Stewards of the Legacy

Mike Wright & Lindy Miller Remember Ben Hogan

EPISODE 012

Runtime: 1:08:30
Published: Monday, September 14, 2026
Topics: Ben Hogan • Shady Oaks Country Club • Golf History • PGA Professionals • Mentorship • Legacy • Fort Worth • Storytelling

The world knew Ben Hogan. Mike Wright and Lindy Miller knew Mr. Hogan.

In this special edition of Fairways & Friends, Courtney Connell travels to historic Shady Oaks Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, for a conversation surrounded by the photographs, clubs, memorabilia—and memories—of one of the most important figures in the history of golf.

Mike and Lindy didn’t learn about Ben Hogan from books or highlight reels. They knew him personally.

Lindy’s relationship with Mr. Hogan reaches back to his younger days, when he had the remarkable opportunity to shag practice balls for Hogan and witness, up close, the precision, discipline and work ethic behind one of golf’s most admired swings.

Mike arrived at Shady Oaks as a young PGA Professional and developed his own special relationship with Hogan. Over the decades that followed, Mike became not only one of Shady Oaks’ most respected professionals, but also someone entrusted with helping preserve Hogan’s history, equipment, stories and legacy.

Together, Mike and Lindy take us beyond the championships, the famous swing and the public image of “The Hawk.” They share memories of the man they encountered at Shady Oaks—his personality, humor, standards, loyalty, practice habits, friendships and the quieter moments that rarely found their way into the history books.

But this conversation is also about stewardship.

What responsibility comes with personally knowing a legend? How do you preserve stories that might otherwise disappear with time? And what should future generations understand about Ben Hogan that can’t be found on a trophy, a scorecard or a Google search?

Some stories belong to history.

Others live in the people who were there.

Mike Wright and Lindy Miller were there.

Meet the Guests

Maulana Dotch, PGA Guests: Mike Wright & Lindy Miller

Few people had the opportunity to know Ben Hogan beyond his legendary accomplishments on the golf course. Mike Wright and Lindy Miller were among those who did.

Mike Wright arrived at Shady Oaks Country Club as a young PGA Professional and developed a special relationship with Hogan, who recognized his work ethic and potential and encouraged him to pursue the club’s head professional position. Over the decades that followed, Mike became an important steward of Hogan’s history at Shady Oaks, helping preserve the equipment, memorabilia and personal stories that provide a window into the man behind the legend.

Lindy Miller first encountered Hogan as a teenager at Shady Oaks, where he had the extraordinary opportunity to shag practice balls for him. Those hours spent watching Hogan’s legendary practice sessions left a lasting impression on Lindy’s own development as a golfer and gave him a firsthand perspective on Hogan’s discipline, precision and remarkably high standards.

Together, Mike and Lindy offer something that history books cannot: personal memories of Ben Hogan as a golfer, mentor, friend and gentleman—and a commitment to ensuring those stories are preserved for generations to come.

Episode Highlights

Knowing the Man Behind the Legend — Mike Wright and Lindy Miller share what it was actually like to know Ben Hogan personally at Shady Oaks Country Club.
Learning by Watching Hogan Practice — Lindy recalls shagging balls for Hogan as a teenager and witnessing an almost unbelievable level of precision, discipline and consistency.
Hogan’s Belief in a Young Mike Wright — Mike tells the remarkable story of Hogan encouraging him to pursue the head professional position at Shady Oaks—and even offering him his own sport coat for the interview.
A Side of Hogan Few People Saw — From his emotional farewell to Buster, the beloved Shady Oaks dog, to quietly helping employees and supporting those in need, Mike and Lindy reveal Hogan’s compassion and generosity.
The Pursuit of Perfection — Stories about Hogan’s clubs, practice habits, preparation and even the care he took signing an autograph reveal how deeply his standards extended beyond the golf swing.
Preserving a Remarkable Legacy — Surrounded by Hogan memorabilia at Shady Oaks, Mike and Lindy reflect on his historic 1953 season, Open Championship victory and the responsibility of preserving stories that might otherwise disappear.