The coach who directed three state golf championships at Auburn High School has passed away suddenly.
Jeff Gandee was also the golf pro at Auburn Hills Golf Club. He was 51 years old.
Paul Dominy is the athletic director at AHS and said Jeff was integral to the golf program at the school.
“His professionalism, the way that he cared for the players both personally and athletically, and his track record of excellence of team performance will be greatly missed. More than all of that, however, is that we lost a good, good friend this past weekend without any warning or chance to tell him how very much he meant to all of us,” he said.
The team is a favorite to win another state championship this fall.
Gandee graduated from Marion Harding High School in 1993 where he was a four-year letterman in golf. He was the Marion County Golfer of the Year in 1993. Then in 1995, he attended Mundus Golf Institute in Phoenix, Ariz., and then moved to San Diego, Calif., and became the assistant pro at The Grand Del Mar Golf Club.
In 2004, Jeff moved to Virginia to be the pro at Auburn Hills Golf Club and was there for over 22 years.
In a social media post, the golf club called Jeff far more than a leader.
“He was a friend, a mentor, and an important part of our Auburn Hills family. His dedication to the course, his love for the game, and the many relationships he built had a lasting impact on Auburn Hills and our community.”
He also was known for playing Santa Claus and decorating his Christiansburg home during the holidays. Gandee was the Town of Christiansburg’s first-ever 2020 “Christmas Decorating Champ.” He was known for his synchronized light show with 10 songs at his display on Sleepy Hollow Road.
Funeral services were held Friday in Christiansburg. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Auburn High School, 1650 Auburn School Drive, Riner, VA 24149, (in the memo line reference Jeffery Gandee Memorial Scholarship Fund).
