Bobby Jones Golf Club News Archives

Friends of Bobby Jones Golf Club looks into the archives of newspapers and newsmakers, with selected articles that bring history alive

 Sarasota Open welcomes disc golfers

Friday, May 20, 2011

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

By Thomas Becnel

This weekend, some of the best disc golfers in Florida will compete in the Sarasota Open. Next weekend, some of the most enthusiastic disc golfers will compete in the Sarasota Amateur Championships.

What does this mean? This means that casual and curious disc golfers can go out watch this weekend - admission is free - and then apply what they’ve learned next weekend. Both tournaments are sponsored by the Sarasota Sky Pilots, the local disc golf club.

In disc golf, players throw discs toward chain-link baskets that serve as holes. Scoring is the same as regular golf, with pars and birdies and bogeys.

The Sky Pilots have several hundred members – too many for one tournament weekend. “We’ve had to split it up for about 10 years now,” said Tim Willis, a former club president, “because it fills up.”

On Saturday, the Sarasota Open will begin at 9 a.m. on the executive course of the Bobby Jones Golf Club, 1000 Circus Blvd., off Fruitville Road. This will be a treat for the disc golf crowd. “It’s such a nice place to play,” said Willis. “The rough there is as good as the fairways at North Water Tower Park.”

On Sunday, the Sarasota Open will continue at 9 a.m. at North Water Tower Park, 4700 Rilma Ave., off 47thStreet. This woodsy course used to be famous – or infamous – for holes surrounded by thick tangles of brush. “The park is much more cleared out than it was in the past,” Willis said. “And we have regular work days.”

The best Sarasota players include Bryan Moore and Gregg Hosfeld, who has won senior national championships.

BRITISH COURSE FINALLY REOPENS AT BOBBY JONES

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

October 9, 2008

The renovated British Course at Bobby Jones Golf Club opened Oct. 1 and City of Sarasota dignitaries teed it up in an official opening day tournament. Then, the fun begins on the weekend.

More than 100 members and friends of the Sarasota Bay Parrot Head Club got into the swing of things with cold beverages, costumes and Jimmy Buffett tunes to jazz up its Alzheimner’s charity tournament.

In the first week, everyone wanted to get a glimpse of the $250,000 new greens on the British Course, which had been closed since May.

Bobby Jones may be the only club in America with a municipal price tag, but a country club feel. It costs $7 to walk nine holes and $11 to walk 18 on the two courses, and right now that is a deal, especially for the British.

The one major change on the British on the par-3 fourth hole, but it only affects low handicappers, who play from the back/blue tees.

The tee box was moved back and considerably to the left. It plays about 175 yards and is all carry over a lake. The good news is that there is no angle and a direct shot takes a right greenside bunker out of harm’s way.

Play the course on a weekday in the mid- to late-afternoon, and you won’t have anyone in front or behind you. Normally, that’s a perk reserved for country clubs. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Upcoming events

The City of Sarasota Junior Tournament will be held Oct. 18-19 at the Bobby Jones Golf Club. This is a nationally ranked tournament. To enter, call Paul Michaud at 955-8097, Ext. 4. Entry fee is $35.

Susan Martin has been promoted to Manager of Bobby Jones Golf Course, replacing Ray Grady

JULY 10, 2008

RADIO SRQ

By RadioSRQ

Sarasota, FL: Susan Martin has been promoted to Manager of Bobby Jones Golf Course, replacing Ray Grady who resigned this week. “I’m excited and looking forward to getting to know the golfers here at Bobby Jones,” said Sue Martin, Bobby Jones Golf Course Manager. “It’s a wonderful facility. I look forward to working with the employees and moving the golf course forward.” Martin has been employed by the City of Sarasota since 2005 as the Manager of Recreation and Sports. Her duties have focused on the smooth operation of Ed Smith Stadium and the Skate Park.

Bobby Jones is the 45-hole municipal facility operated by the City of Sarasota. The course opened with 36 holes in 1927, and another nine hole course was added in 1977. Bobby Jones Golf Club has received 1st place Readers Choice Awards from the Herald Tribune for Best Public/Semi-Private Golf Course eleven times in the past twelve years.

Sarasota Golf Complex Work Under Fire

April 22, 1992

SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE

By SALLY B. KESTIN  Staff Writer 

The city of Sarasota wasted $1.8 million on a botched renovation of the municipal Bobby Jones Golf Complex, according to three of the city commissioners.

"We just got taken to the cleaners," Commissioner Nora Patterson said Tuesday of the renovation of the American Course, completed in 1988. She said the project was "badly done" and a waste of money.

Mayor Jack Gurney said the greens and tees on the course still need work.

“The layout is basically screwy,” he said. “You’ve got fairways crossing fairways. It was not a successful renovation.”

Commissioner David Merrill called the project “a total financial disaster.”

The commission voted 3-1 Monday, with Merrill dissenting, to look at alternatives for operating the golf complex, which has lost money since the renovation.

Deputy City Manager Peter Schneider said Tuesday that the city learned after the project was finished that greens and irrigation system hadn’t been properly constructed.

Schneider said he did not know how the problems occurred.

Schneider, whose duties include overseeing the golf complex, said he arrived in March 1988 after most of the work had been completed. At the time, “there was no reason for me to believe there was anything wrong,” he said.

The city attorney looked into whether a claim could be filed against Prince Contracting, the private contractor that did the job, but “concluded we did not have a basis to proceed with a claim,” Schneider said. “There was not sufficient evidence to go after them.”

No one from Prince Contracting could be reached Tuesday evening. 

Legends Had Tee Times at Bobby Jones GC

July 4, 1990

BOBBY JONES GC

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Tee Times For Legends, Even Jones

By CHRIS ANDERSON Staff Writer

In 1926, golf course architect Donald Ross had a field of dreams.

If you build it, they will come.

Far-fetched? Maybe not. With a vision from Ross, the Bobby Jones Golf Course was built on city property in Sarasota. And they came in droves. From Walter Hagen to Babe Ruth, from Tommy Armour to Dizzy Dean, celebrities and golfing enthusiasts alike lined up to play the Augusta National of its time.

And yes, the course’s namesake -  Bobby Jones – played there too.

Very few people who play at the Bobby Jones Golf Complex today are aware that Jones stalked the same fairways some 60 years ago. Even the general manager of the complex, Ray Grady, wasn’t so sure himself. But a call from ABC Sports producer Frank Hannigan before this year’s Chrysler Cup tournament prompted an inquiry.

“They called about three weeks before,” Grady said. “He (Hannigan) said, ‘I understand there’s a lot of heritage connected with your course.’ Verbally, I heard Jones had played out here, but I’d never seen it in fact. I said I’d check up on it.”

Then came a long shot stroke of luck. It turned out Grady’s wife, Sue, works with the former Melody Johnston (now Melodoy Pulikowski). Upon her husband’s insistence, Sue Grady asked Pulikowski if she was any relation to Everett Johnston. Pulikowski said yes and that Everett Johnston was her grandfather.

Everett Johnston had been general manager at the old Bobby Jones course, a job he started in 1926, even before the course was completed. Through the years, Johnston had kept a scrapbook detailing the events of the course. The book was passed to his son, Francis (who, at 18, legally changed his name to Everett) Johnston of Sarasota, Melody’s father.

“My mom passed it down to me and told me to take care of it,” Everett Johnston said.

Grady asked to see the memoirs. What he saw astonished him.

“I called (ABC) back and told them I’ve substantiated Bobby Jones was here,” Grady said, “A lot of people didn’t know for sure.”

ABC later ran a brief feature on Bobby Jones and the course during this year’s Chrysler Cup.

One of the articles in the scrapbook was from the Sarasota Herald, dated Feb. 13, 1927. The account was as follows:

“Sarasota’s Bobby Jones Golf Course was officially dedicated Sunday afternoon when Bobby himself cut the strands of red, white and blue ribbons that barred the first tee and amid the cheers led by Jules Brazil drive the first ball of the day straight and true down the first fairway.”

There are now 36 holes at the Bobby Jones golf course: 18 on the American course and 18 on the British course. Each nine is named after the golf courses where Jones won golf’s Grand Slam in 1930. The American has Merion (front) and Interlachen (back) and the British has St. Andrews (front) and Hoylake (back).

The original 18 were made up of the Hoylake and Interlachen nines. St. Andrews was added in 1952 and Merion in 1967.

On the day before the course’s dedication in 1927, however, it was rumored that the course was still without a name. Some felt it should be named in honor of Col. J. Hamilton Gillespie, Sarasota’s first mayor.

(It has been documented that Gillespie may have been the first person to play golf in the United States. Gillespie arrived in Sarasota from Scotland in 1885. It is said one of the first things he did upon arrival was play golf.

Gillespie, who died playing the game on Sept. 7, 1923, is credited with introducing golf to Florida. Gillespie originally built a few golf holes in 1886 in downtown Sarasota, not far from where the present main Post Office building sits.

The USGA recognizes St. Andrews in Yonkers, N.Y., as the birthplace of golf in the United States. The St. Andrews club was built in 1888. But even noted columnist of his day, Joe Williams of the New York World Telegram, supported Sarasota’s claim to having the first golf course in the U.S.

“The Sarasota Golf Club preceded the Yonkers by two years,” wrote Williams on March 21, 1935.)

The executive layout at the Bobby Jones complex today, which was opened in 1977, is named in Gillespie’s honor.

At a party on the eve of the course’s opening in 1927, it was suggested and agreed that Bobby Jones would be the namesake. Jones’ name was alluring and after all, he was the opening guest of honor. Jones was in the midst of an eight-year reign as golf’s premier player, in which he would win 13 of the 21 major championships from 1923 through 1930.

For participating in the course’s opening, Jones – an amateur throughout his career – was presented a Pierce Arrow automobile. Jones partook in a stroke-play match with Louis Lancaster as his partner. Watts Gunn and Jim Senter were the opponents.

Gunn placed second in the National Amateur in 1926, a tournament won by Jones. Lancaster was the President of the West Coast Golf League, and Senter was the low man on the Sarasota city league team.

A crowd of 1,500 attended the match, watching its competitors play in high winds. Jones and Lancaster won the match by eight shots. Jones shot 73 (38-35) for the round and Gunn came in with a 75 (38-37).

From that day, the course’s reputation spread high, far and wide. “Your municipal golf course is without a doubt one of the finest in the United States,” J.H. Wier, appointed by President Calvin Coolidge to make a survey of the country’s municipalities, told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

The greens fees at the course, which has always been owned and operated by the city, was 75 cents when it opened. They are now $6 in the summer and $11 in the winter.

Many of golf’s great names have played the course. So have a host of baseball players. Even some that have plaques in Cooperstown.

In 1931, Bob Burke, Lloyd Brown and Roy Spencer of the Washington Senators played every during the winter. Ted McGraw, a National League umpire, was also a member. In 1932, Donie Bush, manager of the Chicago White Sox in 1930-31, joined.

The best-rated amateur of the club in ’32 was E.G. Braxton, who played for the Milwaukee Amateur Baseball Club.

In 1933, the club held a baseball players’ tournament. Among the participants were Dusty Rhodes of the Boston Red Sox and Dizzy Dean and Jimmy Wilson of the St. Louis Cardinals.

In 1935, Don Newburn won the City Championship at the course, beating Paul Waner of the Pirates and Wes Farrell of the Red Sox.

Even Babe Ruth himself played the course. Johnston said at one time he had a photo of the Bambino in his collection.

Ruth also was a friend of Jones. Ruth appeared in a Warner Brothers instructional golf tape with Jones in 1930-31 as part of a series. The critically acclaimed tapes were recently released.

Golfing greats flocked as well. In 1934, George R. Jacobus (then president of the PGA) was named pro at Bobby Jones. From the Sarasota Herald, “Mr. Jacobus is the czar of golf as Judge Landis is to baseball.”

Golfing immortals Tommy Armour, Gene Sarazen and Walter Hagen also played the course. Helen Hicks, a Women’s National Open champion, played as well.

There were also several interesting (if not strange) games that were played in the early days.

In 1928, the area caught a glimpse of “Indian golf” in which a team of archers played a team of golfers. For the archers, targets were set up in the middle of the green. They were shot at until the bull’s eye was hit. Low score won the hole.

In 1930, there was an event called a “tombstone tourney.” Each golfer was looted a certain number of strokes. When a player ran out of the allotment of shots, a tombstone was placed on the very spot.

The player that expired the farthest on the course was declared the winner.

Thanks to Donald Ross and Bobby Jones, everyone’s game has improved. If only a little.

Bobby Jones Resignation Marks Continued Strife

January 4, 1982

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

By ROBIN SIMMONS, Herald-Tribune Reporter

The assistant director of Bobby Jones Golf Club, Steve King, is quitting – one of at least 81 city employees who have left the club in the past five years.

City officials say the turnover in that kind of operation, either in the public or private sector, is not uncommon.

King said recently that he no longer wanted to work under Manager Martin Alden because of their persistent personality conflicts.

King, who intends to submit his resignation today, also claims that he has been pressured to quit.

Alden was recently accused of criminal mischief by one of the club waitresses, Pat Collins. He has since been exonerated of that charge.

Collins, who has accused Alden of letting the air out of one of her car tires, was fired immediately following a jury verdict.

Another club employee and groundskeeper, Jim Thornburg, who testified on behalf of the prosecution, was also fired soon after the trial.

Kind said Alden had tried to get him fired since the trial and had given him poor evaluations on his job performance.

Alden was away on vacation and could not be reached for comment. But Parks and Recreation Director Howard Ermisch said both he and Alden have merely informed King recently that he was not working up to par.

“Let him resign…good for him,” Ermisch said emphatically. “King hasn’t had any pressure to resign. That’s nonsense. We have just squared him away on his responsibilities, that’s all.”

But numerous other city employees in the club’s restaurant have reiterated King’s complaints, accusing Alden of being insensitive, demanding and unfair to the workers. The employees talked only on condition that their names not be used.

All employees interviewed by the Herald-Tribune said they have not filed complaints about the alleged problems because they fear they will be fired if they do.

The club employs a total of 46 persons for the restaurant and golf course. Since 1976, there had been a complete turnover of employees twice, according to records from the club.

City Manager Ken Thompson said any city employee can speak without fear of retribution. He also said a high turnover rate is not uncommon in restaurant operations, including those in the private sector.

“It’s always like that with the waitress-level groups,” said Thompson. “There has been unhappiness there (among the employees at the club), and there will continue to be unhappiness.”

“The club has always been a generator of complaints.” He said, “but which never warranted action against Alden.”

Thompson noted that Alden was appointed to the golf club job more because of his experience with park maintenance for the golf course rather than on managerial skills 

“I guess the employees cannot stand management that demands work,” Ermisch responded.

Gator Creek, Bent Tree To Host Open Qualifying

May 13, 1981

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

By JIM ACHENBACH, Herald-Tribune Reporter

Included in the collection are amateurs Bob Michael, Paul Azinger and Bob Petehaeur and professionals Rick Pearson, Joe Steneik, Lew Smither III, Mike Toale and Tony Chapin. All are from Sarasota except Bradenton golfers Pearson and Chapin.

Question: Who was the only golfer to advance through last year’s Sarasota qualifier and end up at the Open?

Answer: Jim Dent, the long-hitting veteran of the pro tour who nobly survived the Open’s 36-hole cut at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J.

Pearson, the assistant pro at Bobby Jones Golf Club, has drawn the honor of playing with Dent. 

The Sarasota City Championship gets underway the weekend of May 23-24 at Bobby Jones Golf Club. The tournament annually draws the top talent from around the Sarasota area.

The 72-hole event, in which Paul Azinger scored a dramatic sudden death victory last year, will conclude on the weekend of May 30-31. The European Course at Bobby Jones will be used for all four rounds of the tourney.

The entry fee for the City Championship is $35, and entry forms are available at many area golf courses. For more information, contact the Bobby Jones golf shop.

Flights in the event are determined after 36 holes and prizes are awarded on the basis of 72-hole gross scores. The tournament is commendably run each year by manager Martin Alden and assistant manager Steve King of Bobby Jones.

Question: Who has won the City Championship since its revival in 1972?

Answer: Charlie Altman, Phil Young, Tim Schroyer, Jay Williams, Lew Smither III, Ralph Raymond Jr., Carter Parry Jr., Bob Michael and Paul Azinger. No golfer has been able to win it twice.

BEST-BALL CHAMPS REPEAT

Monday, October 6, 1980

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Paul Azinger and Bonnie Graham successfully defended their Sarasota City Best-Ball Golf Championship in action Sunday at Bobby Jones Golf Club, adding a 66 to the 62 they fired in the first round.

Azinger and Graham, with their 16-under-par total of 128, won the event by a whopping seven strokes over two teams, Bob Michael and Mike Healy, and Dan Smith and Lee Bennett. The Michael-Healy duo shot 66-69, while the Smith-Bennett team had a 67-68.

Azinger, a member of the golf team at Florida State University, fired a 62 on his own ball in the first round as he and Graham pulled away to a four-stroke lead. The two increased the margin the second day as they teamed well together in the best-ball competition, in which a team used its lower score on each hole.

City To Renovate Bobby Jones Greens

June 3, 1980

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

By JIM ACHENBACH

If golf courses could talk, the British Course at Bobby Jones Golf Club might say, “Well, they won’t have good old Bobby Jones to kick around any more.”

With the conclusion Sunday of the Sarasota City Amateur Golf Championship at the city-owned Bobby Jones facility, local golfers have seen the last of the highly criticized greens on BJ’s British Course. All the greens will be torn up and replanted, so players in next year’s City Championship will compete on brand new putting surfaces.

For a municipal facility, Bobby Jones does the job that it is intended to do. Its 45 holes of golf provide an extensive recreation facility for Sarasota residents.

Still, to be honest, the greens at Bobby Jones are the worst in the area. It’s no secret. BJ’s British Course is a superb tournament course, and the City Championship is always a well-organized and well-run event. But the greens, because of all the foreign grass they contain, annually become the subject of debate and controversy.

Players often watch in horror as their putts zig-zag across the greens. Sometimes the frustration turns to humor, as was the case this year with one of Sarasota’s leading amateurs. After missing several short putts during the day, the golfer turned to his playing partners on the 16thgreen and said, “I’m almost afraid to hit this putt because I might damage some of the exotic plants growing between my ball and the hole.”

“We’ve had this in the works for three or four years,” confirmed Bobby Jones manager Martin Alden. “We had a good winter season, and now we’ve got the funds to go ahead with it.”

Starting June 17, the greens on the British Course will be completed stripped of grass. The soil will be torn up to a depth of eight or 10 inches and enriched with various ingredients.

Next comes a fumigation process, which is designed to stop diseases, insects and weeds. All the greens will be covered with canvas for at least 48 hours after they are sprayed.

Finally, the greens will be graded and then planted with Bermuda grass (the 328 strain). About two months after that, the greens will be playable.

“The course actually will be shut down only about two weeks,” said Alden. “We will cut some temporary greens, and golfers will play on those until the new putting surfaces are ready.”

In the two weeks that the British Course is closed, other maintenance will be performed. Alden says the fairways will be sprayed to get rid of unwanted weeds and grass. In addition, several of the tees will be leveled and smoothed.

“We want the best golf course we can get.” Alden said, “Maybe next year we can work on the American Course. We’re always trying to improve the facility.”

Sarasota’s Paul Azinger, who won the city title with a sudden death victory over Marty Herring of the University of South Florida, used a 25-year-old Tommy Armour Iron Master putter during the tournament.

Azinger paid $70 for the putter, which is a collector’s item and currently has a market value of about $125.

Not content with the way he is driving the ball, Azinger also is waiting patiently for a new driver from Sarasota club-maker Joe Powell. The 20-year-old Azinger who will be a junior at Florida State University, recently started using a new set of Ben Hogan Apex irons.

Azinger, Graham Capture Best-Ball

Monday, October 15, 1979

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

By Jim Achenbach, Herald-Tribune Sports Reporter

Paul Azinger and Bonnie Graham turned back a challenge from Scott Dunlap and Mike Domalske and captured the Sarasota City Best-Ball Golf Championship with a record score Sunday in action at Bobby Jones Golf Club.

Azinger and Graham, who opened the team event with a spectacular 8-under-par 64, added a 69 Sunday to finish the 36-hole competition with a 133 total. Dunlap and Domalske were two strokes back at 135 after rounds of 65 and 70.

Greg Howe and Tim Fieldhouse finished third with a 136 score, as teenager golfers dominated the tournament. Among the top three teams, only the 22-year-old Graham is not a teenager.

The 15th and 16th holes proved to be pivotal for Azinger and Graham.

With Dunlap and Domalske just two strokes back after 14 holes of the final round, Domalske hit the par five 15th with his second shot but then three-putted and failed to pick up a stroke.

Dunlap sank a 25-foot birdie putt at 16 to put the pressure on Azinger, who responded with a 12-foot birdie putt of his own.

“We were a solid team,” said Azinger, a student and member of the golf team at Brevard Community College in Cocoa. “Bonnie made a big putt at No. 9 that was very important, and I followed that with a birdie at No 10.”

Graham banged home a 20-foot par putt at the ninth hole to prevent a bogey for the team, and then Domalske faltered with a three-putt effort on the same hole.

When Azinger hit a wedge shot with a foot of the cup at the 10th, Domalske and Dunlap fell another shot behind. They were unable to close the gap to less than two strokes, and the title belonged to Azinger and Graham.

The tournament marked the first time Azinger and Graham played together in a team event. Graham is the son of Bonnie Graham Sr., owner of Village Green Golf Club in Sarasota.

Azinger is the No. 2 man on the Brevard golf team, behind Sarasota’s Rick Stallings. He finished second to Bob Michael in this summer’s Sarasota City Championship at Bobby Jones.

For the 36 holes of the City Best Ball, Azinger totaled 11 birdies as he continually bombarded the flag with iron shots.

Looking at flight competition, the most impressive victories were posted by three separate teams. Curtis Timm and Bill Early in first flight, Tom Russell and Larry Kibler in second flight and George Howel land Dick Olsen in fifth flight. All three teams produced three-shot triumphs in their flights.

Championship Flight

Paul Azinger and Bonnie Graham, 64-69 – 133. Scott Dunlap and Mike Domalske, 65-75 – 135, Greg Howe and Tim Fieldhouse, 66-70 – 136, Bob Hinson and Ken Sharpe, 68-69 – 137, Bob Michaela nd Mike Healy, 64-73 – 139, Rick Stallings and Tim Shrover, 69-71 – 140, Phil Wagoner and D. Litton, 69-71 – 140.

First Flight

Curtis Timm and Bill Early, 71-68 – 139, Ron Clayton and Tommy Holmes, 70-71 – 141, Clyde Mumma and Clay Lundquist, 70-73 – 143, Wayne Powers and Jim Achenbach, 70, Rick Kertikowski and Dan Gallagher, 70-77 – 147, Bill Montgomery and Rick Westover, 70-77 – 147, Steve Foster and Dale Dickinson, 70-77 – 147, Glen Tate and Mike Harris, 70-77 – 147.

Second Flight

Tom Russell and Larry Kibler, 71-68 – 139, Stu Molyneaux and Rudy Alabach, 72-70 – 142, Dale Mast and Dick Howard, 71-73 – 144, Bud Pearson and Paul Reese, 71-73 – 144, Don Stephenson and Colin Coniger, 71, D. Knowles and Gordon Powers, 71-74 – 145, Brent Pinkerton and Ron Wander, 72-73 – 145, Pete Swanz and Gary Smither, 72-73 – 145.

Third Flight

Chris Tanner and Tom Leverone, 73-72 – 145, David Alden and Tom Swain, 73-73 – 146, Wd Schmidt and Tommy Thompson, 73-74 -147, John Graw Sr. and John Graw Jr., 73-74 – 147, Gary Hamilton and Jody Hudson, 73-74 – 147, Bill Koy and Marshall Manning, 73-75 – 148, Joe Dana and Chris Edwards, 73-75 – 148.

Fourth Flight

Don Hines and Walter Capatino, 74-71 – 145, Jim Shatley and Bill Brennan, 74-71 – 145, Ken Marshall and Randy Concello, 75-71 – 146, Bill Dunlap and Walter Mike Domalske, 74-73 – 147, Larry Treiber and Jeff Winston, 74-73 – 147, Ralph Raymond Jr. and Earl Goodrow, 74-73 – 147.

Fifth Flight

George Howell and Dick Olsen, 76-75 – 151, Bruce Mohr and Dale Hosfeld, 76-78 – 154, Pat Feheley and M Gardella, 76-80 – 156, Bill Hanmna and Phil Merritt, 77-80 – 157, Terry Miller and Wibie Hiner, 77-80 – 157, Russ Hess and Paul Davis, 77-80 – 157, Terry Nutter and Ted Gallo, 77-80 – 157, Borden and Malcolm Borden, 76-81 – 157.

Sixth Flight

Jack Betz and Red Ermisch, 79-75 – 154, Tim Eisnaugie and Steve Ricks, 78-78 – 156, Jim Hobson and Jim Hobson, 79-78 – 157, Jerry Stilley and Russ Kines, 78-79 – 157.

Seventh Flight 

George Kaver and Bruno Yankarelli, 80-83 – 163, Marty Miller and Jack Craig, 80-84 – 164, Ned Eisberry and Jim Parks, 80-84 – 164, Fred Runnells and Russ Weldy, 83-81 – 164.

This Week in Golf History March 3-9

February 21, 2003

By Golf Channel Digital 

March 4, 1979

Mickey Wright has a teen-ager on the bag 19-year-old Paul Azinger of Sarasota at the Bent Tree Classic in Sarasota. Azinger drew Wright’s name out of a caddie pool and caddied four days, one in the pro-am and three in the tournament.

Best Ball Deadline Near

July 13, 1976

Sarasota Journal

The entry list in this weekends’ Ladies Partners Best Ball Golf Championship has reached 35, and Bobby Jones Golf Club assistant manager Leo O’Grady anticipates at least 15 more entries before Wednesday’s 5 P.M. deadline.

The event, which will be held at Bobby Jones and is co-sponsored by Bobby Jones and the Sarasota Journal has attracted some of the finest women amateurs on the West Coast of Florida. Among the contestants are three-time Ladies Four-County champion Judy Coates of Sarasota and this year’s winner, Betty Jean Hood of Bradenton.

Coate’s partner will be Judy Colvin, while Hood will be teamed with Betty Hyslop.

Also entered in the competition is Jean Azinger and her partner, Liz Charles, the latter a former Indiana state women’s champion.

The tourney was conceived by Bobby Jones manager Martin Alden, who wanted to give women in the area a major partners tournament, something they have not had in the past.

Those wishing to enter must register at Bobby Jones before 5 p.m. Wednesday. The 36-hole event will take place Saturday and Sunday.

Golfing Great Bobby Jones Dies At 69

December 19, 1971

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

“We have lost the greatest figure in golf that this country has ever produced, the world has ever produced.” – P.J. Boatwright, executive director of the United States Golf Association

Florida State Junior Golf Championship

August 12, 1971

The Evening Independent

SARASOTA– Bobby Jones Golf Club British Course

Last July, Bobby Jones hosted the state junior golf tournament. Only Gary Koch, a Temple Terrace golfer who has played the course frequently, broke par. He had a 213 on a par 216 for 54 holes.                                                                                

Florida Boys Junior Golf Championship

1970   Bobby Jones Golf Club 

Age 16-18   Gary Koch, Sarasota 69-72-72-213

Age 13-15   Bob Prindle III, Lake Park 75-80-77-232

1969

Age 16-18   Gary Koch, Sarasota

Age 13-15   Jim Peeples, Tampa

1968

Age 16-18   Gary Koch, Sarasota

Age 13-15   Bob Dyke, Eau Gallie

1967

Age 16-18   Mike Killian, St. Petersburg

Age 13-15   Gary Koch, Sarasota

“Bogey Man” A Buddy

July 10, 1970

The Evening Independent

SARASOTA– For most of Thursday’s second round in the Florida Junior Golf Championship, St. Petersburg’s Buddy Alexander was in second place. At the end, though, he was deadlocked for the top spot with Gary Koch, the defending champion from Tampa.

Tampa’s Koch bogeyed each of the final two holes on the Bobby Jones Golf Club course and settled for a 69-72-171 total. Alexander’s figures are identical.

Close behind the co-leaders are St. Petersburg’s Pete Wells, whose 71 left him at 142 and John Duggan of Fort Lauderdale. Duggan carded a 72 for the same total.

Struggling home in 75 was first-round leader Jay Rickles of Miami Beach. Rickle’s opening 68 placed him fifth at 143. He’s tied with Miami’s Gene Rucker.

ELMER W. HARBERT, 80, DIES

JUNE 25, 1968

BATTLE CREEK ENQUIRER

E. W. HARBERT

Elmer W. “Harb” Harbert, 80, well-known former local golf professional at the Battle Creek and Marywood Country Clubs, died today in Cordele, Ga., from multiple injuries suffered there June 18 in an automobile accident. Harbert and his wife, Gloia, married 62 years, resided in Sarasota, Fla., where he also was former pro at the Bobby Jones Golf Course.

Mrs. Harbert was seriously injured in the accident and a daughter, Mrs. Mercedes Berger of Sarasota, suffered minor injuries. Mr. Harbert was the father of former professional golfer Melvin R. “Chick” Harbert, former local pro who is now vice president of the General Development Corp. of Florida, a real estate firm. “Chick” Harbert, in his active playing days, was a Professional Golf Association (PGA) champion and a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

Mr. Harbert was born April 15, 1888, in Union, Ohio, the son of John B. and Lillian Harbert. His initial contact with golf was on his first job with the Dayton Last Works, a firm which manufactured golf shoes, bowling alleys and golf equipment. Mr. Harbert, who started as messenger, worked his way to become a special club maker, earning the reputation being one of the best-known craftsmen in the golf equipment industry. When married in 1906, he was with the Crawford, Mac-Gregor & Camby Golf Co. in Dayton, Ohio. His years in the equipment end of the sport evolved into his becoming an expert in golf course architecture and then as a professional player. He took his first job as a pro 1917 at the Sharon, Pa., Country Club. In 1918, he took over a three-club combination Marion, Huntington and Wabash, Ind. This post he held until 1921 when he and his wife became the pro-manager at the Richmond, Ind., club, positions they held until they came here in 1926.

The elder Mr. Harbert first came to Battle Creek in 1926 to become pro at the Battle Creek Country Club. He stayed there 10 years and then became the pro at Marywood Country Club when his son “Chick” became the pro at the Battle Creek CC. In 1941 “Chick” went into the service and his father returned as the pro at the Bound Over on top of at Herbert, Battle Creek CC a post he held until 1947 when he and his wife moved to Hamilton, Ohio, take over the management the Elks Country Club. They retired in 1948 and moved to Sarasota where they had built a winter home in 1940.

Mr. Harbert had been honored with a life membership in the PGA. He served in several official capacities with the national organization and the Indiana and Michigan PGA groups. Mrs. Harbert was to accompany her husband's body in a flight to Sarasota today by private aircraft. The injured daughter also is accompanying her mother. Son “Chick” flew from Miami to assist in the arrangements. Also surviving is another son, Virgil, of Sarasota. Funeral Services are incomplete pending transfer of the body to Florida.

Gillespie Tournament Deadline Drawing Near

July 12, 1964

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Sarasota’s second annual Gillespie invitational golf tournament promises to be oversold well ahead of Tuesday night’s deadline for registration, it was announced by Pat Hall, golf pro at Bobby Jones.

Contestant spots are set up for 432 golfers in the two-day meet at Bobby Jones next weekend. As of Friday morning, only 18 of these places were left.

Publicity chairman Gil Waters reported that the affair is being received with great interest by the national golf press and will be covered by area television. U.S. Golfers and Golf Life have already requested stories on the two-day men’s open.

The tourney gets underway Saturday morning with a simultaneous shotgun start. Pairings will be announced later this week. Golfers will play either Saturday morning, Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning.

Sunday afternoon is being reserved should a playoff be required.

Scoring will be by the Calloway system. Prizes are being awarded by W. T. Robarts, tournament sponsor, who annually sets up the event in honor of J. Hamilton Gillespie, who brought modern golf to America when he established the first two-hole course here in Sarasota in 1896.

In addition to the 13 trophies, Marble Head Corporation, in cooperation with Hall, is setting up five additional prizes. A set of their marble insert Rocknocker drivers will go to the low gross winner in the championship flight and four Marblehead putters will go to other flight winners.

Registration forms are available at Maas Brother, Robarts Funeral Home and Bobby Jones.

Gillespie Golf Gets 300 Entries

July 9, 1964

St. Petersburg Times

SARASOTA

Some 300 entries have been received for the second annual Gillespie Golf Tournament July 18-19, according to pro Pat Hall of the host Bobby Jones Golf Club.

Only 420 entries will be accepted through the beginning of next week, Hall said.

PAIRING forms are in the pro shop at Bobby Jones, Maas Brothers, and Robarts Funeral Home.

Thirteen trophies will be presented by sponsor W.T. (Willie) Robarts.

Hall announced that low gross winner in the championship flight will take home a set of Sarasota-made Marblehead woods, while four Marblehead putters will go to the top man in each flight.

THERE WILL BE a shotgun start, with scoring by Callaway system. Registration fee is $1 and there is no green fee.

A SARASOTA glimpse at bob jones

Negroes Play Golf At Bobby Jones Course

February 12, 1959

SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE 

Four Negroes - Robert Thomas, Colbert Davis, Eddie Rainey, Sr., and Eddie Lewis - played golf at city-owned Bobby Jones Golf Club Wednesday afternoon.

Rainey said after they completed play - 16 holes - that "we couldn't have been treated better."

Thomas contacted City Manager Ken Thompson about playing at Bobby Jones on Tuesday. Thompson told Thomas:

"The City has no right to deny your playing."

Thompson reported Thomas said that his group “didn’t want to cause any trouble; would be unobstrusive; didn’t care to use clubhouse facilities, wasn’t trying to strike a blow for integration – we just would like to play golf.”

Thomas said that he and the others all had “grown up in Sarasota as caddies at Bobby Jones. They used to let us play then. In order for us to play golf now we must drive to Tampa. The course there isn’t in good condition and the expense of the trip makes it difficult.”

Thomas and Rainey indicated that they hoped to play when it was convenient. All said they planned to take advantage of the reduced rates which are in effect each day after 3:30 p.m.

