Around 65% of golfers’ strokes happen inside the 100 yards. 80% of those lost to par come from this critical zone. We know this because of Dave Pelz – The star golf data analyst of the 21st century. His regular practice of helping players improve their games through real data was groundbreaking. Though he left the world at the age of 85, professionals still follow his ideas and teaching methods.

Even on the news of his demise, Phil Mickelson has shared his thoughts on X, writing, “I have so many things to say about this incredible man. I owe so much of my success to the many things he taught me, and he lives on as I share those same insights with numerous other golfers. The laughs we shared along the way are what I cherish most, and I look forward to paying.”

Well, not just Mickelson, but Pelz has improved the short game of many golfers, including Vijay Singh, Patrick Reed, Mike Weir, Steve Elkington, Lee Janzen, and more. Now, remembering his substantial contribution to sports, let’s flip through the pages of his career, starting from the first few.

The early life of Dave Pelz

Dave Pelz, born in Indianapolis in 1939, was a scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center before all of this. A physics major turned golf innovator, he transformed wedge play before leaving us. He was a college golfer who played with all the prominent names in the golf world during his middle years. Due to his exceptional game, he got a four-year scholarship at Indiana University, where he majored in physics. Continuing what he learned in college, he pursued his career at NASA. In 1961, he started working at the Goddard Space Flight Center to research the upper atmosphere and planets in the solar system.

But after 10 years, Pelz realized his expertise and interest. For which he started Preceptor Golf in 1976. He spent three years with caddies, tour players, and amateur golfers to store data from thousands of rounds and understand the pattern. He noted the distance, landing position, relation to the target, and many other things to analyze the short game better. The research then helped him get the required knowledge to help others by teaching them the expertise of the short game.

Dave Pelz’s golf teaching and more

With an in-depth analysis of the game, Pelz started coaching PGA Tour players in the short and putting game. Andy North was the first student to win a major championship under the guidance of Dave Pelz. The unique approach of the golfer then got traction as he taught at the “Short Game School” in Austin, Texas. But it didn’t take him long to start, which no one expected in 1996, a World Putting Championship. Surprisingly, the event got 17,000 participants for the grand prize of $250,000. However, it eventually was won by the PGA Tour player Len Mattiace.

His popularity kept increasing as he started featuring on the Golf Channel. From 1995 to 2005, Pelz appeared on thirteen half-hour shows per year. During this tenure, he even wrote some books, one of which was the Pelz’s Short Game Bible, which became a New York Times bestseller in 1999.

Even his patented products like the two and three-ball putters were Callaway Golf, which is now known as the Odyssey Golf Two-Ball putter. Under his name, there are 17 patents and several products. As for his teaching, the list of students who have won majors started in 1978 with Andy North and is currently in 2021 with Phil Mickelson‘s PGA Championship.

Despite the loss, the teacher has laid a strong foundation for the sport. Even with his still available 8 books and 17 patents, the game of golf is on the upward graph. Thanks to the legendary Dave Pelz. Did you know about this golf tutor who changed the game for many professionals? What are your thoughts on his journey? Share with us in the comments below.