Billy Eastep

Billy was born on May 18, 1952 to Tut and Roberta Eastep in Arab, Alabama. He has a sister, Kay Mardis, a retired Home Economics teacher. Billy was a good athlete growing up in Arab. He was a two-year starter on the AHS basketball team, alongside 2011 Marshall County Sports Hall of Fame inductee Ronald King. However, his real strength was in golf, a sport that many of us play, but few master. Billy started playing golf at the tender age of eight in 1960 at the old Val Monte Golf Course in Guntersville. Three years later, the Twin Lakes Golf Course opened in Arab and he spent many hours there developing his game. At Arab High, Billy won his first of three consecutive Marshall County Championships in 1968 at the age of 16. He credits his dad for helping him get started in golf and teaching him the game. Billy also credits his good friend and golfing buddy, Ed Reed, nephew of Marshall County Sports Hall of Fame inductees Ralph, Frank and John Neil Reed. As a High School Junior in 1969, Billy won the High School Regional Championship and was second in the state. He accepted a golf scholarship to Marion Institute and became the anchor of the team, which placed sixth and fourth respectively in the National Junior College Championships in 1971 and 72. He was selected to the All Region Team in 1971 and 72. After two years at Marion, Billy received a scholarship to play golf on the University of Alabama Golf Team. After leaving the Capstone, Billy became a Club Professional at Goose Pond Colony in Scottsboro. After serving a five-year apprenticeship, he became a PGA Member in 1974. Even though Billy is only 5 feet 8 inches and 160 pounds, he has always been known for his long drives. At the 1976 National Long Driving Contest, Billy finished tenth and in 1978 he finished in sixth place. He joined the PGA Tour in 1980 and toured for one year before returning as a Club Professional and teaching. Billy won the Alabama PGA Championship in 1984, The President's Cup Tournament in 1995 and the Chesley Oaks Senior Open in 2006. At one time, Eastep held course records at Goose Pond (62), Twin Lakes (63) and Arab Country Club (63). Billy's greatest accomplishments have come as a teaching professional. He has been the Club Professional at several clubs, including Goose Pond in Scottsboro, Pine Crest in Birmingham and Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery. Since 1990, Eastep has served as the Head Professional at Madison Golf Center. He has also taught golf classes at the University of Alabama in Huntsville since 1987. The Alabama Chapter of the Dixie Section PGA named Billy Professional of the Year in 1984 and the Dixie Section PGA recognized him as Teacher of the Year in 1992, 1994 and 2011, and Senior Professional of the Year in 2005. Eastep estimates that he has given over 50,000 golf lessons during his career. He uses the latest technology and software to help his students. Billy said, "My family had the greatest influence on me. My Dad, Tut Eastep, who passed away in 1993, loved all sports, especially golf." He also stated that his mother, Roberta, who passed away in March of this year, inspired him to stay on the right path. His sister, Kay, always supported her little brother. Billy and his wife, Becky, have three adult children; sons Thad and Chris, and a daughter, Jodie. They also have three grandchildren; two grandsons in Phoenix, Arizona, (Billy and Brady) and a granddaughter (Chloe) in Nashville, Tennessee. They all look forward to golf lessons from Popi.