Billy Martindale

Billy Martindale (born September 10 1938) is a whitetail deer breeder, golf course designer, oil & gas entrepreneur, and American professional golfer.

Martindale was born in Jacksonville, Texas, and graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1957 were he was an All-State Quarterback [http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1077175/2/index.htm] and All-State Golfer. He was also the a National Junior Skeet Shooting Champion in 1948 - 1950 at the ages of 10, 11, and 12.

Prior to his professional golf career Martindale was a very accomplished amateur player. After transferring from Southern Methodist University to Texas A&M University in the middle of his freshman year, Martindale went on to captain the golf team and become an NCAA All-American his junior and senior years, graduating in 1961. After graduation, Martindale served in the Army from 1962 to 1963.

After playing a partial season in 1963, Martindale played full time on the PGA Tour from 1964 to 1968, and was recognized as the PGA's "Sophomore of the Year" in 1965. In his 5 years on tour Martindale had three 2nd place finishes, five 3rd place finishes, and thirty-five Top 25 finishes. His best finish in a major was a tie for 15th in the 1966 PGA Championship at Firestone Country Club.

After the 1968 season, Martindale left the PGA Tour to partner with PGA Tour legend Don January to form JanMart Enterprises, a golf course development and design company. Their business partnership would last until 1979. In their 10 years together Martindale and January developed some 23 courses together, mostly around their home state of Texas. Their most notable course development is Royal Oaks Country Club [http://www.roccdallas.com/club/scripts/section/section.asp?GRP=3098&NS=HIS] in Dallas, Texas, home to notable golfers Randy Smith, Harrison Frazar, Justin Leonard, D.A. Weibring, Lee Trevino, and Colt Knost. During that time Martindale also served as the head coach of the Southern Methodist University golf team from 1970 - 1973 [http://www.athletichistory.com/web/pc-1285-2-coach-billy-martindale.aspx] .

Since 1980 Martindale has ventured into several other successful businesses including casinos, whitetail deer breeding, real estate, and oil & gas. He is the older brother of Tony Award Nominated stage, television, and film actress Margo Martindale.

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