Martin G. Joyce

MARTY “LONGBALL” JOYCE
“Tee it High and Let It Fly!”
January 22, 1951 – January 14, 2020

Marty “LONGBALL” Joyce beloved husband of Melody Joyce, Devoted father of Lisa Marie Joyce (Lisa “Launch It” Joyce); Loving son of the late Martin and Laverne Joyce; Dear brother of JoAnn Joyce and Diane Kennedy; Dear uncle of Chrissy, Shawn, Carrie, & their children. Marty was internationally renowned for his golf trick shot and long drive exhibitions. He was the IL PGA Teacher of the year in 1987 & a PGA Golf Professional for 38 years. He was also a Long Drive Champion having won over 82 professional long drive events. He is also the only person ever to qualify for the world long drive championship both right and left-handed. Marty & his daughter, Lisa were the first father/daughter to qualify for the world long drive championships. Marty has appeared on NBC, ABC, WGN, CBS, ESPN, Sports Channel, Cable sports specials, and was an instruction editor for Chicagoland Golf. He performed on the main stage at the Chicagoland Golf show for over a decade. He has also done exhibitions with Gary Player, John Daly, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Fuzzy Zoeller, & Ray Floyd. Marty was voted the honorary captain for the USA Ryder Cup World Scientific Congress of Golf in St. Andrews, Scotland. He is in the hall of fame at NIU for his performance on their golf team in the 1970s. He was the White Pines Golf Club, Club Champion in 1976. He has spent the majority of his career at White Pines Golf Club where he has been the senior instructor since 2004. Marty has coached the golf team at OPRF, Triton College, & Fenwick High School. Marty was the IL Special Olympics Golf Leader for the Melrose Park district from 2008-2019 and the White Pines Golf Club Regional Special Olympics lead coordinator from 2016-2019. In 2019 he received the highly esteemed “Hero” award from the Illinois Special Olympics. Marty shared his passion and love for the game of golf with everyone he met. A visitation for Marty will be held Thursday, January 23, 2020 from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Salerno’s Galewood Chapel, 1857 N. Harlem Ave, Chicago, IL 60707. A funeral mass will take place Friday, January 24, 2020 10:00 AM, St. Vincent Ferrer Church, River Forest, IL 60305.