Club Manager Harry Schaefer was notified by Thompson that the Negroes might appear at the course Wednesday and Schaefer met the golfers and outlined rules and regulations of the Club.

Pleasant weather helped bring our more than 300 players for the day and no incidents were reported. Mrs. Gladys Haenggi, for many years hostess at the municipal club, said that Negroes tried to play at Bobby Jones soon after World War II – “1946 or ’47 and I ran them off.”

Prior to World War II caddies were given permission to play on certain afternoons after most of the golfers had left the course, Mrs. Haenggi recalled.

Negroes are known to be permitted to play on public courses in Florida at Pensacola and Miami.

Negro Golfers Play Sarasota City Course

February 12, 1959

ST. PETERSBURG TIMES

SARASOTA– Four Newtown Negroes played golf at city-owned Bobby Jones Golf Course yesterday afternoon. There were no incidents.

The event came as no surprise to city officials since the four had announced their intentions to City Manager Kenneth Thompson Tuesday.

The four who played were Eddie Lewis, Colbert Davis, Robert Rainey Sr. and Robert Thomas, all of Sarasota. Thomas said he was 32. The others did not give their ages.

They appeared about 3:30 p.m., registered at the pro shop and played the course quietly among several parties of white men and women.

Club manager Harry Schaefer had been informed of their intentions, and Thompson said Schaefer had been under instructions for about six months to admit Negroes if they appeared.

Thompson said, “They told me they wanted to play golf and they were told the city has no right to deny them the right. They said this was not an integration move.”

Thompson quoted the Negroes as saying they would make no disturbance and would not attempt to use the clubhouse. The City Manager said as former caddies, they had become accustomed to playing in the late afternoon.

Thompson said the Negroes indicated they would like to continue to play.

Thompson said he believes the Negroes “exercised wisdom” in talking to him.

CADDIES ONCE

They told a reporter they had all caddied at the course when they were young, and that they often were allowed to play a few holes in the afternoon when the fairways weren’t crowded.

“We aren’t trying to drive an integration wedge here,” Thomas said. “All we want to do is play golf.”

Thomas said the closet Negro course is in Tampa, 40 miles north. He added it isn’t in very good condition.

The four said they probably would play again when they found time off from their jobs. One is a barber, another works in a grocery store and another in a filling station. Occupation of the fourth man was not learned.

GOLF: THE OLD FOUR BALL 


September 1, 1958

Sports Illustrated

BILL CAREY , Sarasota, Fla.

Herbert Wind's lament about the turn of the annual PGA tournament from match to stroke play (SI, Aug. 4) prompted a pang of reflection. It was this same dollar sign that caused the demise of golf's greatest pro show. That was the old international Four Ball played in the 1930s at the now extinct Miami Country Club.

It was a better-ball event, match play in foursomes, and the galleries loved it. Horton Smith, Paul Runyan, Denny Shute, Johnny Revolta, Byron Nelson, Sam Snead, Jug McSpaden, Wild Bill Mehlhorn, Jimmy Demaret, Ben Hogan, Wiffy Cox, Olin Dutra, Willie Macfarlane, Willie Goggin, Walter Hagen and Gene Sarazen were some of the great ones invited to play in the 32-team event each year.

Matches were over 36 holes and had the meadows full of sparkling foursomes. Par meant little. One or another team member was always going for the birdie. Low ball scores were usually deep in the 60s as the boys went all out on every shot.

The 8th hole was a fine place to check all fronts. You could watch play into No. 4 green, tee shots and second shots on No. 5, the long seconds into No. 7 (a testy par 5 that was birdied and eagled with abandon). No. 8, a 135 par 3 called the "doughnut," an island green surrounded by water, was played with stilettolike deftness. The ball was not bludgeoned with professional might, but caressed and scalpeled to the cup with touching effort that figured every blade of Bermuda between tee and lip. It was not infrequent for a foursome to come away with a total of eight strokes on the hole.

It was on the steps to the clubhouse that bouncing Jim Demaret, after carefully pocketing his share of first-prize money split with partner Ben Hogan, broke into song to entertain the partisan fans he had captured on the course.

Some of Florida's and the nation's best golf history was recorded at the Miami Country Club. And the top chapter, for my money, was the international Four Ball. I wish someone with the cash, courage and devotion to the game would revive it. It was golf's greatest tournament. 


Settled For Archery-Golf

July 3, 1958

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

At a special meeting of the Sarasota Archery Club and the Men’s Golfing Assn. of Bobby Jones Golf Club Wednesday night, last minutes plans were made for the Archery-Golf Tournament set Friday night and Sunday’s invitational archery shoot.

Miss Florida contestants will be present at Bobby Jones, site of the archery-golf tourney, Friday morning at 9 a.m. for the selection of a “Miss Archery” and a “Miss Golf”.

The selection of these two girls will be made by Mayor Frank Hoersting, City Commissioner Jack Turner, and City Manager Ken Thompson. Trophies will be awarded to the two winners.

E. W. HARBERT TO CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARY

JULY 1, 1956

BATTLE CREEK ENQUIRER

COUPLE MARRIED 50 YEARS

MR. AND MRS. E. W. HARBERTS TO CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARY

THE GOLDEN WEDDING anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Harbert, whose careers as golf pro and club manager for years.

The Harberts were married on July 3, 1906, in Dayton, Ohio, with the Rev. Earl Yingling officiating. The bride was the daughter of Napoleon and Tina Kidwell. She was born July 27, 1888, in Pendleton County, Ky., and when she was 12 years old moved to Dayton with her parents. Mr. Harbert was born April 15, 1888, in Ohio, the son of John B. and Lillian Harbert.

Mr. Harbert first went to work in the Dayton Last Works, manufacturers of shoe lasts, bowling alleys and golf equipment. He was a messenger runner and worked up to be an “expert,” then a “special” club maker, earning the reputation of being one of the best-known craftsmen in the golf equipment industry. At the time of the marriage 50 years ago, Mr. Harbert was with the Crawford, MacGregor & Camby Golf Co. in Dayton. The years spent in the golf equipment field led eventually to his becoming an expert in golf architecture and then a professional, taking his first position as a pro in 1917 with the country club at Sharon, Pa. The next year he took over as pro in a three-club combination in Ind., continuing there until 1921.

It was during that period that Mrs. Harbert took up her career as a golf manager, a career which she carried on for 27 years. The manager at the Marion Country Club disappeared from the job and she was called on to pinch-hit. It was exactly her dish, and so she kept up the work, moving in 1921 to Richmond, Ind., where the couple were taken on for the first time as a team, pro and manager.

Then in 1926 came the move to Battle Creek. They came on March 12 of that year to be pro and manager of the Battle Creek Country Club, under the sponsorship of A. L. Miller and other members including the late Fred Sterling, Louis R. Greusel and Dr. Bobo. The Herberts remained there for 10 years and then went to Marywood Country Club while their younger son, Melvin R. (Chick) Harbert, now of national golf fame, took over at the Battle Creek club.

The couple were at Marywood until Chick went into service in 1941 and then they returned to Battle Creek Country Club, staying until 1947. That year they left to take over at the Elks club in Hamilton, Ohio, and in 1948 they retired. Mr. and Mrs. Harbert went to Sarasota, Fla., to reside in the house they had built there in 1940. It continues as their home, but they come to Battle Creek every summer for a lengthy visit with the Colemans and to renew.

Two weeks ago Mr. Harbert was honored with a life membership in the Professional Golfers' Assn. He served on the first board of that organization, and also was the national chairman of the PGA merchandising committee. He was president of the Indiana Professional Golfers’ Assn. He served on the first board of that organization, and also was the national chairman of the PGA merchandising committee. He was president of the Indiana Professional Golfers; Assn. and during his residence in Michigan he was a member of the Michigan PGA and a delegate from it to the national convention. He also was chairman during the war of the Michigan PGA's rehabilitation committees.

Besides their daughter, Mercedes Coleman, and their son, Chick, the Harberts have another son, Virgil, the oldest in the family. There also are five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. 

Virgil Harbert and his wife, Dorothy, live in Sarasota and they have two sons, both married; Elmer, an engineer living in Louisville, Ky., and Gene, an electronics expert in the U.S. Navy, stationed at Jacksonville, Fla.

Chick and his wife, the former Jean Fagan, are the parents of three girls, Dedra, who is 10, Kathy, nine, and Sarah, two.

The great-grandchildren are Sherry, who is Gene's daughter, and Timothy, who is Elmer's son. Chick is now the pro at the Meadowbrook Country Club at Northville. He his playing in the Michigan State Open Golf Tournament at Lake Orion, and his parents were there on Friday to watch him.

Rawls Winner By Stroke Over Dodd in Sarasota Open

February 27, 1956

St. Petersburg Times

SARASOTA (Special) - Betsy Rawls blew most of her lead but managed to survive a blistering late rally by Betty Dodd and win the Babe Zaharias Cancer Fund Golf Tournament here yesterday. Her 291 for four rounds over the Bobby Jones course here was only one stroke better than the effort of Miss Dodd.

Miss Rawls had a six-stroke lead over Louise Suggs and Miss Dodd as the final round got under way. The leader shot a 77, two over par for the 6,395-yard course but Miss Dodd, shooting some of the best golf of her career, finished with a 72, just one stroke off the final pace.

A 76 by Miss Suggs pushed her into a third place tie with Fay Crocker of Montevideo, Uruguay. The latter turned in a final round 72.

The money spread had the winner. Miss Rawls, Spartanburg, S.C. collecting $900. Playing out of San Antonio, Miss Dodd won $630 whole $495 each went to Miss Suggs, Sea Island, Ga., and Miss Crocker.

Other money winners were: Mickey Wright, San Diego, who shot a 298 total and won $392.50; Joyce Ziske, Waterford, Wis., and Marlene Hagge, Asheville, N.C., both with 298s and winners of $297 apiece.

Low amateur in the Suncoast golf attraction was Wiffi Smith of St. Clair, Mich., with a 298.

The sub-par golf of Miss Rawls started to come apart on the very first hole when her second shot went into a ditch and she had to settle for a double bogey. She also had bogies on the second and third holes.

The challenge started to come from Miss Dodd, who was hitting her shots long and straight ahead of a hot putter. At the 14th hole Miss Dodd went ahead by a stroke.

Miss Rawls, her putting goof all day despite troubles in other departments of her game, dropped a 15-footer for a birdie on the 16th that put her in the lead. She parred the 17th while her nearest opponent was taking a bogey. She also parred the final hole and had just enough of a margin to win as Miss Dodd shot a final birdie.

Mrs. Zaharias, the great champion now recovering at her home in Tampa from illness, was driven down here for the final round and following ceremonies.

She was presented a deed to 20 acres of land in a real estate development here and said she hoped some day to see a cancer hospital or clinic there.

Tears came to Mrs. Zaharias’ eyes when as elderly Negro Charlie Carter, who has caddied for her and many top golfers, came forward with a rumpled paper bag full of dimes, nickels and pennies – contributions of the caddies to the cancer fund.

The low scorers:

Betsy Rawls, Spartanburg, S.C., 73-70-71-77-291 ($900)

Betty Dodd, San Antonio, Texas, 73-75-72-72-292 ($630)

Louise Suggs, Sea Island, Ga., 70-75-75-76-296 ($495)

Fay Crocker, Montevideo, Uruguay, 70-74-80-72-296 ($495)

Mickey Wright, San Diego, Calif., 72-73-76-75-297 ($382.50)

Joyce Ziske, Waterford, Wis., 73-74-77-74-298 ($297)

Marlene Hagge, Asheville, N.C., 72-76-77-73-298 ($297)

x- Wiffi Smith, St, Clair, Wis., 75-74-76-73-298

Mary Lena Faulk, Thomasville, Ga., 74-78-76-73-299 ($225)

Patty Berg, Chicago, 75-73-78-74-300 ($168.75)

Betty Jameson, San Antonio, Texas, 73-76-77-74-300 ($168.75)

Vonnie Colby, Hollywood, Fla., 73-76-78-74-301 ($135)

x- Ruth Jessen, Seattle, Wash., 74-74-73-77-304

Beverly Hanson, Apple Valley, Calif., 71-77-80-77-305 ($112.50)

x- Anne Quast, Marysville, Wash., 75-77-77-77-305

Gloria Fecht, Los Angeles, 76-79-76-77-308 ($103.50)

Alice Bauer, SARASOTA, 75-76-78-79-308 ($90)

Bonnie Randolph, Columbus, Ohio, 74-78-80-73-310

Peggy Kirk, Southern Pines, N.C., 75-76-78-81-310

Betty Bush, West Palm Beach, 76-77-76-79-310

x-Denotes Amateur

Paul Waner Captures Pageant Golf Tourney

March 3, 1955

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Paul Waner captured the Sara de Sota pageant golf tournament at Bobby Jones yesterday when he fired a low gross of 74. Mrs. H. S. Aakree won the women’s division with a low net of 63.

A total of 190 men and 35 women players took part in the event, which pro Lee Pounders said was the biggest entry list for a tourney at the course.

Twenty-eight men and three women won merchandise awards from Pounder’s golf store and will received their awards today by calling at the pro shop at Bobby Jones.

Following is a complete entry list with the scores reported:

H. Moser-74, Jerry Paddock-79, S. M. Veale-73, Leighton Leigh-74, Sy. Mannierre-76, Don Johnson-74, R. A. Wormer-78, George Banks-74, Ernie Cane-76, Bill Rossi-79, Milhe Harris-79, Eddie Hoag-77, Wilhard Nixon-74, Sid Hidson-72, Clara Kershner-74, Arch Venable-78, Carl Smith-76, Don Libby-74, Roy Johnson-75, McDermott-76.

Mrs. Mary Eggler-76, John Gildes-75, Pat Proctor-74, Ray Hubbard-74, W. Puttman-77, E. Price-73, F. Rothe-76, Gordon Meyer-77, Don Grieve-No Card, Paul Waner-71, Mac Henderson-74, T. V. Devine-No Card, J. L. Wentz-No Card, Mrs. Wenty-No Card, Mike Higgins-No Card.

Walt Harrison-73, R. F. LaCombe-70, G. F. Pierce-79, R. C. Cowan-77, Mrs. H. R. Allen-79, H. R. Allen-75, W. Sunday-No Card, Harry Mathews-Non Card, Harry Walker-No Card, L. E. Fetter-75, H. L. Brown-77, Ben Glaser-78, W. I. Pendelton-76, Mark Evenson-No Card, Jim Hayward-75, Bud Lynch-72, Sam B. Fitzsimmons-79, C. W. Rittenberg-76, Mrs. H. C. Aakre-63, H. C. Aakre-75.

M. E. McMurray-75, Tom Murphy-73, J. J. Fee-77, E. S. Pfent-74, Arthur Corbo-77, Herman Arold-No Card, A. L. Brown-No Card, George Mann-No Card, Mickey Mann-No Card, C. J. Heggan-No Card, T. Sullivan-75, Tim Ryan-72, J. Walsh-75, C. Dunlap-76, D. Sullivan-75.

H. Schlegel-74, Pat Carney-76, Bill Price-73, A. L. Lawton-74, Bill Pelzer-76, Dr. J. C. Mercer-No Card, David Mercer-74, Leo Blackloe-78, Dannie Blackloe-76, Clara Blackloe-79, Sharloe-77, E. C. Scott-80, C. C. Patrick-73, G. W. Wade-75, F. W. Tanner-75, Mrs. J. Feirstein-75.

Carl Lemch-75, Lenny Dee-73, Helen Rappaport-76, A. A. Freda-No Card, Frank Lambie-76, Ray Hudson-75, H. J. Carlson-75, Phillip Simpson-74, Bill Tannis-74, P. Perry-76, L. Morey-75, M. D. Kiefer-No Card, M. J. Teekell-No Card, C. Rasmussen-No Card, Irv. Kershner-No Card.

D. E. Wheeler-No Card, J. B. Wise-75, Cam Wilson-75, Luke Grubbs-73, E. V. Catoe-74, W. Dingwell-75, Al. Miller-76, Milt. Cole-73, M. M. Cooper-76, Duke Richardson-75, R. B. Holmes-74, Joe Pace-74, Bill Garrison-74, Stuffy McGinnis-78, Roy Moredock-74, W. Hanson-84.

T. J. Cuddy-80, Nelson Dewey-73, Joe Lynch-70, C. R. Doyle-70, John F. Dempsey-79, Art Hibbard-76, B. F. McCareary-76, H. S. Walters-77, Rusty Harris-71, H. H. Hookway-77, W. F. Cleary-77, Dr. F. C. Bandy-74, Jerry Hern-No Card, H. Rouse-71, Frank McDonald-74, F. O. Rice-73.

H. Basse-77, Mrs. H. Basse-80, Jim Keeben-75, C. J. Brooks-74, L. R. A. Kibbe-75, Glenn Fegley-79, Ray Horton-75, Doc Patton-75, H. Barnes-85, Mrs. Mike Higgens-No Card, Howard Friend-75, Mrs. Howard Friend-75, Morey Chase-No Card, H. I. Hardy-No Card, J. C. Hardy-No Card, Mrs. J. C. Hardy-No Card, George Fosler-71, Buddy Lewis-73.

Fritz Von Grossman-77, John Greerer-76, D. H. Tilson-75, H. E. Underwood-77, C. B. Shafer-73, John Schmitt-77, Mrs. J. V. Esposito-78, Mr. J. V. Esposito-78, Ross Gardner-73, Irene Gardner-78, R. C. Rice-76, H. C. Dishman-77, J. H. Matthews-76, Mrs. J. I. Kelley-77, Mrs. J. I. Kelley-76, Roy Oak-81, Cam Oak-78.

E. McNair-74, Doris McNair-80, Margaret Wise-77, E. H. Wise-77, Mary Jane Jerkins-74, Frances Hoffman-74, Duane Roberts-76, C. Levison-75, H. Greendorger-76, J. M. Flavelle-79, J. H. Owen-77, F. L. Day-77, V. Hosie-73, F. E. Wilson-73.

F. J. Bowers-75, A. P. Beckloft-74, Fred Kroma-77, Kay Pallenberg-75, Suzane Walker-79, J. H. Kruizenga-77, P. H. Kruizenge-80, Dr. W. M. Hale-78, H. B. Babcock-77, J. S. Vanneman-75, C. W. Fuller-78, T. W. Penman-No Card, Bob Kohlmeyer-No Card, Mrs. Harry Simmons-No Card, W. B. Wallett-77.

H. K. Carroll-74, W. Schofield-73, E. T. Blanchard-77, J. Barniker-74, Mrs. J. Barniker-74, A. Schwartz-78, R. Schwartz-84, M. J. Russell-76, Mrs. R. O’Conner-79, L. M. Gerhardt-79, W. D. Angell-77, Al Luggano-78, M. F. Haralson-75, C. C. Williams-74, M. Dawson, Carl Welsh-74.

Paul Morrealle-76, Mrs. Justine Morrealle-74, Paul Poserfo-75, Phillis Poserfo-77, Micke George-75, Mrs. Alma George-75, Bill Palmer-75, Pat DeMichele-73.

NEW TOURNEY RECORD; SUGGS SECOND

February 28, 1955

St. Petersburg Times

Betty Jameson’s 285 Wins Sarasota Open

SARASOTA (AP) – Betty Jameson of San Antonio, Texas, mixed spectacular chipping and steady putting to shoot a 72 yesterday for a total of 285 in winning the 72-hole Sarasota Women’s Open golf tournament by two strokes.

Her 285 is a new women’s tournament record for a men’s par 72 course. Louise Suggs of Sea Island, Ga., holds the record for a par 70 course at 284.

Runner up in the tournament on the 5,282-yard Bobby Jones course, where women’s par is 74, was Miss Suggs. She shot a nifty 70 to close fast and with little more luck on her putting might have caught and passed Miss Jameson.

In third place at 288 was Jackie Pung, playing out of Cincinnati. Her putting gave her trouble, missing three almost sure ones under four feet.

Betty Dodd of San Antonio, Tex., shot a 67 for the day’s best round. It was the best score she ever had for 18 holes of tournament play.

“Isn’t this thrilling?” was Miss Jameson’s shout. She hasn’t won a medal play tournament since the 1953 Miami Beach Open.

Her win yesterday netted her $1000. Miss Suggs got $700 and Mrs. Pung $600.

Miss Jameson played her worst golf on No. 18. She bounded into the rough and had to shoot through some trees to get back into play. Then she muffed a chip – her only bad one of the day – but recovered to stave off Miss. Suggs’ threat.

Betty Jameson, San Antonio, Texas, 71-70-71-73-285 ($1000)

Louise Suggs, Sea Island, Ga., 67-73-75-70-287 ($700)

Jackie Pung, Cincinnati, 71-73-69-75-288 ($600)

Marlene Bauer, SARASOTA, 73-73-73-73-291 ($500)

Betty Hicks, Palm Springs, Calif., 70-74-73-75-292 ($425)

Patty Berg, Chicago, 72-75-72-74-293 ($350)

Joyce Ziske, Waterford, Wis., 73-68-75-79-295 ($310)

Mickey Wright, San Diego, Calif., 73-70-79-73-297 ($250)

x- Pat Lesser, Seattle, 73-72-71-82-297

Mary Lena Faulk, Thomasville, Ga., 74-79-72-73-298 ($187.50)

Betsy Rawls, Spartanburg, S.C., 76-75-72-75-298 ($187.50)

Betty Dodd, San Antonio, Texas, 74-80-79-67-300 ($127.50)

Beverly Hanson, Indio, Calif., 75-78-71-76-300 ($127.50)

Fay Crocker, Montevideo, Uruguay, 75-76-74-76-301 ($71.67)

Marilyn Smith, Wichita, Kan., 72-74-75-80-301 ($71.67)

Betty MacKinnon, Savannah, Ga., 74-77-76-74-301 ($71.67)

Carol Bowman, Oakland, Calif., 71-76-74-81-302

Alice Bauer Hagge, SARASOTA, 76-74-77-75-302

Bettye Danoff, DeMas, Texas, 77-72-73-81-303

Betty Bush, West Palm Beach, 72-80-74-77

Babe Zaharias, Tampa, 79-WD

x-Denotes Amateur

Leading Amateurs:

Wiffi Smith, LeCanada, Calif., 39-40-79-306

Mary Pat Janssen, Charlottesville, Va., 41-39-80-306

Glory Armstrong, Oakland, Calif., 36-39-77-306

Ellen Gery, Reading, Pa., 30-38-78-311

Virginia Denneny, Lake Forest, Ill., 40-42-82-316

Marge Burns, Greensboro, N.C., 45-40-85-325

Wonda Sanchez, Baton Rouge, La., 41-39-80-326

Jenn Hopkins, Cleveland, Ohio, 39-40-79-326

Tippy Roney, Newton Center, Mass., 39-40-79-326

Mrs. Mark McGarry, St. Petersburg, 41-39-80-326

Polly Stone, Greenville, S.C., 44-41-85-326

Maureen Riley, Parkstown Center, Pa., 44-41-85-327

Mrs. Arthur Harrison, Clearwater, 42-40-82-328

Norma Labisky, Columbus, Onio, 46-43-89-330

Mary McCutcheon, Jasper, Ala., 44-45-89-334

Other area players –

Shirley Nelson, SARASOTA, 47-43-90-336

Mickey Gerhardt, SARASOTA, 42-43-85-344

Suggs Shoots Brilliant 67 To Lead Sarasota Tourney

February 25, 1955

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Zaharias Quits On Advice Of Doctor

By NICK ROBERTSON

Herald-Tribune Sports Editor

Frankly noting that she “didn’t miss a shot,” Louise Suggs, Sea Island, Ga., gave golf fans plenty to talk about and her fellow competitors something to marvel at and envy yesterday as she toured Bobby Jones Golf Club’s somewhat modified acres in 67 strokes, seven shots better than women’s par.

Rivaling Miss Suggs’ good fortune was the disappointing news that defending champion Babe Zaharias withdrew upon the advice of her doctor.

The fabled Babe – who showed this same Miss Suggs her heels at Sarasota Bay for the past two years in a row – presented a brave, wise-cracking front, but her appearance was rather haggard and worn – something unique for the vigorous athlete who has been in the sporting headlines for almost 25 years. She posted a 79, 12 strokes off the pace.

Miss Suggs, establishing a course record for women at the municipal layout where men’s par for the 6,282 yards is 72, needed 29 putts and on at least three holes she came very close to cutting down this figure.

Runnerup after the first round of activity in the 72-hole fourth annual Sarasota Women’s Open is LPGA Tourney Director Betty Hicks, Palm Springs, Calif. This pert performer recorded her 35-35-70, 10 threesomes ahead of Miss Suggs who was playing in the final group.

Miss Suggs began her round by holing a 10-foot putt for an eagle three on the 410-yard, par five first hole. She backed this up with a 40-foot green tap for a birdie four on the 530-yard, par five second.

Another nudge in one-putt birdie four followed on No. 3, 430 yards, par five. Then came a string of nine straight pars.

At No. 13, part three, 150 yards, Miss Suggs canned an eight-foot putt for a deuce. A par four came on No. 14 with a chip shot missed by less than six inches on the lengthened (by 65 yards) 455-yard 15th and Louise had to settle for a birdie four.

Second Deuce

Another deuce resulted in a 10-foot stroke after a four-wood drive o the 190-yard 16th. Two-putt par 4s closed out the 34-33 round as the gallery, estimated at about 1,200 persons, ringed the final greens.

Four shots behind at 71 came pros Carol Bowman, Oakland, Calif.; Betty Jameson, San Antonio, Texas, and Jackie Pung, current leading money winner.

Another bunch is found at 72 including amateur star Pat Lesser, Seattle, who maintained that she “played poorly,” Betty Bush, former Sarasota champion, West Palm Beach; Patty Berg, St. Andrews, Ill., and the personality-plus Kansan, Marilynn Smith from Wichita.

Marlene Has 73

Sarasota’s Marlene Bauer heads a quartet of swingers with 73s. Others are long-hitting Mickey Wright, San Diego; Waterford, Wisconsin’s Joyce Ziske, and amateur Mary Pat Jannsen, Charlottesville, Va.

Four girls are locked at par 74 – amateur Gloria Armstrong, Oakland, and pros Betty Dodd, San Antonio; Betty MacKinnon, Savannah, and Mary Lena Faulk, Thomasville, Ga.

Miss Suggs won a $50 prize donated by Montgomery-Roberts. Low pro round today will win the shooter a like sum from the Sarasota Bank and trust Co.

Tournament Chairman Harry Schaefer announced last night that the low gross shooter in both amateur divisions would also receive special daily $25 gift certificate.

Miss Lesser leads the low handicap amateurs while Sarasota’s own Shirley Nelson shares the upper bracket simon-pure leadership with Kathleen Newton, Euclid, O. Both scored 82s.

Zaharias’ Statement

George Zaharias, Babe’s husband – a former top-flight heavyweight wrestler, issued the following statement about his wife’s withdrawal:

“Due to complete exhaustion and illness she has been advised by her doctor to withdraw from further tournament play.”

Mrs. Zaharias observed that she was “very sorry to withdraw. I tried my best to compete, I have enjoyed previous good fortune in Sarasota but the ‘doc’ says ‘don’t play.’”

Miss Suggs’ once posted a 65 on a none-hole course while she was an amateur.

Clouds helped keep the sun from making it too hot for the women and the conditions for play were excellent – a reason why the scores were so good.

Sarasota Scene

The Babe Really Plays Golf

By STAN WINDHORN

When Mrs. Babe Zaharias goes out to play golf her deportment becomes more like a noisy shortstop on a baseball diamond than a grim and surly fairway pill chaser.

The Babe operates on the healthy and refreshing theory that the customers come out to be entertained rather than snarled at and she conducts herself accordingly even on such days as yesterday when she was all stove up with the miseries and shooting pretty bum golf.

An Old Pro from way back, Mrs. Zaharias was harboring enough flu germs to flatten a musk ox when she teed off in the Sarasota Women’s Open Tournament.

Although she complained mightily of her interior disorder, the Babe maintained her wit and humor. “Ah’m runnin’ both and cold,” she wailed to the gallery. “Man am I sick.” Her good-humored complaints drew more laughs than sympathy, but at least they attracted the crowds.

Best Gallery

The Babe is far and away the easiest figure to spot on the golf course. All the spectator need to do to find her is head for the largest gallery. And once she is found the remainder of the tour is good for a full cargo of laughs as well as an exhibition in flailing a golf ball.

Her maiden voyage around the fairways consisted chiefly of a monologue on the horrors of a full blown flu attack. “Ah’m just so sick ah cain’t move.” She complained after sinking a six foot putt and fetching herself to the sidelines.

“Ah hit that ball with all I got, but it don’t go nowhere,” she complained a few minutes later after lathering a 250 yard drive up a fairway.

Teeing off on No. 6 the Babe put forth her worst effort of the day and laid out a scraggly drive that was both short and well night into the grandstand on the first bas side of the field.

Miss Pippy Rooney, a talented amateur, found that the Babe’s bad example was contagious and she promptly cast her ball into the rough along the left field foul line.

Party In The Rough

“What you got, a bottle of scotch hid over there?” the Babe inquired. “Probably they’re opening a new green over there and they’re going to throw a party.”

The third member of this safari, Pat O’Sullivan, a professional out of Orange, Conn., attached her wood to a ball that went far and true down the center of the fairway.

The Babe looked upon Miss O’Sullivan in good natured disgust. “Yep,” she shouted, “there’s always one in every crowd. Here us girls is just out having fun and somebody has to butt in and louse things up.”

Brief minutes later Miss O’Sullivan would have cheerfully settled for something less phenomenal in the way of a drive. For her approach shot landed in the watery ditch that yawns near the lip of the green.

Mrs. Zaharias joined in lending vocal and physical support to members of the gallery who exerted vain efforts to find the ball. When the search was abandoned the Babe joined in a lusty discussion of the ground rules, as it turned out, the studied opinion rendered by the Babe and Betty Dodd – who approached from another threesome – was dead wrong.

After suitable amends had been made the leg work resumed with Babe complaining of her putting as well as her state of ill health. “That doggoned ball just keeps nibblin’ at that cup,” she moaned. “Man, ah do feel awful.”

She also had harsh things to say about the slowness of the greens. “Just like tryin’ to play on a mattress,” was her observation.

12 Foot Putt

When she dropped a 12-foot putt for a par on the ninth green she emitted a whoop that was closely identified with the authentic rebel war yell. This being for the benefit of the large gallery as much as an expression of exuberance at touring the front round in something less than first feared.

The score for the first nine was 39 – this bring a bit heavy for the Babe. “But,” she shrugged while screaming for a caddy, “it’s better than ah figured to do the way ah feel. Man, but ah do feel awful.”

As the Babe hied herself toward the back nine another female golfer approached and asked – a bit cattily, we thought – “How’d old publicity do?”

“Who?” we asked.

“Old publicity,” she repeated. “I mean the Babe.”

Now it is apparently an accepted fact that the publicity given the Babe causes a mite of green-eyed envy among the lassies of the touring flock, but the girls ought to quit blaming her for attracting all the prose.

The answer to Babe’s popularity is simply Babe. Whereas too many of the ladies give the impression that they bite if approached too closely, the Babe readily babbles cheerfully with all who will listen and even some who won’t.

And besides, she plays golf.

4th Annual Sarasota Women’s Open Gets Underway Today

February 24, 1955

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Babe Zaharias May Be Unable To Take Part

One of the finest fields of women golfers ever assembled in the United States will start action today in the fourth annual Sarasota Women’s Open at Bobby Jones Golf Club.

Although unable to receive the key to the city yesterday during a gala street parade honoring the gal linksters, LPGA President Babe Zaharias, winner here for the last two years, is favored to annex the 72-hole test.

Mrs. Zaharias was in bed yesterday with a virus infection but hopes to compete. She won this year’s Tampa Open.

Other Favorites

Among the other prime favorites are Fay Crocker, Montevideo, Uruguay, who won at Miami Beach last week; Patty Berg, St. Andrews, Ill., who won at St. Petersburg; Mrs. Jackie Pung, Honolulu, Sea Island, Ga., victor, and Louise Suggs, Atlanta, Ga., who won the first event of the year at Los Angeles.

All these players are members of the Ladies Professional Golf Association. There are 24 pros entered in the event.

Leading amateurs due to take part include Pat Lesser, Seattle, Wash.; Ellen Gery, Reading, Pa.; Pippy Rooney, Newton Center, Mass.; Virginia Dennehy, Chicago, Ill.; Marge Burns, Greensboro, N.C.; Jean Hopkins, Cleveland; Greta Leone, Chicago; Wiffi Smith, La Canada, Calif. A total of 34 amateurs are slated to play.

Miss Berg received the key to the city from Mayor Ben Hopkins to kick off the car parade which was led by the Sarasota High School band. The pros and amateurs waved to hundreds of people who lined Main Street from City Hall to the Court House at Washington Blvd. and Ringling Blvd.

They rode in open cars which were donated by Sarasota automobile dealers. The Sarasota Junior High School band was another marching unit in the parade along with a National Guard color guard.

Clinic Shows “How”

Yesterday afternoon the women entertained about 500 persons at Bobby Jones with their informative clinic in which many of the pros demonstrate the right and wrong of golf with different clubs.

Contestants, officials, guests and season ticket holders enjoyed a dinner last night.

Special $50 awards have been donated for low gross score each day and if any professional records a hole in one she will receive $100.

Persons who buy season or daily tickets can play the front nine at Bobby Jones. Parking for the general public will be in a lot provide by the Ringling Bros. circus, west of Bobby Jones.

The BJ parking area is reserved for contestants, tourney officials, press and radio and patrons.

Two Florida girls are making their second start as professionals in this event – Carol Gallagher, West Palm Beach, and Vonnie Colby, Hollywood.

Other new pros sure to draw good galleries are Joyce Ziske, Waterford, Wis., and Mary Lena Faulk, Thomasville, Ga. Miss Faulk, former national amateur champion, scored a hole in one during last year’s tourney at Sarasota Bay which had been the site for the first three Sarasota Opens.

Local Interest

Local interest will be centered in the pros Marlene Bauer and her sister, Alice Bauer Hagge, along with current city champion, Mrs. Mickey Gerhardt and young Shirley Nelson.

Golf for Sarasota, Inc., has provided the backing for the tournament although committees from the BJ Men’s and Women’s Golf Associations have done all the preliminary and current work.

