Dave Pelz passed away from cancer on March 23, 2025, at his cherished home in Dripping Springs, Texas, at the age of 85.
He is survived by his wife, JoAnn Pelz, their five children, and nine grandchildren.
JoAnn, a graduate of Oklahoma State University, maintains a private life away from media scrutiny.
While the precise details of their children remain unknown, one of their sons, Eddie Pelz, worked closely with his father as an engineer at the Pelz Golf Institute. He contributed to research and developed golf training aids.
Dave Pelz and JoAnn were a team in every sense. She was his wife, the CEO of Pelz Golf, and the mother of his five children.
The couple had been married for a long time; however, the intricate details of their relationship timeline remain concealed.
Dave Pelz was no ordinary golf instructor; he was a former NASA physicist who worked for 14 years at Goddard Space Flight Center.
He played golf at Indiana University. After his collegiate career, he traded his dreams of playing professionally for a mission to decode golf’s mysteries.
Dave Pelz and JoAnn built their Dream Home in 2011!
Golf instructor Pelz and his wife JoAnn’s partnership reached its pinnacle in 2011 when they built their dream home in Dripping Springs.
Designed by Barley & Pfeiffer Architects, the home, a masterpiece spread across a 6,700-square-foot Hill Country, reflected their personalities.
Basically, Dave ruled the backyard and JoAnn the interior. JoAnn said in an interview:
Dave and I had a deal. When it came to the backyard, I could make comments, but it was his call. When it came to the inside, he could make comments, but it was my call.
Dave took pride in the home’s exterior, which has a two-acre golf area with artificial turf greens, sand traps, and recreations of famous golf holes.
It was his perfect space for work, research, and fun, where he and his team explored new ideas in golf science until the end of his days.
Whereas, JoAnn’s creativity stood out in their interior design. The house had a unique roof design inspired by the curve of a golf ball’s flight, and more exquisite elements.
In fact, JoAnn and Dave organized their daughter Laura’s wedding in their dream house in 2013, which has a separate 1000-square-foot guesthouse for visitors.
