Ted Grassi, Sr. spent his life trying to give back. And using the game of golf became the primary catalyst for the that passion.
A longtime fixture in the Greater Erie golf community, Grassi, Sr. will be posthumously inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Golf Hall of Fame later this week.
“It would be an honor for him to be recognized for his efforts,” said Ted Grassi III, the inductee’s grandson. “He loved doing what he did. He looked forward to it and it became a main part of his life. He enjoyed being around and in the mix with golf.”
Grassi, Sr. wasn’t just in the mix, he was a leader.
Most notably, he developed the Greater Erie Charity Golf Classic, which ran for 28 years and raised more than $1 million for charity. The event attracted some of the game’s top figures to The Kahkwa Club and surrounding clubs, and included past champions in Lee Trevino, Fred Couples, Fred Funk, John Daly and Esteban Toledo.
It brought in many of golf’s top figures, including Arnold Palmer, as well as other local golf standouts and fellow West Penn Golf Hall of Famers like Mike Nicolette, Bob Friend and Rocco Mediate.
“For many golf fans in Erie, it was the highlight of their summer,” said Grassi III. “Oddly enough, a two-day pro-am in Erie was larger than any non-PGA TOUR sanctioned event in the country, to my knowledge.
“It garnered a lot of support, not only from the headliners, but certainly journeymen pros as they were making their way into their careers.”
Grassi Sr.’s love for charitable giving was bred due to a personal experience. Much of the money generated from the Greater Erie Charity Golf Classic went to aid children dealing with disabilities in the region — a cause that started after Grassi Sr. lost his daughter, who battled a disability, according to Ted Grassi III.
Grassi III recalls fond memories from assisting his grandfather with course setup and other tasks, as the event turned into a staple in the Erie area and one that generated needed money for the area’s children.
“Erie is a small market,” said Grassi III. “It’s surrounded by not only Pittsburgh, but Cleveland and Buffalo. It’s a little bit unique in that standpoint. It put Erie on the map for a least a few days every summertime. It attracted not only the players, but fans. I’m sure it contributed to people getting involved in golf in some capacity.”
The Grassi name is synonymous in the Erie golf community. Ted Grassi Sr.’s son, Ted, was a PGA professional. Ted Grassi III has been a standout player for years and frequently competes in WPGA and other competitions. His sister, Tara Grassi-Friedman, is the head coach at Mercyhurst University and his brother, Todd, was a PGA professional who now works as a sales professional with TravisMathew in Texas.
“Golf for us just became part of life,” said Grassi III. “It’s not something you really think about until you reflect on it, but golf really was part of our daily life.
“In the 1990’s, we operated a driving range. My grandfather was retired, so that was basically where my brother and I spent our summers, and he was there, as well. For us, golf was just always involved.”
Grassi Sr., who passed away in 1997, made contributions to golf that went beyond the charity event, which was won in 1991 by Daly shortly before he claimed that year’s PGA Championship.
The elder Grassi also oversaw the construction of Downing Municipal Golf Course, which hosted the 1969 U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship. He served as the head golf professional at Downing until 1981.
He was twice named the Western New York PGA Section Golf Professional of the Year. He served on the PGA Of America Rules Committee and officiated numerous Ryder Cup Matches and PGA Championships.
“With him, there wasn’t much playing golf that I remember,” said Grassi III of his grandfather, who is being inducted into the Hall of Fame as a contributor, not as a player.
“But he enjoyed and loved to watch others be involved in golf, including myself, my brother and sister. But, really, anyone.”
Grassi Sr. will be inducted as a member of the 2026 Hall of Fame Class, alongside Bob Friend and Vince Zachetti, on Thursday, November 12 at Oakmont Country Club.
For media inquiries, please contact WPGA Director of Communications Josh Rowntree.