Any profit realized from the event will be given to Happiness House, area school for handicapped children.

THREE OF THE CURRENT PACESETTERS in the women’s professional golfing ranks are shown here with Miss Jean McKelvey, left, who has been in charge of entries and billeting for the fourth annual Sarasota Women’s Open which starts at Bobby Jones Golf Club today. The others are, left to right, Fay Crocker, who won the Miami Beach Open; Patty Berg, St. Petersburg victor, and Mrs. Jackie Pung, Sea Island, Ga., winner.

1st Round Parings, Starting Times

10:06 a.m. – Kay Gessley, Washington, D.C.; Hildred Long, Flint, Mich.; Lee Patterson, St. Petersburg.

10:14 – Helen Benitoa, Uniontown, Pa.; Wanda Sanches, Baton Rouge, La.; Kathleen Newton, Euclid, O.

10:22 – Alice Tuttle, Palm Beach; Mary McCutcheon, Jasper, Ala.; Norma Shook, Morganton, N.C.

10:30 – Mrs. Arthur Harrison, Clearwater; Norma Labisky, Columbus, O.; Greta Leone, Chicago, Ill.

10:38 – Mickey Gerhardt, Sarasota; Pearl Van Eschion, Ackley, Iowa; Ann White, Uniontown, Pa.

10:46 – Shirley Nelson, Sarasota; Carol Bienbrink, Stony Brook, N.Y.; Mrs. Leo Caruthers, Coatsville, Pa.

STARTERS TIME

11:16 – Kathy Cornelius, Lake Worth; Shelia Moss, San Bernadino, Calif.; Hazel Ross, Briarcliff Manor, N.Y.

11:24 – Betty Danoff, Dallas, Texas; Mrs. Mark McGarry, St. Petersburg; Mrs. D. M. Anneaux, La Grange, Ill.

11:32 – Betsy Rawls, Spartanburg, S.C.; Betty Hicks, Palm Springs, Calif.; Jean Hopkins, Cleveland, O.

11:40 – Carol Bowman, Oakland, Calif.; Wiffi Smith, La-Canada, Calif.

11:48 – Bonnie Randolph, Columbus, O.; Marilyn Smith, Wichita, Kan.; Jo Anne Goodwin, Plymouth, Mass.

11:56 – Betty Bush, Hammond, Ind.; Betty McKinnon, Savannah, Ga.; Pat Lesser, Seattle, Wash.

12:04 – Betty Jameson, San Antonio; Marlene Bauer, Sarasota; Maureen Riley, Parkstown Corner, Pa.

12:12 – Alice Bauer Hagge, Sarasota; Mickey Wright, San Diego, Calif.; Polly Stone, Greenville, S. C.

12:20 – Fay Crocker, Montivideo, Uruguay; Vonnie Colby, Hollywood; Ellen Gery, Reading, Pa.

12:28 – Beverly Hansen, Indo, Calif.; Joyce Ziske, Waterford, Wis.; Marge Burns, Greensboro, N. C.

STARTERS TIME

12:46 – Patty Berg, St. Andrews, Ill.; Carol Gallagher, West Palm Beach; Gloria Armstrong, Oakland, Calif.

12:54 – Babe Zaharias, Tampa; Pat O’Sullivan, Orange, Conn.; Pippy Rooney, Newton Center, Mass.

1:02 – Jackie Pung, Honolulu, Hawaii; Betty Dodd, San Antonio; Mary Patton Janssen, Charlottesville, Va.

1:10 – Louise Suggs, Sea Island, Ga.; Mary Lena Faulk, Thomasville, Ga.; Virginia Dennehy, Lake Forest, Ill.

Parade of Pros, Clinic Today Tee Off $5000 Sarasota Open

February 23, 1955

St. Petersburg Times

SARASOTA (Special)

The Sarasota Women’s Open Golf Tournament gets underway today with a parade of pros at noon and a clinic in the afternoon at the Bobby Jones Golf Club.

The parade will stop by City Hall long enough for Mayor Ben Hopkins Jr., to present the key to the city to Babe Zaharias, president of the LPGA. Afterwards, the parade will continue up Main Street to the Sarasota Terrace Hotel.

The clinic is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. with Patty Berg conducting.

The Sarasota tournament will solve a problem that has been on the mind of the spectator for many years. This is the age-old question of how to identify the players. Beginning with this tourney all professional players will wear numbers in their backs much in the same manner as baseball and basketball players. This will be a permanent feature of the women pros.

In practice rounds yesterday, all players did not turn scores but Betsy Rawls shot a five under par 70.

William J. (Bill) Menghini, local golf enthusiast, will give a $100 cash prize to any golfer who scores a hole-in-one.

Mrs. Zaharias is the sentimental favorite in the 72-hole event because she will be gunning for her third straight championship here.

Hearn Retains 2-Stroke Lead in Wynn Tourney

February 23, 1955

St. Petersburg Times

SARASOTA – Big Jim Hearn, the Atlanta Cracker who pitches for the New York Giants, pitched and putted well enough here yesterday for a two-over-par 74 and a two-stroke lead after 36 holes of the annual Early Wynn Invitational Golf Tournament. Proceeds to crippled children’s home at Umatilla. Sponsored by Wynn and by Elks of Sarasota and Venice.

Major League Baseball

Early Wynn   Pitcher, Cleveland Indians

Big Jim Hearn   Pitcher, New York Giants

Johnny Gray   Pitcher, Kansas City Athletics

Fred Hutchinson   Manager, St. Louis Cardinals

Al Lopez   Manager, Cleveland Indians

Billy Goodman   2nd Base, Boston Red Sox

Billy Sullivan                    

Paul “Little Poison” Warner   Pittsburg Pirates

Wes Ferrell   American League

Rudy Laskowski   Oklahoma City

Earl Torgeson   Detroit Tigers

Dick Cole   Pittsburg Pirates

Johnny Cooney

Butch Henline

Herb Score   Cleveland Indians

Ray Boone   Detroit Tigers

Ted McGrew   Boston Red Sox

Hank Foiles   Cleveland Indians

Bob Buhl   Milwaukee Braves

Golf Professionals

Baba Gringas   Manchester NH

Carl Rohman   Troy NY

Francis Brown   Sarasota FL

Burt Montressor    Sarasota FL

Don Sitch   Sarasota FL

Bill Wright   Fort Wayne IN

George Lane   Methuen MA

Joe Blanton   Akron OH

Pop Harbert   Sarasota FL

Jim Duncan   Venice FL

Chick Harbert    Sarasota FL (1942)

Mrs. Z. H. Patterson was club champion of Sarasota Bay, Bradenton CC and Bobby Jones in 1951.

MERCER WINS CITY GOLF TITLE

FINALLY WARDS OFF DARE DAVIS' JINX; ONLY ONE OVER PAR

APRIL 10, 1954

SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE

Dr. J. C. Mercer, 50-year-old optometrist from Worcester, Mass., who polishes lenses during the late spring, summer and fall, and puts a bright shine on his golf game while he vacations here each winter, completed a local links “little slam” yesterday as he won the City Championship, 8 and 7, from City Commissioner Dare Davis.

Bespectacled, naturally, Dr. Mercer won the Sarasota Bay Club titles before replacing Heinie Manush as the Sarasota swing king over Bobby Jones’ testing (6,405 yards) “long” course where par is 72.

Manush didn’t compete in the year’s city meet and defaulted to Dr. Mercer for the Sarasota bay bauble. In 1953 Davis trimmed Dr. Mercer for the Sarasota Bay prize after the latter had won two years in a row.

Here’s The Score Card

MORNING ROUND

Par In            443    554     434    - 36

Mercer In     553     554     433    - 37

Davis In        444    555     534    - 39

Par Out         454    345    434    - 36    - 72

Mercer Out  454    454    435    - 37    - 74

Davis Out     555     445    535     - 41     - 80

AFTERNOON ROUND

Mercer In     443    543    434    - 34

Davis In        553     553     435    - 38

Mercer Out   55       Davis Out     45

Davis, a building contractor and co-owner of a local golf course, as well as being one of the city’s “official fathers”, reached the championship final once before – in 1951 – when he defeated Dr. Mercer.

Davis Took Lead

Dare jumped in front with a part of par fours while Dr. Mercer had bogey fives but it was all even after No. 6 and the eye expert was 1-up after a par four on No. 7 and the margin was two following a 30-foot birdie three putt at No. 9.

Davis was able to win but one hole on the back (new) nine while Dr. Mercer annexed four – with three pars and a birdie to lead 5-up at lunchtime, besting Davis by six shots n model play, 74 to 80.

After the rest period, Davis bogeyed the first two holes while Dr. Mercer had four parts and turn about seemed to be fair play. A birdie four at No. 23 (5) and a par four at No. 27 (9) left the match dormie – Davis was nine down with none to play.

The commissioner whittled the edge to 8 and 8 by bagging a one-putt par four at No. 28 (10) to the doctor’s bogey five. Both men had par fives at No. 29 and the match was over.

Didn’t Have the Touch

Davis was playing fairly well from tee to green but his usual deft putting touch wasn’t around except for the 24th hole (No. 6) where he canned a 21-footer but was matched by a Dr. Mercer 18-footer.

The latter played from No. 3 through No. 13 in par figures – figuring in a birdie and a bogey. His second round in nine was two under regulation numbers as he putted well and wedged like an eye doctor should – right on line for the cup.

For the 29 holes played Dr. Mercer was just one shot over par.

After reaching the clubhouse he called 1954 his “greatest” year in golf. In addition to his two local wins he was runner-up in the Florida Seniors tourney and he shot a hole-in-one at the recent Florida State Amateur.

To reach the last round Dr. Mercer trimmed Orv McVay, Walt Myers and John Sendral. Davis’ victims were Wes Ferrell, A. C. (Doc) Davis and Willie Purcell.

Dr. Mercer has his eyes set on his club championship “back home”. He’s reached the finals five times and been the runner-up on every occasion. Perhaps this’ll be the year.

…Quoth the ‘Doc’; “This has been my year!” 

State Women Bow to Par at Sarasota

April 20, 1953

St. Petersburg Times

SARASOTA (AP) – Kathy McKinnon, Lake Worth, and Vonnie Colby, Dania, shot the low gross score of 167 yesterday in a four-ball warm-up for today’s opening of the Florida Women’s Amateur [Match Play] Golf Tournament.

High wind and intermittent rain bothered the golfers and scores were so high the tournament committee decided to release only those of the prize winners.

Carroll Gallagher, West Palm Beach, turned in the day’s lowest individual score of 81. Miss McKinnon shot 82, Miss Colby, 85.

A total of 195 women competed in yesterday’s play on the Sarasota Bay and Bobby Jones courses. In today’s qualifying round, there will be 253 competitors shooting for 32 places in the championship flight.

Those not making the championship flight will be shuffled into 15 other flights. Match play will start Tuesday and continue through Saturday.

Lowest scores in the four-ball play, with handicaps figured, was 163 by Mrs. George Wilcox and Mrs. Jack Trippe, Miami. Second were Miss Gallagher and Mrs. H.O. Leuscher, Sarasota, with 165.

Mrs. R.E. Wilson and Mrs. Wayne Reichelderfer, St. Petersburg, turned in a net score of 167 to tie Mrs. Georgie Miller, Miami, and Mrs. Norvin S. Veal, Jacksonville, for third place.

Mrs. Wilson tied Miss McKinnon for second place in individual scores with 82.

Plans For Golf Addition Okehed

May 30, 1952

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

A preliminary layout for a new nine-hole addition to the Bobby Jones Municipal golf course was approved yesterday by the City Commission. Golf architect Robert Bruce Harris of Chicago was instructed to proceed with detailed plans.

Harris said he probably could have the first of detailed maps sent down from Chicago by the end of next week so that the city can start work on grading and filling.

It is hoped that the new course will be completed and ready for play by the opening of the next winter season.

Meeting with the commission, members of the golf advisory committee and representatives of the men and women’s associations of Bobby Jones, Harris presented four alternate layouts, discussed each one and answered questions of the group.

The layout selected met the unanimous approval of officials attending the meeting. It was the one recommended by Harris in view of local conditions.

The Salary

Harris will be paid $2,750 for preparing the detailed plans and an additional $750 for his services as a consultant. He will receive $700 a year for a five-year period.

The chosen layout, Harris explained, provides more acreage per hole than the other plans and will be more spacious than the present courses. It includes an artificial lake on the No. 9 hole. The No. 4 hole, he pointed out, is the first par three, giving players time to spread out before coming to a short hole where he said congestion usually occurs.

The new addition is par 36. Total distance from the short tees is 6,310 yards, 6,490 yards from the middle tees and 6,670 yards for the championship course.

During the discussion the subject of what to name the new course came up. One suggestion was that it be called the Gillespie Addition in honor of John Hamilton Gillespie, pioneer Sarasota resident who is believed to have built the first practice course in the nation here in May, 1886.

Robert Bruce Harris

Golf Architect

664 N. Michigan Ave.

CHICAGO 11, ILL.

Phone: Whitehall 6530

Prelim Work On New Course Opens

May 21, 1952

SARASOTA JOURNAL

Preliminary work toward laying out the city’s new 18-hole golf course to be constructed adjoining the present municipal Bobby Jones Golf Club was started yesterday by Robert Bruce Harris, Chicago golf course architect and engineer.

Harris visited the site of the new course with city officials and Bonny Graham, club professional, and E. T. Hall, greenskeeper, and said he would have drawings of the new layout within 10 days.

The new course will be situated immediately south of the present 9th green. The city recently acquired the tract for the new course at a cost of about $40,000.

Par Will Be 72

Harris said his plans call for a 6,400 yard course with a par of 72 After going over the site, he said the natural advantages of the new layout are excellent, from both a soil and drainage standpoint, as well as the topography of the land and its natural adaptability for an interesting golf layout.

Actual construction work on the new project will get underway when Harris returns in about 10 days with the necessary drawings. Clearing of the land already has been started.

It is hoped to have the first nine holes completed and playable by next January, with the second nine within a year.

Bobby Jones Host To Second Inter-Club Golf Tournament

July 8, 1951

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

The second west coast inter-club summer golf tournament is slated at Bobby Jones Golf Club here today, play beginning at 12 noon.

Ft. Myers Country Club won the first tourney of the summer held at Ft. Myers with Bradenton Country Club second, Sarasota Bay Country Club third and Bobby Jones fourth. The third tourney is scheduled for Bayshore July 29 and the fourth at Bradenton August 19.

Bobby Jones men’s team players today by teams are as follows: 1- Bobby Graham and Cosmo Williams; 2- King Young and Fred Walters; 3- John McMahon and J. B. Green; 4- Joe Stoeber and A. C. Davis; 5- Charles Wackerie and John Seawell; 6- Wyman Hallowell and Jim Manees. The Bobby Jones women’s team consists of: 1- Marier Van Dyken and Betty Graham; Lucille Gerow and Agnes Hewitt; 3- Lenore Gerow and Emma McMahon.

Sarasota Bay men’s team: 1- Clyde Kelly Jr. and Heinie Manush; 2- Dare Davis and John Whiteside; 3- Harry Sprague Jr. and John Elliott; 4- Bill Fitch and Luke Grubbs; 5- Bob Anson and Henry Bartholomew; 6- Ken Steffens and Larry Kruse. Sarasota Bay women: 1- Mrs. Z. H. Patterson and Mrs. Ken Steffens; 2- Mrs. Jack Hobbs and Mrs. G. M. Nelson; 3- Mrs. Charles Cox and Mrs. Bobbette McCormick.

Bauer Sisters, Snead And Harbert In Pageant Match

Sunday, February 26, 1950

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

GOLFING SCOOP – The Bobby Jones Golf Club and the Jaycee Pageant Committee came up today with the two biggest attractions of the year when they lured the Bauer sisters, Marlene and Alice, into Sarasota for the special Pageant golf match here this afternoon. Above, Alice (left) and Marline are shown in practice with a closeup of Marlene, 16-year-old stylist, at the right. The match begins at 2 p.m. preceded by a clinic at 1 p.m.

RECORD CROWD FORSEEN FOR CLASSIC TEST

The famed Bauer sisters of Midland, Tex., hottest thing in golf this season, will appear at the Bobby Jones Golf Club this afternoon in a special match with Sammy Snead, the PGA’s top golfer of the year, and Chick Harbert, the PGA stylist and golf’s heaviest hitter.

Marlene Bauer, the 16-year-old charmer who was named the outstanding woman athlete of 1919, will team with Harbert against Snead and sister Alice, teeing off at 2 p.m. Bert Montressor will referee.

Dare Davis, president of the Bobby Jones Men’s Golf Association and representing the Jaycees’ Sara de Sota Pageant committee, journeyed to Orlando to arrange the selection of the two top women golfers for the special match which will come as the sports climax of Pageant Week here.

The Bauer sisters were playing in the International Mixed Two-Ball tourney at the Dubsdread Country Club in Orlando and agreed to come to Sarasota today for the special pageant match.

The Bauer girls gave been the sensation of the winter golf circuit in Florida, winning medalist or championship honors in virtually every event they have entered.

First Appearance

It will be their first appearance in a special match on the Florida west coast.

The Bauer girls along with Snead, the outstanding men’s professional golfer, and Harbert, whose dad is Pop Harbert, the Bobby Jones professional, are expected to attract the largest crowd that ever witnessed a golf event in Sarasota.

Because the match is a feature of the Jaycees’ Pageant Week, the golf course will be under the supervision of the pageant committee this afternoon and all persons, whether members of the club or not, will be required to obtain tickets, Davis announced.

Prior to the match , a team low total match, the four top shotmakers will engage in a golf clinic, demonstrating the proper methods of hitting the various strokes in their repertoire of golf shots.

Year’s Best

Marlene was named the woman athlete of 1919 in the annual Associated Press poll of sports writers. She was voted the woman golfer of the year by the Women’s Association of the PGA and holds the women’s world scoring record for 54 holes of golf.

She and her sister have dominated Southern California’s women’s tournaments for the past five years.

But nearly as remarkable as their accomplishments on the links is their ability to captivate the gallery. If they don’t win the tournament, they at least win the hearts of spectators. A bad shot by either causes real anguish among the gallery.

What gets the crowd is their complete candor – not naïve, but unsophisticated and natural.

Marlene is a little girl and looks it. She generally wears a big bow in her hair and very little makeup. Alice has more poise and is a little less shy than her younger sister.

Both are feminine as a lace hanky, Marlene is five feet, two and a half inches tall and weighs 120 pounds. Alice is an inch shorter and weighs 108 pounds. They generally wear shorts and a sweater and have the figures for it. Marlene has light brown wavy hair. Alice is neither a brunette nor a blond – just between.

Father Dave Bauer is their tutor and severest critic. A professional golfer himself, it was Bauer who taught them all they know of golf. He insists they practice until they become champions.

It is not unusual to see Papa Bauer give one of his daughters a sizzling tongue-lashing during a tournament.

Alice is the one Father Bauer wanted to become a champion golfer. But it took Marlene to interest Alice. The elder sister wasn’t impressed with silver loving cups won on a golf course, so Marlene used her for bait.

Father Bauer cut the handles off a driver and putter when Marlene was three and a half years old, and Marlene began divoting the front lawn of the Bauer home in Eureka, N. D., where both girls were born.

Within two months Alice, then 10, had swallowed the bait and begged for a set of golf clubs. The family moved to Aberdeen, N. D., where Papa was pro at the Hyde Park Golf Course.

By the time Alice was 14 she had won the North Dakota state women’s crown and had been runner-up the previous year. Marlene, then 8, had qualified in the championship flight but was defeated in the first round.

They moved to California; five years at Long Beach, one in Los Angeles. They came, they played, and they conquered.

The Bauer sisters won the Long Beach city women’s title five consecutive years. Alice won it four times, Marlene once.

Marlene won the Los Angeles women’s crown in 1947 with Alice runner-up. Alice won it in 1947 with Marlene runner-up and Marlene recaptured the crown in 1949.

Marlene broke the world record f0r 54 holes of women’s golf at the Indio Invitational tournament in Palm Springs two years ago with a remarkable 69, 70 and 71 for an aggregate of 210.

Marlene won the Palm Springs championship in 1947. Alice won it in 1948 and Marlene repossessed the crown in 1949.

Alice won the San Catalina tourney in 1947 and 1948. In the final year she set a new women’s record for the tournament with rounds of 70 and 68.

Father Bauer scoffs when people say his daughters use an unorthodox swing. He contends it differs from the conventional swing only that the timing and rhythm are stressed more than the power. The looping backswing and bend of the knees look different, he says, but the result is the same – only better.

The girls follow the winter circuit and return to their new home in Midland, Tex., in the spring. Then school for Marlene and more golf. Then the circuit again.

It’s a long road to travel, but they have already arrived.

294 SETS NEW HIGH MARK AT BOBBY JONES

February 9, 1950

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Golf Courses Draw Record Crowds

An all-time record crowd of golfers swarmed over Bobby Jones Golf Club and Sarasota Bay Country Club Wednesday as ideal weather lured home folks and winter visitors alike to the city’s two golf courses.

At Bobby Jones, 294 golfers registered with E.W. (Pop) Harbert, club professional, to set a new high mark for one day’s play over the popular municipally-owned layout. “This surpassed the previous high mark of 288 established in 1947, and compares with last year’s peak of 260 and 204 in 1948.

“Golfers thronged the course virtually from dawn to dusk,” Harbert said in reporting the record day’s play. “We have gone well over 200 every day now for weeks, and only two days ago set a new record for the season at 253,” Harbert explained.

A combination of ideal weather and heavy tourist business this season was credited with setting up the new record at Bobby Jones.

At Sarasota Bay, qualifying rounds for the men’s club championship and play in the women’s tournament joined to bring out a record field at this privately operated club, Pro Clyde Kelly announced, though exact figures were not available.

Heinie Manush, who won the men’s championship at Bobby Jones earlier in the season, led the qualifiers at Sarasota Bay, Kelly reported, turning in a two over par 74 to take the qualifying medal. Dare Davis was runner up with a 76.

Drawings for match play in the club championship and other flights will be announced later, Kelly reported.

The regular monthly meeting of the Bobby Jones Men’s Golf Association was held at the club last night, with Kenneth Thompson, new city manager, as a special guest. Thompson assured the men’s group he would support their plans for a women’s open tournament here next season and any other practical proposals for further development of the sport here. Babe Zaharias, who was to have attended the meeting, was delayed in Palm Beach, where a women’s open tournament is in progress.

Pro-Am Slated at Bobby Jones

Wednesday, February 8, 1950

Tampa Bay Times

Sunday’s West Coast Pro-Amateur Golf Association tournament will be played at the Bobby Jones course in Sarasota, according to Billy Watts head of the association.

Watts announced that Bobby Jones officials have scheduled a drawing of amateur partners for the tournament. Each pro will play with three amateurs, to be drawn by lot, to form three best-ball teams. Amateurs will be allowed half handicaps.

An entry deadline of 11 a.m. Saturday has been set, Watts said, The draw will be made at 11 a.m. Sunday and play will follow but entries must be in 24 hours ahead of the draw.

E. W. HARBERT IS PRO AT SARASOTA GOLF CLUB

DECEMBER 2, 1949

BATTLE CREEK ENQUIRER

Local golfers who are fortunate enough to continue their summer pastime down Florida way will be able to renew acquaintances with E.W. Pop Harbert who formerly served as professional at Battle Creek and Marywood Country clubs here. “Harb” who has 45 years of golfing behind him, was selected as professional at the Bobby Jones course in Sarasota, Fla. The former Battle Creek pro has wintered in Sarasota for many years and played the Bobby Jones course there but never served in the capacity of the course’s professional. Although Harbert is overshadowed by his top pupil, son Chick, who is professional at Meadowbrook Country club at Northville, Mich., and one of the top 10 golfers in the country today. “Pop” is well-known locally and remembered from his 20 years of professional service at local clubs. The Bobby Jones course has ling been a mecca for many of the top major league baseball stars and numerous northern pro golfers. Herb is well acquainted in Sarasota where he had always hoped to settle down in a year-around.

‘Chick’ Harbert, Keiser Tied For Lead In Masters

April 5, 1946

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

By Chick Hosch

AUGUSTA, Ga., April 5 – (AP) –

Ailing Chick Harbert of Detroit and Sarasota, Fla., and Herman Keiser of Akron, Ohio, went out today for the second round of the 72-hole Masters tournament nursing a two-stroke lead over the nation’s finest collection of golf stars.

The two ex-service men each had a three-under par 69 yesterday in the tenth renewal of the $10,000 event, not held since 1942, to pace 49 other competitors, only three of whom shot sub-par rounds.

Harbert, who got out of the army two months ago after more than three years service, is suffering with an infected cyst in the underside of his left knee, which has him limping around the rolling, 6,800-yard national golf course layout. He had a 34-35 card compared to Keiser’s 32-37. Par on both sides is 36.

Vic Ghezzi of Knoxville, Tenn.; Fred Haas of New Orleans, and Toney Penna of Cincinnati, were the others to break par yesterday as a brisk wind hampered play and sent the scores of many of the top player soaring. Keiser, an ex-sailor, had the day’s best none-hole score.

Byron Nelson of Toledo, the defending champion, who was paired with the famous Bobby Jones of Atlanta, turned in rounds of 35-37 for an even par of 72. One of the days largest galleries followed the noted pair, curious to see what Jones, the former king of the wooden-shafted clubs, could do against the game’s current star.

Ben Hogan of Hershey, Pa., favored to win the $2,500 first prize, has a pair of 37’s for a 74 and a 12th place tie with eight others, including Sam Snead of Hot Springs, Va., another able contender.

MAKING THE SWING

THE GOLF WORLD'S NEWS IN BRIEF

OCTOBER 3, 1944

GOLFDOM

BY HERB GRAFFIS

GOLF IN THE SERVICE

DREW Field, Tampa, Fla. military personnel are getting their golf instruction from Pro. E. W. Harbert, pro at the Bobby Jones course, Sarasota, and father of the famous Pvt. Melvin ‘Chick’ Harbert, who has been assigned to a WAC recruiting tour by the Lincoln, Nebr. AAF.

THE RECORD STILL STANDS

AUGUST 1, 1943

BATTLE CREEK ENQUIRER

As an amateur in 1938, “Chick” was low man in the Masters Tournament at Augusta, Ga., and from then on he became a dangerous man for any tournament. His biggest year was 1941-42. At Los Angeles he finished second to Ben Hogan, though beaten in the semi finals by the experienced Harry Cooper. But at Beaumont, Texas, he won the Open by seven strokes, netting $1,000.

Then came that famous playoff with Hogan at San Antonio, when “Chick” won, netting another $1,000 plus his share the gate receipts on the playoff match. At New Orleans he won the long distance driving contest, referred to as a "world" affair. His shot carried 300 yards and then went through a fence. The distance to the fence, discounting what may have happened afterward, was sufficient to beat the nearest competitor (Hogan again) by 27 yards.

At St. Petersburg, Fla., he tied for second, after setting a new course record of 68, and at St. Augustine he and Marvin Stahl of Lansing reached the finals in the Four-Ball Championship. “Chick” won the St. Paul Open last fall, in a playoff with “Dutch” Harrison of Little Rock, Ark., again hitting a 66 for the course record for 18 holes.

He faced another brilliant winter season, but he felt the call to serve his country. He had had considerable experience as a civilian pilot, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps, and was sent to Hope college, Holland, for his primary training. That being finished, he was ordered to report today at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., as a cadet.

His last tournament experience was at Tam O’Shanter, Chicago, last week, where he was but one stroke behind the best score for 72 holes, though he had to share in a tie for second. He has been invited again play with the American Ryder Cup team, composed of leading American golf stars, but chances are that he cannot accept it, now that he's in the Army.

E. W. Harbert, his wife and two older children, were living in Dayton when it had its famous flood in 1913 and they lost everything they owned. Their home was on South Williams street and when time came to evacuate it they had to move fast as fast as a horse-drawn dray could move. When they returned to their home more than week after that never-to-be-forgotten March morning, they found everything ruined. Mud was deep on the floors and everything; clothing, carpets and the like was so rotted by the flood that it fell apart at the touch. “Harb” remembers starting to move a sofa that looked all right, only to have the whole top come off at his touch.

His father had even worse experiences. He was rooming in a house nearer the river than “Harb’s” and was caught in the rushing waters at 6 in the morning. With him were the landlady and her two little girls. They were forced up stairs and then into the attic, where they had to cut a hole in the roof, for air. All they had to eat for days was one apple, salvaged as they ran. Eventually they were taken out through the roof by rescuers in rowboats. “Harb” saw three women drown in this flood, when their rowboat, manned by a city fireman, over turned. The fireman kept his balance and saved his own life, and the fifth member of the boatload, an elderly man, was thrown over a fence onto higher ground and, though rendered unconscious, was easily rescued.

For a week the Harberts stood in the breadline at a nearby fire station and received whatever food was available. Later they were given furniture by the Relief Association, which raised funds from industries, business places and private donors. The house had to be redecorated and re-carpeted, but the furniture furnished by the Relief Association was a big help.

All the Harberts had left after the flood was a small savings account in a town bank. Of course, “Harb” still had his job. None of the Harberts was sorry to move away from Dayton, but the flood has never been repeated. It was due to a cloud burst which broke the levee. Later a city reservoir gave way and added to the demolition already being accomplished by the swollen Miami and Stillwater streams.

At Richmond, Ind., life proved more pleasant for the Harberts. “Harb” even found time to go through the Masonic orders up to and including the Knights Templar. He had previously belonged to the Elks at Greenville, O., where he helped build a clubhouse for them and laid out a golf course. In recent years “Harb” has had no fraternal attachments.

The Harbert home is really in Sarasota, Fla. at 408 Cherokee Street. This is where the family spends the winter months. They also have an apartment house next door, which they rent to winter visitors.

In Florida “Harb” finds time for some relaxation aside from golf. He goes in for deep-sea fishing and for fresh-water fishing in the inland lakes and rivers, taste for bass. He also hunts not only doves, quail, ducks, squirrels, and rabbits, but deer and bear. “Harb” says his northern friends seem surprised to hear that there is deer hunting in Florida, but there is. Each county has its own “open” and “closed” season, instead of being affected by a state “open” and “closed” season.

“Harb” also finds time to do community service at Sarasota. He is an Aircraft Warning Service observer and does his trick at plane spotting every Sunday night from 6 to 11. He is also active in the Florida Peace Officers' association. In fact, even in Battle Creek he has the credentials of a special deputy sheriff under Sheriff Fred Hollingsworth. When in Dayton “Harb” was second duty sergeant in Co. H., Ohio National Guard, and won the honors of a sharpshooter at Camp Perry, Sandusky. He served with the militia in the Springfield race riots, which resulted from two Negroes shooting at a white railroad brakeman, but he says it was pretty tame alongside what recently happened in Detroit.

In Battle Creek Elmer W. Harbert’s life is pretty much tied up with golf. It is his profession and his diversion. But he admits that he'd like to do a lot of things including going to church (his uncle was a Presbyterian minister) if his week didn't have seven full days, with Sunday the busiest of them all.

Few residents of this community have had more publicity than Melvin (Chick) Harbert, who has become a top-notcher among American golfers but this column is not a part of “Chick’s” publicity. It deals with another Harbert, Elmer Washington by name, who happens to be “Chick’s” dad, but who has himself had a life-time of experiences. And as a matter of fact, “Harb” was quite a man even before “Chick” entered the picture, and he doesn’t have to bask in reflected glory.

Lest the writer be misunderstood he will say that nobody gets a, bigger kick out of “Chick” Harbert’s golf victories than his dad. He never goes around boasting that he taught the remarkable young man the game of golf (which, of course, he did) and he never makes a fuss about it when he accompanies “Chick” to a tournament and forms a part of the “gallery” that follows him around the course. But he is very proud of “Chick” and extremely reluctant to talk about himself. That's why we have dragged E.W. Harbert’s story out of him. It is interesting and shows he is something besides “‘Chick’ Harbert’s old man.”

Elmer W. Harbert is a native of Ohio. He was born at Union, April 15, 1883, to John B. and Lillian Snyder Harbert. His father was at that time section foreman for the Cincinnati, Dayton & Union railroad for Union City, Ind., a terminal, rather than for Union, O., where he lived. “Harb’s” mother died when he was only four years old and he went to live with his grandparents, the George Snyders, in Dayton. When John Harbert married again he moved to Dayton and took Master Elmer into his new household. He also entered into a different line of work, as coffee roaster and blender for the famous firm of Canby, Ach & Canby. He became an expert at sorting the coffee that came into the warehouses of this concern in bulk and working out blends that would appeal to the public.

Elmer Harbert went to school in Dayton, but quit before reaching high school to take a job with Crawford, MacGregor & Canby Co. of Dayton, a double-headed industry, making golf clubs and shoe lasts. In fact, the concern also had another department, the making of bowling alleys and equipment, under the title, the 20th Century Bowling Alleys. Eventually this department was sold to the well-known Balke-Brunswick Co.

“Harb’s” first job was as office boy but he finally grabbed an opportunity to work in the factory of the Crawford, MacGregor & Canby Co. and became an expert at turning out golf club shafts from hickory. His inventive mind eventually led him to develop a machine to replace much of the handwork on these shafts and it was used for years in the plant. Then came the steel shaft, which has practically eliminated the good old hickory.

During his days as a club maker, “Harb” studied greensmaking and course designing and when he tried a job as “Pro” for a nine-hole course it proved the stepping stone to assignments to lay out new courses for several small towns, including Lebanon and Bellefontaine. He also helped build the MacGregor golf course at Dayton, which proved quite a job, as stumps had to be removed by dynamite and many other obstacles were encountered.

But this led to an invitation from Richmond, Ind., where “Harb” laid out three golf courses, Glen Miller park, Earlham college, and a private course sponsored by a wealthy farmer.

By 1917 “Harb” was ready for bigger things. So he signed up with Sharon, Penn., as “pro” of an 18-hole course. Then followed similar jobs at Marion, Huntington, and Wabash. Ind., and finally a job at Richmond, where he stayed for five straight years. During that time he helped construct the Forest Hills course, and he was greenskeeper as well as “pro.”

In 1926 Harbert came here to act as “pro” for the Battle Creek Country club. The system here was a little different. Dr. Walter T. Bobo was chairman of the greens committee and as such directed the greenskeeping, though he called in the new “pro” for conference and advice. “Harb” remained on the job until 1932 and his wife had charge of the clubhouse.

