It doesn’t happen everyday, but sometimes a breaking story hits really close to home. That was the case earlier this summer when news broke that Sean Fredrickson, the head professional at Oswego Lake Country Club – and president of the Pacific Northwest Section PGA – was killed in a plane crash. The accident, at Lake Coeur d’Alene in Idaho, also claimed the lives of his three children.
“The loss of Sean Fredrickson and his children Hayden, Sofie and Quinn is devastating,” Oswego Lake general manager Bryan Fisher said in a statement. “Sean was an exceptional golf professional who was awarded the PGA Professional of the Year honor in 2019 by the Pacific Northwest Section PGA. Oswego Lake Country Club was honored to have him as a member of our family. His positive spirit and joy for the game of golf was contagious. But more importantly, Sean was a tremendous husband, father and friend. Our love and heartfelt sympathy goes to his wife, April, his family and friends during this time of loss.”
In all, eight people were killed when two planes collided over the lake.
Prior to working at Oswego Lake Country Club, Fredrickson spent 14 years at Tualatin Country Club. In the months and years to come, Fisher plans to work with the country club to honor Fredrickson. He said he would consider a golf tournament named after him, or name recently built facilities after him, too.
“So much of what Sean was about was about mentoring,” Fisher said. “He was really big on trying to build that.”
“A rising star in the PGA, Sean led the Section through an unprecedented time, first taking the reins a year early as president and then leading us wisely through this pandemic,” the Pacific Northwest PGA Section said in a statement. “We are all better because of Sean’s leadership over the past 12 years.”
Response to Fredrickson’s death is a reminder of the role golf professionals play in the lives of the community they work in. Members of Fredrickson’s former and current clubs, as well as playing professionals around the region, have posted tributes to someone they feel did a great job for golfers and community members.