Dave Pelz, renowned short game and putting researcher and teacher, died on March 23rd of prostate cancer. He was 85 years old.

Pelz played collegiate golf at Indiana University, with a record of 0-22 against an Ohio State golfeer named Jack Nicklaus.

A physics major, Pelz worked for NASA for 15 years before leaving to devote his life to the game of golf.

His researches changed the way professional golfers play today, most importantly the four-wedge bag setup that made Tom Kite the career leading money winner on the PGA Tour for a time.

Read his New York Times obituary.