His former employers, the MacGregor concern, had wanted Harbert to act as representative for Michigan, Northern Indiana and Western Pennsylvania, and in 1932 he accepted this job, though eliminating Pennsylvania from his territory. His job was not only to sell MacGregor clubs and golf equipment, but to play on various courses and demonstrate the superiority of the product he was selling. For two years he did this work, but he then decided it wasn’t exactly the life he wanted to lead.

Arthur Kennett had meanwhile succeeded him as “pro” at the Battle Creek Country club, but “Harb” came back to this community and lined up with the Marywood club, as “pro,” greenskeeper, and, in-shop manager. Mrs. Harbert ran the clubhouse for three of the six years “Harb” stayed on this job and then Mercedes Coleman, their daughter, took it over.

In 1940 “Harb” had the pleasure of seeing his son “Chick” selected as “pro” to succeed Arthur Kennett at his old stamping grounds. When “Chick” felt the call of his country and decided to enlist in the army air corps. “Harb” was called back to the Battle Creek Country club, where he now holds forth.

“Harb” never had much opportunity for tournaments, as he had to work for a living. But he did tie for second place in the Western Open at Olympia Fields, Chicago, in 1927. He couldn't make the brilliant finish so characteristic of young “Chick” today. Elmer Harbert made his best score at Richmond, Ind., when he shot one nine in 29 and the next one in 30. This 59 set a course record that has never been broken. “Harb” has not only made a hole-in-one, but a pair of them. The first was at Sarasota, Fla., during the first baseball players’ tournament. He was playing an exhibition game with Paul Waner, of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Al Nelson, the “pro” from Yardley, Pa., and Bert Montresser, Decatur. It was the 16th hole and Harbert’s shot with a No. 2 iron covered the 191 yards and trickled into the cup. The second hole-in-one was made at Marywood, in 1940, on the fifth green when he holed out a tee shot of 157 yards.

Incidentally, E. W. Harbert has been spending his winters at Sarasota for 20 years, as a golf professional. He was with the Bobby Jones Golf club at first and then with the Old Whitfield Estates, changed in later years to the Sarasota Bay club (now closed). Last winter “Harb” was at the Bobby Jones course and he is likely to return there for the coming winter. Sarasota is the home of something besides the Ringling Bros, circus.

Around 80 professional baseball players make it their winter abode and “Harb” has played golf there with Paul Derringer, Joe Cronin, Jimmy Foxx, Al Lopez, Tommy Bridges, Elden Auker, and others to say nothing of such famous golf stars as Walter Hagen, Sam Snead, Gene Sarazen, Tommy Armour, Denny Shute, Horton Smith, José Jurado from the Argentine and Miamoto of the touring Japanese team of pre-war days.

While the ball players have golfed with “Harb,” “Harb” has worked out with them particularly with the Boston Red Sox. Before a big league team assembles all its men and starts whipping them into an organization for the summer season, ball players indiscriminately work out with the first arrivals. “Harb” has the honor of having played third base and also coached at third in one exhibition game in which the other players were professional baseball men.

In his younger days “Harb” played baseball, as an amateur and as a semi-professional. He pitched, caught and was utility man for the Dayton Last Works (a part of the industry in which he was employed) and he pitched for the Dayton Shilohs in the Sunday league, which team won at least one city championship. “Harb,” who threw a wicked curve, altogether had eight years of baseball in Dayton. When Dayton was in the Central league, he always worked out with the team, which never went south for spring training.

In Dayton, too, E. W. Harbert ranked among the top-notch figure skaters of the community. The skating was done on the frozen Miami river and “Harb” knew all the fancy work. It was at Dayton that Harbert met, wooed and married Miss Gloia Kidwell, who had come up from Cynthiana, Ky., with her father, who opened a grocery store in the Ohio city. (The spelling of "Gloia is correct. It's unique in the field of names. Even Mrs. Harbert has never heard of another woman owning it).

The wedding date was July 3, 1904, and to this union were born four children, one of whom died at birth, owing to an accident experienced by Mrs. Harbert, an unfortunate slip on an icy back porch.

Virgil, the oldest of the Harbert progeny, is well known here, having spent some time at the Battle Creek Country club as assistant to his father. Later he became the first “pro” Maple Hills, Kalamazoo ever hired. He is now with the Delco Co. at Dayton, supervising from 300 to 400 men in the electric welding and motor department. Virgil has two children.

Mercedes is the wife of Kenneth Coleman, now with the Clark Equipment Co. She has charge of the dining room at the Athelstan club, after doing a swell job in the same capacity at Marywood.

The “baby” of the family is Melvin, better known as “Chick” and probably most people would like to know where he acquired that name. It’s quite a story. When Melvin was under five years old, a party of 24 well-known golfers, including George Ade, Pete Dailey. Chick Evans and others, came to Richmond, Ind., to play their “blathering” game. They called themselves the “Soap Factory Gang"” and they attained a lot of fun out of playing golf while their opponents and the “gallery” yelled things at them, threw balls in front of their tee shots, and did all sorts of things.

Young Melvin Harbert was playing around the first tee with an old driver which his father had sawed off to fit his height, when Chick Evans asked him if he could hit a golf ball with it. Papa Harbert said that would be too easy for the youngster, but if Evans would pick out an object, not too far away from the tee, Melvin would shoot for it. Chick Evans picked an old apple tree down the fairway. Melvin hit five balls and the one that landed farthest from the tree was within five feet of it. Later Melvin shot a 2 on a 3-par hole, both shots with the sawed off driver, as that was his only club. Of course, the second shot was lucky; the ball landed on the green and rolled to the cup. The caddies dubbed him “Chick” after Chick Evans and the name has stuck ever since. “Chick” Harbert never had a golf lesson until he was 14 years old and this was at the Battle Creek Country club. As “Chick” developed he won about everything there was to win in Michigan tournaments high school, college (for Michigan State his school) and the Western Michigan. In the Michigan Open, as an amateur, he set a world's record 263 for 72 holes.

Capt. Jones To Serve in Raid Warning Duty

June 24, 1942

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

By Sid Feder

NEW YORK, June 23 – (AP) – When a fellow shoots close-to-par golf and still winds up 19 strokes back of the top money, it’s time to admit the other guys may be getting “too hot” for him, but that’s not the reason Bobby Jones is hanging up his clubs for the duration.

Bobby – It’s Capt. Robert Tyre Jones now – was still slightly shell-shocked today as he recalled last week’s Hale America tournament at Chicago, during which Ben Hogan left him far back, although he was right up near regulation figures all the way.

 But he pointed out emphatically that the big idea in trading in his sticks for that soldier suit and those double silver shoulder bars was that he figured he could use his eyes for something more important than lining up putts.

So did Uncle Sam’s army. And, as a result, the round-faced man with the Peachtree street accent started out today on an assignment that will make him the biggest pair of eyes among the 800,000 pairs that will be spotting enemy planes for the army’s fighter aircraft along the Atlantic seaboard from Maine to Key West.

Fresh from the Chicago shot-making, he was ordered to start a course here in the aircraft warning service, which means observation posts along the entire coast line.

“After completing this course,” explained Brig, Gen. John K. Cannon, commanding general of the first flight command, “Captain Jones will be assigned to organizing and instructing volunteers in this vital observation service.

“The service comprises ore than 800,000 civilian volunteers. They have truly been described as the eyes of the first fighter command. They release for combat duty thousands of soldiers – as many as 30,000 or 40,000 – who would otherwise have to man observation posts.”

HARBERT ASKED TO PLAY WITH HAGEN’S SQUAD

June 6, 1942

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Chick Harbert of Sarasota, sensation of the winter golf spring, is one of a dozen top pros and amateurs asked by Walter Hagen to join his squad to play against the Ryder Cup team.

Sir Walter also plans to ask Capt. Bobby Jones of the army air corps to be on his side. Last year Jones led the challengers to victory over Hagen’s Ryder cuppers.

Others invited by Hagen include Lawson Little, Henry Picard, Sam Byrd, Ed Dudley, Harry Cooper, Jimmy Thompson, Al Watrous, Chandler Harper and Corporals Jim Turnesa and Ed (Porky) Oliver.

The Ryder Cup team has five newcomers – Open champion Craig Wood, Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Lloyd Mangrum and Jimmy Demaret. Holdover cuppers are Corp. Vic Ghezzi, Jug McSpaden, Byron Nelson, Horton Smith and P.G.A. Champion Sammy Snead.

Chick Harbert Signed Up At Bobby Jones

December 30, 1941

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Chick Harbert, winner of the $5,000 Beaumont Open in Beaumont, Tex., Sunday, became a member of the staff at Bobby Jones golf course the first of December, Clyde Kelly, Bobby Jones pro said today.

Harbert was joined at the Bobby Jones by his father, E.W. Harbert, who was a member of the staff at Sarasota Bay Country Club last season.

The young golfer made a sensational play in the Beaumont Open to upset such stellar veterans as Paul Runyan and Ben Hogan. He is expected to arrive here sometime next month. The elder Harbert is in Sarasota.

HARBERTS JOIN GOLFING STAFF AT BOBBY JONES

November 7, 1941

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

The golfing Harberts – Elmer W. (Harb) and his son, Chick – have joined the pro staff at the Bobby Jones Golf Club for the 1941-42 season, it was announced last night by Managing Professional Clyde V. Kelly.

During the summer season the elder Harbert is located at the Marywood Country Club in Battle Creek, Mich., where he serves the dual capacity of manager and professional. A member in good standing of the National Professional Golfers Association, he was instrumental in bringing the Seniors National P.G.A. tourney and attending publicity to Sarasota from Augusta, Ga.

Chick Harbert is one of the most promising young professionals in the country. Chick is the present holder of the Bobby Jones course record of 62 which he established last November. One of Chick’s outstanding accomplishments is firing the world’s lowest 72 hole score in a major championship tournament. His score of 268, 20 under par, was made in the Michigan Open championship at Jackson in 1937.

Following the winter circuit last year young Harbert led the field in the qualifying round in the National Open Match play championship in San Francisco. During this event he eliminated Jimmy Demaret, the defending champion, and continued to the quarter finals where Harry Cooper beat him, one up, on the 18th hole by virtue of a 35 foot putt. In the St. Petersburg open he tied with Ben Hogan and Jug McSpaden for second place with a seven under par 72 hole score of 281, two strokes behind Sam Snead, the winner at 279.

The Harbert family has been in golf for a long time. For the past 35 years Harb has been engaged in the professional golf business. Previous to that he started his golf career when he was 14 years old, at that time being employed as a club maker but the MacGregor company in Dayton, Ohio.

This year will be Harb’s 16th winter season in Florida. Fourteen of the past 15 years have been spent in Sarasota.

JOCK HUTCHISON TO RETURN HERE

Sunday, March 30, 1941

SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE

Jock Hutchison, sr., one of America’s best known golf professionals, will return to Sarasota as associate professional at the Bobby Jones course for the 1941-1942 winter season, at was announced yesterday by Charles Dempsey, chairman of the municipal golf committee.

Hutchison will return to Chicago, where he is head professional at the Glen View club, within the next few days. However, on his way to Chicago her and his son, Jock Hutchison, jr., will attend the Masters tournament to be held in Augusta, Ga. in early April, where both have been invited to participate in the tournament. This tournament has, since its inception, been an invitational affair, and the invitations are extended to only about 85 of the country’s ranking golfers, and all golfers consider it an honor to be invited to participate in this tournament.

In announcing the appointment of Hutchison as an associate professional for the next season, Dempsey said that the combination of Clyde Kelly and Jock Hutchison at the Bobby Jones golf course had proved popular this season, and that he believed the popularity of the combination would be even greater next winter, as this was the first season either of the two had spent in Florida.

Hutchison said: “After spending a thoroughly enjoyable winter in Sarasota, it is with reluctance that I make preparations for my return to the north.

“My association with the Bobby Jones club this past season has been very pleasant in every detail, so much so, in fact, that I have already made plans with the Bobby Jones governing committee to return next season.

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all those connected with the club for their efforts in making my stay so very pleasant, especially commendable is Clyde Kelly’s fine work on the golf course and club house – and with the improvements he has planned to proceed with this summer for next year, you can be certain of a club easily comparable to our finest in the north.

“It is my hope that the fine friends and acquaintances I have made here will return again next year, so we may continue with our good times and good friendship.”

MEDALISTS WIN IN FIRST ROUND OF GOLF EVENT

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19, 1941

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Miss Mary Jayne Garman and Miss Lou Matthews, medalists in the two divisions of the Sarasota women’s golf tournament being played on the Bobby Jones course, won their first round matches today.

Miss Garman, the defending champion, defeated Mrs. G. D. Owsley, 6 and 5, in the residents division, and Miss Matthews, 1939 city champion, beast Mrs. Sylvia Henretin, one up in 30 holes, in the visitors division.

Other results in the residents division: Mrs. E. L. Snider beat Mrs. H. E. Sharrer, 6 and 5, and Mrs. Lou Garman defeated Mrs. Heinie Manush, 6 and 5. Miss Garman and Mrs. Snider meet tomorrow. Mrs. N. E. Sheckey, Mrs. C. Steele, Mrs. Jack McLachlan, Mrs. C. Donnell drew first round byes.

In the visitors division, Mrs. Sally Ficke beat Mrs. Cook, 7 and 5; Mrs. H. E. Green defeated Mrs. Brandes, 7 and 6; Mrs. Fox won from Mrs. Danny Williams, 2 up; Mrs. Rena Hostetler won from Mrs. M. S. Thompson, 2 up; Mrs. Gaylord won from Mrs. A. B. Cocklin, 2 up; and Mrs. Jock Hutchison, jr., beat Mrs. Nelson, 9 and 7. Miss Matthews and Mrs. Ficke play tomorrow.

An earlier story appears on the sports page.

MISS GARMAN IS LOW SCORER IN WOMEN’S EVENT

MISS LOUISE MATHEWS, FORMER CHAMPION, LEADS VISITOR’S GROUP

Miss Mary Jayne Garman, the defending champion, carded an 83 on the Bobby Jones course yesterday to win medalist honors in the qualifying round of the annual Sarasota women’s golf tournament. Miss Garman, a Sarasota High school student, is competing in the residents’ division.

Miss Louise Matthews of Stamford, Conn., who won the city womens’ title in 1939, but now playing in the visitors’ division, shot an 84 to win the qualifying medal in that group. That also was the second lowest score of the day.

In the resident division, Mrs. Jack McLachlan was second with an 88, Mrs. Lou Garman third with 90, Mrs. E. L. Snider fourth with 98, and Mrs. G. D. Owsley fifth with 99.

Mrs. Danny Williams of the Sarasota Bay club was second in the visitors’ division with a 90. Mrs. H. E. Green of Bradenton was third with a 91. Mrs. A. B. Cocklin fourth with 94, Mrs. Edna Hostetler and Mrs. Sally Ficke tied for fifth with 95’s.

Match play in the tournament started today.

Other scores: Mrs. N. D. Shockley 100; Mrs. H. E. Sharrer 100; Mrs. H. Manush 100; Mrs. C. Steele 103; Mrs. A. E. Thompson 111; Mrs. C. Donell 105.

Other scores in the visitors’ section: Mrs. Jock Hutchison, jr., 102; Mrs. Fox 103; Miss Brandes 103; Mrs. Sylvia Henretin 103; Mrs. Tunnell 103; Mrs. Gaylord 106; Mrs. M. F. Thompson 108; Mrs. Cook 107; Mrs. Thurston 109; Mrs. Nelson 113.

First round pairings follow: Mary Jayne Garmans vs Mrs. G. D. Owsley; Mrs. Snider vs Mrs. H. E. Sharrer; Mrs. N. E. Shockey vs Bye; Mrs. C. Steele vs Bye; Mrs. Jack McLachlan vs Bye; Mrs. C. Donnell vs Bye; Mrs. L. Garmall vs Mrs. Heinie Manush; Mrs. A. H. Thompson vs Bye.

Visitors section: Miss Lou Mathews vs Mrs. S. Henretin; Mrs. S. Ficke vs Mrs. Cook; Mrs. H. E. Greens vs Miss Brandes; Mrs. Tunnell vs Mrs. Thurston; Mrs. Danny Williams vs Mrs. Fox; Mrs. Rena Hostetler vs. Mrs. M. F. Thomapson; Mrs. A. B. Cocklin vs Mrs. Gaylord; Mrs. Jock Hutchison, jr., vs Mrs. E. Nelson.

FOURTH SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

JANUARY 10-12, 1941

SARASOTA BAY COUNTRY CLUB

BOBBY JONES GOLF CLUB, SARASOTA FLORIDA

PAR 35 - 36 - 71

With a final round of 4-under par 67 over the Bobby Jones course, Jack Burke, of Houston, Texas, cruised to a seven-stroke victory over runner-up Eddie Williams, of Chicago.

CHAMPIONSHIP SUMMARY

1          Jack Burke, Sr.             75 – 67            142       E

2          Eddie Williams            75 – 74            149      +7

T3        Jack Gordon                 76 – 74            150      +8

T3        H. C. Hackbarth           77 – 73           150      +8

T3        Jock Hutchison*          77 – 73           150      +8

T6        Jim Barnes                    77 – 74            151      +9

T6        Fred McLeod               80 – 71            151      +9

T8        Willie Ogg                    83 – 70            153      +11

T8        Alex Taylor                   79 – 74            153      +11

10        George Sargent           79 – 75            154      +12

11        Gil Nichols                    82 – 75            157      +15

12        Jack Campbell             83 – 76           159      +17

13        W. H. (Bert) Way       88 – 82           170      +28

* Bobby Jones Golf Club Associated Golf Professional

WALTER HAGEN ‘ON TIME’ FOR 1942 GOLF MEET

January 3, 1941

The Spartanburg Herald

Sarasota, Fla., Jan. 2 (AP)

Walter Hagen, golf’s old master with a penchant for showing up late, reversed himself today.

The “Haig” entered the 1942 PGA Senior golf tournament one year in advance. George R. Jacobus, honorary president of the Professional Golfers association, said Hagen’s telegraphed entry contained “a frank admission” that the golfer would reach the fifty year age minimum for the seniors event by January, 1942.

The 1941 tournament will be played over the Sarasota Bay Country club and the Bobby Jones courses here January 10-12.

BASEBALL PLAYERS FETED AT DINNER

Wednesday, December 18, 1940

SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE 

Sarasota citizens paid tribute to the city’s winter baseball colony at the Bobby Jones golf club last night.

More than 100 persons, in addition to the invited guests, attended the junior chamber of commerce’s second annual baseball party. The event was inaugurated last year to give Sarasotans an opportunity to show their appreciation to the baseball players.

High spot on the program was the fried chicken dinner served in the spacious dining lounge room. During the afternoon, the guests were extended the privileges of the golf course, while man y watched the big-time exhibition match featuring Clayton Heaffner and Ed Oliver, leading professionals.

Seated at the guest table with J. L. Sanders, Jaycee president, and Dr. Joe Landess, were the following: Al Lopez, Pittsburgh catcher; Paul Waner, veteran Pittsburgh outfielder now a free agent; Milt Shoffner, New York Giants’ pitcher’ Lloyd Brown, Philadelphia Phillies’ pitcher; Paul Derringer, Cincinnati pitcher; Heinie Manush, manager of the Charlotte club; Butch Henline, International League umpire; Denny Galehouse, St. Louis Browns pitcher; Bill Sullivan, Detroit tigers catcher; Johnny Moore, Los Angeles outfielder; Roy Spencer, former big league catcher; Ted McGrew, Brooklyn scout; and John Cooney, Boston Bees outfielder.

Byron Hollingsworth, sports editor of the Tampa Times, Sol Fleischman, sports announcer for station WDAE, Tampa, and several other out-of-town writers and radio announcers were present.

There were no speeches. Dr. Landess merely introduced the speakers. Afterwards an instructive motion picture on golf was shown by Kenneth Koach.

Almon Snyder was general chairman of the event: other members of his committee were Jack Halton, John Neel, Dr. Landess, Lynwood duRant, Gordon Hifel and W. P. Dozier, Jr.

A collection of about $30 was taken up as a collection for Nick Altrock, veteran Washington coach, who was unable to be present because he is in the Sarasota hospital suffering from a fractured ankle.

WOMEN PLAY IN GOLF TOURNEY

The weekly women’s division was played on the Bobby Jones course yesterday. It was a nine-hole “penalty” event and was completed early so the players could watch the Oliver-Heafner exhibition match.

Mrs. C. Donnell had low net with a 36 in the group with handicaps under 20. Sylvia Henrotin won in the group with handicaps over 20 with a 38.

Mrs. T. A. Collins was high in the penalty division with 62.

OLIVER AND BROWN DEFEAT HEAFNER-DERRINGER TEAM

Wednesday, December 18, 1940

SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE 

A pair of famous golf professionals and a couple of famous baseball pitchers joined yesterday in giving several hundred Sarasota fans a big time golf show on the Bobby Jones golf course.

Ed Oliver, the portly shotmaker who tied for the National open title last summer only to be disqualified for starting too early, teamed with Lloyd Brown, pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, to defeat Clayton Heafner, runner-up in the Miami open, and Paul Derringer, Cincinnati pitcher, 2 and 1.

Although none of the foursome set any course records, the match was replete with remarkable shots, intermingled with a bit of mild clowning by the good-natured Oliver.

Brown and Oliver were three up at the turn, but Heafner and Derringer had cut two holes off the lead when they reached the 14th, where Oliver’s birdie three gave his team another hole. The match ended on the 17th, but they finished the 18th, Heafner carding a birdie three to win the hole.

Heafner, who left immediately following the match for Tallahassee, where he was scheduled to be married today to Miss Mary Allen of Tallahassee, led the foursome with a two-under-par 69. Derringer and Oliver each shot a 70, and Brown came in with a par 71.

Oliver drove the green on the 287-yard 17thhole, one of the few times that has been done in the memory of local golfers. Strangely enough, all four of the players carded birdie three on the hole when Oliver needed two putts.

Heafner drove out of bounds on the 14thand lost a stroke, but his three on the 18thgave him medal honors. Oliver needed a five after making a fine recovery from a clump of trees to get on the green in two.

Before the match Heafner and Oliver, who appeared here under the auspices of the Wilson Sporting Goods company, demonstrated various shots before an appreciative crowd in front of the clubhouse.

Among the interested spectators was Willie Hoare, one of the pioneers in the manufacture of golf equipment. Hoare is spending the winter at the Terrace hotel here. Heafner demonstrated one of his newest clubs.

Their cards:

Heafner……  Out –   443 – 455 – 434 – 36

                         In –      344 – 354 – 433 – 33 – 69

Derringer…..Out –   443 – 554 – 434 – 36

                         In –      453 – 354 – 334 – 34 – 70

Oliver……..    Out –   443 – 445 – 334 – 35

                         In –      464 – 334 – 335 – 35 – 70

Brown…….    Out –   554 – 543 – 434 – 36

                         In –      553 – 444 – 335 – 37 – 71

Sarasota’s Golf Outlook

July 9, 1940

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Since the day J. Hamilton Gillespie staked out in Sarasota the first golf course in America, destiny has pointed to this city as a leader in the ancient and honorable game. Before J. Hamilton Gillespie departed this life, two of America’s outstanding golfers were settled in Sarasota, Tommy Armour, as a professional at the Whitfield Country Club, and Bobby Jones, as a counselor for the Adair Company, in promoting the Whitfield development. About this time, the present municipal golf course was laid out by that master golf architect, Donald Ross, who superintended the construction of three courses in this vicinity. Golf certainly has not been overlooked as a factor in the development of this city.

Some seven years ago the additional prominence was given golf in Sarasota by the employment of George R. Jacobus as pro-manager of the Bobby Jones municipal course, a course dedicated to Bobby Jones and named after him in the late twenties. The wide acquaintance of Mr. Jacobus with the golfers of America made it possible for him to bring to this city nearly every golfer of any renown. Year after year, there were held, under his direction, exhibition matches on the Bobby Jones course in which participated men whose names had become familiar in the golfing world. It was under the guidance of Mr. Jacobus that there were organized here an annual golf tournament of baseball players, an achievement made possible by the fact that Sarasota had become the winter home of more baseball players than any other city in America.

Still another chapter opens in the history of golf in Sarasota with the selection of Jock Hutchison as associated pro at the Bobby Jones course. Jock Hutchison is a household name wherever golf is played. For thirty years he has been before the American public and has distinguished himself as one of the country’s top notch professional golfers. His presence here will give great prestige to golf in this city and be instrumental in attracting here many lovers of the sport. With two distinguished golfers such as George R. Jacobus, as director manager of the Sarasota Bay Country Club, (the former Whitfield Country Club,) and Jock Hutchison, as associate pro at the Bobby Jones municipal course. Sarasota surely will occupy a place in the sun of the golfing world next winter. As the center of golf activities, Sarasota is certainly up and coming.

HUTCHISON NAMED FOR GOLF JOB HERE

NEW BOBBY JONES ASSOCIATE PROS

SUNDAY, JULY 7, 1940

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

FAMOUS GOLFER, SON WILL SERVE AT BOBBY JONES

FORMER BRITISH OPEN, P.G.A. CHAMPION TO ARRIVE ABOUT DEC. 1

Jock Hutchison, sr., one of America’s most popular golf professionals, and his son, Jock, jr., have been named associate professionals at the Bobby Jones course here for the 1940-41 winter season it was announced yesterday by Charles Dempsey, chairman of the municipal golf committee.

Hutchison, former British open and P.G.A. champion, and his son will report here on or about December 1 and will remain until May 1. They will work in closed cooperation with C. V. Kelley, managing professional who is now on duty at the club.

The two Hutchisons are no strangers to Sarasota. They spent part of last winter here, and it was the elder Hutchison wo engaged in a golf marathon with Otto Hackbarth of Cincinnati for the P. G. A. Seniors tournament on the Bobby Jones and Sarasota Bay country club courses.

At the end of the regular 36-hole tournament, Hutchison and Hackbarth were tied. They were still even at the end of an 18-hole playoff the next day, and a second playoff was necessary before Hackbarth took the title by a one stroke margin. Hutchison won the seniors’ crown in 1937 at Augusta, Ga.

The elder Hutchison has been prominently identified with golf for more than 30 years, and at present is head professional at Glenn View club at Golf, Ill., a suburb of Chicago, where her has been located for 24 years. He has been winter pro at Nassau for the past several years, and is known wherever golf is played.

He has won every major golf crown with the exception of the National Open. Here are some of the major events he has won: 1916, Pennsylvania open; 1917, Victory open (which replaced National Open in the war year); 1918, West Coast Open; 1920, Professional Golfers association; 1921, British open, North and South open, Western open; 1922, Northern California open; and 1937, P. G. A. seniors championship. Other titles include Illinois open, Illinois P.G.A., Western Pennsylvania open, five times; and the Florida open.

The annual Seniors’ tournament, a colorful event which attracts most of the veteran golfing stars of the nation, will be played here again next January, and Hutchison is expected to play a prominent part in the festivities. The 1940 meet attracted the largest number of entries in its history.

In announcing the appointments of the winter pros, Dempsey said:

“Jock Hutchison is one of the most popular golf personalities in the world, and also one of the most proficient teachers. It is not unusual for him to teach from 10 to 12 hours a day during the season.

“Jock Hutchison, jr., is one of the younger popular professionals coming up. He qualified for the P.G.A. tournament in 1938, and finished twenty-third in the National open at Cleveland last month.

“After completing college, Jack, jr., was offered a choice of professions by his father, but the lure of golf was too strong. So Hutchison, sr., set about to develop his successor. Both father and son are members of the Professional Golfers association.

“The golf committee has devoted a lot of time in selecting professionals for the winter season, and after investigating numerous applicants for the place, decided on the Hutchisons. We believe this combination, working during the winter with C. V. Kelly, the managing professional, will prove highly popular and beneficial to Sarasota golf and golfers.”

The appointment of the elder Hutchison means that Sarasota will have two of the most famous figures in the game here this winter. George R. Jacobus, for seven years president of the P.G.A., will be managing director of the Sarasota Bay club, after six years as the winter manager at the Bobby Jones club.

WHITMAN WINS IN GOLF TOURNEY

Homer Whitman scored a net 71 to win the blind handicap tournament played yesterday on the Bobby Jones course under the direction of C. V. Kelley, managing professional.

Charles Dempsey and Verman Kimbrough tied for second place with net 75’s, and Charles G. Strohmeyer was third with a net 72.

Other entrants and their net scores: Dr. Joe C. Landess 76, R. M. Whitelaw 78, Francis C. Bart 78, Cosmo L. Williams 78, Miss Betty Robertson 76, Miss Mary Lemont 78, Miss Mildred Emmelhainz 76, Benton W. Powell 79, H. H. Moore 76, J. Addison 66, R. E. Deacon 64 and Luke Grubbs 73.

GOLFERS TO HONOR JACOBUS AT BOBBY JONES SATURDAY

MARCH 14, 1940

SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE

The mixed foursomes tournament scheduled for Bobby Jones golf club next Saturday, March 16, has taken on added importance and significance since a group of the club members, both men and women, have dedicated the event to George R. Jacobus, the club manager and professional for the past six winters, and are calling the tournament the “George Jacobus mixed foursomes tournament.” This committee is anxious to make this event the most successful mixed foursomes event ever played at the Bobby Jones club and as many successful tournaments of this kind have been held there in the past, the committee had a big job to make this one the greatest.

The players feel, in honoring Mr. Jacobus with this specially dedicated tournament, that he has been responsible for featuring the mixed foursome tournament at the Bobby Jones club which have been so popular and have been enjoyed by so many players on every occasion. The tournament will also serve as a farewell party to Mr. Jacobus, who will transfer his affiliations to the North Shore club after this present winter season. Many Bobby Jones’ players will soon be leaving for their homes in the north and they are taking this opportunity before they leave of honoring the man who has contributed so much to the success of the club and to the promotion of golf in Sarasota.

Sarasota merchants are liberally contributing prizes for this tournament as their part in this farewell celebration. Many valuable and very beautiful prizes are already on display at the club and others are being received almost hourly by the committee. Those merchants who have already contributed prizes are:

Peerless Clothes Shop, men’s scarf and hose set; Palm cafeteria (Lee Rhodes), dinner for two; The Betty Shop, novelty pin; Harmon’s Men’s Shop, sport shirt; Tropical Garden, one quart scotch; Mike Roth, box of candy; Tucker’s Sporting Goods, canvas back rest; B. H. Mooney (Sarasota hotel), 2 rain shirts, 6 golf balls; Golf Club Grill, one bottle champagne; Hathcock’s Service Station, 5 quarts motor oil; Baccud Liquor Store, one quart scotch; E. W. Harbert, one quart Burgundy; Bert Montressor, 6 golf balls; The Sport Shop, white leather handbag; Mary Marsden Candy Shoppe, large basket candy; Permanent Waving Shop, Revlon nail polish and lipstick; Bert’s, Inc., bronze lamp; Jack & Jill Shop, 3 pairs ladies’ socks; Walgreen Agency, one fountain brush lipstick; Sears Hardware Company, 2 golf balls; Helen Roth’s Beauty Bar, basket of cosmetics; Sarasota Bowladrome, golf lid cigarette box; Liggett’s Drug Store, jar of tobacco; Silver Coffee Cup, chest of soap; John Ringling hotel, dinners for two.

There will be many other prizes as many other merchants have promised to take part in this gala party.

Almost fifty players have entered the tournament to date and indications are that there will be nearly double that number when play gets under way on Saturday. Play will start about 1 o’clock in the afternoon and will be on a handicap basis. All golfers living or visiting Sarasota are invited to play.

The players and the committee have kept the special purpose of this tournament a secret from George Jacobus. Up until the time that this notice appear, George will have known nothing about the nature of this tournament. He only knows that there will be a mixed foursomes tournament, which he is helping to arrange, but he does not know that it is being played in his honor as a farewell gesture by the Bobby Jones club members and guests.

WES FERREL WARNED OF GOLFING DARK HORSES

February 6, 1940

San Bernardino Sun

(By Associated Press)

TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 5. Champion Wes Ferrell had better be on the lookout for dark horses when the 1940 Baseball Players' National golf tournament gets under way over the Palma Ceia course here Feb. 15. 

Henry Bolesta, golf professional at the Palma Ceia course, has been clocking warmup rounds of some contenders, and says at least four entries may trip the champion.

In addition, Ferrell, who took the title from Paul Waner last year at Lakeland in a wild exhibition of extra hole golf, will find the Pittsburgh outfielder, his perennial finalist opponent, all set for revenge. Waner, also a former National southpaw links titlist, is considered no worse than even money to take Ferrell's measure. 

Bolesta gives this report on some of the major league stars: 

Waner is hot. So's Ferrell. Both I have been playing regularly at Sarasota. But don’t fail to watch:

Senor Al Lopez, Tampa’s own, who catches for the Boston Bees when he’s away from his hacienda.

Jimmy Foxx, Boston Red Sox infielder who operates a winter golf course at St. Petersburg and is out there chipping them in every day.

Joe Medwick, the St. Louis Cardinal’s clouter who’s been polishing up his game at St. Petersburg.

And Paul Derringer, the big Cincinnati mound star who has been playing in the mid-seventies at Sarasota since December.

Another top-flighter is likely to be Dick Bartell, now with the Detroit Tigers, who has never been in the Florida baseball links classic.

A field of 100 golfing baseballers is expected. For one reason, prize money and such amounts to about $1,000. For another, there will be 28 major and minor league teams training in Florida this spring.

HACKBARTH WINS SENIORS' GOLF CROWN

January 17, 1940

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

JOCK HUTCHISON FINALLY BEATEN AT NORTH SHORE

Cincinnati Player Overcomes TwO-Stroke Lead on 17th Hole

Otto Hackbarth, lanky white-haired 54-year-old golfer who refused to be beaten, was en route to his Cincinnati home today with the Alfred Bourne trophy, emblematic of the National P.G.A. Seniors’ golf championship.

Hackbarth won the third annual seniors’ tournament yesterday by defeating Jock Hutchison of Chicago, former British open and P.G.A. champion, by one stroke in the second 18-hole playoff round on the North Shore Country Club course.

The new champion toured the par 72 North Shore layout in 74 strokes, while Hutchison needed 75. The match was actually decided on the 18th hole, however, when Hutchison shanked his second shot off to the right of the green and took a five, while Hackbarth holed out in a birdie four.

