Phillips Babcock Honored At The Celebration Of Golf

The presentation of the NJSGA Honey Gantner Award to the late Phillips Babcock, former New Jersey State Golf Association treasurer and long-time supporter of the NJSGA Caddie Scholarship Foundation, was a featured during the 13th Annual Celebration of Golf on Thursday, November 3, at Liberty House in Jersey City. Present to accept the award on behalf of their father were John and Richard Babcock.

View the video of the 2016 Honey Gantner Award Winner

"Golf and the NJSGA were very dear to his heart," said his son, John. "I remember he was there with the NJSGA for a lot of the years--more than 20 years--volunteering as a rules official, scorekeeper, board member and treasurer.

"Dad loved golf, loved the New Jersey State Golf Association, and loved being a part of that organization. Through him I'm now the Caddie Scholarship Foundation representative for the Morris County Golf Club. You might say his passion transferred down a generation to myself," he added.

Mr. Babcock, a member of Rockaway River Country Club since 1982, served as an NJSGA board member, treasurer, rules official and NJSGA Caddie Scholarship Foundation supporter and club representative. Mr. Babcock is the fifth winner of the award which began in 2012 with a presentation to Honey Gantner herself. Other recipients include Vic Bacile (2013), Bob Krueger (2014) and Bernie Samons (2015).

The NJSGA’s Honey Gantner Award is the first such award in the history of the NJSGA to be named after an individual, the late Honey Gantner of North Jersey Country Club and is presented each year in her honor at the NJSGA Annual Meeting to an outstanding individual who has served the NJSGA on a volunteer basis.

Phillips Babcock passed away this year on August 20 at age 88. In lieu of flowers, donations were made in his memory to the NJSGA Caddie Scholarship Foundation.