As captain of the West Point golf team in 1960 Bert Yancey ranked alongside Jack Nicklaus as one of the best college golfers in the nation. But mental illness forced his admission to a psychiatric hospital for nine months. Bert’s illness subsided and he rose to stardom on the PGA Tour in the late 60s and early 70s. He won seven tournaments, had six top-five finishes in majors and led the Tour in putting for eleven years.

But in a series of bizarre incidents, Bert was arrested, incarcerated, and committed to mental hospitals. He was diagnosed with manic depressive illness (now called bi-polar disorder) and prescribed lithium. The drug caused hand tremors that ruined Bert’s swing and he had to quit the Tour in 1976. Finally, in 1984, a doctor tried a new drug that stopped the tremors and his erratic behavior. Bert returned to golf, playing the Florida mini-tour in 1986 and later joining the PGA Champions Tour.

Through public speaking and hosting charitable events, Bert worked hard to raise awareness about mental illness. At age 56, as he was getting ready to tee off in a Champions Tour event, Bert suffered a fatal heart attack. Tom Weiskopf won the tournament and dedicated the win to his good friend, Bert.

“Blue Green” is a documentary film to be broadcast nationally that will tell Bert’s inspiring story and help eliminate the stigma surrounding bi-polar disorder and other mental illnesses.

As part of our mission to promote recovery and optimize the quality of life for those living with mental illness, NAMI NC, the National Alliance on Mental Illness North Carolina is pleased to be a partner in the production of this very noteworthy project.

NAMI NC is in the process of raising $175,000 for the high definition television production—and we need your help! To support the Blue Green production and help eliminate stigma, please click on the icon below to make a credit card donation or send a check to NAMI NC “Blue Green” Fund, 309 W. Millbrook Road, Suite 121, Raleigh, NC 27609.