Hackbarth displayed his courage and determination when he erased Hutchison’s two-stroke lead on the 17th hole. On the 16th, Hackbarth dumped his second shot in a creek and wound up with a seven, Hutchison taking a par five. On the next hole, Hackbarth drove the green and holed out in a birdie two, while Hutchison overhsot the green and needed a four.

The veteran Cincinnati player held a one-stroke lead as they started the second none holes, having toured the first nine in 37. A birdie two on the 13th added another stroke, but he proceeded to lose both strokes on the next two holes. Then came the fatal 16th, and Otto was trailing by a pair of strokes. He got them back on the 17th and went on to win on the 18th.

The two players tied at 146 in the regular 36-hole tournament, and both shot 74’s on the first playoff round on the Bobby Jones layout Monday. Hackbarth completed 72 holes of play with an aggregate 294 to Hutchison’s 295.

Besides taking possession of the Bourne trophy, Hackbarth also was awarded a solid golf medal. Hutchison also was awarded a medal, and both players will receive P.G.A. checks for undisclosed amounts.

Hackbarth said the trophy will rest for the next year at the Cincinnati Country club, where he has been professional for 24 years. He will bring it back to Sarasota and defend the title in the fourth annual tournament next year.

With the tournament over, many of the seniors plan to remain in Sarasota for some time. That they were well=please is shown from the fact that they voted unanimously to come back.

Yesterday’s card:

Par –

Out                  444 344 355 – 36

In                    444 344 535 – 36 – 72

Hackbarth -

Out                  643 344 355 – 37

In                    544 254 724 – 37 – 74

Hutchison

Out                  445 345 355 – 38

In                    544 343 545 – 37 – 75

Hutchison won the inaugural tournament at Augusta, Ga., two years ago. Last year’s winner was Freddie McLeod, Washington, D.C., who tied for fifth position in this year’s event.   

average goLFER Tries to learn too fast

January 17, 1940

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

(This is another in a series written for the Associated Press by the nation’s sports leaders, in which they review outstanding events and trends of 1939 and indicate likely developments in 1940.)

By TOM WALSH

(President, Professional Golfers’ Association of America)

Golf, which enjoyed a great year in 1939, is the great game that it is because it cannot be mastered in 24 hours – a fact which Mr. Average Golfer, whose average score is 108 for 18 holes, sometimes does not realize.

Here is the average golfer’s idea of being a keen student of the game:

Phone the club for a lesson, rush out, grab a ham on rye, run to the lesson tee and spend a full half hour, learn three quarters of the Vardon grip, race to the first tee and double the bets with the other three members of the wrecking, toss his handkerchief into the air to test the wind, yell a question to his caddy about his eyesight, and then grab his driver with just one thought in mind” “How far can I sock this thing?”

Of course, if he fails to sock it with the degree of perfection he thinks he deserves, the professional is a poor teacher.

If Mr. Golfer would approach the game in the way women players approach it, the average score would probably drop. Mrs. Golfer does not have the idea she can learn a difficult subject in 30 minutes flat. Teaching golf is a tough job, yet when a professional does succeed in helping the struggling player get more fun from the game, the pro is rewarded with real satisfaction.

During the past year, 39 tournaments were conducted under the guidance of the P.G.A. The purses totaled $184,000.

The P.G.A. Hole-In-One club, organized by Past President George R. Jacobus, proved very popular, with 2,245 hole-in-one emblems being presented golfers by the association.

The third annual P.G.A. Senior’ championship, completed yesterday when Otto Hackbarth defeated Jock Hutchison in the second playoff round, proved an especially interesting event.

The P.G.A. now is making plans to celebrate its silver anniversary in 1941 – an anniversary which will pay tribute to scores of professionals who contributed much time and effort toward the steady advancement and growth of the P.G.A. Among them are Charles Hall, George Jacobus, J. B. Mackie, Alex Pirie and George Sargent, five past presidents who have been named to participate in the anniversary as a special honorary committee.

HACKBARTH, HUTCHISON TIE FOR SENIORS’ TITLE

PLAYOFF TODAY AT BOBBY JONES TO DECIDE ISSUE

Monday, January 15, 1940

SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE 

CINCINNATI VETERAN COMES FROM BEHIND TO EVEN MATTERS

Jock Hutchison, former British open and P.G.A. champion, and Otto Hackbarth, veteran long driver from the Cincinnati Country club, were scheduled to match shots on the Bobby Jones course this afternoon for the third annual National P.G.A. Seniors’ golf championship.

The 18-hole playoff, scheduled to start at 2 p.m., was made necessary when Hackbarth, five strokes being Hutchison at the start of the final round yesterday, shot a sparkling 33 on the first nine holes while Hutchison was needing a 38. Both veterans rounded the back stretch in 37 strokes.

Hackbarth’s 33 was the lowest none-hole score of the two-day tournament, and his par 70 was the lowest 18-hole round. However, Hutchison carded a 71 on the par 72 North Shore Country club course Saturday.

A high wind sent many of the scores zooming yesterday, but Hackbarth and a few others found conditions to their liking. The veteran Cincinnati player, in his younger days one of the longest drivers in the game, and still able to drive farther than most of the other competitors, took things easy and was the last player to finish on both days.

It was the second consecutive time that Hackbarth has tied for the seniors’ title. He lost to Freddie McLeod, of Washington, D. C., in the playoff at Augusta, Ga., a year ago. In this year’s playoff, Hackbarth, 54, met a former champion in Hutchison, 57, the winner two years ago.

Fred Miley, Cincinnati, father of Marion Miley, the feminine links star who is spending several days in Sarasota with her parents, faltered yesterday and finished in a tie with Charles Mayor, Long Beach, N. Y., for third place. Each had 148.

Jack Campbell, Philadelphia, and Long Jim Barnes, West Orange, N. J., tied for fifth position with 149s. Mike Brady, Mamaroneck, N. Y., Milton Theobald, Rome, N. Y., and George Morris, Harrisburg, Pa., tied for the seventh spot with 151s.

McLeod, the defending champ, had to be content with a tenth place tie with Willie Maquire, Houston, Tex., P.G.A. treasurer who scored a hole-in-one Friday. They had 152s.

E. W. Harbert, Sarasota, tied with Dave McKay, Pittsburgh, James Young, S. Hadley, Center, Mass., and Dave Ogilivie, Augusta, Ga., for the next position with 153s.

Hackbarth was low in the D division (50-54 years old), and Hutchison topped the C group (55-59). Campbell led the B class (60-64), and Bert Way, Cleveland, topped the A group (over 65).

The senior golfers and their wives were guests of the municipal golf committee at a banquet at the Terrace hotel headquarters last night. They were banquet guests at the North Shore Country club Saturday night.

 The complete scores follow:

Jock Hutchison, Chicago, 71-38-37-146.

Otto Hackbarth, Cincinnati, 76-33-37-146.

Charles Mayo, Long Beach, N. J., 75-37-36-148.

Fred Miley, Cincinnati, 73-37-38-148.

Jack Campbell, Philadelphia, 77-36-36-149.

Jim Barnes, West Orange, N. J., 78-36-35-149.

Mike Brady, Mamaroneck, N. Y., 78-36-37-151.

Milton Theobald, Rome, N. Y., 78-34-39-151.

George Morris, Harrisburg, Pa., 76-39-36-151.

Fred McLeod, Chevy Chase, Md., 74-38-40-152.

Willie Maguire, Houston, Tex., 76-38-38-152.

Dave McKay, Pittsburgh, 79-37-37-153.

E. W. Harbert, Sarasota, 77-37-37-153.

James Young, S. Hadley Center, Mass., 80-37-36-153.

Dave Olgilvie, Augusta, Ga., 76-39-38-153.

Walter Hoe, Wellesley, Mass., 77-38-40-155.

Fred Coltart, Philadelphia, 77-41-37-155.

Howard Beckett, Atlanta, 77-40-38-155.

Willie Ogg, Worcester, Mass., 81-36-38-155.

Al Grauer, Hatchville, Mass., 78-39-38-155.

Tom Bonnar, Elmira, N. Y., 80-36-39-155.

George Dodge, Dark Harbor, Me., 79-39-39-155.

Bob Craigs, Louisville, Ky., 79-39-37-155.

George Sargent, Atlanta, 80-38-38-156.

H. E. Williams, Royerford, Pa., 81-35-40-156.

W. C. Sherwood, Memphis, 81-35-40-156.

Tom Clark, Kansas City, Mo., 76-42-39-157.

John Black, San Francisco, 81-39-37-157.

Arthur Reid, Sarasota, 78-37-42-157.

Dick Clarkson, Knoxville, Tenn., 74-40-45-159.

Alex Cunningham, Chicago, 78-40-41-159.

Rom Skipper, Virginia Beach, Va., 78-41-41-160.

Wilfred Reid, Palm Beach, 75-42-43-160.

John Inglis, Avon Park, 82-38-40-160.

Bill Gordon, Sandusky, O., 87-37-39-160.

Ernest Anderson, Forest Hills, N. Y., 82-41-42-165.

Willie Crichton, Wilmington, N. C., 82-43-41-166.

Alex Ogilvie, Cleveland, 86-40-40-166.

Dave Cuthbert, Brunswick, Ga., 86-39-42-167.

Frank Butler, Wolfboro, N. H., 84-39-39-167.

Jack Jolly, Newark, 86-41-43-170.

Willie Lock, Detroit, 82-45-43-170.

W. H. Way, Cleveland, 92-40-47-179.

Val Flood, New Britain, Conn., 94-44-47-185.

REDMOND GIVES EXHIBITION HERE

Jack Redmond, internationally famous trick shot artist, entertained several hundred golf fans with a trick shot exhibition on the 10thtee at the Bobby Jones course yesterday afternoon.

Keeping up a running chatter of humorous conversation, Redmond took over the spotlight after 50 senior golfers completed their play in the third annual National P. G. A. tournament.

P. G. A. SENIORS VOTE TO RETURN HERE

Sunday, January 14, 1940

SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE

HUTCHISON’S 71 GIVES HIM LEAD IN P. G. A. GOLF

37-74, and was tied with Richard Clarkson, Knoxville, Tenn., for third place. Clarkson had 39-35 – 74.

Other leaders were Charles Mayo, Long Beach, N. Y., 38-37-75; O. G. Hackbarth, Cincinnati, 36-40-786; Tom Clark, Kansas City, Mo., 37-39-76; Dave Livie, Cleveland, 39-37-76; Willie Maguire, Houston Tex., 39-37-76; Dave Ogilvie, Augusta, Ga. 38-38-76; and George Morris, Harrisburg, Pa., 40-36-76.

E. W. Harbert, assistant pro at the Bobby Jones course, scored a 37-40-77 to remain within striking distance of the leaders. Arthur Reid, North Shore pro, carded a 40-38-78.

Others beside Harbert in the 77 bracket were Frank Coltart, Flourtown, Pa., 39-38-77; Walter Howe, Wellesley, Mass., 39-38-77; Alex Cunningham, Chicago, 39-38-77; Willie Kidd, Minneapolis, 40-37-77; Jack Campbell, Jenkinton, Pa., 39-38-77, and Howard Beckett, Atlanta, 38-39.

A total of 53 players, a record for the event, started, but three withdrew before completing the round and will not compete today.

The golfers will start teeing off at the Bobby Jones course at 11 a. m. today, and will go off in threesomes every six minutes. There is no admission fee and golf fans are urges to attend the matches.

The veterans are likely to find the par 70 Bobby Jones layout easier than the tricky North Shore layout links, with a par 72. For instance, Hutchison carded a 68 at the Bobby Jones recently.

“Long Jim” Barnes, West Orange, N. J., nominated by Hutchison Friday as “the man to beat,” had trouble with his shots and came in with a pair of 39’s for a 78. Barnes is a former U. S. open and P. G. A. champion.

The seniors are divided into four groups:, A, B, C, and D. Players – ranging in age from 50 to 54 are in the D group, 55-59 in C, 60-64 in B, and all over 65 in A group.

Hutchison at 57, is in the C group.

Only two A players are entered. Val Flood of New Britain, Conn., the eldest at 75, came in with 50-44-94, and W. H. Way, Euclid, O., the other, carded 46-46-92.

Other scores:

Fred Clarkson, St, Louis, 44-43-87.

Frank Butler, Wolfboro, N. H., 43-40-83.;

James Crabb, West Orange, N. J., no card.

John R. Inglis, Elmsford, N. Y., 41-41-82.

William F. Lock, Rockwood, Mich., 42-40-82.

Jack Patterson, Midlothian, Ill., 46-42-88.

George Sargent, Atlanta, 40-40-80.

W. C. Sherwood, Memphis, 40-41-81.

Milton Theobald, Rome, N. Y., 39-39-78.

Tom Bonnar, Elmira, N. Y., 39-41-80.

Dave Cuthbert, Brunswick, Ga., 44-42-86.

George Dodge, Dark Harbor, Me., 39-40-79.

Jock Kennedy, Pittsburgh, no card.

THIRD SENIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

JANUARY 12-14, 1940

NORTH SHORE COUNTRY CLUB

BOBBY JONES GOLF CLUB, SARASOTA FLORIDA

PAR 35 - 36 - 71

In an attempt to find better weather, the third PGA Seniors’ Championship was played at the North Shore and Bobby Jones Courses in Sarasota, Fla., in January 1940, which meant no tournament during the calendar year of 1939. After regulation play, Otto Hackbarth, with a closing round 1-under-par 70, tied Jock Hutchison at 4-over-par 146. In the 18-hole playoff, both players shot 74, which forced a second 18-hole playoff in which Hackbarth prevailed by one stroke, 74-75.

CHAMPIONSHIP SUMMARY

1          Otto Hackbarth           76 – 70           146      +4

2          Jock Hutchison*         71 – 75            146      +4

T3        Charles Mayo              75 – 73            148      +6

T3        Fred Miley                    73 – 75            148      +6

T5        Jim Barnes                   78 – 71            149      +7

T5        Jack Campbell             77 – 72            149      +7

T7        Mike Brady                   78 – 73            151      +9

T7        George Morris             76 – 75            151      +9

T7        Milton Theobald         78 – 73            151      +9

T10      Willie Maguire            76 – 76            152      +10

T10      Fred McLeod               74 – 78            152      +10

T12      E. W. (Pop) Harbert** 77 – 76        153      +11

T12      Dave McKay                 79 – 74            153      +11

T12      Dave Ogilvie                 76 – 77            153      +11

T12      James Young               80 – 73            153      +11

T16      Tom Banner                80 – 75            155      +13

T16      Howard Beckett         77 – 78            155      +13

T16      Frank Coltart              77 – 78            155      +13

T16      Bob Craigs                   79 – 76            155      +13

T16      George Dodge            79 – 76            155      +13

T16      Al Grauer                     78 – 77            155      +13

T16      Walter Hoe                 77 – 78            155      +13

T16      Willie Ogg                   81 – 74            155      +13

T24      George Sargent         80 – 76          156      +14

T24      William Sherwood   81 – 75          156      +14

T24      Henry Williams Sr.  81 – 75          156      +14

T27      John Black                   81 – 76           157      +15

T27      Thomas Clark             76 – 81           157      +15

T27      Arthur Reid                 78 – 79           157      +15

T30      Dick Clarkson            74 – 85           159      +17

T30      Alex Cunningham    78 – 81            159      +17

T32      John Inglis                  82 – 78           160      +18

T32      Wilfred Reid              75 – 85            160      +18

T32      Tom Skipper              78 – 82            160      +18

35        W. C. (Bill) Gordon  87 – 76            163      +21

36        Ernest Anderson       82 – 83            165      +23

T37      William Crichton      82 – 84            166      +24

T37      Alex Ogilvie                 86 – 80            166      +24

T39      Frank Butler               84 – 83            167      +25

T39      Dave Cuthbert            86 – 81            167      +25

T41      Jack Jolly                      86 – 84            170      +28

T41      William Lock               82 – 88            170      +28

43        W. H. (Bert) Way       92 – 87            179      +37

44        Val Flood                      94 – 91            185      +43

* Bobby Jones Golf Club Associated Golf Professional

** Bobby Jones Golf Club Head Golf Professional

RALPH GULDAHL WINS TITLE IN AUGUSTA MEET

April 3, 1939

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Shoots 279 to Beat Record Set for Tournament in 1935

Chick Harbert of Sarasota and Battle Creek, Mich., and Charlie Yates of Atlanta topped the amateurs, tying Jimmy Thomson of Shawnee, Pa., for 18thplace with scores of 396. 

Pro Golfers Would Realize $100,000 a Year If Bobby Jones Would Turn Pro

March 30, 1939

The Amarillo Globe-Times

AUGUSTA, Ga., March 30 (/p) - It would be worth $100,000 each year in cash prizes to the professional golfer, or maybe even twice that amount, if Bobby Jones would turn outright professional and participate in the annual winter tour, estimates Freddie Corcoran, tournament manager for the professional golfers' association. 

Freddie made his estimate while casting a gander at the gallery following Jones as he turned up halfheartedly for the 72-hole Augusta national "masters" tournament starling today, the only event for which Bobby comes out of hibernation. The cream of the world's golfers, barring Henry Cotton and Alf Padgham of England, were practicing all over the place, yet the only crowd of any size was following the Jones foursome.

Raymond guest, better known for his polo than his golf, was in the 1 group. "There's your answer," said Corcoran. "Bobby still can play with a polo player and draw a bigger crowd than all the others put together. The American sports public might be a lot of things, but it isn't fickle about its golf heroes. We have had about $200,000 in prizes at our tournaments this year. If Bobby would join us, I honestly believe we could double that figure." 

These were strange and unexpected words, coming from Corcoran, because after all his business is to sound the drums for the bright professional stars under his banner. He could be forgiven if he pointed out the simple truth - that Jones at 37 no longer is a great golfer; that he probably never would win a tournament against the present tribe; that there isn't a chance in the world of Bobby hitting the winter trail, anyway. 

But Freddie just felt like he had to tell the deeper truth to somebody. "There's no use in kidding ourselves. All the fellows wish Bobby would come back, no matter what sort of golf he's shooting. Everywhere we play the people ask about him and say their one ambition is to see him hit a golf ball."

Hagen Ryder Cup Captain

March 16, 1939

The Pittsburgh Press

By The United Press

SARASOTA, Fla., March 16 - Walter Hagen, for 25 years one of America’s leading golfers, today was named captain of the United States Ryder Cup team for 1939.

Announcement of Hagen’s appointment was made by George R. Jacobus, president, Professional Golfers’ Association. Jacobus said, “He is not only the ideal captain., as demonstrated by past performances, but the logical representative of professional golf in the United States.”

Hagen was captain of the 1927-29-21-33 teams. The Ryder Cup matched will be played in this country this summer. Location and date of the matches will be announced later.

Spilling the Dope

December 19, 1938

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Home-Town Sports Slants

by W.P. Dozier, Jr. Herald Sports Editor

Chick Harbert, son of E. W. Harbert, assistant pro at Bobby Jones golf course, won amateur honors in the $10,000 Miami open tournament. Chick, who had a total of 296, registered from Sarasota….Gene Sarazen, veteran, also registered from Sarasota, finished with 291.

A letter to walter hagen

FROM Bobby Jones Golf Club Pro GEORGE JACOBUS

TWO GOLFERS TIE FOR FIRST PLACE IN SENIOR EVENT

Friday, December 9, 1938

Sarasota Herald

AUGUSTA, Ga., Dec. 9 – (AP) –

Otto Hackbarth of Cincinnati and Fred McLeod of Chevy Chase, Md., met in an 18-hole playoff today for first place honors in the second annual seniors’ golf tournament over the Augusta national course.

The two veteran professionals ended in a deadlock with cards of 154 yesterday.

Jock Hutchison of Golf, Ill., winner of last year’s inaugural tourney, and McLeod, national open champ of 1908, led the seniors into the final round yesterday, but Hutchison faltered on the last 18 and came in with a 158.

Seniors’ score included:

Class C (50 to 54 years old) E. W. Harbert, Sarasota, 80-79-159.

don NEWBuRN wins ninth time, retires

february 14, 1938

THE PALM BEACH POST

SARASOTA, Fla., Feb. 13. (U.P.)

Baseball Men to Play Golf For Trophy on January 20

January 11, 1938

THE EVENING NEWS – Tonawanda – North Tonawanda

SARASOTA, Fla., (U.P.)

Field is Expected to Exceed 30 with Paul Waner Likely to Be the Favorite – Sarasota, Florida, Will Be Scene of Action Next Thursday

Five major and five minor league baseball players will rank as favorites when the field of more than 30 tee off in the third annual National Baseball Players’ Golf tournament Jan. 20-23, according to pre-tournament performances on the Bobby Jones course here where competition will take place.

No repetition of last year’s event which Sammy Byrd, former New York Yankees and Cincinnati Reds outfielder, won hands down, is anticipated this year.

Byrd topped the field of 30 entrants by 14 strokes and finished the 72 holes in even par figures. Since then, however, Byrd has turned professional golfer and no longer is eligible to compete in the baseball tournament.

Wesley Farrell, Washington Senators pitcher, and winner of the first tournament in 1936, will be back to try again this time but is expected to meet stiff competition from at least four other players whose games have shown marked improvement since Ferrell beat them out in the opening tournament.

Paul Waner in Fine Form

Paul Waner, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder and winner of the southpaw championship at Miami last year, is one of the favorites, principally because he is on top of his game and has been since the baseball season ended.

Garland Braxton, who once was a screwball pitcher in the majors and now hurls for the Indianapolis Indians, finished second to Byrd last year and is favored to be close to the top this time.

Lloyd Brown, Cleveland Indians pitcher and Paul Derringer, Cincinnati Red pitcher, are others who must be counted in. Braxton Brown, Waner, Derringer and Ferrell finished in that order after Byrd last year, and only seven strokes separated Braxton at 298 from Ferrell at 305. All of them will compete this year.

Others who will add color as well as golfing ability to the tournament include Dizzy and Paul Dean, Cardinal pitchers; Lloyd Waner, Pittsburgh outfielder; John Cooney, Cardinal outfielder; Heinie Manush and Roy Spencer, Dodgers; Bill Swift, Pittsburgh pitcher; Gerald Walker, Chicago White Sox; Billy Sullivan, Cleveland Indian catcher.

Mickey Cochrane Entered

Also Jimmy Wilson, manager of the Philadelphia Phillies; Johnny Moore, Los Angeles; Mickey Cochrane, manager of the Tigers; Jimmy Foxx, Boston Red Sox; Rick Ferrell, Senator catcher; Nick Altrock, famous old coach and clown and several others.

The prize will be a silver trophy offered by Powell Crosley, Jr., owner of the Cincinnati Reds and Sarasota winter resident. A gold medal also had been donated by George R. Jacobus, president of the Professional Golfers Association and manager of the Bobby Jones club.

A committee composed of Brown, Paul Waner, Braxton and Derringer has been named to draw up rules for the four-day affair which is open only to bona fide baseball players, managers, coaches and trainers.

The tournament is free to the public and spectators come from miles around to see their favorite players in action. Newsreel cameras grind away and autograph seekers enjoy a field day at the tournament.

DIZZY'S STILL DIZZY!

JANuary 3, 1938

The Pittsburgh Press

By The United Press

SARASOTA, Fla., Jan. 3

Two golf balls, driven from tees 470 yards apart, collided in mid-air here yesterday during an exhibition match and fell within 10 feet of each other on the fairway. Dizzy Dean, Cardinal pitcher, hit one of them from No. 5 tee, hooking it slightly. Al Nelson, assistant pro at the Bobby Jones club, hit the other while playing the No. 6 hole. The balls met about 20 feet above the fairway and fell to the ground near Mrs. Edward Brophy and Don B. Newburn, Sarasota city champion, who vouched for the authenticity of the unusual incident. Dean was playing with Paul Waner, Pirate outfielder, in an exhibition against Lloyd Brown, Indian hurler, and Paul Derringer, Reds moundsman. Dean and Waner won, 1 up. Waner had a 75, four over par; Dean and Brown 76s, and Derringer 79.

JOCK HUTCHINSON WINS INAUGURAL SENIOR TOURNEY

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1937

Sarasota Herald

AUGUSTA, Ga. Dec. 2 (AP)

Jock Hutchison, 54-year-old former British open champion, captured the professional golfers’ inaugural $2,000 seniors’ tournament today, carding the only par round of the event to finish with a 54-hole total of 233.

The Golf, Ill. Shot-maker, added a 72 to his first two rounds of 76 and 75 to finish eight strokes in front of George Gordon of Rumsford, R. I., who posted a final 73 to turn in a 231 total.

JACOBUS DUE TODAY

George R. Jacobus, president of the P. G. A., who has been in Augusta attending the national seniors’ golf championship, is expected to arrive in Sarasota today to assume his duties as professional at the Bobby Jones golf course. The remainder of the staff has already arrived.

P.G.A. Head tries to ease ryder row

July 24, 1937

Chicago Daily Tribune

The six members of the American Ryder cup squad who are competing in the $10,000 Chicago open golf tournament at Medinah yesterday received a telegram from George R. Jacobus, president of the P.G.A., asking from each an expression of regret for the verbal backfire following their recent journey to England.

Several members of the Ryder cup team were reported to have been bitter in their criticism of the conduct of the galleries at the British open, which Henry Cotton of England won after the American delegation had appeared so strong in advance that it was favored to win five of the first six places.

The general reaction of the six Ryder cup stars to Jacobus’ wire was that their comments on their overseas invasion had been considerably magnified. Horton Smith, Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead, Ralph Guldhahl, Henry Picard, and Johnny Revolta all praised the treatment they had received from the British P. G. A.

Guldhahl, as one of the leading speakers on the subject of gallery behavior at the British open, still maintained his opinion that the fans at Carnoustie had not extended themselves in their attitude toward the American players. Revolta and Snead, both making their first European journey, were particularly high in their praise of their receptions and treatment.

Smith pointed out that a gallery of 25,000, such as followed the British open, could not be expected to be perfect in deportment. Sarazen, who was making his tenth trip across, said that the American players had received their share of the breaks stressing the fact that his ball had struck a women spectator and had rolled on the green.

JACOBuS ENDS THIRD SEASON HERE TUESDAY

Saturday, March 27, 1937

Sarasota Herald

Following his third successful winter season as manager and resident professional at the Bobby Jones course here, George R. Jacobus, president of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America, will leave Tuesday for Augusta where he will attend the Augusta national golf tournament, it was learned yesterday.

Folloing the Augusta tourney, Mr. Jacobus will return to Ridgewood, N. J., where he has been connected with the Ridgewood Country club for more than 20 years. He will return to Sarasota on December 1.

Al Nelson, assistant pro at the local course, and Mrs. Nelson, city women’s champion who has aided in the many activities at the course this season, also will leave Tuesday for Hopewell where the couple are locating during the summer months.

Jules Edwards, caddy-master and starter, already has returned to Ridgewood, but Ray Jamieson, another member of Mr. Jacobus’ staff, will remain in Sarasota throughout the summer. Mrs. Gladys Johnston will also continue as hostess at the club.

The city council recently unanimously re-employed Jacobus for the 1937-1938 season. He already has announced that Nelson will again be his assistant next season.

WALTER HAGEN IS NAMED RYDER CUP CAPTAIN

Monday, March 9, 1937

The Spokeman-Review

NEW YORK, March 7 (AP)

Walter Hagen, veteran professional, has been appointed captain of the 1937 United States Ryder Cup golf team, George R. Jacobus, president of the Professional Golfers’ Association, announced today from his winter headquarters at Sarasota, Fla. The matches will be played June 29 and 30 at the Southport and Ainsdale Golf Club, Southport, England.

Selection of the playing members of the team will be made later, Jacobus said.

BIG LEAGUER LOSES

February 24, 1937

The Stanford Daily

SARASOTA, Fla., Feb. 23 (U.P.)

Don B. Newburn of Sarasota, seven times city golf champion, yesterday regained his title as he defeated Paul Warner, National League batting champ, in the finals of the city tournament, 4 and 3.

Paul Waner Bows In Sarasota Golf Final

February 23, 1937

The Pittsburgh Press

By The United Press

SARASOTA, Fla., Feb. 23

Don B. Newman of Sarasota held his eighth city championship today after his 4 and 3 defeat of Paul Waner, Pittsburgh outfielder, in finals of the city golf tournament.

Waner was two down Sunday when rain halted the 36-hole match at the end of the first 18. He was five down after the first nine yesterday and Newburn ended the match on the 15th.

Here are thumbnail descriptions of the golf games of some of the noted baseball players now contesting for the Powell Crosley Cup

Nevada State Journal 

Reno, Nevada

Monday, January 25, 1937 

SPORT PARADE 

By HENRY McLEMORE, United Press Staff Correspondent 

SARASOTA. Fla., Jan. 24 (U.P.) - As one who for two days has followed the baseball players’ national golf tournament, I wish to state flatly, firmly, loudly and unequivocally that alchemists will be creating gold from second hand canary bird cages before a baseball player wins any of our major golf championships. 

In fact, I want to go even further and say that alchemists will be creating gold from just the HOOKS of used bird cages before a baseball player lasts long enough in an important tournament to make it worth his while to sack more than one pair of socks in his overnight bag. 

Until I watched two rounds in this tournament, I really believed many of our famous baseball players meant it when they threatened to quit the diamond for the fairway if their salary demands were not met. Now, having seen them with golf clubs in their hands, I know the threats were as empty as a leaky rain barrel in the Sahara. If they should carry out their threats to depend on golf for a livelihood, however, I can think of no better way to get rich in a hurry than have the standing room concession in the poorhouse. For the boys will be packed in deeper than Brooklyn pitchers, in the bull-pen during a double-header. 

Here are thumbnail descriptions of the golf games of some of the noted baseball players now contesting for the Powell Crosley cup: 

Jimmy Foxx - the best thing about his game is the 2S-cent cigar he smokes from tee to green. At the finish of his swing Mr. Foxx looks exactly as Horatiuswould have looked if, just as he prepared to defend the bridge, someone had stuck a brassie in his hands. Always appears to be warding off unseen enemies. 

Heinie Manush - I wouldn’t swear OK to what his form is like, as the only times I have seen him he was deep in the woods and obscured by a network of blackberry bushes, palm fronds, frightened caddies and a cloud of pale, blue air of his own creation. He's a sportsman, however - in the rough he only picks on trees his own size. 

Lyn Lary - Very popular with the gamblers because they like to follow him around and bet even money that either Lary or the ball will wear out before the green is reached. His is a swing which wrenches him so violently that it’s the equal of two dozen chiropractic treatments. 

Lloyd Waner - Hits a long ball hut doesn't get any distance, is strictly a rightfield, or slice hitter. His screaming brassie shots are the despair of every grasshopper in Sarasota. Plays in a cap and the mature nineties.

Bill Cissell - Has never hit a ball he personally couldn't handle - at shortstop. Plays all of his shots as if making sacrifice hits. Has had three offers from the United States forestry service because of expertise at tree blazing. 

Bill Swift - Is often ruled off courses because he is in so many places that he is frequently mistaken for a fivesome, and fivesomes are illegal.

John Cooney - Only made two errors in the Brooklyn outfield all year and would be a fine golfer if he were only able to get it through his head that just been use you get three strikes In baseball you don't have to take that many putts on each green. 

Dizzy Dean - Still one of baseball's greatest pitchers. 

Nick Altrock - Nick Altrock. 

Jimmy Wilson - When the U.S.G.A.’s new 14-club ruling goes into effect he will have to borrow sticks on most holes to keep his own clubs from coming to bat twice.

 Second Sub-Par Round Gives Byrd 11-Stroke Lend in Ball Players’ Golf

WING STAR HAS 70 FOR CARD OF 214

SUNDAY, JANUARY 24, 1937

ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE

By HENRY McLEMORE

Derringer, Brown, Braxton Tied For Second 

Sarasota, Fla. (IT) - Sammy Byrd, who is much more at home on the fairway than he ever was patrolling the outfield for the Yankees and the Reds, shot his second sub-par round in three days Saturday to take an 11-stroke lead over the field at the 54-hole mark of the baseball players national golf tournament 

Byrd, at the top of his game from tee to green, toured the Bobby Jones course in 70, one under par, despite heavy showers, for a third-round total of 214. He was out in 36 and home in 34. A similar score on the wind-up tomorrow and his total will break Wes Ferrell's winning score of last year by 28 shots. 

With Byrd a cinch for the Powell Crosley trophy, major interest Sunday will center on the battle for second money. At the end of today's firing, which was followed by an enthusiastic gallery of some 300, three pitchers, Paul Derringer of the Reds, Lloyd Brown of the Indians, and Garland Braxton of the Milwaukee Brewers were tied for second place with 225s. Each shot 76 Saturday. 

Derringer Misses Three

Derringer spoiled his chance of gaining outright possession of second place by missing three one-foot putts. “I was cutting the corners of the cup all day,” he explained.” 

One stroke behind the three flingers was Paul Waner, Pittsburgh's National league batting champion. Paul slumped to 77 today, and most of his misery came on the short 16th hole when he went three over par with a robust six.

How It Happened

“I fouled the first one, bunted the second one, laid down a sacrifice with the third one, and then took three strikes on the green,” Paul said in describing the 16th. 

Wes Ferrell, defending champion, shot a 75 for a total of 223. The brave soul who followed him around reported that he broke but six clubs over his knees. In three days Ferrell, whose temper Is that of an acidulous prima donna, has demolished three sets of wooden clubs.  

Jack Russell of the Red Sox had 77 for 229. Heinie Manush followed Russell with 231, and behind him came Jerome Herman (Dizzy) Dean. Dean shot an 81 yesterday for 234. He said the slump was caused by the failure of his wife, Pat, to follow him around. 

Dizzy Deeply Hurt

“She followed me Friday,” Dizzy said, “and I had a 75. Yesterday she backed down and the lack of loyalty hurt me so deeply I couldn't hit a thing.” Mrs. Dean was not in earshot when Dizzy made his explanation. Dizzy, who bought himself for $11 in the Calcutta auction pool before the tournament started, offered to settle for $2 yesterday but there were no takers. 

The highest comebacks of the day were staged by Nick Altrock and Lloyd Waner. Altrock, resplendent in Graf Zeppelin knickers and a cop modeled after a silo, had a 77 for an aggregate of 248. Lloyd, who needed 100 blows Friday, required but 82 yesterday. 

