The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

FORMER national golf team member Kendal “Sixty” Thompson, known for his mammoth size and unique style of play on the golf course, passed away yesterday, leaving memories of his jovialness and philanthropism with his family and friends.

Thompson, a 58-year-old native of Deep Creek, Eleuthera, leaves behind his wife Barbara and four children - Rema, Zhivargo, Kendra and Kendal. He is also survived by his mother, Olga Thompson, along with six brothers Bernal, Earnal, Garvin, Charles, Glen and Julian and six sisters, Melvina, Thilicia, Dedrie, Lateria, Channon and Shaniqua.

Melvina, the oldest sister, said her brother was a “wonderful, cheerful” person, who was “always the life of the party,” who was “outgoing” and always tried to help people whenever he could.

As a boat repairman and dry wall contractor, the story was told that Thompson went over to Paradise Island with $60,000 and he didn’t come home with a dime left in his pocket, hence his family started calling him “big spender Sixty.” But his long-time friend from Eleuthera, professional golfer Jimmy Delancy, said when Thompson started playing, his favourite golf club was the six iron, which he used instead of the driver to perfection and so they referred to him as “Sixty”.

During their days in Eleuthera, Delancy said Thompson learned how to play golf at Cape Eleuthera Golf Course. He started out as a caddie. When he started playing, Delancy said he used his experience as the pro at the club to assist him.

“He came to Nassau and just burst on the scene. He was a challenger,” said Delancy, who is now a pro at the Bahamas Golf Federation’s Driving Range at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex.

“You could never tell him there was anything he couldn’t do. If you told him he couldn’t do something, he would prove you wrong and do it., He will just show you something different. That was just him.”

Delancy said Thompson’s father had a block company in Eleuthera and he and his brothers would work there lifting the cement to pour into the machine and that was one of the reasons why they developed their strength.

“He grew up tough, but he developed into a hell of a golfer,” Delancy said. “He wasn’t scared of anyone. If you told him you would beat him, you had to show him that. You couldn’t tell him that you could do anything better than him. You had to show it.”

On a few trips he made to compete in the United States, Delancy said Thompson traveled with him to serve as his caddie.

Here in the Bahamas, whether it was in Nassau or Grand Bahama, Delancy said Thompson played along with him and the late Jim Duncombe, which helped to develop his game.

“Sixty was just a happy go lucky fellow. You never see him get in any fight or anything,” Delancy said. “Anytime he came around and he had money in his pocket, he would let you know.

“Being quiet wasn’t his thing. He always wanted to have fun. When he felt he had enough fun, he packed his bag and he left. When you didn’t hear him or you missed him, he was gone.”

Delancy was one of the unique things about Thompson was that when everybody felt the cold, one could see Thompson walking around with his shirt off.

Former BGF president Craig Flowers said he remembered when Thompson started playing with Jim Duncombe, King Eric Gibson and Shane Gibson and that led to him playing on at least three national teams at the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships (change to on the national team at the Caribbean Amateur Golf Championships).

“When we traveled to the championships, nobody believed that he could hold a golf club,” Flowers said. “In Barbados at the CAGF, he was the low man for the Bahamas.

“He was well loved by the guys in the Caribbean because they say they never saw someone who just showed up and played the level that he did. Everybody was shocked because they said they never heard of him before. He didn’t come through the junior programme or any foundation that breeds golfers in the Bahamas.”

Flowers said what was interesting about Thompson’s approach to the game was the fact that he did it his way. While everyone took pride in the cheats they wore, Thompson was comfortable with his tennis shoes.

Additionally, during his tenure as president, Flowers said he remembered one of the toughest battles he witnessed was when Grand Bahamian Chris Harris beat out Thompson by just one stroke. After that match, Flowers said Thompson wanted a rematch.

Flowers said if you were a friend of Thompson, you had a friend for life.

“He was one hell of an amazing guy to be around,” Flowers stated. “You always knew when Sixty was around because you heard his voice before you saw him. He never let anyone change him.

“I remembered a few months ago he came to the Driving Range and he told me that he was coming back to play. I told him that he wasn’t, but he told me not to challenge him because he would do it.”

That was the last interaction that Flowers had with Thompson, whom he said he will also remember as a loyal friend on and off the golf course.