Headline: Bay State Native and Heralded Golf Course Architect Philip Wogan Passes Away at the Age of 91
For Immediate Release: January 19, 2010
Norton, MA — Golf course architect and Manchester-By-The-Sea native Philip Wogan passed away last week at the age of 91 following a brief illness.
Wogan, who worked out of his Topsfield office for many years, was a fellow of the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA).
His connection to New England golf stretches back in time as his father, Eugene F. "Skip" Wogan, was an apprentice to Donald Ross.
The younger Wogan was an expert on environmental issues associated with golf course construction and design, having written a white paper on the subject for the ASGCA. He worked on many courses with George Sargent and Geoffrey Cornish and was known to stress the mantra of making courses enjoyable for every golfer, no matter the skill level.
During his career, Wogan designed more than 40 courses in the New England area and redesigned dozens more. He received many accolades from golf journals, trade magazines, newspapers, and Golf Digest.
Bay State courses attributed to Wogan include: Country Club of Billerica, The Georgetown Club, Halifax Country Club, Maplegate Country Club, Pembroke Country Club and Rockland Golf Course, to name just a few.
Here is a copy of his obituary which appeared in recent publications.
TOPSFIELD: Philip A. Wogan, 91, died peacefully on Friday, January 15, 2010, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers following a brief illness. He was the beloved husband of the late Betty (Guignet) Wogan with whom he shared 54 years of marriage.
Philip was born and raised in Manchester-by-the-sea, MA, and was the son of the late Eugene F. “Skip” Wogan and Priscilla (Fritz) Wogan. After graduating from Story High School in 1936, he attended North Carolina State and Pennsylvania State College, majoring in Forestry.
In 1942, Philip joined the United States Army and, after basic training, was transferred to the Army War College in Washington D.C. and then to Lehigh University as part of the Army Specialized Training Program. Eventually Philip transferred into the 84th Infantry Division in Germany and Belgium. He earned the rank of Sergeant and was a Surgical Technician Third Grade. He was awarded the Bronze Star for service at the Battle of the Bulge.
After the war ended, he returned to marry his sweetheart Betty in January 1946. Philip continued his education at Boston University where he earned a B.S. in Biology and a Masters in Education. From 1947 to 1956, he taught high school Biology in Connecticut and in Reading, MA. After the death of his father in 1957, Philip took over the grounds and golf tournament activities at the Essex County Club in Manchester-by-the-sea until he left in 1985 to devote himself full-time to golf course architecture. During his career, Philip designed over 40 courses in the New England area and redesigned dozens more. He received many accolades from golf journals, trade magazines, newspapers, and Golf Digest. He was also a Fellow with the American Society of Golf Course Architects.
He is survived by his six children, Phyllis Mahalaris and her husband, John of Seabrook, NH, Michael Wogan and his companion, Kathy Hardwick of Beverly, Maureen Prusi of Waterbury, CT, Cheryl Wogan of Topsfield, Siobhan Stevens of Plaistow, NH and Nancy Devlin and her husband, Rory of Salisbury; ten grandchildren, John C. Mahalaris and his wife, Kelly, Daniel Mahalaris and his fiancée, Jessica, Alison Kaye and her companion, Edwin Bousseau, Nathan Prusi and his wife, Andrea, Karen Smyth and her husband, Christopher, Molly Giangarra and her husband, Michael, Peter Genest and his wife, Jill, Samantha Genest, Neal Devlin and Brent Devlin; twelve great-grandchildren, Jack, Kirsten, and Rachel Mahalaris, Chad Bousseau, Nathan Prusi, Cory, Emily and Rylan Smyth, Michael Jr. and Max Philip Giangarra and Dylan and Tyler Genest and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife, Philip was predeceased by his brothers Eugene F. Wogan Jr., Richard Wogan and Lewis Wogan and his sister Shirley Scully.
His funeral services will be held on Saturday in the Rosedale Cemetery, Manchester-by-the-Sea at 10 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Friday in the Grondin Funeral Home, 376 Cabot Street, Beverly from 5 – 8 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Hospice of the North Shore, 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923.