In Memoriam: Golfer Billy Casper, Namesake of Vienna Company

PHOTO: Billy Casper passed away Saturday at his home in Utah. Photo courtesy of PGA

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Pro golfer Billy Casper, the namesake of Vienna-headquartered Billy Casper Golf has died, according to media reports.

The Vienna company bearing his name manages more than 140 golf courses, country clubs and resorts across the United States. Casper founded the company in 1989 with now-CEO Peter Hill and Robert Morris.

The 83-year old golf legend passed away after suffering a heart attack at home on Saturday in Springville, Utah, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. He grew up in Chula Vista, Calif. and became a Hall of Famer who won two U.S. Opens and a Masters, the newspaper reported. He won 51 PGA Tour events and played on eight U.S. Ryder Cup teams.

The company is noting Casper’s death, on their Web site:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF OUR BELOVED BILLY CASPER

Billy Casper is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Shirley Franklin Casper, 11 children, six of whom are adopted, and 71 grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Born William Earl Casper, Jr. on June 24, 1931 in San Diego to Billy and Isabelle Florence Casper, he started playing golf at age four and had to choose between his talent on the links and the baseball diamond.

Focusing on golf, Casper attended the University of Notre Dame on a golf scholarship in 1950. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving until 1955 and playing on its golf team.

A two-time U.S. Open winner (Winged Foot, 1959; Olympic Club, 1966) and Masters champion (1970), Casper’s PGA TOUR record is one of the most prolific. His 51 victories are surpassed by only a select few and he won at least one tournament in 16 consecutive years (1956-1971). Casper won nine times on the Senior PGA TOUR, including the U.S. Senior Open (Hazeltine, 1983). Read More.