Third round scores and 54-hole totals of other contestants; Johnny Cooney 93-280, Butch Henline 108-291, Bill Swift 99-286, Johnny Moore 81-242, Gerald Walker 78-238, Eddie Moore 81-238, Roy Spencer 89-263, Rick Ferrell 83-250, Bob Burke86-263, Jimmy Foxx 81-248, Lyn Lary 88-280, Walter Gibson 92-278, Gerry Fitzgerald 85-248.

Byrd Leads in Ball Players’ Golf Tourney

January 23, 1937

Chicago Daily Tribune

SARASOTA, Fla., Jan. 22 – (AP)

Placing a 74 beside the par shattering 70 he shot yesterday, Sammy Byrd, Rochester outfielder, led the field by five strokes when the national baseball player golf tournament reached the halfway mark today.

In a four way tie for second place were Lloyd Brown, Cleveland pitcher; Paul Derringer, Cincinnati pitcher; Paul Waner, Pittsburgh outfielder, and Garland Braxton, Milwaukee pitcher. Each had a 36 hole score of 149.

Brown and P. Waner carded 73s to take low scoring honors for the day. Brown was three under par when her approached the 17th tee, but he suffered a stroke penalty there and needed six for the par four 18th hole.

Dizzy Dean Gets 75.

Byrd had a one-under par 35 at the turn, but ran into plenty of trouble on the second none and took a 40, four over par.

Braxron, runner-up yesterday with a 71, took a 78 today. Derringler posted a 75 along with his 74 of yesterday.

Mrs. Dizzy Dean followed her husband around the course today and the St. Louis Cardinal pitcher carded a 75 to tie for seventh place with a 36 hole score of 153. He shot a 78 yesterday.

Ferrell Takes 79.

Tied with Dean was Wesley Ferrell, the defending champion, who required a 79. Ferrell appeared to be practically out of the running for the championship he won last year.

 PAUL WANER PICTURES A SUPER-BALLER, BIG AND TOUGH, WHO WILL HIT .500

Sunday, January 24, 1937

The Pittsburg Press

By HENRY McLEMORE United Press Writer

SARASOTA, Fla, Jan. 33

Paul Waner, first citizen of Harrah, Okla., who spends his summers winning National League batting championships, his winters playing golf, and his nights losing money to Papa Waner at stud poker, thinks baseball sometime will produce a player capable of hitting .500 for five or more seasons. 

Paul described this super batsman to me as we sat in the locker room of the Bobby Jones golf course here after the first round in the baseball players national championship. “He'll be a hell of a big fellow,” said Paul, “this guy who can blast 'em at .500 or better, much bigger than Jim over there.” The “Jim” Waner referred to was Jimmy Foxx, mediocre throughout contest.

“You know why I led the teams all last year? This is why—I learned how to hit to left field. And a left field hitter has a big advantage over a right field hitter, because when you hit to left field you can wait, longer.

“I led the league hitting to right field, and in 1937, hitting to right, left and center I led because I was a kid and didn't know my spikes from third base. 

“I hit the ball right. Yet I wound up about an improvement in hitting with three-seventy-something”.

Would the .500 superman have anything else beside the strength of Galahad and age? “Oh, yeah, he'll have speed, toughness enough to laugh off Injuries, and enough to reason himself out!”

“He'll be a hell of a big fellow?”.

“Year, bigger than the Babe”,Paul answered. “He'll have to be because the main thing the five hundred hitter will have will be, size and strength enough to murder the bean like it never was murdered before”.

“How old will this blasting hitter be”, we asked. “About 25, just in his prime?”. 

“Naw”, Paul said, “he'll be an old guy. Somewhere between 35 and 40, because it takes a long time to learn how to hit. I've played eleven years in the major leagues, and I'm just really beginning to learn the business now”.

Byrd Leads in Ball Players’ Golf Tourney 

January 23, 1937

Chicago Daily Tribune

SARASOTA, Fla., Jan. 22 – (AP)

Placing a 74 beside the par shattering 70 he shot yesterday, Sammy Byrd, Rochester outfielder, led the field by five strokes when the national baseball player golf tournament reached the halfway mark today.

In a four way tie for second place were Lloyd Brown, Cleveland pitcher; Paul Derringer, Cincinnati pitcher; Paul Waner, Pittsburgh outfielder, and Garland Braxton, Milwaukee pitcher. Each had a 36 hole score of 149.

Brown and P. Waner carded 73s to take low scoring honors for the day. Brown was three under par when her approached the 17thtee, but he suffered a stroke penalty there and needed six for the par four 18th hole.

Dizzy Dean Gets 75

Byrd had a one-under par 35 at the turn, but ran into plenty of trouble on the second none and took a 40, four over par.

Braxron, runner-up yesterday with a 71, took a 78 today. Derringer posted a 75 along with his 74 of yesterday.

Mrs. Dizzy Dean followed her husband around the course today and the St. Louis Cardinal pitcher carded a 75 to tie for seventh place with a 36 hole score of 153. He shot a 78 yesterday.

Ferrell Takes 79

Tied with Dean was Wesley Ferrell, the defending champion, who required a 79. Ferrell appeared to be practically out of the running for the championship he won last year.

BYRD LEADS IN BALL PLAYERS' GOLF TOURNEY 

JANUARY 22, 1937 

The Monroe News-Star

Monroe, Louisiana

Former Cincinnati Player Posts Sub Par 70; Garland Braxton Second 

SARASOTA. Fla., Jan. 22. - (AP)

Sammy Byrd, who almost was barred from the National Baseball Players’ Golf tournament, came through Thursday to lead the opening day’s play and win medalist honors. Byrd, formerly with the New York Yanks and the Cincinnati Reds, but now with Rochester, posted a 70, one less than par, to take a one-stroke lead over Garland Braxton, pitcher for the Milwaukee American Association club. 

Wesley Ferrell, Boston Red Sox pitcher and the defending champion, was four strokes behind the leader with a 74 and shared fourth place honors with Paul Derringer, lanky Cincinnati hurler. Lloyd Brown, Cleveland southpaw pitcher and one of the pre-tournament favorites, was only one over par on the first nine, but faltered and finished with a 76. 

Tied with Brown in this bracket were Jack Russell, Boston Red Sox pitcher, and Paul Waner, Pittsburgh outfielder and National league batting champion. Dizzy Dean, St. Louis Cardinal pitching ace, remained in the running with a 78. Several strokes higher than usual, “Ole Diz” ran into difficulties on the first nine but found his form later and predicted that he would be among the first three at the finish. 

Eddie Moore, manager of the Atlanta Crackers of the Southern association, and Johnnie Moore, Philadelphia Phillies, were the only other players in the 70’s. They posted 79’s. 

Willis Hudlin, Cleveland pitcher and one of the early favorites, failed to make an appearance. Late entry, Jimmy Wilson of the Philadelphia Phillies, needed 86 strokes for the 18 holes. Nick Altrock, old coach and clown of the Washington Sen­ators, posted an 88, but he had a lot of fun kidding the gallery and other players. 

BYRD LEADING BALL PLAYERS' GOLF EVENT 

January 22, 1937

Cumberland Evening Times

Sarasota, Fla., Jan. 22. (U.P.)

Sammy Byrd, the cherubic-faced outfielder who formerly chased them in centerfield for the Yankees and Reds, shaded par by one stroke yesterday to take a 10 stroke and the 18- hole lead in the baseball players national golf tournament.

Byrd was out in 35, one under par, and home in 35, even figures, and Garland Braxton, former big-leaguer now with Milwaukee, had a 71. Braxton barely missed tying Byrd on the home green when his long approach putt rimmed the cup.

Wes Ferrell, ace righthander of the Boston Red Sox, and winner of the 72-hole medal play tournament last year, had a 74, as did Paul Derringer, ace of the Cincinnati Redlegs.  

Two strokes behind this pair, with 76's, were Lloyd Brown of the Cleveland Indians; Paul Waner, Pittsburg's National league batting champion, and Jack Russell of the Boston Red Sox. Dizzy Dean, the Cardinals' great pitcher, was out in 40 and home in 38 for a 78.

Scores of the other members of the starting field of 27: Johnny Moore, Phillies, 79; Rick Ferrell, Red Sox, 87; Nick Altrock, Senators, 88; Jimmy Foxx, Red Sox, 81; Gerald Walker, Detroit, 81; Dusty Rhodes, Athletics, 92; Eddie Moore, Atlanta Crackers, 79; Bob Burke, Phillies, 88; Johnny Cooney, Brooklyn, 92; Roy Spencer, Giants, 85; Lloyd Waner, Pittsburgh, 89; Heinie Manush, Brooklyn, 86; Bill Cissell, Athletics, 94; Bill Swift, Pittsburgh, 93. 

JACOBUS, P. G. A. HEAD, PREDICTS ‘GREAT SEASON’

Wednesday, December 2, 1936

SARASOTA HERALD

Declaring that “everything indicates that we will have a great winter season,” George R. Jacobus, president of the Professional Golfers’ association of America, assumed his duties as manager and resident professional at the Bobby Jones golf course here today. He arrived in the city last night.

Mr. Jacobus announced that his headquarters this season will be in the Sarasota Terrace hotel and PGA matters will be handled there. The PGA head’s private secretary, Miss Meredith Meilke, also has arrived in the city.

Mr. Jacobus said he will go to Miami tomorrow to attend the PGA’S annual midwinter meeting at the Miami Biltmore hotel tomorrow night, but will return here later in the week. The annual $10,000 Miami-Biltmore golf tournament will open Friday.

This is Mr. Jacobus’ third winter here. He said he found the golf course in “splendid condition” and he predicted a record number of golfers will play the course this season.

With the arrival of Mr. Jacobus, activities at the golf course are expected to pick up considerably. Jules Edwards, who was employed at the course last season, has been named caddy master, and Ray Jameson, who was here during the 1934-35 seasons, will return as assistant in the golf shop.

The new bar and grille, erected at the clubhouse during the summer, will be operated under the management of J. D. Harmon, popular local business man, assisted by Harley Greenamyre, well known Sarasota golfer. Mrs. Gladys Johnson will continue to serve as hostess at the club.

The outstanding event on the program for the winter is the National Professional Baseball players’ golf tournament, to be staged on January 22, 23. And 24, in which most of the nation’s most famous ball players will compete for the Powell Crosley trophy now in possession of Wes Ferrell, Boston Red Sox hurler.

Mr. Jacobus said today many famous professional golfers will appear at the course during the winter, while the annual city tournaments will be staged late in the season as usual.

SPILLING THE DOPE

HOME TOWN SPORTS SLANTS

W. R. DOZIER, HERALD SPORTS EDITOR

Note to Junior Chamber of Commerce members: officials of the local Jaycees want you to take part in that golf tournament at the Bobby Jones course Friday afternoon…Bert Montressor, Decatur, Ill., golf professional, will re-open the Sarasota driving range soon. He’s fixing the place up.

Dizzy Dean, who golfed in the high eighties last year, now shoots in the seventies daily at the Bobby Jones course here…A pair of local amateur golfers who participate in the $10,000 Miami-Biltmore tournament beginning Friday. They are Chick Harbert and Paul Cooper…

George Jacobus, PGA president and Bobby Jones manager, arrived in the city last night, full of ideas for the coming winter season…

A BASEBALL STORY OF BOBBY JONES GOLF CLUB

“Many of my fellow players lived in Florida in the winter, and we often got together to play golf in various leagues and tournaments. Babe Ruth, Dizzy Dean, Heinie Manush, Lloyd Brown, Mickey Cochrane, and a number of others played. Even if we were enemies on the baseball diamond, we were friends on the golf course.

“Nobody was more entertaining to watch on a golf course than Wes Ferrell, the big right-hander for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox and Washington Senators. Ferrell was a nice fellow who was unfortunately burdened with one of the world’s worst tempers.

“Ferrell and Paul Waner, an outfielder and left-handed hitter with Pittsburgh, challenged Gerald Walker and me to a $50 Nassau match. We accepted the challenge, although those were very high stakes at that time. Walker came from Ole Miss and was a real competitor. He had about a 5 handicap, while mine was about a 3.

“When Waner golfed, he carried a pint of whiskey in his bag and would sip from it all the way around the course. One story that made the rounds about him was that, after leading the league in hitting one year, the owner called him in and told him he didn’t appreciate that he had been drinking throughout the season. The owner said ne wanted Waner to sign a contract that forbade him from drinking, for which he would get a bonus. He signed the contract. When the new season started, Waner couldn’t buy a hit for the first two or three weeks, so the owner called him back in and told him to forget about that clause. He started drinking again, and the hits soon followed.

“Walker and I went down to Sarasota to play Ferrell and Waner in a match at Bobby Jones Country Club; we beat them for $200. We beat them on the front side, we beat them on the back side, and we beat them on the press.

“Ferrell had to borrow my driver to tee off on hole No. 9 because he had broken all four of his woods in his fits of rage. “Have a new set of woods for me and meet me on No. 10,” he told his caddy. When we got to the 10th hole, the caddy was waiting with the new set of woods. We had a fore caddy with us that day as well, and he was standing out near the brook that ran across No. 10. It would have been very hard, almost impossible, to reach that brook, because you had to hit the doggone thing almost 300 yards to get there. Even for Ferrell, who could really hit the ball, that was a tremendous poke.

“Ferrell stepped up to the tee with his brand-new wood and hit it right on the screws. We stood there and watched it, and told him, ‘That ball’s in the water.’

 “’In the water?’ he replied. Pretty soon, the fore caddy took his finger and pointed it down, to signal that the ball had indeed gone in the water. Ferrell picked up that brand new club. He had only hit one ball with it, and had hit that ball perfectly. But he slammed that wood against the cast-iron arrow they had at all the tees. The head of the brand-new club popped right off.”

-  ELDEN AUKER in his book “SLEEPER CARS AND FLANNEL UNIFORMS: A Lifetime of Memories From Striking Out the Babe to Teeing It Up With the President”

THE FOURSOME THAT DAY

Elden LeRoy “Submarine” Auker (1910-2006), a three-sport nine-varsity-letter athlete, has been called “the greatest all-around athlete in Kansas State history.” Recruited by Bronko Nagurski, he turned down a $6,000 offer to quarterback the Chicago Bears, and signed for $450 as a right-handed pitcher with the MLB American League Tigers. In his 1933-1942 Major League Baseball career, he compiled a 130-101 record with Detroit, the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Browns. The first batter Auker faced was Babe Ruth, striking him out in four pitches, and eventually became the last living pitcher to have faced Ruth. Auker pitched in consecutive World Series in 1934 and 1935, leading the league in winning percentage in ’35. In the Tigers’ winning 1935 championship Series, he was interviewed by young Cubs radio broadcaster Ronald Reagan, who called the interview “my first big break.” Auker pitched the first illuminated Major League night game, and appeared at the last gam played in Tiger Stadium. “About a three” handicap, Auker regularly “golfed his age” in retirement in Vero Beach, Florida

Wesley Cheek “Wes” Ferrell (1908-1976) played Major League Baseball as starting right-handed pitcher for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators, New York Yankees, Brooklyn Dodgers and Boston Braves from 1927 to 1941. His 37 home runs as a batter remain a Major League Baseball career record for pitchers, and, included in the 1981 book “The 100 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time”, he is considered the best-hitting pitcher of all time. He is the only pitcher since 1900 to win 20 games in his first four full Major League seasons, and led the League in wins in 1935. Born in Greensboro, North Carolina, twice an All-Star and a member of both Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox Halls of Fame, Ferrell died at 68 in Sarasota, Florida.

Gerald Holmes “Gee” Walker (1908-1981) was a Major League Baseball outfielder from Gulfport, Mississippi, playing for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds from 1931 to 1945. Walker was both an All-Star (1937) and a World Series champion (1935) for the Tigers, and was among perennial leaders in stolen bases. He batted .300 or better in five of his first seven seasons, and .353 in 1936. Walker is the only player in Major League history to hit for the cycle on Opening Day, and did so in his own inimitable reverse-order style; home run, triple, double, single; termed an “unnatural cycle”. “The Madman from Mississippi” fan favorite is a member of both the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and the Ole Miss Sports Hall of Fame.

Paul Glee “Big Poison” Waner (1903-1965), of Harrah, Oklahoma, played right field for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Brooklyn Dodgers, Boston Braves and New York Yankees of Major League Baseball, winning three NL batting titles, accumulating 3,152 hits, with a 20-year .334 career batting average, leading the league in RBIs in 1927, earning the NL Most Valuable Player Award and as a four-time All-Star in his 1926-1945 Hall of Fame career. Ranked #62 on The Sporting News list of 100 Greatest Baseball Players in 1999, his #11 uniform number was retired by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2007. Paul and his younger brother Lloyd “Little Poison” Waner hold the Major League record for total combined career fraternal hits, above the three Alou brothers and the three DiMaggios. Waner died at age 62 in Sarasota, Florida.

GOLF STARS TO PLAY IN EXHIBITION HERE TODAY

Sunday, February 23, 1936

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Bobby Jones Cracks Par in Match Here

GOLF STARS IN ACTION HERE

RECORD GALLERY OF 2,000 SEES EXHIBITION GOLF

Georgian Teams With Newburn to Defeat Walsh and Jacobus

By R. BOYNTON ROGERS, JR.

Before the largest gallery ever to witness a golf match over the Bobby Jones golf course – estimated at approximately 2000 fans – Bobby Jones himself, the immortal golfer after whom the local course was named, turned in the sparkling score of two under par as he rounded the links in top form.

Playing in a best ball exhibition latch with Don Newburn, local businessman and recently defeated city champion, as his partner against Frank Walsh, Chicago professional, and George Jacobus, president of the PGA and manager of the local course, the Atlanta lawyer tallied a 34 and 35 for a total 69.

The Chicago golf professional registered a score of 36-35 for a 71, even par, while Newburn and Jacobus carded 74’s, with 37-37 and 38-36, respectively. The Jones-Newburn team defeated the Jacobus-Walsh team on the seventeenth green, 2 and 1.

The colorful gallery, comparable with that of larger Florida cities, displayed a great deal of enthusiasm and interest. Many of the spectacular shots drew applause. On several occasions enthusiasm carried the crowd and interfered with the playing.

The match was opened by an address by Mayor E. A. Smith as he introduced the players on the first tee. This was really a rededication of the local links. Mayor Smith said, and “Sarasota is proud and happy, to have the famous golfer with us again after ten years.”

Jones, who is usually noted for his brassie shots, displayed the most spectacular golf on his short game. His approaches were “dead” to the pin and many of his putts dropped from 12 and 15 feet.

Walsh, on the other hand, starred on his long drives which soared down the fairways, averaging approximately 250 to 270 yards on each hole. Jacobus, who has played little during the past few months, and Newburn played steady, even golf.

The match was all even until the players reached the 470-yard, par five, fourth holes, which was copped by Walsh when he registered a birdie to the other three pars. Nevertheless, the match was evened on the sixth, as Jones and Newburn each took fours to their opponents’ fives.

Jones continued on the seventh, a 315-yard go, as he placed his team one up when he made a birdie three. The eighth hole was halved, but the ninth also went to Jones.

For the first three holes of the second nine, all four contestants registered identical scores, and on the short thirteenth Jones and Walsh tied with pars. The next hole was also tied when the Atlanta golfer and Jacobus halved with par fours.

To close the match, the sixteenth hole was completed with four threes and seventeenth, the deciding hole, was also halved as all but Jacobus tallied birdie threes.

The scores:

OUT

Jones               443      544      334- 34

Newburn         443      554      434- 37

Jacobus           543      545      435- 38

Walsh              443      445      435- 36

IN

Jones              454      354      334      - 35   - 69

Newburn         454      445      335- 37   - 74

Jacobus           454      444     344- 36   - 74

Walsh               454      345      334- 35   - 71

Revolta And Picard Paired Against Sarazen, Thompson

Another great golfing show is scheduled at the Bobby Jones course this afternoon when four of the world’s greatest professionals will appear in an 18-hole exhibition match that will get under way at 2 o’clock.

Johnny Revolta, youthful P.G.A. champion who won the Sarasota Open event here last December, will be paired with Henry Picard, big money-winner from Hershey, Pa., against Gene Sarazen, former American and British Open champion, and Jimmy Thompson, of Ridgewood, N.J., famous as the longest driver in the game.

These famous stars are coming here from St. Petersburg, where they played in a tournament last week. All but Sarazen participated in the first annual Sarasota Open, and Revolta equaled the course record when he toured the course in 65 strokes on the final day.

Revolta, Picard, Thompson and Sarazen are being brought here at no expense to city, but it is hoped that a large gallery will be on hand and add interest to the affair. The admission price is $1.10.

Revolta, a former caddy of Menominee, Mich., has risen from the ranks to the No. 1 position of the professional golfers within the short space of three years. He is now pro at the famous Miami Biltmore course in Miami, and is located at a club in Milwaukee during the summer.

Sarazen’s name is synonymous with golf. He has bee a top-ranking player for may years and has won most of the major tournaments. Picard is another youngster who has shown great promise in the past two years, while Thompson was runner-up to Sam Parks, Jr., in the National Open at Pittsburgh last summer.

MIXED FOURSOME PLAY TOMORROW

That long-delayed mixed foursome tournament will be played at the Bobby Jones course tomorrow afternoon and Manager George Jacobus said yesterday that much interest has been manifest in the event.

Handsome prizes for the leading man and woman have been donated for the event by Mrs. Honore Palmer. Participants are urged to register as soon as possible.

Feminine golfers are urged to record their scores at the club house, as Mrs. Wentworth, of Chicago, has donated a set of Helen Hicks irons to be awarded to the woman turning in the lowest score before March 31.

Spilling the Dope

Home-Town Sports Slants

Friday, February 21, 1936

Sarasota Herald-Tribune 

By W.P. Dozier, Jr. Herald Sports Editor

During the next few days, if weather permits, Sarasota will be treated to a round of golfing activities worthy of a city many times its size. Many of the outstanding players of the game are scheduled to appear on the Bobby Jones course, brought here through the efforts of George Jacobus, P.G.A. president and manager of the course. These big shots of the pasture pool game are being brought here at no expense to the city and it is hoped that the citizens will show their appreciation by visiting the course and witnessing the matches.

First, there is the Bobby Jones match slated for tomorrow afternoon. Bobby, now a leading Atlanta lawyer, was the greatest golfer of them all, and he has always has been pretty close to Sarasota. He spent considerable time here in 1925 and 1926, which was before he made his major triumphs on the links. He dedicated the local course, which bears his name. His game is on edge right now, as is evidenced by three par-shattering scores recorded in east coast cities.

Sunday afternoon, four more big-timers will appear here. If you scanned the ranks of professional golfers the world over you couldn’t find four bigger names than Johnny Revolta, Jimmy Thomson, Gene Sarazen and Henry Picard. All are outstanding. Revolta is co-owner of the Bobby Jones course record. He won the Sarasota Open here last summer, the Thomasville, Ga. Open last week, the P.G.A. title last fall, in addition to numerous other smaller events. He carded a 69 in that tourney at St. Petersburg yesterday.

There is also the possibility that Babe Didrikson, probably the outstanding girl athlete of all time, will appear here in a golf exhibition soon. Miss Didrikson excels at most anything she takes up in the way of athletics. She never played golf until after she startled the world with her Olympic triumphs in 1924, but now she is regarded as one of the most promising female prospects. All that is need now for these golf attractions is a little favorable weather and large galleries.

GEORGIAN WILL PLAY IN MATCH SATURDAY

Friday, February 21, 1936

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Bobby Jones To Arrive In City Late Today

Exhibition Slated to Start at 1:30 P.M.; No Admission Charge

Bobby Jones, Atlanta lawyer and former king of the golfing world, for whom the local course is named, is expected to arrive in Sarasota late today for an exhibition match which will get under way at the local course tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 o’clock.

Jones and his partner, Milt Reach, with whom he will be paired against Babe Ruth and George Jacobus, will the guests of honor at an informal dinner to be staged at the Sara Sota hotel tonight by Elliott C. Mitchell, publisher of the Paducah, Ky., Sun-Democrat, who is wintering here.

Although the rainfall of early today left the first nine holes of the course in poor condition for play, Mr. Jacobus, manager of the course, said the match will be staged even if only the back nine is playable. The exhibition is free to the public.

Jones is no stranger to Sarasota. He spent considerable time here in 1925 and 1926 and part of his famous match with Walter Hagen was played over the old Whitfield course. He dedicated the municipal course in 1927, and once was given an expensive automobile by a group of admiring Sarasotans.

The Atlanta golfer, who scored the only “grand slam” in history in 1930 when he captured the America and British Open and amateur tournaments, comes here direct from the east coast, where he has shot three consecutive par-shattering rounds.

Meanwhile, consideration interest is being manifest in the exhibition slated for the Bobby Jones course Sunday afternoon when Jimmy Thompson and Gene Sarazen will be paired in a foursome against Johnny Revolta and Henry Picard.

Sunday’s foursome will see in action four of the great professionals stars in the game. Each of the players has captured a number of major championships during the past few years, and Revolta copped the first annual Sarasota Open event held here last December.

Tickets for this exhibition are on sale at leading hotels, Roth’s Cigar store, Badger pharmacy, Tucker’s Sporting goods store and at the golf club.

Entries are being received for the mixed foursome tourney to be staged at the course Monday afternoon, Mr. Jacobus said. Attractive and valuable prizes for this event have been donated by Mrs. Honore Palmer.

nelson lands first pompano

THURsday, February 13, 1936

SARASOTA HERALD

Al Nelson, Hopewell, N. J., golf professional, who is wintering here, today was a member in good standing of the Sarasota division if the Royal Pompano club. Fishing off the Ringling causeway yesterday, Al captures his first pompano. It weighed about two pounds.

The Hopewell golfer was a member of a party which included Mrs. Nelson, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Harbert, Battle Creek, Mich.; Mr. and Mrs. Henry Jost, Oak Park, Ill., and Mrs. Albert Sass, Sarasota, who caught 30 trout from the bridge during the day.

NEW PLAY MARK AT GOLF LINKS

An all-time record for one day’s play was established at the Bobby Jones golf course yesterday when 175 golfers played the course, it was announced today. Despite an over supply of bad weather, indications are that an all-time record for the season also will be established this winter.

George Jacobus, course manager, today compiled the following figures showing how the play this year compares with other years: 1935, high for one day during March, 168, during February, 155; 1934, February, 136; March, 123; 1933, February, 87, March, 88; 1932, March 91; February, 70.

Wes Ferrell Wins In Baseball Players' Golf

Tuesday, February 4, 1936

The Fresno Bee The Republican

SARASOTA (Fla.)

Wes Ferrell, Boston Red Sox pitcher, today holds the baseball players' golf championship after rounding the Bobby Jones course for a seventy-two-hole card of 312. Ferrell was awarded a cup, donated by Powell Crosley, Jr., owner of the Cincinnati Reds, and a gold medal. Willis Hudlin, Cleveland pitcher; Mickey Cochrane of the Detroit Tigers and Garland Braxton, Milwaukee pitcher, all tied for second honors with cards of 310. On a toss-up Cochrane won with Braxton taking third money; Hudlin, fourth. Paul Waner, Pittsburgh outfielder, an early leader, finished fifth.

February 3, 1936

The New York Times

February 2, 1936. - SARASOTA, Fla., (AP)

Willis Hudlin, Cleveland Pitcher, took the lead in the first Florida baseball players’ golf tournament today as he carded 76 in his second round for a total of 151.

Yesterday’s pace setter, Jack Russell of Washington, dropped to a tie for fourth, adding an 83 to the 74 he shot in the first round. Wesley Farrell, the Red Sox hurler, climbed to second place with a 74, for a total of 153 A 73 gave Paul Waner of Pittsburgh 156 and third place.

Babe Ruth needed an 87. His 36-hole score was 166, which gave him an even 10-stroke lead in his personal feud with Dizzy Dean, Cardinal ace.

Other scores included:

Mickey Cochrane, Detroit – 80-78 – 158

Gerald Walker, Detroit – 82-79 – 161

Paul Derringer, Cinc. – 82-80 – 162

Garland Braxton, Milw. – 81-81 – 162

Nick Altrock, Wash. – 84-82 – 166

Eiden Auker, Detroit – 88-86 – 174

Bob Burke, Albany – 86-89 – 175

Roy Spencer, Baltmore – 88-90 – 178

Johnny Moore, Phil. – 89-91 – 180

John Cooney, Brooklyn – 96-92 – 188

Heinie Manush, Bost. – 97-93 - 190

IN THE REALM OF SOCIETY

PERSONAL MENTION

SUNday, February 2, 1936

SARASOTA HERALD

Eiden Auker, of Lakeland, pitcher for the Detroit baseball club, is in Sarasota this week-end while playing in the Florida State Baseball Players’ Golf tournament.

Jack Russell, of Clearwater, pitcher for the Washington baseball club, is in Sarasota this week-end while playing in the Florida State Baseball Players’ Golf tournament.

Gerald Walker, of Lakeland, outfielder for the Detroit baseball club, is in Sarasota this week-end while playing in the Florida State Baseball Players’ Golf tournament.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry McLemore are guests here this weekend at the Sara Sota hotel while Mr. McLemore, United Press sports writer and a former Sarasotan, is covering the Florida State Baseball Players’ Golf tournament.

John Burnett, of Bartow, member of the St. Louis Browns baseball club, was a visitor in Sarasota Saturday.

Grantland Rice, noted sports writer, left Saturday night for palm Beach after spending several days in Sarasota.

Mr. and Mrs. O. B. Keeler, of Atlanta, Ga., will leave today for Miami after spending several days in Sarasota. Mr. Keeler is a well-known sports writer for the Atlanta Journal.

Mr. and Mrs. Ennis Brown are visitors in Sarasota this week-end. Mr. Brown is associated with the American Golfer, sporting magazine.

RUSSELL, WASHINGTON PITCHER, LEADS IN GOLF TOURNEY

PULLS SURPRISE TO GAIN STROKE MARGIN IN PLAY

HUDLIN SECOND AND FERRELL AND RUTH TIE; SECOND BATTLE TODAY

By W. P. DOZIER, Jr.

Herald Sports Editor

Famous professional baseball stars turned to the fairways and greens at the Bobby Jones course here yesterday and when the opening day’s play in the first annual Florida State Baseball players’ golf tournament was completed, Jack Russell, of Clearwater, pitcher for the Washington Senators of the American league, held a one-stroke lead as the tournament goes in to the second round today.

After touring the first nine in 35 strokes, Russell  faltered on the second stretch and took a 39, four over the par figure, but his 74 was still good enough to lead Willie Hudlin, Cleveland pitcher, who was the No. 2 favorite in the pre-tournament odds-making, by one stroke.

Where Russell conquered the first nine in great style, Hudlin had difficulties there and at the turn he had a 40, four strokes over par. He equaled par on the home stretch, however, and finished with a 75, within striking distance of the surprise leader.

Wesley Farrell, Boston Red Sox ace hurler, who was made the No. 1 favorite in the last-minute odds, carded a 79 and tied with Babe Ruth, the abdicated king of swat for third place honors. Ferrell and Ruth shot the same scores on each nine – 39 for the first and 40 for the second.

Mickey Cochrane, manager of the world’s champion Detroit Tigers, finished the first round within striking distance of the leaders. As did Lloyd Brown, southpaw hurler for the Cleveland Indians. Each shot an 80.

Garland Braxton, Milwaukee Brewers pitcher and finalist for the city tournament for the past two years, remained in the running with an 81. Braxton also was one of the pre-tournament favorites.

Dizzy Dean – “Ole Diz” himself, had one of his worst rounds of the present winter season and finished with a 91. Dizzy usually shoots consistently in the eighties, but he was off form yesterday.

Other low scorers were Paul Derringer, Cincinnati pitcher, 82; Gerald Walker, Detroit outfielder, 82; Paul Waner, Pittsburgh outfielder, 83; and Nick Altrock, Washington funnyman, 84.

An interesting sidelights on the play yesterday was the threesome comprised of Waner, Cochrane and Ruth, all lefthanders. Waner was crowned southpaw champion in a recent tournament in Miami, but he was high scorer of the trio yesterday. Ruth had the best score 79, with Cochrane one stroke behind.

A gallery of approximately 100 persons followed this famous threesome around the course. Other threesome that attracted considerable interest were Dean-Altrock-Burke, Ferrell-Walker- Braxton and Hudlin-Brown-Auker.

Play will be resumed at 10 o’clock this morning when Manush, Moore and Cooney tee off, followed 20 minutes later by Spencer, Altrock and Ferrell. Eighteen holes will be played today, with the 36-hole final set for tomorrow. The pairing and starting times appear elsewhere in today’s paper.

Officials of the golf committee last night urged local citizens to turn out to witness the matches today. So may sports celebrities are seldom seen in action here, and there is no admission charge.

Complete scores for the first round play yesterday follow:

Willis Hudlin, Cleveland – 40-35 – 75.

Lloyd Brown, Cleveland – 45-35 – 80.

Eiden Auker, Detroit – 46-42 – 88.

Paul Derringer, Cincinnati – 43-39 – 82.

Jack Russell, Washington – 35-39 – 74.

Johnny Moore, Philadelphia – 45-44 – 89.

Dizzy Dean, St. Louis – 45-46 – 91.

Nick Altrock, Washington – 44-40 – 84.

Bob Burke, Albany – 41-45 – 86.

Babe Ruth, unemployed – 39-40 – 79.

Mickey Cochrane, Detroit – 41-39 – 80.

Paul Waner, Pittsburgh – 42-41 – 83.

Wes Ferrell, Boston – 39-40 – 79.

Gerald Walker, Detroit – 41-41 – 82.

Garland Braxton, Milwaukee – 40-41 – 81.

John Cooney, Brooklyn – 48-48 – 96.

Heinie Manush, Boston – 49-48 – 97.

Roy Spencer, Baltimore – 44-44 – 88.

BASEBALL PLAYERS GUESTS AT WHITFIELD STAG PARTY

Baseball players participating in the Baseball Players’ Golf tournament at the Bobby Jones golf course and their guests were entertained with a “stag” party at the Whitfield Country club last night, with members of the Sarasota municipal golf committee as official hosts.

A roast beef dinner, together with all the trimmings, cooked as only it can be cooked by Frank Franklin, famous negro chef at the Whitfield club, was served the guests. The food was prepared under the masterful supervision of Charles G. Strohmeyer, Sarasota county tax collector, who has no peer as a preparer of foodstuffs.

