News

Former Forest Dale Pro Don Dorton Passes Away at 86

Don Dorton, head professional at Forest Dale Golf Course for 27 years, from 1962 through 1989, passed away Wednesday, February 13, at the age of 86. No formal funeral is planned. A viewing will be held Thursday, February 21, 2013, 12:00 noon to 1:15 p.m. at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road, followed at 2:00 p.m. by graveside and burial services at the Lehi City Cemetery.He leaves behind many golfing friends and fellow professionals, including friends Tommy Reese, Dick Kramer, Tommy Sorenson, and Ralph Emery. Current Salt Lake City golf professionals Mack Christensen and Lynn Landgren got their start in golf as his assistants at Forest Dale many years. Christensen succeeded Dorton as head pro at Forest Dale in 1989.The obituary as published in the Salt Lake Tribune is reprinted below:Don Clyde Dorton1926 ~ 2013Don Clyde Dorton passed away peacefully on February 13, 2013, at the age of 86, of natural causes.He was born October 13, 1926 to Leon Clyde and Rula Storrs Dorton in Lehi, Utah. Don attended Lehi High School, where he excelled in football, basketball, and tennis, and was active in the LDS Church. He graduated with honors from Lehi High, and subsequently received an athletic scholarship at the University of Utah in 1944. A very gifted athlete, he lettered in basketball and tennis at the University of Utah in both 1945 and 1946. Following college, Don worked briefly for the Union Pacific Railroad as a telegraph lineman. He then worked as co-owner and manager of Mecca Billiards, and gained a reputation as being one of the best pool players in the area. But the job Don loved most was working and playing at Forest Dale Golf Course in Salt Lake City. Don became an excellent amateur golfer. He won the Intermountain Amateur, after which he turned pro in 1955. He worked as Assistant Golf Professional at the Bend Country Club in Bend, Oregon for one year, then returned to Salt Lake City to work at Bonneville Golf Course. In 1958, he was appointed Greenskeeper at Bonneville, where he worked until 1962, at which time he was hired as Head Golf Professional at Forest Dale. Don loved his stint at Forest Dale, where he spent 27 years as Head Professional managing one of the busiest golf courses in the state. He was a proud member of the Professional Golfers Association of America. Don retired from Forest Dale in 1989 due to ill health, but later recuperated sufficiently to enjoy many cherished years of playing friendly rounds of golf with his good and loyal friends. In 1963, Don married Marianne Morse; they later divorced. They had a son, Don Morse Dorton, who is deceased. Don was also preceded in death by brothers, Robert Dorton, Craig, Dorton, and Brent Dorton; sisters, Betty Jean Lambert and Virginia Dorton. He is survived by Paula Tasselli.A viewing will be held Thursday, February 21, 2013, 12:00 noon to 1:15 p.m. at McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 South Redwood Road, followed at 2:00 p.m. by graveside and burial services at the Lehi City Cemetery. On behalf of Don, we would like to express gratitude to his close friend and caregiver, Margaret Grissetti, as well as special friends and caregivers, Lynda Waagen and Pam Jones.