Now, truth is many of us wondered if Gary Koch (rhymes with “Coke”) could match up with the talent in that one-time cradle of golf that was producing junior stars out at Temple Terrace Golf Course with an Indian tutor-overseer named LeCompte in the later Sixties.

Gary could putt lights out, but he did not seem to have all the shots some of the others did. Another golfer there in his class was long-ball man Eddie Pearce. And another pounder, Andy Bean, with his flame hair and repeated “Goshdangits!”.

Home for a few days, Gary was here and while here, we visited.

Gary Koch was born in Louisiana. He moved from there to Sarasota, where his dad, an engineer, received an appointment to work on the University of South Florida building program in Tampa, and brought Gary with him. Gary was a prodigious young golfer and his Dad immediately put him in the Temple Terrace program which Ted LeCompte was trying to build.

Their program became a sensational success in time, with Dr. Ralph Tennant as the coach. They, at King High, became recognized as the best high school golf team in America with members including Koch, Pierce, Brian Hawke, and Phil Reid. In time, Koch would go to the University of Florida on a golf scholarship, along with Andy Bean, Woody Blackburn, Andy North and Phil Hancock.

It was into such a learning experience that Mr. Koch brought his son to learn even more than he did in time, the team would become the national golf champions as Gators. At King High, Hawke, Reid, Pierce and Koch would win the NCAA golf championship.

“Those alone were the most favorite years at Florida,” said Koch. “I’ll not forget the time at the Masters when you were coming into the tournament and you saw Coach Conrad Rehling outside the gates without a ticket. You told him to stand still and you went back and got Bob Murphy, another Gator playing the tournament to lend you his player badge.

“You took it, went back to the gates, put the pass on Rehling, so he could watch a half a dozen of his players competing in the Master’s tournament. And by the way, Murphy, you and I, went into downtown Augusta, found a pool hall, where Murphy could crack it for hours, that is how he learned to putt, by shooting pool, a sport he loved in Bartow, Florida.”

Also, in one of these tournaments, I persuaded Will Grimsley, of the Associated Press, he might want to use Eddie and Gary as runners of scores to central AP Desk in the tournament. That got Koch and Pierce free rein of the tournament and they stayed in the loft of the Augusta clubhouse.

When Koch graduated from college, he began a cycle that became so productive for him. He would turn professional and win tournaments on the regular tour and other major competitions. Along the way, before turning pro, he won the U. S. Amateur Championship, later he won a couple on the Champions tour.

At the same time, he began to address the climaxing part of his career. He turned to announcing and he has become very successful. He is now on the regular NBC team, that is headed by Johnnie Miller and he is complimented by Bob Murphy, good friend, and Dottie Peppers.

“I know I have not always been good as an announcer,” said Koch.

“Even you told me once, I had to loosen up. I did. I have. We were told that what the network wanted out of us was a locker room conversation describing the tournament and we had done that.

“Of the networks, CBS has the Masters and the PGA. CBS now has the rights to the NCAA Championships. We have the Players Championship in Jacksonville, the Ryder Cup and the President’s Cup. We have a good broadcast team. Johnnie Miller is our star, and we cater to him. He sets all the tones.” Gary says.

Gary is clearly at home now in the booth and behind the mike. But he will not leave Tampa. He lives as he has for years in south Tampa with his wife, Donna, an attorney and children.

“We have it all here now, golf courses, golf tournaments, the best airport in the world and the friendly atmosphere that prevails in Florida. Why should I leave?” said Koch.