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Mayfield, Stackhouse receive recognition
Published May 29, 2007
SEGUIN — Before W.A. “Lefty” Stackhouse arrived in Seguin in the 1930s, the game of golf wasn't much of a novelty in the city.
But Stackhouse changed that, not only as a golf professional at Starcke Park, but also by helping form golf teams at Texas Lutheran College (now Texas Lutheran University) and Seguin High School, and forming the Texas State Left-handers Golf Association Tournament, which took place at Starcke Park. Stackhouse, who earned his nickname from his days playing minor league baseball, stayed involved in the Seguin golf scene until his death in 1972.
Although Stackhouse died 35 years ago, his legacy lives on. And proof of this came to light last Tuesday when he and former protege Shelley Mayfield were honored with a golf exhibit at the Heritage Museum in Seguin.
While Mayfield was happy to be honored, he was quick to pay homage to his late mentor.
“This night belongs to Lefty,” Mayfield said. “He’s the man who should be getting the recognition. I was just one of his products.”
Mayfield wasn’t Stackhouse’s only “product” present at the exhibit. As many as 10 golf professionals who either worked with or had ties to Stackhouse also were on hand.
Stackhouse had a brief stint in minor league baseball before injuries forced him to retire.
“Golf was pretty much the only sport Dad could play [following the injury],” said Wayne Stackhouse, Lefty’s son. “He never talked much about playing baseball, or the injury.
“Dad was responsible for putting Seguin on the golf map, and it shows with how many golf professionals have roots tracing back to him.”
According to Mayfield and Wayne Stackhouse, there are 40 golf professionals who possess Seguin ties.
After a brief stint at Starcke Park, Stackhouse took a job at Landa Park Golf Course in New Braunfels. Following his time at Landa Park, Stackhouse served as a golf professional at Mineral Wells Country Club, Robstown Country Club and Casa Blanca Country Club in Laredo before returning to Starcke Park.
While in Seguin, Stackhouse drew such names as Ben Crenshaw and Jimmy Demerrit to play at Starcke Park.
It was during his second stint in Seguin that he coached the Seguin High School golf team and led them to six state championships. One of his players was Mayfield.
Mayfield also participated in football, basketball and track and field as a Matador. While Mayfield became well-known for his time as a golf professional, he made a name for himself on the gridiron in high school.
“I was the first Seguin football player in history to wear a nose guard,” Mayfield said. “I broke my nose twice while playing football.”
Mayfield played halfback in football, was a guard in basketball and participated in the 1,600-meter run in track and field. But his main passion was golf — the game he began playing when he was 14 years old.
“I was better in golf than I was in the other sports, and I never had the ambition to play any other sport after high school,” he said.
Mayfield became a golf professional at the age of 24, and landed his first job at Winged Foot Golf Club in New York, where he worked for two years under Claude Harmon. Harmon and Mayfield also worked together at the Seminole Golf Club in Florida for one year.
Mayfield became the head professional at the Rockaway Hunting Club in Cedar Hurst, NY, where he served from 1950-52. It was during this time that Mayfield joined the PGA tour, and fared well in several tournaments. His tournament victories include the 1954 San Francisco Open, the 1955 Thunderbird Classic in Phoenix and the 1956 Baton Rouge Open. Mayfield also placed eighth in the 1956 Masters.
Also in 1955, Mayfield became a professional at the exclusive Meadowbrook Golf and Polo Club in Long Island, NY. He stayed there until 1963, when he became the head professional at Brook Hollow Country Club in Dallas.
Mayfield was the club's head professional until 1982 when he retired. He was given a lifetime membership to Brook Hollow after his retirement.
Mayfield also worked with golf architect Dick Wilson to help design several golf courses, including the back-nine holes on Starcke Park. Other courses designed by Mayfield included Doral Country Club in Florida, Bay Hill Golf Club in California and La Costa Country Club in California.
“It was an interesting time,” Mayfield said. “I was just trying to make a living, and I never imagined I would do all these things.”
Mayfield now resides in Carrizo Springs.
The event featured speeches from Mayfield and Wayne Stackhouse before the exhibit was unveiled.
The exhibit contains memorabilia from Stackhouse and Mayfield’s playing days.
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