Growing up, the Cascades clubhouse was practically a second home for Doak Henry, Jr.
His parents were deliberate in buying a home so close to the golf course, which is where father (Doak Sr.), son and daughter (Heather) would spend many hours together in a game Doak Jr. grew to love.
Playing in the Bloomington City Golf Tournament was a natural for Doak Jr. He eventually won his first title in 2019 and made it back to the finals in 2020 and 2022. This weekend, the tourney will induct Doak Jr. into the its hall of fame in ceremonies following Sunday’s finals.
Henry caught the golf bug early, riding his bike from the family’s Northwood Estates home — located adjacent to the Pine Course — to Cascades, where he spent countless hours playing, practicing, and, as he later joked, “pestering the ‘Cades staff.”
Doak Jr. played varsity all four years at Bloomington North under George Fielding and then Brian Muehlhaus, earning All-Conference Indiana honors twice.
His success in the City Tournament began in the junior division, where he captured a regular flight championship before making his debut in the Phil Talbot Men’s Championship Flight in 2004.
A consistent contender over the years, Henry reached the championship match in 2019 against Mitch Oard. Their memorable 36-hole battle came down to the final green, where a two-putt on the 36th hole secured a 1-up victory and Henry’s first city title. He was a runner-up to Nick Burris and Jason Bannister, respectively in 2020 and 2022.
Henry’s lifelong passion for the game ultimately became a profession. He began his career in golf as a staff assistant at Cascades and now serves as Manager of Golf Operations at the Pfau Course at Indiana University.
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Doak Henry Jr. added to Bloomington City Golf Hall of Fame
Reporting by Jim Gordillo, The Herald-Times / The Herald-Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jim Gordillo, The Herald-Times | USA TODAY Network
