We are saddened to announce the passing of Roger Watson, developer and majority owner of Wildwood Green Golf Club. Roger developed the facility starting in 1986 and with his family has owned Wildwood Green for 39 years. He is married to the former Sandy Morris of High Point, and the couple has two children, son Chip and daughter Molly Maack, five grandchildren, and one great grandchild. Although Roger was involved with many golf projects in his lifetime, Wildwood Green was the flagship course of the company, and the one that he cared about and valued the most. This has shown up through the years with the many improvement projects, member events, landscaping, and genuine leadership of a family-owned business. He ALWAYS wanted to make things better and offer a “bang for your buck” to the members and guests. We want to thank him and his family for their incredible contributions to the golf community, especially here at Wildwood Green, and hope they find peace during this difficult time. Roger’s playing legacy includes his victory over Sam Snead to win the national PGA Club Championship in 1974, which he defended the following year. He went on to play in major tournaments, including the US Open and PGA Championship, and earned Player of the Year honors in the Carolinas PGA Section. A High Point native, Roger was a former NAIA All-American and won the 1969 North Carolina Open. He was inducted into three Halls of Fame, including the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame and NC Sports Hall of Fame, and was a two-time Carolinas PGA Player of the Year.
As a businessman, Roger’s partnerships helped build, manage, and improve numerous golf courses, including Wildwood Green, where membership grew significantly during his involvement. In 1982, Roger partnered to form the Eaglemere Group, which developed Wildwood Green, and later expanded his reach through Watson Golf Services. His contributions to golf course management, including his leadership in developing unique programs for cost savings and growth, helped countless courses thrive. Roger was also instrumental in the creation of the Carolinas Golf Group, which oversaw the development of many well-known courses. In 2007, he was involved in the creation of the Lonnie Poole Golf Course at NC State University, a hallmark of his career. In his later years, Wildwood Green remained the only course owned by the Watsons. Roger loved Wildwood deeply and his legacy will forever be remembered here at Wildwood Green and all across golf courses throughout the Carolinas.
Roger’s impact on golf is immeasurable, and we are deeply grateful for everything he did for the sport and for Wildwood Green. Our thoughts are with his family during this time. Services in Raleigh and Myrtle Beach will be announced at a later date.
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