Thomas J. Culligan III (1942– ) joined the Club as a juvenile in 1950. His father, a well-known Peninsula real estate developer, introduced his son to golf at an early age. Having been first taught sound swing fundamentals by Willy Nicol, those skills were later refined by the OC pro E.J. Dutch Harrison (PGA of America Hall of Fame member).
As a teenager, Culligan competed against the likes of Harvie Ward, past U.S. and British Amateur champion, and fellow OC Hall of Famers Bob Roos and Bill Higgins. Culligan captained the Serra High School golf team and played on the golf teams at the College of San Mateo and San Jose State.
Culligan’s championship golf career spans five decades. He won NorCal Best Ball titles with fellow Olympian Dan James in 1968 and 1975, with former San Jose State teammate Terry Small in 1969 and with another Olympian Bob Callan in 1988. In 1974, he won the San Francisco City and the NorCal Match Play Championships, and was named Northern California Player of the Year. He also won the Northern California Senior and San Francisco Senior Championships in 1997. He played in 16 Crosby Pro-Ams.
Closer to home, Culligan won two Olympic Club titles (1967 and 1976). He served on the OC’s Seniors’ Golf Association Board and volunteered during the U.S. Opens hosted at Lakeside.
He qualified for his first U.S. Amateur Championship in 1963 and eventually played in 19 USGA events. He was the low local qualifier for the U.S. Amateur in 1966. His sixth-place finish at the 1971 U.S. Amateur earned him the right to compete at the Masters in 1972, thus joining Ken Venturi and Johnny Miller as one of only three Olympic Club members to play in the Masters. He also competed in 12 British Amateurs. He won the 1999 Philippine National Senior and 2000 Asian Senior Amateur championships.
Throughout his competitive career, Culligan has supported local golf organizations and tournaments. He sponsored the San Francisco City for several years and now serves on its committee. He is a Board Member for the First Tee of San Francisco and a major contributor to the First Tee/Harding Clubhouse. He sponsors the Northern California Family Golf Tournament held in Golden Gate Park. In 2014, he was awarded the “Good Guy Award” by the California Golf Writers and Broadcasters Association.
He is president of Culligan Management Company, Inc., a Peninsula real estate firm, where he works closely with his two daughters.
