Elmer Voight or Voytka

Elmer Voight (ne Voytka; 1909-1973) was a poor kid from Yonkers NY who became the golf pro at Sunningdale, an affluent club in Scarsdale, where the motto could have been "Dress British, Think Yiddish'. His three boys grew up in the game, spending afternoons and summers at the club with Dad.

At home in Yonkers, Elmer encouraged his sons to follow their interests. Oldest son Barry became a renowned geologist and professor at Penn State. Middle son Jon, an Academy Award winning actor. The youngest, Chip Taylor (James Voight, nicknamed for his many hours on the golf course) would become a songwriter, known for "Angel of the Morning" and "Wild Thing".

When Elmer died tragically in a car crash in 1973, Sunningdale members flocked to his funeral and also sat shivah for their Catholic friend. The three brothers played at Sunningdale more recently when they were together for a family wedding. Son Barry was asked what Elmer would say if he could see them on the first tee. Barry replied, "He'd say 'let me out of this box.'"