Golf Canada joins the Canadian golf community in extending our deepest respect and condolences to the family and friends of Canadian Golf Hall of Fame honoured member Bob Panasik of Windsor, Ont. on the news of his unexpected passing December 27 following complications from heart surgery in late November.
Panasik was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2005 following an outstanding career across amateur, professional, and international golf. He was also inducted into the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame in 2005, the PGA of Canada Hall of Fame in 2014 and was a charter class inductee into the PGA of Ontario Hall of Fame in 2020.
Born October 20, 1941 (82), Panasik’s celebrated competitive career spanned more than 50 years, with bookend victories at the 1955 Ontario Bantam Championship through to the PGA of Canada Super Senior title in 2003. Among his many accomplishments are wins at the 1958 Canadian Junior, 1958 and 1960 Ontario Junior, 1959 Ontario Amateur, two PGA of Canada Championships, two PGA of Canada Club Professional Championships, and three PGA of Canada Senior Championships along with 12 provincial titles.
Panasik played his way (through qualifying) into nine US Opens, played on three Canadian World Cup Teams, and competed in 14 Canadian Open Championships including 1958 where he finished T64 and became the youngest player to make the cut in a regular PGA TOUR event (15 years, 8 months), a record that stood for 56 years.
Fellow Canadian Golf Hall of Fame member Lorne Rubenstein celebrated ‘Panny’ with a fitting tribute to one of Canadian golf’s great competitors and storytellers.
Panasik is survived by his daughter Melissa and brother Nick along with nephews, nieces, and countless friends across the Canadian and international golf community.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, January 13, 2024 from 1pm to 4pm at the Beach Grove Golf and Country Club in Tecumseh, Ont. Those wishing to make a donation in Bob’s memory, are asked to consider the Heart and Stroke Foundation.