HUNTINGTON, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cold Spring Country Club's consummate golf professional, Austin Straub, is retiring at the end of this season after 27 years at the club. He will be honored at the club at a dinner on August 16.
"While we're very happy for Austin," said Michael Langer, the club's Golf Chairman, "it will be a very sad day for the club, no longer having him around to inspire us with his knowledge and love of the game, extraordinary teaching skills and unique personality."
Austin, who turns 70 at the end of June, played on both the PGA and Senior PGA tours where he was known as one of the tour's most brilliant ball strikers. He played in four US Opens (1969 at the Champions Club in Houston, 1973 at Oakmont, 1979 at Inverness and 1972 at Pebble Beach, where he made the cut). Austin also made the cut at the 1979 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills. Austin's best PGA Tour finish was a tie for 22nd at the 1975 Hartford Open, after shooting a first round 8-under par. He played in six Senior PGA Championships and a Senior US Open.
In 1978 Austin was named the Metropolitan PGA Section Player of the Year. Met area titles he has won include the Met PGA Championship, Westchester PGA, Treiber Memorial regular and senior division, four Met Senior Opens, Connecticut Open, Vermont Open, Cooperstown Senior Open and two Assistants Championships.
Other highlights of Austin's illustrious career include 14 holes in one and he holds the course record at Montauk Downs (61) and Cold Spring Country Club (63).
Prior to joining Cold Spring Country Club in 1986, Austin, who was born and raised in Queens, NY, was a club pro at Montauk Downs, Freeport in the Bahamas, Huntington CC, Rolling Hills CC, Ridgeway CC and Pine Hollow CC.