Jones Cup: Mike Reehl

Richard Dunn

SANTA ANA HEIGHTS - When told that at least one member of the Great

Eight in the inaugural Jones Cup picked Santa Ana Country Club’s Chris

Veitch and Mike Reehl to win, the longtime head professional cracked:

“That’s a bunch of bull,” Reehl said. “There’s no way (we’re the best

team). I’m the worst pro ... you’ll see.”

A Reehl hometown guy, he was once the best community college player in

the state of California.

A former junior sensation, who grew up playing Mesa Verde Country

Club, Reehl played on Corona del Mar High’s CIF Southern Section

championship team in 1967 as a sophomore, then played No. 1 for the Sea

Kings in 1968 and ’69.

After winning an individual state championship at Orange Coast College

in 1970, Reehl became an All-American at Long Beach State, then played

mini-tour events.

In March 1968, Reehl’s father, Cecil, died of heart failure on the

golf course while the two were playing at Mesa Verde.

With the family no longer able to afford the membership at Mesa Verde,

the 16-year-old Reehl landed a job as a bag boy at Santa Ana Country

Club, where he was hired October ’68 and hasn’t left.

Reehl worked his way into the Santa Ana pro shop in 1977 and became

legendary former SACC head pro Gerald Hall’s key man. In 1979, Reehl

earned his PGA membership card and was on his way to a successful career

as a club pro.

Reehl replaced his mentor, Hall, as head pro in 1985, and has been a

favorite of members for years.

As a player, Reehl once held the Santa Ana course record of 64, until

Fred Couples shot 63 after making eagle on No. 18 while playing as a

guest of a member during a private round in 1992.

While Reehl prefers to maintain a humble approach to the Jones Cup,

there’s no getting around the fact that he’s a sensational player and can

sometimes be spotted playing on television through the Fox Network Subaru

Team Match Play Series with Veitch and SACC’s Marianne Towersey.

Reehl, also SACC’s Director of Golf, and Veitch will form Santa Ana’s

team in the ultimate community pro-am Friday at Newport Beach Country

Club at 1 p.m. The Daily Pilot-created event features the four private

clubs in this newspaper’s circulation vying for honors.