Retired Fort Jackson pro Mike Casto named to Carolinas PGA Section’s Hall of Fame

Think about professional golfers and familiar names pop up. Tiger, Rory, Scottie, Bryson and their ilk on the men’s side today, Nelly and Lydia Ko among the women. Jack and Arnie and Annika and Karrie Webb and Beth Daniel before them. Hogan, Snead, Betsy Rawls and Mickey Wright from once upon a time.

That’s natural. They’re players whose exploits demand attention and whose skills command admiration.

But there are other golf professionals, the club professionals who make up the PGA of America. Call them the backbone of the game, heroes who never make the headlines. Among that number is Mike Casto, who has been selected for induction into the Carolinas PGA Section’s Hall of Fame.

“I’m deeply humbled; never in my wildest dreams did I think about receiving this honor,” said Casto, who spent the final 32 years of his 40-year pro career at Fort Jackson Golf Club and will be inducted into the shrine in February.

Nevertheless, he personifies the ideal definition of club pros. They’re the ones who provide instruction, oversee tournaments and promote the game. Being on the receiving end of more complaints than compliments is part of the job description.

Casto navigated those waters skillfully, starting at clubs in his native West Virginia before moving to South Carolina in 1990. He expected his tenure at Fort Jackson GC to provide a steppingstone into the future opportunities, but he developed admiration for the military men and women who made up the majority of the club membership and never left.

“I have been blessed to serve them,” he said.

During his tenure, the club expanded from 18 to 36 holes, staged the Monday after the Masters Pro-Am, played host to the South Carolina Open and State Juniors Championship, focused on the PGA’s Junior Golf League, welcomed a myriad of junior competitions and became a fixture on the Drive, Chip and Putt calendar. Named the Carolinas PGA Section’s 2005 Professional of the Year, Casto also coached the Dreher High golf team during the years his son Zach played.

Supported by the Fort Jackson command, he also found time to participate in the Carolinas PGA Section’s administration and became president in 2012-13.

In retirement, he stays involved with the game by participating in PGA HOPE classes at the Spur at Northwoods. PGA HOPE is an adaptive golf program offered by PGA pros as a rehabilitation tool to improve the quality of life for veterans by enhancing their mental, social, physical and emotional well-being.

“That keeps me involved,” Casto said. “I get a lot more out of it than I put into it.”

Otherwise, he’s been on a fly-fishing trip to Idaho with Zach, is in the process of building a new home, keeping busy with yard work and continually working on his golf game. Of the latter, he said: “There’s a lot of room for improvement. Right now, it’s not pretty; it doesn’t meet my expectations.”

But although he mentions “some ups and downs,” he met expectations during his tenure at Fort Jackson.

More of the “ups,” suggests retired Col. Scott Nahrwold. In supporting Casto’s nomination for the Hall of Fame, Nahrwold wrote, in part, “The scope of his contributions are undeniable and will forever shape the future of the program at Fort Jackson ...”

Casto called “people skills” a vital ingredient for a club pro and credits his staff — “You you can’t do what we did without a great team,” he said — and the support from the leadership on the post for success at Fort Jackson GC.

Still, a team needs a leader and Casto provides the perfect example for the golf club professional.

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