Following the dinner the guests were entertained with a comedy cabaret skit presented by Heinie Manush, Boston Red Sox outfielder, as “Tuffy”; Paul Waner, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder, as “Lizzie”; and Bert Montressor, Decatur, Ill., golf professional; Lloyd Brown, Cleveland Indians pitcher; and Bobby Burke, Albany Senators pitcher.

Despite numerous interruptions, by Babe Ruth, the famous home run king, Nick Altrock, veteran comedian-coach of the Washington Senators, entertained with a number of humorous stories that drew a big hand from the crowd.

In addition to Waner, Manush, Burke, Altrock, Brown and Ruth, celebrities present at the “stag” included: Mickey Cochrane, manager of the world’s champion Detroit Tigers; O. B. Keeler, famous golf writer for the Atlanta Journal; Henry McLemore, United Press sports writer; Ennis Brown, of the American Golfer; George Jacobus, president of the P. G. A.; Bill Swift, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher; Jack Russell, Washington Senators’ pitcher; Eiden Auker, Detroit Tigers pitcher; and numerous others.

FAMOUS BASEBALLERS PLAY GOLF HERE

The baseball stars participating in the baseball players’ golf tournament at the Bobby Jones course here. Left to right, they are: Wes Ferrell, Boston Red Sox pitcher; Paul Waner, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder, and Willie Hudlin, Cleveland Indians pitcher. This picture was taken on the eleventh tee of the local course. At the left, Dizzy Dean, St. Louis Cardinals pitching ace, and Babe Ruth, erstwhile home run king, are shown talking the situation over.

RUTH, COCHRAN AND WANER THRILL GOLFING GALLERY

By R. Boynton Rogers, Jr.

Though none played par golf, Babe Ruth, the home run king of the major leagues, Mickey Cochrane, manager and catcher for the Detroit Tigers, last year’s winner of the world series, and Paul Waner, outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates, comprised a threesome that thrilled a gallery of approximately 100 golfing and baseball fans in the opening round of the initial Florida State Baseball Players’ Golf tournament, staged over the Bobby Jones golf course yesterday.

The “Bambino”, the idol of the baseball world, covered the local links in 39-40 to ring a 79 and tie with Wes Ferrell, of the Boston Red Sox, for third place honors. The Pirate player, fresh from a victory in the lefthander’s golf tournament held in Miami last week, carded a 42-41 for an 83, while Cochrane turned in a score of 41-39 for an 80.

Despite the fact that each had their dub holes, the threesome, as a whole, tallied a score of 26 pars and two birdied as they rounded the local links. Ruth and Cochrane, fighting all the way for low honors, each made none pars and one birdie, while Waner shot eight perfect holes.

Observant spectators noticed that the baseball players had little difficulty with their putting game. In fact, their short game far exceeded that of the professionals’ that participated in the Sarasota Open tournament in January. The homerun king also was low scorer of the threesome on putts, taking only 31 strokes on the green, while the other two putted 35 times each.

The most spectacular shot of the round was made by Ruth on the No. 10 hole. Shooting against a reasonably strong wind, the “Bambino” had the misfortune of landing in the small creek that crosses the fairway just short of the green. Approaching the ball, which lay beneath several inches of water, Ruth announced in a loud voice” “Well, it’s Saturday and time for a bath! So here goes!” Taking a mighty swing at the ball, as he stood in the water, Rut lofted over the trees and plucked the ball down within four feet of the hole. As an added attraction, Cochrane stoked a long, curling putt which finally dropped into the hole thirty feet away.

Ruth, in another spurt of skill, just missed a birdie, as his ball rimmed the cup after an approach of approximately 20 yards from behind the green on the 18 hole.

The threesome, among the last to tee off, all played lefthanded and amazed the gallery by having the majority of their drives within five yards of each other. On the first hole, the “Bambino” started the fireworks by making a par, while each of his opponents sunk for fives.

A 225-yard drive, a close approach and the sinking of a 10-foot putt again put Ruth in the limelight as he made a birdie three on 370-yard, second hole. Cochrane made a par four, with two putts, while Waner missed a two footer and finally sank his ball for a five.

On the short third, which extends only 183 yards, the three baseball celebrities each downed their balls in four, having two putts each. Ruth again won another hole on the 470-yard fourth, as he carded another par. Cochrane and Waner each scored sixes, with the Pirate player taking three putts.

The next hole, a par five, was easy for the baseball-golfers. Cochrane, with two long woods, a short approach and one putt, led the way with a birdie. Taking two putts each, Ruth and Waner made pars. Turning the tables, Waner came up the sixth hole to make his second par thus far over the local links to the fives tallied by the other two. On the seventh, Cochrane and Waner scored par fours, but Ruth slipped as he took three putts after reaching the green in two shots.

Not letting the previous hole worry him, the “Bambino” returned in the eighth, a 145-yard par three hole, to neatly register another par, as his wood was just short, his approach within three feet of the cup. Meeting trouble for the first time during his round, the Pirate player landed in a clump of trees on his drive, but made the best of the situation by finally downing his ball for a five, two over par. On the same hole, the Detroit catcher took two irons and two putts.

On the last putt of the “out” nine, Ruth pounded out a drive for 225 yards, while each of his opponents sent the ball soaring past the 250-yard marker. Cochrane and Waner placed their balls on the green with his next shot, but Ruth hooked to the right of the green. Waner downed his ball for a par four, while Ruth and Cochrane both took fives.

The tenth hole was a high spot for both Ruth and Cochrane as each made spectacular shots as explained previously. Waner missed a par on the hole as he again three-putted.

The long, 480-yard 11 hole proved easy to the “Bambino” and Cochrane, but Waner slipped again as he dubbed two approach shots and finally scored a seven after taking one putt.

Faltering again, Waner took three putts on the twelfth green to make a five. Ruth slipped also by dubbing one while in a trap at the left of the green, while Conchrane made a clean-cut four with two putts.

Ruth and Waner tied on the 149-yard thirteenth as they both registered pars, Ruth landing on the green with his tee shot and taking two putts and Waner sinking a four-footer after taking two shots to reach the green. Cochrane, on the other hand, overestimated his pitch, on his second shot, and took two putts to tally a four.

The fourteenth hole proved to be Babe’s “Jonah” as he blew up by taking two approach shots when within ten yards of the green, and finally downed his ball for a six, two over par. Waner and Cochrane both made pars; the Pirate player reaching the green in three and sinking for one putt, and the Detroit manager taking two putts after reaching the green with a long wood and iron shots.

Ruth returned on the fifteenth to whip his opponents by making a par four. Waner muffed one approach shot to score a five, while Cochrane, after slicing into the rough, dubbed two irons to go over the green. He then pitched back completely over the green and finally downed in seven with one putt.

Two pars were made by Ruth and Cochrane on the next hole, as Ruth’s tee shot was just short of the green, his second was within two feet of the cup and his next was sunk, and Cochrane with a long iron reached the green in one shot and took two putts. Waner, though, missed a seven footer but sank for four.

The seventeenth, a 285-“dog’s leg,” was beautifully played by Cochrane and Waner, as each took fours. Cochrane drive 240 yards and Waner 220 yards, each landing on the green with their approaches and sunk after two putts each. Ruth met with misfortune, as he had to shoot from behind a tree on the edge of the fairway but landed a beautiful approach onto the green. Then, the “Bambino” took three putts.

On the last hole all three players made pars for the first time during the entire round. Each drove between 200 to 230 yards into a side wind, Ruth sent his second shot over the green, Waner’s ball went to the left of the green, hole high, and Conchrane’s iron landed directly on the green. Ruth, on his approach, barely missed a birdie as his shot rimmed the cup; Waner sunk a 20 foot putt after an underestimated approach, and Cochrane took two putts.

The score for threesome on the first round:

OUT

Ruth                434 444 435 – 39

Cochrane         544 645 445 – 41

Waner             554 465 445 – 42

IN

Ruth                555 364 354 – 40 – 79

Cochrane         454 447 344 – 39 – 80

Waner             575 345 444 – 41 – 83

GOLF TOURNEY SCORES ON AIR

Pat Flannigan, famous sports announcer for a Chicago radio station, told of the results in the first day’s play in the baseball players’ golf tournament in his broadcast over that station at 7 o’clock last night.

Mrs. Flannigan, who is spending the winter here, was at the course and wired her husband the results and interesting sidelights of the opening round. Mr. Flannigan is a frequent visitor here.

SPILLING THE DOPE

HOMETOWN SPORTS SLANTS

By W. R. Dozier, Jr.

Herald Sports Editor

We believe the baseball players’ golf tournament at the Bobby Jones course to be one of the best stunts ever pulled in this city.

…This was demonstrated yesterday when such famous sports authorities as O. B. Keeler, of the Atlanta Journal; Ennis Brown, of the American Golfer, and Grantland Rice, conductor of a syndicated sports column, were present for the open day’s play…Mr. Rice, who played the course Friday, described it as an “excellent course with wonderful fairways.” …And his opinion counts for something… Mr. Keeler, who reported most of Bobby Jones’ exploits when the Atlanta sensation was making golf history, took a lot of pictures yesterday, all showing scenes of the golf course….The Fox Movietone man was on hand also, and made several scenes of such personalities as Dizzy Dean, Nick Altrock, Babe Ruth, Paul Waner, Mickey Cochrne, Wes Ferrell and others….

The tourney should be even more successful next year, since Powell Crosley, jr.,has donated a permanent trophy for the winner…As he is owner of the Cincinnati Reds, Mr. Crowley’s interst in the event should serve to spur the enthusiasm of the diamond luminaries.. Next year the dates will be announced a long while ahead of time and the performers can start making arrangements early to be here for the event… Sports fans will seldom have the opportunity of seeing so many stars of different clubs in action as they will today, so why not go out to the course and follow some of the boys around? It will look good for the city to give them a big gallery… Babe Ruth, Mickey Cochrane and Paul Waner had most of the gallery yesterday.

Not many cities the size of Sarasota could have held a meeting like that one Friday night… Nick Altrock, the baseball funny-man, was the master of ceremonies and there were numerous other stars of the diamond present… The fellow who had confidence in Jack Russell’s golfing ability may realize a nice profit, judging from the scores turned in yesterday… The fact that Russell led in the first day’s play was not surprising, however, to those who know him as one of the best golfers in baseball and as the several times champion of Clearwater… Wes Ferrell’s chances of winning the tournament were worth a dollar more than Hudlin’s, which was a little surprising… There will be no lull in sports doings here after the baseball tournament is completed… The annual city tournament begins Wednesday and continues through Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday… There will be a record field of entries here…Heard at the Bobby Jones golf course yesterday: “I wouldn’t mind being ‘unemployed’ and on the same position as Babe Ruth”…me neither…Our Mr. R. Boynton Rogers, Jr., who knows all about race horses, asked us yesterday what club Mickey Cochrane plays with…the question was asked after he had followed Mickey around 18 holes of golf…

GOLF TOURNEY PAIRINGS FOR TODAY LISTED

Following are the pairings and starting times for the second round of the baseball players’ golf tournament at the Bobby Jones golf course today:

            10 a.m. – Heinie Manush, Boston Red Sox; Johnny Moore, Philadelphia Phillies; and Johnny Cooney, Brooklyn Dodgers.

            10:20 – Roy Spencer, Baltimore Orioles; Nick Altrock, Washington coach; and Wes Ferrell, Boston Red Sox.

            10:40 – Dizzy Dean, St. Louis Cardinals; Eiden Auker, Detroit Tigers; and Bobby Burke, Albany Senators.

            11:30 – Babe Ruth, unattached; Paul Derringer, Cinncinnati Reds; and Willis Hudlin, Cleveland Indians.

            12 – Lloyd Brown, Cleveland Indians; Jack Russell, Washington Senators; and Garland Braxton, Milwaukee Brewers.

            12:30 p.m. – Gerald Walker, Detroit Tigers; Mickey Cochrane, Detroit Tigers; Paul Waner, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Bill Swift, Pittsburgh Pirates.

NOTED SPORTS WRITERS HERE FOR GOLF PLAY

Three famous writers of the sporting world were interested spectators at the opening round of the first annual baseball players’ golf tournament which got under way at the Bobby Jones course here yesterday.

O. B. Keeler, Atlanta Journal sports writer who became famous as the man who chronicled the exploits of the immortal Bobby Jones; Grantland Rice, internationally known sports writer and authority, and Ennis Brown, of the American Golfer, nationally circulated golfers’ magazine, were included in the gallery that watched the diamond luminaries in action.

Mr. Keeler, who will continue on the Miami today with Mr. Keeler, obtained an interesting collection of pictures during this visit. Mr. Rice left last night for Palm Beach, while Mr. Brown probably will remain here a day or two.

GOLF EXHIBITION IS SLATED FOR TODAY

In order to provide golf fans here for the baseball players tournament with a full day of activities, an exhibition match featuring four star professionals will be staged at the Bobby Jones course this afternoon, beginning at 3 o’clock.

Bert Montressor, Decatur, Ill.; Al Nelson, Hopewell, N. J.; E. W. Harbert, Battle Creek, Mich.. And Russell Jacobus, brother of George Jacobus, manager of the club, will comprise the foursome. All of these stars are wintering here.

The match will be free to the public and will begin after all the baseball players have completed their second round play.

The Tillinghast Letter

REVOLTA IS VICTOR IN SARASOTA OPEN

December 12, 1935

The Free Lance-Star

SARASOTA, Fla., Dec. 12. (AP)

Johnny Revolta, curly-headed professional golfers association champion from Milwaukee, had a flying start today for the title of biggest money winner for the annual tout of resort fairways.

Slashing par by six strokes in the final round yesterday, he carded a 272 for the $2,000 Sarasota Open and pocketed $500 first money. His 65 on the stretch went into the books as a new course record and his 72-hole score was 10 below par.

The $500 was added to the $350 he won at Orlando last week in the opening event of the winter tour. He tied Bobby Cruickshank of Richmond, Va., for first place at Orlando, but lost in a playoff.

Sarasota Open P.G.A. Champ Snatches First Money With Blazing Finish

December 12, 1935

The Scranton Republican

SARASOTA, Fla., Dec. 11. (AP)

Johnny Revolta, the P. G. A. title-holder, blazed down the stretch In a champion's finish today to break the Bobby Jones Club course record with a 65 and snatch first money in the Sarasota open golf tournament. Five strokes behind Alvin Krueger, Beloit, Wis., the 54-hole leader, Revolta swept past the field in a late finish and scored a 274. Victor Ghezzi, Deal, N. J., came home second with 76.

The victory was worth $500 to Revolta, who started the winter tour at Orlando last week with a tie for first place and then lost top money to Bobby Cruickshank, Richmond, Va., in a playoff.

Faltering on the last two rounds after showing his heels throughout the early stages, Krueger finally carded a 279 and had nothing better than a tie for fifth money. Paul Runyan, the dependable White Plains, N. Y., stylist, was third at 277 and Jimmy Hines, Garden City, L. I., tied for fourth, a stroke back of Runyan, with Bill Mehlhorn, Louisville, Ky.

The sensational final round of Revolta was one stroke better than Krueger's performance yesterday when he hung up the official course record at 66. Low amateur score was posted by Morton McCarthy, Norfolk, Va. He clipped three strokes from par in the final round with a 68 and had an aggregate of 284.

KRUEGER LEADS SARASOTA GOLF

December 11, 1935

CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE

SHOOTS A 66, FIVE UNDER PAR, FOR 133 TOTAL

SARASOTA,FLA. Dec. 10 (AP)

Streaking over the Bobby Jones Links in a rare exhibition, Alvin (Butch) Krueger of Beloit, Wis., today trimmed par by five strokes and took a commanding lead at the half way point of the $2,000 Sarasota open golf tournament.

Krueger carded a 66, five under par, for a 36 hole total of 133. A 67 for the first round gave him a slight edge, but a string of birdies today left him five strokes up on the band of touring pros, who found the going tougher today.

Comes Back in 32.

Out in 34, two below par, the Beloit professional came home in 32.

Far in his wake, Craig Wood of New York and Victor Ghezzi of Deal, N.J. fought it out for second place and came up with a tie at 138. Ghezzi eased up slightly and took a 70 to add to his 68 for the first round, while Wood has two 69s.

Herman Keiser of Springfield, Mo. and Johnny Revolta of Milkwaukee, P.G.A. champion, pressed closed behind with 139s.

Walsh, Mehlhorn Tie.

Two pros, tied at 140, retained an outside chance to overhaul Kreuger in the 36 hole final tomorrow. They were Bill Mehlhorn of Louisville and Frank Walsh of Morton Grove, Ill.

Scores for 36 holes:

[World golf hall of fame members in bold,1935 U.S. Ryder cup team members in ITALIC ALL CAPS, GREAT BRITAIN RYDER CUP TEAMS MEMBERS IN Italics]

Alvin Krueger, Beloit, Wis.             67        66        133       [8-time Wisconsin PGA Champion, 1935 - 1952]

CRAIG WOOD, New York, N. Y.      69        69        138      [1941 US Open Champion]

Victor Ghezzi, Deal, N. J.                 68        70        138      [1941 PGA Champion]

Herman Keiser, Springfield, Mo.   69        70        139      [1946 Masters Champion]

Johnny Revolta, Milwaukee, Wis. 68        71        139       [1935 PGA Champion]

Jimmy Hines, Garden City, L. I.    72        68        140     

Frank Walsh, Morton Grove, Ill.    70        70        140      [2nd place, 1932 PGA Championship]

Bill Mehlhorn, Louisville, Ky.         69        71        140       [2nd place, 1925 PGA Championship]

PAUL RUNYAN, White Plains, NY  71        69        140       [1934, 1938 PGA Champion]

Bert Montressor, Decatur, Mi.       70        71        141

Jack Toomer, Asheville, N. C.        69        72        141

Tony Manero, Sedgefield, N. C.     71        70        141      [1936 US Open Champion]

Zeli Eaton, Oklahoma City, Okla.  68        73        141

BYRON NELSON, Ridgewood, NJ 74        68        142      [1937, 1942 Masters, 1939 US Open, 1940 and 1945 PGA Champion]

John Watson, South Bend, Ind.     71        71        142

HORTON SMITH, Oak Park, Ill.      70        72        142      [1934, 1936 Masters Champion]

John Bulla, Lockport, Ill.                68        74        142      [14 Arizona Open titles, 1945-1959]

Roland Mackenzie, Washington    74        69        143

Gene Kunes, Philadelphia, Pa.       72        71        143       [1935 Canadian Open Champion]

KY LAFFOON, Chicago                         71        72        143

Jim Thomson, Ridgewood, N. J.    70        73        143      [2nd place, 1935 US Open and 36 PGA Championship]

Leonard Dodson, Pembrine Wis.   75        68        143

Dick Metz, Chicago, Ill.                    72        72        144      [2nd place, 1938 US Open]

Errie Ball, Spring Hill, Ala.             71        73        144       [PGA Hall of Fame]

Tom Creavy, Albany, N. Y.              71        73        144       [1931 PGA Champion]

Ray Raynor, Woodbury, N. J.         70        74        144

Willie MacFarlane, Tuckahoe NY 71        73        144      [1925 US Open Champion]

M. D. Stahl, Grand Rapids, Mich.  73        71        144

Vincent Eldred, Pittsburgh              74        71        145

Bobby Cruickshank, Richmond      73        72        145      [2nd place, 1923 and 1932 US Open]

Al Sargent, Toledo, O.                      74        71        145

John Kinder, Asbury Park, N. J.    70        73        145

Bill Kaiser, Louisville, Ky.               71        74        145

R. Hutchinson, Bethlehem, Pa.      72        73        145

W. Goldbeck, Mount Kisco, N. Y.   73        72        145

Al Nelson, Hopewell, N. J.              71        75        146

Clarence Clark, Bloomfield, N. J.   76        70        146

Ted Luther, Girard, O.                      73        73        146

C. Ehrenman, Englemere, Pa.         73        74        147

H. Stonehouse, Noblesville, Ind.   70        77        147

SAM PARKS, JR., Pittsburgh                73        74        147      [1935 US Open Champion]

Bruce Coltart, Wheelhouse, N. J.   71        76        147

Lou Walper, Bethesda, Md.             75        72        147

Felix Serafin, Clark Summit, Pa.    75        73        148

A. Hambrick, French Lick, Ind.      72        76        148

Angelo Paul, Valley Forge, Pa.       75        74        149

Jack Mackie, Inwood, N. Y.            77        72        149

Wiffy Cox, Bethesda, Md.               75        74        149

Joe Ezar, Louisville, Ky.                  75        74        149

*C. G. Eberhart, New York, NY73        76        149

Art Straub, Bay Head, N. J.             78        72        150

George Low Jr., Abington, Pa.        78        72        150      [Putter designer, "Greatest Putter of All Time"]

James Martucci, Westwood, N. J.  74        76        150

Tony Midri, Merchantsville, N. J.   75        76        151

Jack Forrester, Oradell, N. J.          78        73        151

Dave Tosh, Winnetka, Ill.                78        73        151

Herb Johnson, Hinesdale, Ill.         79        72        151

J. E. Sprouli, Warren, O.                  81        74        155

Lauri Puroli, Cleveland, O.              79        76        155

*F. Smyrock, Minneapolis, Minn.  80        76        156

Frank Moore, St. Louis, Mo.            79        78        157

Arnold Minkley, Philadelphia, Pa. 76        81        157

Joe Laffy, Louisville, Ky.                  81        77        158

Frank P. MacDonald, Chicago        81        77        158

*John Griffen, St. Louis                   83        84        167

*Amateur

GOLFING CARAVAN IN SARASOTA FOR OPEN LINKS PLAY

December 9, 1935

THE EVENING INDEPENDENT

CRUICKSHANK HEADS PARADE OF STARS AS FAVORITE AFTER WINNING IN ORLANDO MEET

SARASOTA, Dec. 9. (AP)

Additional stars joined the winter golfing cavalcade today as an expert field teed off in the $2,000 Sarasota open tournament.

Fresh from a 72-hole grind at Orlando last wee, most of the professionals and amateurs hardly had time for a practice swing over the Bobby Jones club course.

Little Bobby Cruickshank, Richmond, winner of the Orlando open, was established among the favorites. Johnny Revolta, Milwaukee, whom Crickshank defeated by two strokes in a playoff for first place at Orlando yesterday, was regarded as dangerous.

Several top-notches who did not compete last week started today for a final tryout before the opening Saturday of the $10,000 Miami Biltmore open, golfdom’s richest event.

They were Craig Wood, New York; Victor Ghezzi, Deal, N.J.; Ed Dudley, Augusta, Ga.; Johnny Kinder, Boundbrook, N.j.; and Denny Shute, Chicago.

The amateur list was augmented by seven major league baseball players in Sarasota for the winter. These include Paul Waner, Pittsburg Pirates; Heinie Mnush, Washington Senators; Paul Derringer, Cincinnati Reds; Bill Jurges, Chicago Cubs; Johnny Moore, Philadelphia Nationals, and Lloyd Brown and Willis Hudlin of the Cleveland Indians.

Sam Parks, Jr., Pittsburgh, national open champion, was shooting for a comeback after finishing far back at Orlando.

Other Orlando money-winners who played today, in addition to Cruickshank and Revolta, were Ky Laffoon, Chicago; Paul Runyan, White Plains, N.Y.; Gene Kunes, Philadelphia; Zell Eaton, Oklahoma City; Willie MacFarlane, Tuckahoe, N.Y.; Horton Smith, Joplin, Mo.; Harry Cooper, Chicago; Wiffy Cox, Washington; Tony Manero, Greensboro, N.C.; Dick Metz, Chicago; Frank Walsh, Chicago, and Orville White, St. Louis.

Eighteen holes were scheduled today, with 18 more to be played tomorrow and the 36-hole final Wednesday.

Lloyd Gullikson and Bob Shave will represent Pasadena and Ed Kerby will represent Lakewood as St. Petersburg’s professional representation in the Sarasota open.

SARASOTA OPEN STARTS MONDAY

December 6, 1935

St. Petersburg Times

Obscure Golfer Will Get Chance in Tournament

SARASOTA, Dec. 6.

When more than 100 golfers, including the greatest stars of the links game in this country, begin their pursuit of the $2,000 pie in the Sarasota open here on Monday, there will be two fights to the finish on progress.

The second flight will be back in the welter of unknowns where one seldom looks for fireworks, and it will be, in a sense, an even more important fight than that which will concern the Armours, the Revoltas, the Parkses, the Coopers, the Runyans and the Mehlhorns.

For it will be a fight for a job, one of the best jobs in golf, in fact. It will be a battle for a spot on the all-star professional staff at the Miami Biltmore Country Club in Miami along with Open Champion Sam Parks Jr. and P.G.A. Champion John Revolta.

It will be, too, Col. Henry L. Doherty’s method of showing the little fellows of golf that they are not, after all, forgotten men. The president of the Florida Year-Round clubs will give one of them this job – provided he finishes all 72 holes of the Orlando open, now being played, the Sarasota open, the Miami Biltmore $10,000 open to be played Dec. 14-17 and the British Colonial open, to be played Dec. 20-22 in Nassau, Bahamas.

The obscure golfer will be selected from among those golfers who did not quality for the national P.G.A. championships at Oklahoma City last fall and those who were not among the 60 golfers, with ties, to compete in the final 36 holes of the national open championship at Oakmont. Pittsburgh, last July.

Inasmuch as this fight for the job, a regular winter teaching assignment similar to the jobs held by Parks and Revolta, extends throughout the Sarasota tournament, their will be no lessening of striving, even among those who are back in the ruck. Every stroke will count in deadly earnest, no matter what the player’s total, because he has 288 holes in which to make up of lose ground.

The spectacle of this cat and dog fight among the unknowns, plus the thrill of the golf of the twin champions, Parks and Revolta, plus, too, the pursuit of this regal pair by such stars as Tommy Armour, Harry Cooper, Paul Runyan, Billy Burke, etc., should provide Florida west coast fans with endless excitement through Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1935

Sarasota Herald

Two more baseball players who like to golf and fish came to Sarasota yesterday for the winter season. They are Paul Waner, Pittsburg outfielder, and Garland Braxton, Milwaukee pitcher. The latter resided in Bradenton last winter but plans to remain in Sarasota this time, provided he can locate a suitable home. Both men are good golfers and shoot in the low seventies. Braxton has gone to the finals of the annual city golf tournament for two years in succession, losing to Don Newburn on both occasions. Both men are accompanied by their families and Sarasota welcome this type of winter visitor.

WALTER HAGEN HERE MONDAY

February 27, 1935

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Walter Hagen, the grand old man of golfdom, who won the Gasparilla open tournament at Tampa, will be in Sarasota Monday and will play an informal match at the Bobby Jones course, it was announced today by George Jacobus, professional at the local course.

Hagen will be paired with Mr. Jacobus against two of the leading local amateurs, who will be announced tomorrow. The match will start at 2 o’clock and the public is invited to witness it. There will be no charge.

Hagen and Jacobus will play an exhibition match at the Venice Country Club course Tuesday afternoon.

SARASOTA GOLF TOURNEY MATCH GOES 25 HOLES

THURSDAY, February 9, 1933

Sarasota Herald

Dr. F. E. Fair and Otis Prescott, both of Bradenton, provided the thrills in the championship flight of the city championship golf tournament at the Bobby Jones Golf course Wednesday, when they played 25 holes before Fair won the match, one up. The two golfers were tied at the completion of 18 holes of play, and the last few holes were played in the driving rain which fell later in the afternoon.

Don Newburn, defending city title holder, went into today’s quarter-finals when his scheduled opponent, W. J. Boardman, of New York, who scored an upset to down Dr. David Kennedy in the first day’s play, failed to show up for the match. Will Foulds, Sarasota winter-resident, and Earl Clark, Hamilton, O., also won their matches by default of their opponents, G. A. Goodbread and C. E. Smith, both of Bradenton, also failed to show up.

In other tournament matches, Frank Boyce, Sarasota, defeated George M. Coale, Kenilworth, Ill., three and two; the Rev. George White, Bradenton, defeated Roy Spencer, Cleveland, three and one; Garland Braxton, Milwaukee, defeated Arthur Goldberg, New York, one up; and Paul Derringer, St. Louis, came back to win from Charlie Dempsey, Sarasota, two up after being two down at the thirteenth hole.

Today’s quarterfinal matches in the championship flight are as follows: Newburn vs. Derringer; Fair vs. Foulds; Boyce vs. White; and Clark vs. Braxton.

Results of Wednesday’s matches in the Bobby Jones flight: Mike Roth defeated Dr. David Kennedy, one up; Dr. L. G. Ennis won by default; the Rev. N. P. Coleman defeated W. J. Brodie, one up; H. H. “Butch” Moore defeated W. B. Towles, six and five; Bill Burwell defeated Richard Wolfe, six and five; A. P. Kaye defeated Dr. W. F. Burrows by default; Verman Kimbrough defeated George Toplitz, nine and eight; and Fred Elder drew a bye. Today’s matches in the flight are: Roth vs. Ennis; Coleman vs. Moore; Burwell vs. Elder; Kaye vs. Kimbrough.

Play scheduled for today in the Bobby Jones consolation flight, which comprises the losers in yesterday’s rounds is Towles vs. Brodie. Kennedy, Wolfer and Toplitz drew byes. In the championship consolation rounds today Coale will meet Spencer. Dempsey, Prescott and Goldberg drew byes.

Everett Johnston, manager of the course announced today that a tournament for the golfers over 55 years of age who lost in the early rounds would start immediately after the completion of the city tournament, which ends Saturday. This will be called the “veterans” flight.

HAGEN TO PLAY IN “FOURSOME” HERE TOMORROW

February 5, 1933

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Sarasota golfing devotees who remember the one-sided drubbing Walter Hagen, famed golfer, gave Bobby Jones, greatest of them all and one-time Sarasota winter resident, over the Whitfield Country club course back in the “good ole boom days,” will have an opportunity to see just how much of that golfing prowess Hagen has retained when he plays tomorrow afternoon at 2 o’clock over the Bobby Jones municipal course.

Hagen will be paired with E.W. Harbert, Battle Creek, Mich., professional, who is wintering in Sarasota, against Einar “Andy” Anderson, pro at the Bobby Jones course here, and Harley Greenamyre, youngster who started his golfing here in Sarasota but is now professional at a country club near Chicago during the summer. The match will be an 18 hole best-ball exhibition foursome.

Playing with Greenamyre against Anderson and Vincent Eldrid, Pittsburgh pro, over the Bradenton Country Club course last Wednesday, “The Haig” demonstrated that he is still one of the world’s greatest golfers by breaking the course record with a 68, four under par. He and Greenamyre won the match, two up.

Hagen, whose golfing prowess has furnished many a thrill in competition, both in the United States and abroad, has captured the British open title no less than three times, was American open champion twice, copped the Professional Golfers’ association title five times, and was holder of the Canadian open title for one year. He is the present holder of the Western open championship.

In addition to the major championships, Hagen has won innumerable local, state and sectional titles. This will be his first appearance in Sarasota since the Jones match back in ’25, or early ’26.

Local golfers have been practicing daily for the match and it is expected that it will be a close and interesting battle.

While here, “The Haig” and his party will be the guests of the Sarasota Terrace hotel, through the courtesy of Manager H. P. Dye.

WOMAN’S CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY STARTED TODAY

April 2, 1931

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Old Sol smiled down from the sky today and enabled the qualifying rounds of the woman’s championship to get under way at the Bobby Jones course, after being held up for two days.

Qualifying rounds will be played all this week, Manager Everett Johnston announced today. Match play will begin Monday morning.

Originally scheduled for Tuesday, play was postponed until yesterday. However, the rain-soaked greens and fairways made play impossible it was reported by the management.

A number of the city’s foremost lady golfers have entered the tournament. Play is for the Bacon and Tomlin trophy and a number of prizes contributed by local merchants.

SULLIVAN GOLD MEDAL AWARDED TO BOBBY JONES

December 17, 1930

Sarasota Herald

NEW YORK, Dec. 17. (AP)

Bobby Jones’ last and greatest campaign has won for him the Sullivan Memorial award as this country’s outstanding amateur athlete during 1930.

Jones, who accomplished the unprecedented feat of winning all four major golfing championships in a single year, won out by an overwhelming margin over nine other candidates for the award, given for the first time in memory of James E. Sullivan, pioneer worker in the A.A.U.

The golf medal goes “to the athlete who by his performance and by his example and influence as an amateur and a man, had done most during the year to advance the cause of sportsmanship.”

BOBBY JONES WINS PRAISE FOR MANLINESS OF ACTION IN QUITTING GOLF KINGDOM

November 18, 1930

Sarasota Herald

[Bobby Jones, upon his retirement,] “with dignity, quits the memorable scene upon which he nothing common did nor mean.” – The New York Times

SARASOTA GOLF COURSES OFFER SPORT WHEN SNOW COVERS LINKS IN NORTH

October 5, 1930

Sarasota Herald

Bobby Jones Fairways and Greens Beckon Welcome to Visitor Here

EVERETT L. JOHNSTON MANAGES COURSE

When the golf courses of the north are heaped with snow by the chill winds of winter golf enthusiasts pack their favorite clubs and come to Sarasota where they find two of the sportiest and most beautiful courses in the south. In fact after playing over the links, many notables of the golfing world have declared them to be equal to any course in the country.

The Bobby Jones course, owned and operated municipally, is located just east of the winter quarters of the “Greatest Show on Earth.” Since its construction, the course has been under the management of Everett L. Johnston. Under his efficient direction, a crew of men keep the greens and fairways in excellent condition.

Mr. Johnston first came to Sarasota in 1920 from Manchester Conn. His first position here was the operation of the old Sarasota Golf Club under the late Col. Gillespie. Following the death of Col. Gillespie, he managed the links for the late C. N. Payne and Charles Ringling. On completion of the municipal course, Johnston assumed management, and the old course was abandoned.

The Bobby Jones course was constructed during the years 1925 and 1926, with Donald Ross, noted golf architect, designer and builder. The first nine holes were opened for play in July, 1926, and at once became very popular. An idea of its immediate popularity can be had from the record of November of the same year, when 1,13 golfers teed off.

Although opened for pay In 1926, its formal opening did not take place until Feb. 12, 1927. At that time Bobby Jones, the czar of golfdom, cut the ribbons at the first tee and played in a foursome with Watts Gunn, Jim Senter and Louis Lancaster. A gallery of approximately 1,500 followed the match.

