Minnesota lost a golf legend on November 19, 2020—Ed “Fast Eddie” Manderville, who passed November 11, 2020, at 88 years of age. His many friends and admirers celebrated his life on July 28 at Theodore Wirth Chalet. Lorraine, his wife of 62 years, Mayor Jacob Frey, Al Bangoura, Park Board Superintendent Tom Ryan, MGA CEO, and many friends attended the celebration that evening.
Mayor Frey proclaimed July 28 “Ed Manderville Day.” Fast Eddie is a golf legend, especially at Theodore Wirth Golf Course where everyone loves and respects him. He had 11 holes-in-one. He is not only a legend in Minnesota but a legend around the world after CNN wrote a story on him after his two back-to-back holes-in-one on two par-threes: holes seven and eight at Theodore Wirth on August 13, 2014.
The national hole-in-one registry states that the chances are 67 million to one that anyone can hit two holes-in-one in one round of golf. On hole seven at the par-three course, you will find an honorary bench at the hole, and by the putting green there is a ball-washer in his honor—he called himself the “CEO of ball-washing.”
The legend bought his first set of golf clubs at the age of 26 and was self-taught.
Manderville was a teacher of golf, a mentor, and an MGA senior tour member. He taught golf at Anwatin Middle School, filling classes to capacity. He played in the U.S. Senior Open and the Senior Amateur. Martha Arradondo, co-founder of BWOC (Black Women on Golf Courses), said he played a big part in teaching the women and many others how to play the game of golf.
He was a Minneapolis building inspector for 20 years and served as executive director for the Neighborhood Service in North Minneapolis. Manderville supported the Fairway Foundation, which helps teach young Black youth the game of golf.
“The golfing world lost a legend. And I lost my best friend, he will be greatly missed but never forgotten. He was a man with a heart of gold and a love for life, that smiled all the time.
He will always be my super-hero and I will live my life as he did with a smile on my face and love in my heart for all people,” said Steven Lasley.
For more info, email Eric Goodlow at info@fairwayfoundation.org.
Raymond Boyd welcomes reader responses to rayboyd00@gmail.com.
