A long list of golf writers consider themselves lucky to have worked with Tim Rosaforte.
Randall Mell was the third person who worked with Rosaforte, and it wasn’t twice but three times.
Mell smiled, “My career was stumbling into Rosaforte”
Mell did more that stumble. Mell spent the past quarter century writing about South Florida’s hotbed of professional golf at the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. He then transitioned to TV/digital at The Golf Channel with Rosie.
Mell, 64, was reunited with his friend when he received the Rosaforte distinguished journalist award. He joins Rosaforte (2021), and Larry Dorman (2022).
Honda Classic created the award three years ago in honor of Rosaforte, a Jupiter resident who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Rosaforte, who passed away 13 months ago at the age of 66, was the reason Honda Classic changed its name to its media room.
Mell stated, “I am not in Tim’s or Larry’s league” but he was so thankful to be with them.
Mell was introduced by Rosaforte to him in 1985, when the Wisconsin native started work at the Sun-Sentinel’sbureau. As Mell was learning about the business, Rosaforte was his golf writer.
Mell stated, “If you had ever told me when I was a child in that bureau that I would one day receive an award named for Tim, I would have been blown away.” I can still recall reading every word he wrote. You wanted to be like the best.
After Rosaforte left to write about golf for The Palm Beach Post and Sports Illustrated, Mell was appointed the Sun-Sentinel’s Golf Writer in 1997. Mell was a co-host with Rosaforte, Mark Wood and Mark Wood on the radio show “Golf World on Air”, which ran for nearly a decade on Saturday mornings. Mell was happy to be involved.
Mell stated that “Tim was star of the show.” We were his sidekicks. We were his sidekicks. Tim was a golfer and knew all the major players.
Mell was reunited in 2009 with Rosaforte when he was hired to the Golf Channel. Rosaforte was then serving as golf’s first TV insider.
Mell jokes that Rosaforte wasn’t being stalked by him; their careers overlap like Arnold Palmer’s grip.
Mell stated that Tim was an influence in my life. He was always willing to help you and would give you a compliment if you wrote a great story. He would be a copy of Fred Turner, our former sports editor at Sun-Sentinel with a gruff, “Nice job Mell.”
Genevieve Rosaforte was with her long-time partner, Tim, at the ceremony. “Tim would love to know Randall was just the latest deserving recipient of the Tim Rosaforte distinguished writers’ award by the Honda Classic,” she said. “Tim had the greatest respect for Randall’s professionalism and work ethic, and we enjoyed being around Randall.”
Mell was presented with his plaque Wednesday at PGA National. This is the day before the Honda Classic begins. American Honda will no longer be sponsoring the tournament, but another sponsor is expected to continue at PGA National.
Mell covered the 1990 Honda Classic, Mell’s first Honda Classic. It was a story about Chris Couch (16 years old), who qualified for the tournament in Broward County. Mell has witnessed the peaks, valleys and changes this PGA Tour event has experienced over the past 35-years.
He is a journalist who focuses on the story and not the people. He was fittingly awarded a national Golf Writers Association of America writing award for his article on Mark Wilson’s victory in the 2007 Honda playoffs.
Mell, who is now retired and resides in Orlando, admitted that it was difficult to see Honda go as the tour’s longest-running sponsors and the tournament struggling for top names due to its placement on the program.
Mell stated that he was proud of the coverage he did on the Honda Classic. It was my backyard, and I treated it like a major. It was in a way my golf home. There’s a pain when your home is damaged.
“But I always enjoyed covering the Honda and spending the week together. We all miss him, especially this week. Tim is the only thing you can think about when you think Honda.
Dolch inducted into South Florida PGA Hall of Fame
Geoff Lofstead, South Florida PGA Executive Director, presented Craig Dolch’s Hall of Fame plaque Wednesday at PGA National.
Dolch, along with Donna White, was inducted into South Florida PGA Hall of Fame.
