Dec. 2, 2016
Philanthropy and friendships go hand-in-hand.
Call it the connecting the sweet spot of your driver with the ball from the first tee.
San Jose State golf great Roger Maltbie and his lifelong best friend, Dave Larson, another Spartan golf alum, announced the formation of the Larson/Lurie/Maltbie Endowment for the men's golf program at the Spartan Foundation's Forever Blue & Gold Endowment luncheon held at the San Jose Country Club.
"I wanted something with his name and my name being linked together when we're gone. I had an interest in earmarking (a legacy) for the San Jose State men's golf program because of my love for the game, my friendships with these two other guys (Larson and Bob Lurie) and my love for the school," said Maltbie, who was a 1972 All-American golfer for the Spartans.
San Jose Country Club was the perfect setting for the announcement. Larson and Maltbie learned the game of golf there. With golfers like San Jose State three-time All-American John Lotz and legend Ken Venturi frequenting the club, there couldn't be a better way to learn the game through first-hand experiences with these Spartan greats.
"I didn't want to play (college golf) anywhere else," said the San Jose City College transfer and James Lick High School graduate about his decision to be a Spartan.
"You learn what competition is all about, whether playing as an individual or as a team member. You know you have to play your best and do your job. If you don't, you are letting down those who are counting on you," Maltbie said about his college career.
Maltbie turned pro in 1973 and joined the PGA Tour in 1974. Larson was his first caddie on The Tour. In a 21-year career, Roger won five PGA Tour events including the 1985 World Series of Golf. He also won three times on the Senior Tour and captured the 1984 Moroccan Open. Larson, a golfer on Jerry Vroom's 1973-74 San Jose State team, would go on to manage his family's successful Santa Clara County manufacturing businesses before retiring.
A 2015 Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame inductee and the #1 on-course reporter for NBC Sports' golf coverage the last 25 years, Maltbie is well known for supporting the local professional sports teams. That support led to his friendship with Bob Lurie, the former owner of the San Francisco Giants.
"I've got two great friendships from different affiliations. Bob is such a supporter of golf and I'm thrilled to be with him," Maltbie said about the Lurie name on the 48th San Jose State University athletics endowment benefiting future Spartan student-athletes. Bob's wife, Connie Lurie, a San Jose State alumna, has the University's College of Education named in her honor -- the Connie L. Lurie College of Education. The drive to fully fund the Larson/Lurie/Maltbie Endowment for San Jose State men's golf has $75,000 down the center of the first fairway.
Join this threesome all the way to the 18th green and celebrate at the 19th hole by visiting www.sjsuspartans.com and click on DONATE NOW.
Philanthropy and friendships do go hand-in-hand.
Just ask Dave Larson, Bob Lurie and Roger Maltbie.