In my golf friend circles, we never had to say his last name. When we spoke of him, always with affection, respect and appreciation, it was simply George.

These days, I spend more time than ever looking back, trying to figure out how I got to where I am. I think about the influences, the circumstances, the forks in the road and the many roads taken, both high and low.

One never truly knows what begets what in life, but for me there is no question that one man played an oversized role in my growth and development as not just a golfer, but as a teenager and young man. I’ve learned since George’s passing last week, that I am not alone.

George Hillebrecht arrived as the new head professional at Peterborough Golf & Country Club in the mid-60s, and over the next quarter century quietly and professionally shaped the way a big bunch of us played the game, thought about the game, and learned to love the game.

It was a time and place before the........

© Peterborough Examiner