The total yardage of the course is 6,290, for which the men’s par is 71 and the ladies 81. The longest hole is No. 4 which is 511 yards and the shortest is No. 13 with 149 yards. Although the course is not severely trapped, very few golfers have broken par.

Quite a few improvements have been made this summer on the course in preparation for the winter season, including the building of several new greens. Besides the various minor events scheduled, a number of tournaments are being planned by Mr. Johnston for the winter. Activity, however, is not confined to the season alone as numerous tournaments are staged during the summer. A recent flag tournament attracted golfers from all over the West Coast.

Rivaling the municipal course is that of the Whitfield Estates Country club which is reputed to be one of the five best in the entire country. Although not in play this summer, numerous improvements are planned by the committee in charge and it is hoped that the course will be opened again this winter.

The course, which was built and designed by the famed architect, Donald Ross, occupies a 125 acre tract of high, rolling ground in Whitfield Estates, north of the city. Boles Creek, running through the course, affords perfect drainage facilities. It also provides sportive water hazards, being crossed no fewer than nine times in the course of playing eighteen holes. The championship length of the course is 6.671 yards, with a par of 71.

Since its opening, the Whitfield course has been a mecca for famous golfers of the world. Such players as Johnny Farrell, Jim Barnes, Timmy Armour, Leo Diegel, Gene Sarazen, Walter Hagen and the pride of Georgia, Bobby Jones have tried their prowess along its fairways. Two matches were played in 1926 by Compston and Massey, champions of England and France.

In building the club house, the designing architect took advantage of a high plot of land which permitted a view of a large part of the course from the side porches. From the other side is an almost uninterrupted view of Sarasota bay. Adjoining the clubhouse is the swimming pool.

Besides serving as the club for the Whitfield golf course, the clubhouse is the scene of numerous social events during the season. The calendar includes the usual tea and dinner dances, as well as privately arranged parties.

City's BOBBY JONES GOLF COURSE HAS FINEST TURF IN ALL OF SOUTH

October 6, 1929

Sarasota Herald

Was Designed and Laid Out by Famous Donald Ross, Expert Architect

VIEWS OF MUNICIPAL GOLF LINKS

The Bobby Jones golf course, owned and operated municipally, gives Sarasota an 18-hole links with the finest turf in the south. Golfers from the north heap praise on the condition of the course each winter when they play over it. Golfers of nearby cities often come to Sarasota for their round of golf, preferring the local course to the ones at home.

Condition of the fairways of the Bobby Jones course is as fine as the greens of many courses.

The Bobby Jones course was constructed during the years 1925 and 1926. Donald Ross, the noted golf architect, designed and built the course. The first nine holes were opened for play July 1, 1926, and at once became very popular, attracting golfers from all over the state. An idea of its popularity can be has from the record of November, 1926, when 1,137 golfers played the course.

Formal Opening of Course

Although opened for play in 1926, the formal opening did not take place until Sunday, February 12, 1927. At that time the one and only Bobby Jones, golfer of all golfers, after whom the course was named, cut the ribbons at the first tee and played over the course in a foursome with Watts Gunn, Jim Senter and Louis L. Lancaster. A gallery of 1,500 followed the match.

The Bobby Jones course has a total of 6,290 yards. The men’s par is 71 and the ladies’ par is 81. Although the course is not severely trapped, the fairways wide and the rough not bad, very few have had the honor to break par. The longest hole is No. 4 which is 511 yards and the shortest is No. 13 with 149 yards.

Course Records

The first record of the coure was won by Bill Hartshorn in 1927, who shot a 68 for 18 holes. The same year Harley Greenameyre tied Hartshorn for honors with a 68. The following year Hartshorn broke his own record shooting a 66. Lloyd Greenameyre went one better in breaking the record set by Hartshorn by shooting a 65. This feat was accomplished on Sunday, February 5, 1929. He still retains this honor and will for some time to come. Lloyd is professional at the course during the winter season and is engaged at the Christiana Tavern Country Club of Edwardsburg, Mich.

Miss Cornelia Curtis holds the ladies’ record of the course with an 82. The was Miss Curtis’ qualifying score in the ladies’ city championship in 1927, for the Bacon-Tomlin Cup. Miss Curtis came through as the winner in the city championship. Mrs. Fred Woolley is the present ladies’ champion having won the title in 1928 and 1929.

City Champion

The Bobby Jones course has been the scene of the Sarasota golf championship matches since its opening. Don Newburn was the first winner of this title and today holds the beautiful Charles Ringling trophy which he won three years in succession, 1926-27-28. The champion today is Harley Greenameyre who won the Vanderkloot trophy for 1929, and took the crown from the former contender, Newburn.

Tournaments

Since the opening of the course many tournaments have been held. Some of the important events and their winners are as follows: The first tournament held the opening season was an invitation tournament with 127 entrants. Louis Lancaster was the winner. The ladies’ gold putter tourney was won by Mrs. Nelson. The ladies’ city championship and the men’s championship was played off and the high school boys held their tourney, Louis Wood winning the Lancaster trophy. Many other tournaments have been staged at the Bobby Jones course.

Since 1927 Sarasota has been represented by a team in the West Coast Golf League. This team consists of the best golf talent in Sarasota. Friendly matches are played with teams representing cities on the west coast to promote a better golfing spirit.

The Management

The Bobby Jones course since its construction or from the time it was laid out has been under the management of Everett Johnston. Johnston has observed every blade of grass, every shrub and every new tree with watchful eyes.

Mr. Johnston first came to Sarasota in 1920, from Manchester, Conn. Like a great many other golf promoters he started his career as a caddie. His first position at Sarasota was the operation of the old Sarasota Golf Club under the direction of the late Col. Gillespie. After the death of Col. Gillespie, Mr. Johnston operated the course for the late C. N. Payne, who had been interested in the course with Col. Gillespie In 1925 Mr. Payne sold his holdings to the later Charles Ringling. Mr. Johnston operated the course for the Charles Ringling Company until the Bobby Jones course was completed and after that the Charles Ringling course was abandoned.

Mr. Johnston has been an ardent worker and in taking over the Bobby Jones course assumed a great responsibility. After three and a half years of hard work he has built up a wonderful reputation for himself and the Bobby Jones golf course. Mrs. Everett Johnston is in charge of the club house and has proven to be a very pleasing hostess. Both she and Mr. Johnston are very much in love with their work and make tourists and residents always welcome.

At the club house Mr. Johnson has a book in which is written testimonials praising the course and its management.

Events This Season

The coming winter season is expected to be a banner one for the Bobby Jones course. Besides the various minor tournaments scheduled for the winter months, the ladies’ city championship and the men’s city championship will be played over the course. It is expected to have some golf exhibition matches arranged with leading golf champions. Lloyd Greenameyre, professional, will again be on hand to teach the fine points of the game.

Thus year quite a few improvements have been made on the course. A beautification program has been carried out. A large addition is under construction at the club house which will greatly improve the men’s locker rooms and club house.

In all the Bobby Jones course will prove a rendezvous for the golfer this winter.

GOLF LEAGUE GAME DELAYED BY FIGHT

MARCH 1, 1929

SARASOTA HERALD

The game scheduled for Bobby Jones Golf course yesterday afternoon between Sarasota and Tampa teams in the West Coast Golf League was postponed until a later date. Several of the Tampa players attending the Sharkey-Stribling fight in Miami Wednesday night and could not get there for the contest, the local team was notified.

SEMI-FINALS IN SAILOR GOLF MEET CARDED FOR TODAY

FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1928

SARASOTA HERALD

FOUR PLAYERS SCRAP IT OUT IN MEET HERE

FINALS OF TOURNAMENT WILL BE STAGED AT MUNY COURSE SATURDAY P.M.

Semi-finals in the Sarasota high school golf tourney will be staged at the Bobby Jones course this afternoon with four players still in the running for the silver loving cup donated by Louis Lancaster and to be the prize given the winner. Locke, Stephens, Wood and Nadleman continue in the meet.

Loomis Wood, favorite and low medalist in qualifying, yesterday defeated John Rhodes and today hooks up with George Nadleman in a semi-final match. Cy Ervin and Harry Locke went 20 holes yesterday before Locke came out ahead 1 up. Today Locke meets Wade Stephens.

The finals of the tourney will get under way Saturday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock. In the consolation play L. Gonyea will meet Bill Harvard. Robert Jaynes battles L. Archibald.

Low medalist and runner-up will receive medals as prizes, it has been announced.

CITY GOLF TOURNEY PLAY STARTS TOMORROW

Thursday March 22, 1928 

Sarasota, Florida 

ENTRY LIST AT COURSE IS BIG ONE THIS YEAR

Champ Newburn expected to have Tough opposition at Muny course

May meet in Final

Qualifying for the city’s Golf championship will Start Friday over the Bobby Jones municipal course and continue through Saturday, it was announced yesterday. This tourney was to get under way last Saturday but rain caused a postponement. A large number of players already have signed up for the tourney and indications point to the fact that the present City Champ Don Newburn is going to have the toughest opposition of his career during the play. He already has won two legs on the beautiful Charles Ringling cup. Louis Lancaster, last year’s runner up, is expected to give Newburn his hardest opposition. 

Tourney schedule

Following is the schedule Friday qualifying round of 18 holes which may be played either in the morning or afternoon. Saturday qualifying round is 18 holes which may be played morning or afternoon. Sunday first matches in all flights starts at 9 of clock. Second matches in championship at 2 p.m. Second matches in championship Consolation at 1:30 p.m. Bobby Jones flight at 1 p.m. 

Second flight. All matches of 18 holes. Monday championship semifinals 9 a.m. 36 holes. Championship Consolation Semi-finals 1:30 p.m. 18 holes. Semi-finals of Bobby Jones flight 2 p.m. Semi-finals of third flight 2 15 p.m. There will be prizes awarded to the winners of all of the flights, the runner up and the consolation. The entrance fee will be $2. 

GREENAMYRE ENGAGED AT HOOSIER COURSE

Lloyd Greenamyre, who was pro to stimulate interest in the games at the Bobby Jones municipal Golf and throw their support behind the course here when it first opened.

LADIES GOLF TOURNEY GETS UNDER WAY HERE MONDAY AT MUNY COURSE

Play in the ladies City Golf tournament will start here Monday with the qualifying rounds. The tourney will be held over the Bobby Jones municipal course. Competition will be for the beautiful Bacon and Tomlin Silver cup the first leg of which was won last year by Miss Cornelia Curtis. Runner-up last Winter was Mrs. Fred Woolley. Many women golfers are looking forward to this event and every day, members of the fair sex are seen practicing at the Muny course. Any woman golfer in the county is eligible to play in the tourney. It is understood that Venice will enter some strong players, in an attempt to win the cup for that City. The tourney schedule will be announced within a few Days. 

GOLF PRO IN ROUTE

Bill Hartshorn pro at the Bobby Jones municipal Golf course here during the Winter season will leave Sunday for Chicago. 

HARTSHORN AGAIN BREAKS MUNY COURSE RECORD WITH 66

Thursday March 15, 1928  

BILL DISPLAYS GREAT GOLF AT LINKS IN CITY

MISSES THREE FOOT PUTT FOR MARK OF 65 - HELD OLD RECORD OF 67 HERE

Bill Hartshorn, professional at the Bobby Jones municipal golf course here, broke the course record yesterday in a match composed of Mayor E. J. Bacon, City Attorney Roswell King and W. H. Stephens, shooting a 66. He broke his own record established last week when he shot a 67.

On teh 18th hole yesterday, Bill missed a three foot putt for a 65. Following is his card:

Out: 335 354 344 - 34

In: 343 444 334 - 32 - Total - 66.

Hartshorn has been getting in shape to compete in most of the major tournaments scheduled for the coming summer seasons=, and judging from the present status of his game, he should be among the topnotcher.

Bill is a great booster for the Bobby Jones course, says it is in splendid shape and adds that it is the best in Florida.

January 11, 1928

Sarasota Herald

You will want to play on the Bobby Jones Municipal Course, where the fairways and greens are just like velvet, or on any one of the eight courses in the Sarasota District

Golf Putter Tournament for Women

FEBRUARY 29 – MARCH 3

BOBBY JONES MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE

SARASOTA, FLORIDA

Send your entries to Golf Committee

MANY CHANGES MADE IN MUNICIPAL COURSE

December 7, 1927

Sarasota Herald

Have you been to the Municipal Golf Course lately? If you haven’t (but of course you have), you will be simply amazed at the marvelous changes that have been wrought during the summer months. Mr. Everett Johnson, manager, and he is artistic wife, have been busy beautifying everything, including the fairways and club house, making charming drives around the house, and planting exquisite shrubbery which give the effect of a beautifully kept park. And the inside of the club house…well, you’d never know it. The veranda has comfortable furniture painted in the most attractive shades of orange, gray, and black, with potted plants to add to the homey appearance, and tables at which the tired golfer or the patiently waiting wife can relax and play an easy game of solitaire or checkers. Inside the ever-open door is the lounging room, which is nicely fitted out with wicker furniture and which they are planning to drop in colorful chintzes, making it an harmonious liven room which will invite one to rest between rounds.

And the greens! They are quite perfect and equal any seen in Florida, comparing favorably with those on the most exclusive and best kept courses in all parts of the United States. No expenses have been spared to make them so, and the results have been more than gratifying. They are as smooth as velvet, and with a fine, soft, close turf.

The fairways are also vastly improved, having been returned so that there is practically no sand spaces into which one’s ball may drop and stay put. The soil is so rich and the care taken of this turf so great that it would grace any private lawn. A number of shrubs and palm trees have been placed at various paints adding a great deal of charm to the landscape, as well as a few minor hazards to the course.

A number of other changes have taken place, new hazards being added in the way of bunkers and sand pits - beautiful sand pits., which are kept perfectly groomed at all times. Some of the greens are smaller, and some larger, but everywhere the same exquisite care and grooming, with an eye to the artistry of the landscape as well as the sportsmanship of the course.

Two features which will appeal to every outrun of the course are the practice greens, and the huge prattle fairway, which lies to teh far side of the course, in a V shape, between the ninth and tenth fairways. Here those who wish to try their ability in driving will find plenty of space fr the longest drives they hope to make, and very little chance of losing their balls in the rough. Teh practice green is near the club house, with an arraignment for clock golf, dear to the heart of every golfer, for in putting lies one of the secrets to excelling in the game.

You simply must try this course. And you’ll not be disappointed.

WEST COAST GOLF LEAGUE PLAY OPENS TODAY

SARASOTA TEAM PLAYS HERE IN INITIAL MATCH

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1927

Sarasota Herald

Palmetto-Bradenton Club Will Oppose Locals Over Course at Whitfield

The West Coast golf league opens today with all of the 10 citiesperforming in their initial matches and with Sarasota’s entry opposing the team from Palmetto-Bradenton at the Whitfield course. The match here is scheduled to get under way at 2 o’clock.

Six of the 10 members of the Sarasota team will be seen in action against the opposition this afternoon, Louis Lancaster and Captain Jim Senter in number one section, Harry Newburn and Mike Roth in number 2 and William Van Dame and Pearson Conrad, Jr. in number 3.

Other Matches

Other matches to be played around the circuit this afternoon re, Winter Haven at Bartow, Sebring at Lake Wales, in the ridge section; Clearwater at St. Petersburh, Tarpons Springs at Venice and the local match in the Gulf section. Louis Lancaster, president of the league, says that everything points to a successful season and states that there is a great deal of interest being shown in the league.

It is expected that a large crowd will be present this afternoon to see the Sarasota team attempt to get off on the correct side by grabbing a victory over the visiting Palmetto-Bradenton outfit of golfers.

SARASOTA GOLFERS ARE INVITED IN TOURNAMENT

Sarasota’s team in the West Coast golf league may enter the Jungle club tourney at St. Petersburg this winter, Louis Lancaster announced yesterday. He stated that he has received an invitation to enter the team in the meet there.

FEES FOR MUNY COURSE CHANGED

NOVEMBER 9, 1927

Sarasota Herald

MANY GOLFERS ENJOY PLAY AT LINKS; CROWDS EXPECTED

Greens fees at the Bobby Jones municipal golf course will be 50 cents after 3:30 o’clock in the afternoons, according to an announcement yesterday. During the earlier part of teh day the fees will be $1. A yearly family ticket may be purchased for $55.

The course is in a wonderful condition for its expected heavy winter business. The play is increasing every day, last Sunday seeing more than 100 golfers participating in the sport.

ENJOY COURSE

Besides being a wonderful course for the golfers and acclaimed by most of the visiting golfers who have played over the country, state that the municipal course is the nest that they have ever played over, and besides it is one of the show places of Sarasota, for its beauty.

Everett Johnston, manager of the course, is being complimented on the service extended to every one who comes out to the course snd the excellent condition that it is in.

Those in Sarasota who want to improve their game will find in Bill Hartshorn one of the best instructors in the golfing game. He was for ten years under Bob MacDonald, who is known throughout the golfing world as one of the best.

COUNTY GOLF TOURNEY OPENS THIS MORNING

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1927

Sarasota Herald

Qualifying Rounds Held Yesterday But Actual Play Begins at Whitfield TodaY

Sarasota, Florida

Announcement of interest to local golfers as well as hundreds of Winter visitors was made yesterday to the effect that Bill Hartshorn has been engaged as pro at The Bobby Jones municipal Golf course here for the Winter. He will arrive in Sarasota to take up his duties about November 15. Hartshorn is one of the leading professional golfers in the North. He was here two years ago and comes to Sarasota from Chicago where he has been pro at the Briargate club. 

ATHLETIC CLUB CALLS MEETING

The Sarasota athletic club will meet tonight at 5 o’clock in the recreation office on the City pier. All Young men of the City desiring to become members of the club Are urged to be present at the meeting. Announcement has been made that this will not be a so called exclusive athletic club and that all men both young and old in Sarasota are eligible to become members. There were 25 present at the meeting last week. Important announcements will be made at the session tonight. 

COMMERCIAL GOLF LEAGUE TO RESUME TOURNAMENT LATER

Wednesday, June 22, 1927

SARASOTA HERALD 

Due to the fact that so many members of the various teams in the Commercial league are out of the city on vacations and many will remain away most of the summer, the golf committee of the Municipal Golf course has postponed all matches until later in the summer.

At that time it is hoped to have more teams entered and resume play.

The municipal course is being well patronized each day and the greens and fairways are in excellent condition.

It is planned to stage a tournament each month during the summer.

BOY SETS RECORD OVER BOB JONES COURSE WITH 68

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 1927

THE ATLANTA CONSTITUTION

SARASOTA, FLA., April 12. - (AP) - Harley Greenamyre, 18-year-old champion of Sarasota County, broke the course record at the Bobby Jones Golf course here when he shot a 68 for the 18 holes. Bobby Jones played the course and his best scores have been 69 and 73. Bill Hartshorn, Chicago professional, who wintered here in Sarasota, holds the “pro” record for the course with a 68. Harley missed a two-foot putt on the eighteenth hole for a 67. he shot five birdies during the round and took three over par on one hole when he sliced his drive into the rough. The course is operated by the city.

COUNTY GOLF TOURNEY OPENS THIS MORNING

THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1927

Sarasota Herald

Qualifying Rounds Held Yesterday But Actual Play Begins at Whitfield TodaY

Although the first round of the Sarasota County Golf Tournament was held yesterday the real matches will not start until today. Qualifying rounds were held Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and Harley Greenamyer again led the field with a fine 76 that was almost perfect golf for the sporty Whitfield Estates Course.

In yesterday’s match Randolph Pipes defeated James Oliver eight and six. On the only other two scheduled Major George Day defeated Charles Jordan by default and Pierson Conrad, Jr. Clyde Ingalls in the same manner.

Today’s matches will prove very interesting. Perhaps the closest match pf the day and the one many will watch is that between Louis Lancaster and Jim Senter. This pair has teamed up very successfully all year in the West Coast Golf League and each is claiming that it is through his efforts that the team has won so many matches. Today’s play will show who has been the real “load”.

The pairing for today are Harvey Greenamyer vs. Pierson Conrad, Jr., Louis Lancaster vs Jim Senter, Louis Lancaster vs Randolph Pipes and Major Day vs J. M. Boggs.

The winner of the tournament will have his name engraved and will win one leg on the mammoth Gillespie trophy on display at Mike Roth’s on Main street. Prizes will be given the low qualifier, Greenmyer, also the runner up in the tournament.

The members of the Sarasota City golf team in the West Coast Golf league have been announced for the next four weeks as follows: Don Newburn, Harvey Greenamyer, Jim Senter, Louis Lancaster, William Foulds, William Van Dame, J. M. Boggs, Mike Roth, Randolph Pipes and Major Day. The next match is with the league-leading Clearwater team at Whitfield, and every energy will be put forth to make up for the defeat administered by this team when the local team journeyed to Clearwater a few weeks ago.

PLAYING GOLF ON SUNDAY HELD NOT IN VIOLATION OF LAW

SOUTH CAROLINA HOLDS BLUE LAW IS NOT VIOLATED

MEN ARRESTED FOR PLAYING GOLF LAST SUNDAY IN DEFIANCE OF ANNOUNCED ENFORCEMENT OF BLUE LAWS, ARE FOUND NOT GUILTY; CONSIDERED IN THE NATURE OF A TEST CASE; SHERIFF HAD THREATENED TO ARREST 100 OTHERS IF LAW WAS UPHELD.

SATURDAY, MARCH 5, 1927

SARASOTA HERALD

AIKEN, S. C., March 4. – (AP)

Playing golf on Sunday is not in violation of the South Carolina century old Sunday blue laws, a jury in Magistrate Rabern’s court decided here today when it found Ben Thompson, Everett McDonald, Jim Searles and William Whitcombnot guilty. These men had been arrested for playing golf last Sunday, following Gov. John G. Richard’s instructions to the sheriffs to enforce the South Carolina statute forbidding sport on Sunday.

The jury which was composed of five Aiken business men and a clerk took just two minutes to find the men not guilty.

DARK HORSE TRIMS SENTER IN CLOSE TILT

CLOSE MATCHES FEATURE DAYS PLAY IN LOCAL GOLF TOURNAMENT

A “Dark Horse” developed in yesterday’s championship golf matches and followers of the sport are looking forward with keen anticipation to the battle between the new wizard of the green and Don Newburn, present holder of the title of “champion of Sarasota”.

The dark horse is M. H. Mosher, who yesterday defeated Jim Senter in a fast close match, one of the most brilliant contests staged on the course, in many moons. Mosher will give Newburn a great battle, it was freely predicted around sporting circles last night.

All of the matches were close and many new players are showing their mettle. The favorites are having a hard row to hoe and with the semi-finals looming today some of the leading players of the city will be eliminated. There is plenty of fresh talent running in the contest and a new city champion may be crowned, it was hinted last night.

Lancaster topped his opponent in a well matched game yesterday and looms as a possible contender for the title. H. T. Batten who lost to “Louie” gave the winner a consistent brand of good golf and followed each drive with a well placed iron shot. Lancaster proved his worth in defeating Batten.

The results of yesterday’s matches follow:

Championship Flight

William Foulds defeated C. N. Budd by default.

Louis Lancaster defeated H. T. Batten 4-3.

M. H. Moser defeated Jim Senter, one up.

Don Newburn defeated R. O. Holton, 8-6.

First Flight

George Bacon defeated J. W. Oliver, 4-3.

John Morrison defeated J. G. Heard, 3-2.

H. Hathaway defeated Will Murphy, one up, 9 holes.

W. H. Eagle defeated E. L. Koppen, 7-6.

Second Flight

F. F. O’Neill defeated Charles French, three up.

H. L. Grassold defeated W. J. Johnson, 5-3.

W. A. Stevens defeated Jim Linder, 2-1.

Third Flight

E. J. Bacon defeated P. M. Granville, 4-3.

C. R. Hodgson defeated George Prime, 4-3.

Vincent Lowe defeated M. D. Clark by default.

I. G. Archibald defeated R. H. Pattison, 6-4.

Championship consolation Flight

Harley Greenamyre defeated H. K. Browning, 8-6.

H. W. Woodhill defeated Ben Bell by default.

George Day defeated Harry Manush, 4-3.

H. K. Knox defeated J. M. Boggs by default.

First Flight Consolation

C. L. Richardson defeated W. E. Freeman by default.

C. R. Tyson defeated W. L. Pearsall, 6-5.

R. B. MacQueen defeated R. Vider by default.

Second Flight Consolation

S. Roth defeated Paul Morris by default.

E. N. Floyd defeated J. M. Phillips by default.

WOMEN’S GOLF TOURNAMENT IS TO START ON MONDAY

The first Woman’s golf tournament ever to be staged in Sarasota will be introduced next week when a large number of entries will enter in the qualifying rounds on the municipal golf links, Monday and Tuesday, March 7-8.

A large number of women are interested in the coming matches and have expressed their desire to pit their skill against fellow members of the “fair sex”.

Many prizes have been offered for the winners of the matches and merchants who have donated the awards have stated “they are worth while going after.” No fee will be charged to enter the contests although the regular ground fee will be levied.

UPSET COMES WHEN FOULDS TOPS HARLEY

FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 1927

SARASOTA HERALD

GREENAMYRE, PICKED TO WIN CITY TOURNAMENT, FALLS BEFORE ATTACKS OF FOULDS

The first round of match play of the second annual city golf tournament being played on the Bobby Jones course was full of exciting matches, with an outstanding upset when William Foulds defeated Harley Greenamyre. Greenamyre was tied for low medalist and had just won the inter-county tournament, and was conceded a splendid opportunity to cop the city title. This match was a very exciting affair and went 19 holes before Foulds came out on top.

Greenamyre was not playing his usual style of game, but nevertheless his defeat was considered the result of excellent golf on the part of Foulds. All matches were close and practically all of them went the full route. The day was slightly chilly and perhaps hindered the playing of some of the contestants.

The matches today will be of unusual interest, because several are between old rivals and it is expected that quite a gallery will follow these matches. The consolation matches will be played off at the same time that the regular matches are played and some close scores may be expected.

Results of yesterday’s play:

Championship Flight

Wm. Foulds defeated Harley Greenamyre 1 up, 19 holes.

C. N. Budd defeated H. K. Browning 5-4.

H. K. Batten defeated Ben Bell 2-3.

Louis Lancaster defeated C. W. Woodall 3-2.

Jim Senter defeated George Day 2 up.

M. H. Mosher defeated Harry Manush 5-4.

R. O. Holton defeated H. K. Knox 1 up.

Don Newburn defeated J. M. Boggs 4-2.

First Flight

J. W. Oliver defeated C. L. Richardson 2 up.

George Bacon defeated W. E. Freeman by default.

John Morrison defeated C. R. Tyson 2 up.

J. G. Heard defeated W. L. Pearsall 2 up.

Will Murray defeated R. B. Mackqueen by default.

H. Hathaway defeated Richard Vider by default.

W. H. Eagle defeated R. E. Holton by default.

E. L. Koopen defeated L. S. Holton by default.

Second Flight

Charles French defeated Paul Morris 4 up.

F. F. O’Neill defeated S. Roth 4 up.

H. L. Grassold defeated Dr. Nash 2-1.

W. J. Johnson defeated J. M. Phillips by default.

Jim Lindner defeated E. N. Floyd 3 up.

J. K. McKamy defeated R. W. Clark by default.

Third Flight

E. J. Bacon defeated J. Carter by default.

George Prime defeated S. J. Walsh by default.

Vincent Lowe defeated Jack London by default.

R. H. Pattison defeated S. S. Tomlin by default.

Matches For Today

Championship Flight

Wm. Foulds vs. C. N. Budd                             1:30 p. m.

H. K. Batten vs. Louis Lancaster                     1:35

Jim Senter vs. M. H. Mosher                          1:40.

R. O. Holton vs. Don Newburn                      1:45.

Harley Greenamyre vs. H. K. Browning         1:50.

Ben Bell vs. H. W. Woodall                            1:55.

George Day vs. Harry Manush                       2.

H. K. Knox vs. J. M. Boggs                              2:05.

First Flight

J. W. Oliver vs. George Bacon                        2:10.

John Morrison vs. J. G. Heard                        2:15.

W. H. Eagle vs. E. L. Koppen                           2:20.

C. L. Richardson vs. W. E. Freeman               1:30.

C. R. Tyson vs. W. L. Pearsall                         1:35.

R. D. Mackqueen vs. R. Vider                        1:40.

R. E. Holton vs. L. S. Holton                           1:45.

Second Flight

Charles French vs. F. F. O’Neill                      1:50.

H. L. Grassold vs. W. J. Johnson                     1:55.

W. H. Stephens vs. Jim Lindner                     2:00.

Paul Morris vs. S. Roth                                   2:05.

Dr. Nash vs. J. L. Savage                                 2:10.

J. M. Phillips vs. E. M. Floyd                           2:15.

Third Flight

C. R. Hodgson vs. George Prime                    2:20.

Vincent Lowe vs. M. D. Clark                         2:25.

J. Carter vs. S. J. Walsh                                   2:30

Jack London vs. S. S. Tomlin                          2:35

WOMENS GOLF TOURNEY WILL BE HELD HERE

NEXT WEEK TO WITNESS FAIR SEX IN GOLFING CONTESTS HERE

Along with the men’s golf tournament the fair sex are going to follow suit, for it has been arranged by the golf committee of the recreation department to hold a women’s golf tournament on the Bobby Jones golf course next week following the men’s city tournament which is now in progress.

The number of women players has been increasing daily at the muny course and all have been requesting a tournament for them and it has been decided to give them a chance. Sarasota has never had a woman’s golf tournament, and this will be known as the “First Annual Women’s Golf Tournament” and it is expected that a large number of women will take part.

There will be no tournament fees, but the same regulations will be carried out as in the men’s tournament. A fine list of prizes has been donated by merchants, and it is expected that a trophy cup will be given to the winner of the event. Information as to qualifying days will be announced at a later date.

PAIRINGS FOR GOLF TOURNEY ANNOUNCED

THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 1927

SARASOTA HERALD

PAIRINGS ARE MADE IN GOLF ANNUAL MEET

DON NEWBURN TO DEFEND HIS TITLE AS GOLF CHAMPION IN SECOND ANNUAL MATCH

Pairings were made last night by the golf committee in the recreation office for match play in the second annual city golf tournament. Don Newburn, present city champion, will defend his title against a strong field of contenders for this honor, chief among whom are Harley Greenamyre, who just won the inter-county tournament on the Whitfield course, and Louis Lancaster, one of the leading players in the West Coast league.

Sixty players qualified for the tournament in the four days allowed, and although not all the players in the city, they represent a large portion of the best, and whoever wins this tournament will without question be the best golfer in the city. All of the leading contenders are playing up to the top of their form and should give a god account of themselves in the tournament.

Many attractive prizes have been donated by merchants of the city and are distributed in such a manner that approximately one out of each five contenders will receive a prize. The chief prize of all, however, is the Charles Ringling trophy, which at the present time is held by Don Newburn and must be won three times in order to secure permanent possession. Newburn has a splendid chance to cop this trophy for the second time if his work in the past two weeks can be taken as evidence of his ability at the present time.

All matches of first round will be delayed this afternoon and players must start their match within 30 minutes of the appointed time or else default the match. All defeated players in this afternoon’s round will continue in play for the consolation prize. It is hoped that weather conditions will be ideal and that some food matches will result.

The pairings and time of playing are as follows:

Championship Flight

Harley Greenamyre vs. Wm. Folds, 1 p. m.

C. N. Budd vs. H. K. Browning, 1:05 p. m.

H. K. Batten vs. Ben Bell, 1:10.

H. W. Woodall vs. Louis Lancaster, 1:15.

Jim Senter vs. George Day, 1:20.

Harry Manush vs. N. H. Masher, 1:25.

H. K. Know vs. R. O. Holton, 1:30.

J. M. Boggs vs. Don Newburn, 1:35.

First Flight

J. W. Oliver vs. C. L. Richardson, 3 p. m.

W. E. Freeman vs. George Bacon, 1:40.

John Morrison vs. C. R. Tyson, 1:45.

J. G. Heard vs. Y. L. Pearsall, 1:50.

Richard Vidner vs. H. Hathaway, 2:00.

R. E. Holton vs. W. H. Eagle, 2:05.

L. S. Holton vs. E. L. Koppen, 2:10.

Second Flight

Paul Morris vs. Charles French, 2:15.

F. F. O’Neill vs. S. Roth, 2:20.

H. J. Grisold vs. Dr. Nash, 2:25.

J. L. Savage vs. W. J. Johnston, 2:30.

W. H. Stephens vs. J. M. Phillips, 2:35.

E. N. Floyd vs. Jim Linder, 2:40.

J. K. Buchanan vs. R. W. Clark, 2:45.

F. A. Kauhl vs. H. Tuttle, 2:50.

Third Flight

E. J. Bacon vs. J. Carter, 2:55.

P. M. Granville vs. Bye.

C. R. Hodgson vs. Bye.

Capt. Prime vs. S. J. Walsh, 3:00.

Jack London vs. Vincent Lowe, 3:05.

M. V. Clark vs. Bye.

I. G. Archibald vs. Bye.

QUALIFYING GOLF ROUNDS DELAYED ON CARD TODAY

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1927

SARASOTA HERALD

Because of the rain yesterday, qualifying rounds for the City Golf tournament have been extended over today. Match play has therefore been postponed until tomorrow.

Fifty-six players have thus far qualified for entry in the tournament and some who were playing yesterday when the rain started will finish their rounds today. Pairings will be announced in Thursday’s Herald.

GREENAMYRE IS WINNER INTER COUNTY EVENT

TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 1927

SARASOTA HERALD

SARASOTA GOLFER COPS TITLE IN PLAY OVER WHITFIELD COUNTRY CLUB COURSE

Harley Greenamyre of Sarasota is the winner of the Inter County Golf tournament held on the course of the Whitfield Country club. Greenamyre defeated Milton Edwards, 3 and 2, Edwards being a golfing star of Palmetto. Edwards was also runner up last year, William Beverly at that time being the winner.

In the first flight H. H. Moore of Sarasota defeated Gay Livingston of Sarasota 3 and 2. P. S. Conrad of Sarasota was the winner of the second flight, defeating Charles Hooper, of Bradenton, 2 and 1.

In the consolation flight H. D. