Born in Riceville, Iowa in 1906 Ted Lockie was an Iowa farmer who became a quiet legend as a golf course architect, professional and golf equipment inventor. His golf career did not start until the late 1940s when he built the first driving range in the Quad Cities with Jack Fleck. He went on to build and/or renovate nearly 50 golf courses throughout the Midwest.

As an inventor Lockie created many devices to make the work at golf courses and driving ranges easier and more efficient. One of his most notable inventions was the “Lockie Rubber Tired Range Picker” which revolutionized the way range balls were gathered and is now known as the “Wittek Picker”. He also worked with Gary Adams and TaylorMade on their early metal wood designs. Some people credit Lockie with inventing the technique known as “splining” for golf club shafts so that the performance of a shaft could be optimized.

Lockie retired and moved to Florida in 1972 at the age of 66, but his curiosity and inventiveness continued. When Ted turned 80 he opened a golf club repair and assembly shop that he ran until he passed away in 1998.

In his letter supporting the nomination of Ted Lockie, Robert Wittek, Sr. of the Wittek Golf Supply Company in Chicago said: “He touched most every aspect of golf, from manufacturing golf equipment to building golf courses. Not to mention, he was one heck of a player. His love of and commitment to golf allowed him to be a major contributor to the well-being of the game.”

• Built first driving range in the Quad Cities with Jack Fleck
• Built or renovated nearly 50 golf courses throughout the Midwest
• Invented what is now known as the Wittek Picker which revolutionized the way range balls are picked up
• Worked with Gary Adams and TaylorMade on early metal wood designs
• Generally credited with inventing technique known as “splining” for optimizing golf shaft performance