David Nesbit Hunter

1958 - 2015

David Nesbit Hunter

1958 - 2015

David Hunter, PGA Professional and Director of Golf at The Club at Morningside, passed away at home peacefully in his sleep following a two year battle with cancer. David was born in Scotland April 22, 1958 to parents Donald and Jean (Ritchie) Hunter. He grew up in Newcastle, England where at the age of 9 he began playing golf at Gosforth Golf Club, his father's club. David would practice while waiting for his father to drink a pint with buddies in the clubhouse. The practice paid off as David became a Class A member of the British PGA in 1979 and played on the European and South African Tour from 1980-1984. He came to the United States in 1984 to "test" his game and played the mini tours in Florida before becoming First Assistant Golf Professional in 1988 at Columbus Country Club in Columbus, Ohio. He became a Class A member of the American PGA and the Director of Golf at New Albany Country Club in New Albany, Ohio in 1991 where he worked for 15 years and discovered his true calling as an accomplished and beloved teacher of the game. He was Southern Ohio PGA Teacher of the year in 2002-2004 and recognized by Golf Magazine as one of "America's Most Outstanding Teachers" in 2003, recognized by Golf Digest as one of the "Best Teachers in Ohio" 2003-2004 and nominated for National Teacher of the Year in 2005. He was teacher and Coach to several PGA and LPGA Tour players along with nationally ranked collegiate and junior players and a Master Staff member of Callaway Golf Company. In 2006 David journeyed west to the desert of Borrego Springs, California where he became Director of Golf and General Manager at Montesoro Golf and Social Club (aka Rams Hill) thru 2010 and assisted in design and construction of a new Tom Fazio Course. Tough times hit in 2010 and due to lack of financing the course closed and David moved on to teach at Scratch Junior Golf in Poway, CA and at Indian Wells Country Club in Indian Wells, CA before landing what he thought was the perfect job once again as Director of Golf at The Club at Morningside in Rancho Mirage, CA in 2012. Golf was truly David's world. Other than sharing hilarious stories with family and friends, Deep Sea fishing in Cabo, roasted potatoes, vodka on the rocks, his own style of dancing (after the vodka) or a glass of red "to settle me stomach" …there was nothing that brought him more joy than helping others improve their game. David was preceded in death by his father Donald Hunter of Newcastle, England. David is survived by his wife, the great love of his life, Beth of Palm Desert, California; daughter Lauren Hunter of Columbus, Ohio; step children Meredith, Madeline and Michael Divine of New Albany, Ohio; mother, Jean Hunter, sister and brother-in-law Debbie and Phil Coxon, niece Amy Davies (Graham); aunts Ann Ritchie, Adele Hunter (Bill Taylor) all of Newcastle, England; mother and father-in-law David and Judy Winslow of Gahanna, Ohio; cousin Stephen Hunter of Singapore and countless golf students across the world. A Celebration of Life will be held at The Club at Morningside in Rancho Mirage, California on Sunday, January 10th at 4:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers please direct donations to the American Cancer Society.

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