Few people on this planet have played as much golf as Dana Quigley has the last half-century.
From 1997 to 2005, the Juno Beach, Florida, resident played in 278 consecutive events he was eligible for on the PGA Tour Champions, one of the safest records in sports. To repeat: Quigley didn’t skip an event for almost a decade — when he was in his 50s.
And when the ironman wasn’t playing for money, Quigley would tee it up every day at Bear Lakes Country Club, where he had a longtime home off the 15th fairway. Usually, it was 36 holes a day.
“I would say Dana has played a round of golf almost every day of his life since he was 20,” said Brett Quigley, Dana’s nephew, who also is a professional golfer.
But nobody can play golf in Palm Beach County – at least not legally – since Palm Beach County Mayor Dave Kerner announced courses would close March 26 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
For Dana Quigley, no golf is akin to no food or water. The 72-year-old needed the sport to overcome alcoholism and he relied on the game again when his son, Devon, almost died from a car accident in 2011.
It’s almost a good thing, then, that Quigley underwent heart surgery on March 9, forcing him to take time off from the game. He had an operation after his doctor noticed a heart murmur during a routine physical.
He couldn’t play golf now if he wanted to.
“That would have killed me,” Quigley said of not being able to play golf if he was healthy. “I don’t know how I would have done that. I still love the game and still have a passion for the game. I hope to start playing golf again in May – if we are allowed to.”
“I wouldn’t be playing golf now for the same reason I stopped drinking – I didn’t want to hurt some innocent family (by driving drunk). You have to have compassion for others.”
— Dana Quigley
While some of his friends continue to play by traveling to private courses in Martin County or courses in St. Lucie County, where golf is still allowed if the players practice social distancing, Quigley makes it clear he would not be playing golf these days.
The risk is not worth the reward, to use a golf term.
“I respect the pandemic a lot more than I do not playing golf,” Quigley said. “This is really a serious deal. We should all be doing our part not to infect anyone else. I worry about my family and I worry about people my age who are more vulnerable.
“I wouldn’t be playing golf now for the same reason I stopped drinking – I didn’t want to hurt some innocent family (by driving drunk). You have to have compassion for others.”
Brett Quigley, who won his second start on the PGA Tour Champions in February after battling injuries for seven years, said he’s happy his uncle doesn’t have the temptation to play golf.
“The virus shut down the world, and he doesn’t even have an option,” Brett said. “That’s the greatest blessing of all. I know he would push it. It has to be absolutely eating him up inside that he can’t be playing.”
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For Dana Quigley, the only thing as bad as not playing golf is not being able to watch live golf on TV, especially with this being Masters week (though the Masters has been postponed until November).
He can’t watch the Masters. He can’t watch his buddies (and Brett) playing on the PGA Tour Champions. He can’t watch European golf in the mornings.
He can’t watch any golf where the winner can’t be googled.
Quigley said he had no interest in watching, say, ESPN’s replay of Jack Nicklaus’ memorable victory at the 1986 Masters or any other taped events from Augusta National this week.
“Not being able to watch live golf on TV really hurts,” Quigley said. “I know the outcome and I try not to live in the past. It was great entertainment at the time, but it doesn’t do much for me now.”
Quigley’s story is one of the more unique ones in golf. He was unsuccessful in his attempt to play on the PGA Tour, instead working as a PGA Professional in New England.
Turning 50 opened a new world for him on the PGA Tour Champions, where he won 11 tournaments and earned more than $16 million. In 2005, he won the Jack Nicklaus Award as the Player of the Year on the 50-and-older circuit. At 58, he was the oldest winner until Boca Raton resident Bernhard Langer broke that mark.
Dana remains in close contact with his son, Devon, who lives in Rhode Island with his mom and sister. Dana writes a spiritual update on his son every day on a Caring Bridge page.
Dana is taking 4-mile daily walks with his wife, Angie, as he recovers from his recent surgery. Does he think about golf?
“Every single day,” Dana said. “At least I’m not dreaming about it anymore.”
He has targeted May as a return to golf – if the golf courses have re-opened.
“I can’t stand the thought that I’m going to come back as an old man and I’m going to have to figure out how to score popping it 200 yards down the middle,” he said.
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