Johnny Pott
MGA Hall of Fame 2020
Johnny Pott was born November 6, 1935 and grew up as a youngster in Louisiana and moved to Brookhaven, MS when his father Ben Pott became the Golf Professional at the Brookhaven Golf Club. The family moved to Gloster, MS where Ben Pott was the Golf Professional at the Pine Hills Golf Club. Johnny graduated from Gloster High School then attended Louisiana State University on a Golf scholarship from 1952-1956 where he was Medalist and Captain of the 1955 NCAA Golf Championship team. Pott became a PGA Tour member in 1956 and won five times on the PGA Tour in the 1960’s including the ’60 Dallas Open, ’60 West Palm Beach Open, ’62 Waco Turner Open, ’63 American Golf Classic and ’68 Bing Crosby National Pro – Am. Additionally Pott had seventeen second place finishes during his career playing in the ‘60’s. Pott was a member of three winning Ryder Cup teams in ’63,’65’ and ’67. During Pott’s golf playing career, he and his wife of 61 years, Mary Rose Kettering from Biloxi, MS lived in Ocean Springs, at the Gulf Hills Resort where Ben Pott was the PGA Golf Professional. Pott’s children, Jay, Susanna, Melissa and Laurie were born in the Biloxi Hospital. Pott ended his PGA Tour days in 1972. He then began a career of Golf Course development and after completing the construction and setup of the Marsh Island Golf Club in Ocean Springs, MS. and the course at Diamondhead, MS., Pott became a member of the Landmark Land Company Golf team. His first assignment was Belle Terre Golf Club in LaPlace, LA. Pott then moved to Carmel, CA where he oversaw the construction and operations of the Carmel Valley Ranch golf club and Resort. Pott’s time with Landmark Land Company was involved with fifty golf courses in some capacity. Pott and fellow PGA Tour player, Dave Marr, 1965 PGA Champion, are credited with creating “Corporate Golf Outings” which Pott participated in after the PGA Tour. Pott was on the PGA Tour Committee that developed the PGA Tour television programing and packaging. Pott continues to maintain his membership in the PGA of America and PGA Tour. Pott is retired from competitive golf and golf course development and resides with his wife, Mary Rose in Monterey, CA. near the site of his ’68 Bing Crosby win at Pebble Beach, CA.