By Fred Altvater
Bo Hoag was an All-American at Ohio State University and has been competing on the various minor professional golf tours in his quest to make it to the PGA Tour. Last month, he won the Winco Foods Portland Open on the Korn Ferry Tour to finish inside ‘The 25’ to earn his 2020 PGA Tour card. Hoag is the product of a royal bloodline of Ohio Golf. His grandfather, Robert Hoag was a longtime friend of Jack Nicklaus who, along with the Golden Bear and two others, were the founding members of Muirfield Village Golf Club.
Bob Hoag’s first meeting with Jackie Nicklaus was somewhat memorable. Hoag was an accomplished player and a four-time club champion at Scioto Country Club, plus he was one of the longest hitters at that historic club. One day in 1953, he hit his second shot on the 16th hole at Scioto and as he was walking toward the green, a ball rolled between his legs. 
It was certainly not acceptable golf etiquette to hit into the group ahead of you at Scioto, especially if the group included the club champion.
Somewhat surprised, he asked his playing companions, “Who the hell is that?′” It was the 13-year-old Nicklaus kid.
Jack and Hoag became regular playing companions after that encounter. They also became lifelong friends and Hoag was Jack’s partner at the Bing Crosby National Pro-Am for 30 years. When Jack came up with the idea to build a one-of-a-kind golf club in Columbus, Bob Hoag was one of the first people in whom he confided and Hoag was involved in the project from the beginning.
If you remember, Jack’s first job, when he left Ohio State, was selling insurance for Hoag’s firm, because he didn’t have the money to support his young bride and play professional golf.
Hoag was involved in the planning and construction of Muirfield Village Golf Club. He, along with Jack and the other two founding members, played the first round at Muirfield, plus he was the club chairman for many years.
Now you can understand why one of the first congratulatory calls, Robert Hoag’s grandson, Bo received after his win at the Portland Open was from Jack Nicklaus.
Bob Hoag, died in 2013, and did not get to witness his grandson’s professional success. In addition to being a founding member of Muirfield Village, he will now be remembered for one more reason, he is the grandfather of Bo Hoag, Ohio Stae All-American and PGA Tour member.
Keep an eye on young Bo Hoag, it is a name you will hearing a lot over the next few years.
