Bob did not necessarily share his father's passion for golf as a child, but he observed and assisted in his father's club creations.

Vokey opened Bob's Custom Golf Shop in 1976 at Fallbrook Country Club in San Diego County, before moving to a 1,300 square foot location in Vista, Calif., in 1980.

Vokey Design wedges are the overwhelming favorite among PGA Tour players, with 35 percent of all sand, lob and approach wedges in play each week (over double the nearest competitor).

As much as I wanted to play the game, I realized my strength was in learning about golf clubs, re-shafting them, designing them and making them. - Bob Vokey

Bob left Montreal for the United States at age 25 and settled in Carlsbad, Calif., where he has lived ever since.

He lived near a golf course, and started to play competitively, eventually developing his father's passion for "tinkering" with golf clubs.