots of the place, proud of the family atmosphere that kept employees working there for decades. "A working man's club," he'd call it. Jeff died on January 1st of complications from Covid-19. He was 81. Jeff McAndrew was born on August 19, 1939 to Adrian and Christine McAndrew in Stamford, Texas. His family, which now included a younger sister, Mary, who adored him, all moved to California when Jeff was young and settled in Merced. It is where he met Linda Lee Barlow, a girl a year younger who thought Jeff McAndrew was too popular to date someone like her. Those that knew Jeff soon realized that he was the lucky one. Jeff, the son of an accountant, was introduced to golf as a boy, working at Merced Golf and Country Club for golf professional Lyle Wehrman, who lived across the street from Jeff's family. First swinging a club at age 10, Jeff took to the game quickly. He led a stellar Merced High team that featured five future professional golfers and twice beat the squad from Fresno State. He sandwiched two years of winning matches at the College of the Sequoias around a two-year stint in the Army. While joking that he was a "Professional Athlete," Jeff was eternally proud of his association with the P.G.A. He was part of the Ben Hogan Staff for many years, attending workshops at company headquarters in Texas. A favorite memory was of Ben Hogan, famous for his beautiful swing, complimenting Jeff on his form. Jeff played from a red, white and blue Hogan bag, and was particular about his golf attire, especially in the colorful 1970s - pressed collared shirts, snug polyester pants and polished white FootJoys. He had one sartorial rule for golf: never go to the first tee with dirty shoes. Jeff and his family enjoyed road trips, always accompanied by a cooler, a bag of sunflower seeds, and Daisy the family dog. His kids learned not to sit behind their father as sunflower shells thrown out the driver's window returned back inside the rear window. The McAndrews enjoyed day trips to old classic restaurants, with close friends like Arlene and Fermin, Flora and Leroy, Bob and Ena, Helen and Chuck, most always with everyone's kids in tow. Most lunches began with a pre-meal beverage. "You never want to eat on an empty stomach," Jeff would say. Jeff was well-liked by the staff and considered his co-workers to be family. He was proud of the many kids who grew up working at the club and became hard working adults of high character. Junior Golf was very important to Jeff too. He was a co-founder of both the Marin County Junior Golf Championship and the Indian Valley Junior Golf Foundation. He donated not only money, but literally thousands of rounds to help the kids become involved in what he thought was a great game. A game of honor and dignity. Even on Monday mornings, his one day off, Jeff would spend a couple of hours at Indian Valley completing the weeks bookkeeping. But Mondays were most importantly the day that he and Linda reserved for a lunch date. Their time together grew in their later years, through long car rides on country roads. They contracted the coronavirus together. She made it through. He did not. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Linda (Lee Barlow) McAndrew; a daughter, Kelly McAndrew (Kim Fink); and a son, Jeffy McAndrew (Kristen McAndrew), both of Novato; and three grandsons he was so proud of: Casey, Beau and Chase. He is also survived by a sister, Mary Snow Roach, of Texas; nephews Scott, Mark, Mike and Ty; and nieces Jennifer and Kathy. The family asks that donations in Jeff McAndrew's name be made to the Northern California Alzheimer's Association, to honor his wife and countless others. A BBQ will be held later this year to raise a toast in celebration of Jeff.