Grand Haven Mens Golf Assoc.

Bob didn’t start playing golf until later in life when his wife, Amy, got him clubs one Christmas.  She thought he should take up the game so he would quit embarrassing himself at the annual company sales meetings. Some memorable moments in golf were a hole in one on #17 at Grand Haven in 2010, followed by Eagles on 15 in 2011, and 16 in 2013, all with his favorite club….an eleven wood.

Bob Aiken was born and raised in Greenville, Pennsylvania, (near Pittsburgh), the oldest of five children. Bob enjoyed sports as a kid, playing baseball, swimming, tennis and ice skating. As a teen, he was a “motor head”, and enjoyed modifying, repairing and driving cars. He was very active in outdoor activities, earned the Eagle Scout rank in the Boy Scouts, and liked to hunt small game. He met his future wife to be, Amy, while ice skating at the local rink.  After graduating high school, Bob enlisted in the US Air Force where he trained in electronics, and maintained automatic pilots on transport aircraft. He spent time in Illinois, New Jersey and two yeas of “overseas” duty in Hawaii.

After leaving the Air Force, Bob moved to Pittsburgh and worked for ATT in the field of radio communications. At that time (before satellites) all TV networks were sent throughout the country via microwave radio signals. In 1969, he made a career move, going from the largest company in the US at that time, to a small business with three other people. The next 42 years were spent growing this business to nearly 400 people with multiple international locations. Bob’s primary role was RF and embedded computer design engineering. He designed several generations of industrial remote control products used to remotely operate heavy equipment like cranes, locomotives and underground mining machines.  Bob holds two US patents for remote control of locomotives. Bob retired in 2011, when the business was sold to Laird Corporation. Bob married Amy in 1982, a second marriage for both. They have one son, Nathan, who lives in Pinehurst, NC.

Before retiring, Amy and Bob would vacation in St Augustine, gradually expanding the time of their stays over the years. In 2003 they agreed that living in this area after retirement was a goal. It initially was “home” only during the winter months but it eventually became full time in 2011 when they bought their second home in Grand Haven. Bob says”when looking for a full time residence, we wanted to stay in the GH community where we could continue to enjoy the friends we had made.”  They always felt that it would be important to find a “real community” where they could make friends and share good times. Joining the GHMGA while still a “snow bird”, is one of the things that made this a reality. In addition to golf, Bob and Amy enjoy their doggie, Angel traveling to car shows in the “65 vette, entertaining family and friends as frequent visitors, and occasionally taking trips or flying guests over the local area in Bob’s Beechcraft Bonanza. They both feel very fortunate to have met so many wonderful people, with such interesting backgrounds, here at Grand Haven and the GHMGA.