The Golf Club is sad to learn that Bill Telepak, a former member of the Valero Golf Club passed away on April 6th, 2026 at the age of 87. Bill was a member of the club from 1980 to 1988. Bill’s son Jim also played with us from 1986 to 1988. Bill was a strong player, he hit long drives and loved to hit long irons. I played with Bill at Blue Rock Springs one afternoon when he hit a drive into the prevailing wind on the par 4 first hole (now the 10th hole) 310 yards pin high, I can still remember the sound that club made. Bill won his first long drive at the Kennedy tournament in 1982. His best year by far was 1986 when Bill finished third at the Lone Tree tournament, he teamed with his son Jim to finish third at the Chimney Rock Best-Ball tournament, he finished third at the Franklin Canyon tournament and won a long drive, he finished third at Boundary Oak and followed that up with a win at the Diablo Creek golf course. He finished the year 6th in Tournament points and 5th in Scoring Average. He was eligible to play in the Exxon Cup tournament at Fountaingrove GC but didn’t play. In 1987 he had a second at Lone tree GC and in 1988 he took third place with partner Chuck Koziol in the Kennedy GC best-ball tournament and then he finished second at the Sonoma National tournament, he also won a CP at the Lone Tree tournament. Bill also played in four Pyramid Tournaments but had bad luck losing first round matches to Don Scribner, Dave Pearce, Harold Juris and Cullen Stephenson.
My boss at the time was Carl Bradow who was told by his Doctor that he needed to take one afternoon a week and do something relaxing. Bill at that time was the Exxon Chemicals Rep and told Carl he would set something up. So almost every week we would play a very nice Golf Course with green fees paid and free Exxon golf balls. I was told by Carl that I should play too, what could I do, he was my boss so I went along. Bill, Carl, myself and sometimes a fourth would play, it was wonderful period of time, we all had a great time. See a couple of tee shots on one of our afternoons at Green Valley CC.
Bill was a great guy, he and I went to Pebble Beach to see the 1977 PGA Championship, Lanny Wadkins won in a playoff over Gene Littler, we had a super good time which I still remember, Mike Cook