Al Barkow: key obituary facts
Is Al Barkow dead? Yes. Al Barkow died on November 1, 2026, at age 93.
Cause of death: Al Barkow's cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
What was Al Barkow known for?
He was a Journalist, author, editor, lecturer, historian, amateur golfer.
More about Al Barkow
Born: 1 January 1932.
Gender: male.
Occupation: golfer.
Nationality: United States.
Education: Roosevelt University, Western Illinois University.
Al Barkow, an American golf journalist and historian who also worked as an author, editor and lecturer, died November 1, 2026, aged 93.
Born in Chicago in 1932, he attended Western Illinois University for three years before graduating from Roosevelt University in Chicago with a bachelor’s degree in 1960. At Western Illinois, he was a member of the school’s 1959 NAIA national championship golf team.
In 1971, he qualified for and competed in the U.S. Amateur. An amateur golfer as well as a writer, Barkow devoted much of his journalism to the sport. Over a 46-year career, he published hundreds of articles in leading publications, contributing to magazines and newspapers and later writing online. His subjects also included tennis, boxing, baseball and food, though golf remained the principal focus. His books on golf included The Golden Era of Golf, Golf’s All-Time Firsts, Mosts, Leasts, and a Few Nevers, and The Upset. The titles reflect his interest in the sport’s history, records and notable events, themes that complemented his work as a journalist and historian. Across articles and books, Barkow covered golf both as a contemporary sport and as a subject with a long history, while his career also encompassed editing and lecturing.