Longtime local golf instructor Billy Eastep dies
MADISON – Billy Eastep, the longtime golf teaching professional at Madison Golf Center for over 35 years helping any caliber of golfer to be the best they can be at the sport, has died. He was 74 passing away May 27 of Parkinson’s disease.
A member of both the Huntsville- Madison County and Marshall County Athletic Halls of Fame, Eastep began playing golf at nine years old in both his hometown of Arab and nearby Guntersville. A small stature for many golfers, Eastep was 5-foot-8, but was considered one of the finest strikers of the golf ball and earned top 10 placements in the National Long Drive Championships in the 1970’s and senior division competitions just after the turn of the century.
He was inspired by golf legend Gary Player who was small in physical stature, but stood tall among the elite golfing stars of yesteryear.
How he hits the ball long off the tee was no secret. He knew what to do and once said, “I have generated around 135 miles per hour club head speed and have launched the golf ball at 175 miles per hour, which is within an eyelash of Tiger Woods. The keys to hitting it long is to get a great shoulder turn and having the club head at the correct angle when it meets the ball during a golf swing.”
For Eastep, who finished runner-up at the High School State Championships while growing up in Arab, he would earn a scholarship to Marion Institute and then earning another athletic scholarship to play at the University of Alabama. Post-college, Eastep became a Club Professional at Goose Pond Golf Course in Scottsboro and later at different spot around the Southeast before stopping at the Madison Golf Center in 1990 where he was not only the Head Professional, but part owner of the thriving business located on I-565.
His life has always been more than golf. He said his Faith in Christ helped make him what he became on and off the golf course. Almost 40 years ago, which is about the time he met Becky, his wife, he struggled with his Faith. He said one New Year’s Eve he knew he didn’t have any type of inner-peace and asked Christ for his help. Eastep’s prayers were answered as he lived a great life of strong Faith until his death.
Eastep underwent triple by-pass heart surgery in 2025 and retired from teaching golf earlier in 2026 due to the onslaught of advanced Parkinson’s disease, according to friends. He is survived by his wife and one child. He was buried in Arab City Cemetery.
He once said, “I found my Faith and now others have their faith in me to make their golf game better.”
