Co-founder of the Puetz Golf Superstores, quite possibly the first store in the nation to sell discounted golf clubs, Alvin Puetz was born in Seattle on July 1, 1914, to Peter and Anna Puetz, who eventually had a total of ten children. He and some of his brothers began caddying at Seattle Golf Club, where they learned to play the game.

In 1945, Al decided to start a driving range. He convinced his older brother Peter (A.GA.0406.14) to go into the golf business with him, but only part-time at first. Al quit his job at a downtown Seattle meat market to run their new business, with Pete helping out on nights and weekends. Puetz Golf Driving Range, located at Aurora Avenue N. & N. 125th Street, where you could get a bucket of balls for sixty cents, made it possible for the average man to learn to play at a reasonable price. Even so, golf was not nearly as popular as it is today and Al knew they needed an additional way to make money. Back then, nearly all golf equipment was sold only at golf courses, which were very expensive, so he decided they would sell their golf merchandise at a reduced price, again making it more affordable for the average man to play.

He and Pete also made customer service their first priority. In 1958, Al married 36-year-old Ruby, a Seattle native, whose friendly smile greeted customers at the original store until it moved to its current location at 11762 Aurora Avenue North. They later added stores in Bellevue, Tukwila, and Tacoma. PGA golf pro Billy Derickson, who worked with Puetz Golf for more than 20 years, said that Al and Pete, “Were pioneers and leaders in the golf industry.”

Tags: entrepreneur, founder, golf, player, sports, wide world

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