Employee Spotlight: Willie Toney

WILLIE TONEY

by Christine U’Ren photo by Gene Choi, Contributing Member

As part of the team at the Golf Shop, Assistant Head Golf Professional Willie Toney gets to work every day with the sport he has loved since he was a kid. A committed family man, he’s also dedicated to ensuring that OC members receive optimal experiences on the Club’s three courses.

Q: Can you tell us more about your start? A: I started playing golf at age 10, at the Bing Maloney municipal golf course in Sacramento where I grew up. I began playing competitively at 13, and won a scholarship to play collegiate golf at Prairie View A&M, down in Texas.

Q: Do you still play competitively? A: I sure do. I’ve continued now for over 40 years. As of 2015, I went to the PGA Tour Champions Q-School [the annual qualifying tournaments for golfers 50 and over]. This year, unfortunately, it was canceled due to COVID-19. I will keep in shape, and do it next year. Golf is something you can do from the time you can stand up and hit a golf ball until you are literally into your 90s. OC member Judge Robertson, who is 83, plays every weekend. Bill Bush, 87, walks and plays. So you can do this until you drop.

Q: Do you have any favorite memories of OC golfing events? A: When I got to The Olympic Club, I didn’t think I would still be here 15 years later. But the 2007 U.S. Amateur came, and then they announced we would host the 2012 U.S. Open and I thought “I need to stay.” And ’12 was phenomenal! Huge, huge experience.

Q: What do you do outside of work? A: Besides golf, just spending time with my family. I have four kids. We do everything from swimming to running to gaming on Xbox Live—it’s hilarious. 