Ricky Stimets is a third-generation golfer looking to leave his own legacy on the game.
Wherever Stimets plays, or whatever clubhouse he walks into, someone always asks about his grandfather Dick or his father Rick, Jr.
“He (Dick) was an incredible golfer and an even better human being,” Stimets said. “I always say I’m trying to be half the person he is and get on the fourth of the plaques he’s been on.”
Both were taken too early for the light they shined and are remembered for different reasons.
His grandfather’s name is on club championship plaques across the country, from Massachusetts to Ohio to New Jersey to Texas. He had the chance to caddie for and played against Francis Ouimet, one of the most recognized figures in golf.
Walking around Framingham Country Club, where Stimets reached the finals of the Massachusetts Amateur Championship, he laughed when someone mentioned that his grandfather had beaten him thoroughly at the annual Cape Cod Seagulls event.
Rick, Jr. was a “sketch” and the life of the room. He was also a great golfer in his own right.
Geoff Converse covered the Stimets family beginning in 1970 when he joined the Cape Cod Times.
“Dick was one of the calmest, nicest and benevolent people you’d ever want to meet, and he passed that along to his son Rick, which then carried to Ricky,” Converse said.
Stimets has wholly embraced all the positivity that has been passed onto each generation: the humility, honesty and ethic of golf.
Stimets is a golfer, but he doesn’t allow that to define him.
In his own words, he knows nobody is going to remember who won the Cape Cod Amateur or Massachusetts Mid-Amateur — he’s won both.
Stimets is still making a name for himself professionally, but he appreciates everything that golf has given to him so far.
“I’d rather be a good person and a good guy to play with and be remembered that way rather than for the trophies I won, and for what I’ve done to give back to the game,” he said. “I’m excited for the chapter where I’m able to do that.”
Lessons from the road
Following a collegiate career at the University of North Alabama, that included being a two-time All-Conference and Conference Player of the Year, Stimets immediately turned professional to pursue his dream.
The Osterville resident gave himself a four-year window to become a professional golfer with status on any tour—European Tour, Korn Ferry Tour or PGA Tour—or he would call it a day on that pursuit.
“I gave myself a hard stop because I didn’t want to be out there as a 15-year journeyman, traveling every week trying to grind out a paycheck,” Stimets said. “It’s tough, it’s not something you want to have to decide, but you have to be a realist.”
Stringing the rounds of golf to make it through qualifying school was certainly possible he felt. Doing it at the right time and the right place was a different story, and he understood it was a longshot.
Every week, he was in a different airport or driving eight to 12 hours in a car to the next stop with his life pack into suitcases. It was a grind, and it wore on him.
After four-and-a-half-years, he reapplied for his amateur status, moved back to Massachusetts, got a job and became a really good weekend warrior. He plays for fun and it’s brought the joy back to the game.
Stimets doesn’t practice as often as he once did. The days of playing golf eight to 10 hours a day, and six to seven days a week, are gone.
It’s now finding the time to get a few holes in here and there, or a range session whenever he can.
“You have to accept that your game will never be as sharp,” he began, “But it’s great to compete with the young kids who play every day and get that chance from time-to-time to say, ‘Hey, I used to be pretty good at this game, but I can still play’.”
Allen Gunn covers high school sports for the Cape Cod Times. You can contact him at agunn@gannett.com and follow him on X at @allentgunn.
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Ricky Stimets is looking to leave his own mark on the game of golf
