David “Spec” Goldman was born on May 31, 1909, in Dallas, Texas. He won his first tournament in 1927 while representing Dallas’ Oak Grove Golf Club in the city’s Publinx Championship. He defeated future Texas Golf Hall of Famer Gus Moreland, representing Stevens Park, by seven shots and finished even farther ahead of Ralph Guldahl, who represented Tenison Park.

In 1933, "Spec" married Alice Kenny in Dallas.

Spec Goldman’s national breakthrough came at the 1934 U.S. Amateur at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. He advanced to the championship match before finishing runner-up to Lawson Little, one of the era’s most accomplished amateur golfers.

Goldman’s remarkable competitive career ultimately spanned seven decades. When he won the Brookhaven Seniors title in Dallas, he became a tournament champion in every decade from the 1920s through the 1980s. He also won three Super Senior events for players age 65 and older, including his final title in 1979. In all, Goldman captured more than 200 amateur tournaments.

Goldman competed internationally in Mexico, Canada, England, Scotland and France, but he considered his victory in the 1955 Texas Amateur Championship his favorite. He took particular pride in winning as an “old man” against the younger “flat bellies.” One of those younger competitors was his son, David Goldman Jr., who succeeded his father as Texas Amateur champion in 1956.

Byron Nelson and Spec Goldman competed against one another at the Texas Cup Matches, which matched a team of Texas amateurs against a team of Texas professionals. Goldman represented the amateurs, while Byron Nelson, who had turned professional in 1932, played for the professional side.

Goldman also represented the United States on two World Amateur Championship teams, competing in 1967 and helping the American team to victory in 1969. That same year, he won the Western Senior Amateur title.

Goldman embodied the best of amateur golf, competing with skill, resilience, and a lifelong love of the game. His legacy remains firmly woven into Texas golf history.