Phyllis Lowell Honored for Contributions to CT Section of PGA

As an owner of the former Canton Golf Course and prominent figure in the industry, Walter W. Lowell has garnered plenty of awards and accolades.

But recently another family member received recognition for her contributions in the golf world — his wife Phyllis.

In late March she was made an honorary member of the Connecticut Section of The Professional Golfer’s Association of America.

“She’s been such a support to (Walter) over the years,” said Sue Bell, member services director of the Connecticut section.

Among Walter Lowell’s many contributions to the game was a stint as the president of the Connecticut section of the PGA through most of the 1970s.

Phyllis often accompanied him on trips and to tournaments and performed many tasks, typing and editing correspondence and cooking for guests the couple would often host.

These days Walter remains active as an honorary lifetime president of the organization and still helps out with some tournaments. And Phyllis is still right there by his side. In fact, she has to taken on a more active role since her husband only has one working eye after suffering an aneurism in 2005.

So Phyllis has become Walter’s chief mode of transportation, whether it be from their Avon home to an event or in a cart on the course, although Walter can not play much golf these days.

“She takes him everywhere he has to go,” Bell said. “Without Phyllis there would be no Walter.”

Phyllis Lowell said she was never too much of a golfer although she did play a little when young.  But one night in 1955 she decided to go the driving range at the Canton Golf Course. Walter normally wouldn’t have been at that part of the course but was filling in for his brother Jimmy. He was smitten with Phyllis but the rest wasn’t history just yet. He didn’t get her name but went back every night. The next Wednesday she came again. The rest was history.

Phyllis of course, ended up performing various tasks at the golf course, which was in the Lowell Family from 1932 to 2002, until it was sold for development as the Shoppes at Farmington Valley, Walter Lowell said.

But when it comes to accolades, it was usually Walter who received them, both for his work with the PGA and the course.

And Phyllis is proud of some of her husband’s accomplishments, including the awards and his work on behalf of women golfers and bringing together professional and amateur golfers.

“All you have to do is tell Walter it can’t be done and Walter will get it done.” Phyllis Lowell said.

So when the spring meeting of the Connecticut PGA section was held at the Hilton in Hartford, Phyllis suspected Walter was getting honored – though she wasn’t sure what else they could give him.

Instead it was her, which pleased Walter.

“When they said Phyllis Lowell was going to get an award, I said ‘Yes,’” Walter Lowell said.