Received award in 2000

For the past half century Ernie Schneiter, Jr. has played a prominent role in Utah golf activities and the Utah Golf Association is recognizing his contributions to golf by presenting him with the UGA Gold Club Award.

The award, presented annually to an individual who has made significant achievements or contributions to Utah golf will be presented at the UGA Annual Meeting Wednesday, October 18th, at 6:30 p.m. at the Ogden Golf and Country Club. The dinner meeting is open to the public and the dinner costs are $20 per plate. Reservations can be made at the UGA office, 563-0400.

Previous winners of the award have been George Marks, Steve Dunford, Karl Tucker, Jimmy Thompson, Marion Dunn, Mark Passey, Larry Disera, Garey Chadwick, Lynn Summerhays, Scott Whittaker, Gordon Sperry, and Toni Guest.

Ernie Schneiter, Jr. is the son of Utah Golf Hall of Famer, Ernie Schneiter, Sr. He followed in his father's footsteps and became a successful competitive golfer and teacher and club professional, and golf course owner.

Arlen Peacock, a long time admirer of Ernie and a member of the UGA Board of Directors, said, "I think we are giving him this award more for the way he handles his daily activities than for anything else. He is just such a remarkably friendly person that it is a joy for all golfers to be able to spend a few minutes with him. That is really his trademark," Peacock said.

Of course, to go along with it he has many personal achievements as well. He won the Utah Open in 1968 at the Ogden Golf and Country Club, and won many opens on the Utah-Idaho circuit through the 50s, 60s, and 70s.

Ernie Schneiter Jr. was born in 1930. He married Sue Mattsson in 1955. She recently retired from Nordstrom's where she was a department manager for years. They have four children, Brett, Julie, Jon, and Lori. They are all active in various phases of managing the Schneiter family golf courses.

Ernie graduated from Weber High School in 1948 and turned professional in 1950. He became the head professional at Oquirrh Hills Golf Course in Tooele, was an assistant professional for his father at the Ogden Golf and Country Club, spent two years at Blue Lakes Country Club in Twin Falls, and was the head professional at Ben Lomond Golf Course for 11 years. In 1968, at the passing of his father, he took over ownership of Schneiter's Riverside, which was then a 9-hole course on 40 acres designed by his father. In 1985 Ernie purchased an additional 39 acres and expanded the course to 18-hole and redesigned the original nine. In 1993 he purchased 150 acres in West Point, near Syracuse, and built Schneiter's Bluff Golf Course.

The Schneiter family is one of Utah's greatest golfing families and will remain so for many generations to come.