October 15, 2020 | BY AAGD STAFF
Twins Daryl and Derek Crawford have loved the game of golf since their childhood days of riding Phoenix, Ariz. public buses with their golf clubs in tow. Today, the duo are industry professionals with careers that span 40+ years. They have worked at area golf courses and served as tour representatives for PING and actively participate in area-wide events and programs.
Daryl, the younger by 12 minutes, currently works as a General Manager of Papago Golf Course in Phoenix. Ironically, the course is the current home of the Arizona State University (ASU) golf, where both brothers played under the late Arch Watkins.
The Crawfords (age 63) were both working at Papago Golf Course when they were notified about being selected for the Updegraff Award. After being called into the office, “I thought maybe he was going to fire me,” said Derek. “When he told me about the award, I was amazed. It was so unexpected.”
The Updegraff Award is given annually to a person who, “By his or her actions and accomplishments exemplify the Spirit of the Game.”
Derek serves as general manager at Coldwater Golf Club in the West Valley and, said in a statement to Arizona Golf Association (AGA), “We don’t do what we do for any recognition, but (we are) when honored and humbled.” He continued, saying, “That award speaks to what we have been doing for a long time in service to the golf community, so it is nice to be recognized.”
Daryl and Derek have been strong advocates for golf for decades, giving back through service, hosting amateur golf events, charity fundraisers, and supporting junior golf programs. The brothers both sit on the board of the Bill Dickey Scholarship Association, and, in 2012, even lobbied Congress for National Golf Day. “You work really hard, try to do things the right way and treat people the right way,” Daryl told AGA. “but heck, no, you don’t think about getting an honor like this.”
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The Crawfords have spent their entire careers in the Phoenix area playing, working, and serving the community they love. “Arizona is it for us,” Derek said to azgolf.org. “It’s where we grew up playing junior golf, and it’s where we stayed and have worked in the industry for 40-some years. So to be honored in this state by the AGA, yeah, that’s pretty special.
Playing the game at 13-14 years old, “I think with us being identical twins and African Americans in a sport, that when we were just starting out, didn’t have a lot of that,” said Daryl.
All who have come to know them would agree that there have been no better ambassadors for the game in Arizona, says azgolf.com, nor two people who better represent all that is great about golf. Fittingly, Dr.Updegraff agrees.
