Gary Alan Vanover of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, a beloved family man and golf industry professional, left this earth peacefully for the heavenly golf links on June 18th, 2024.
Gary was born in 1952 on Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, Texas to Ruth (Schaefer) Vanover and Architect Leroy Wesley “Van” Vanover. Raised in Atlanta, Georgia, his early life was marked by a dedication to baseball and football, yet it would be golf that he pursued after receiving his first set of clubs from his father at age 15. Gary's career in golf was nothing short of stellar. Within a year of playing, he had risen through the ranks as one of Atlanta's top junior golfers, earning a junior membership to East Lake Golf Club, home to today’s PGA TOUR Championship. His talent and passion led to multiple SEC golf scholarship offers and he chose the University of Tennessee, where he served as Co-Captain and was a four-year Letterman.
Following college graduation, he served as Assistant Professional at Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, New Jersey, and Cherokee Town and Country Club in Atlanta, Georgia, earning his Class A PGA Membership along the way and competing in the Florida and Arizona winter tours.
In 1980, Gary was sought out to be the First Assistant Professional for the opening of the PGA TOUR’s new Headquarters, the Tournament Players Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, which became the host of the Tournament Players Club Championship at Sawgrass.
In 1983, Gary was hired by Acushnet Company (Titleist/FootJoy) to manage territories in New Jersey and then Atlanta, where he met his wife, Missy. He soon had the opportunity to return to Ponte Vedra Beach for the third and final time with his young, growing family. The next 38 years were committed to his FootJoy career, retiring in 2021.
He treasured the relationships he built with so many industry professionals and friends across the east coast. He was widely respected by colleagues and friends alike, not only for his expertise but also for his warmth, work ethic, and outgoing personality with his accounts and club staff. He was honored by FootJoy and the North Florida PGA Section as their Sales Representative of the Year multiple times.
As much as he was dedicated to golf and his career, nothing compared to his dedication to his family. Gary never missed a baseball game in Tyler’s career, from T-Ball through Flagler College, nor did he miss a dance performance or tennis match for his daughter, Ansley. He was his wife’s biggest supporter in all her artistic pursuits. Tyler and Ansley both followed in his footsteps with positions at PGA TOUR Champions and American Express Golf Partnerships respectively. Gary cherished playing golf with his children and in later years, his son-in-law, Sean Orlando. He enjoyed playing courses all over the country, especially his home courses Marsh Landing Country Club and the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club. Gary was absolutely devoted to his dog Polo, worked hard at keeping his yard pristine, and loved his long walks on the beach collecting shark’s teeth.
He is survived by his wife, Mary “Missy” Showfety Vanover, and children, Tyler and Ansley (Sean), stepmother, Sandy Vanover, stepbrother, Jay Whitlock (Jan), mother and father-in-law, Mary and Robert Showfety, brothers and sisters-in-law, Rob Showfety (Kelly), Lynn King (John), Jim Showfety (Amy) and Anne Mulcahy, and his 11 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Leroy Wesley Vanover and Ruth (Schaefer) Harmeyer and stepfather Joseph C. Harmeyer.
A service to celebrate Gary's life will be held at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida on Friday, June 28th at 11:00am, followed by a reception at The Yards at 12:00pm. To honor his love for the game of golf and to give more juniors the opportunity to play the game, Gary requested that donations be made to the North Florida Junior Golf Foundation.
Link to donate: https://nfjg.org/make-a-donation/
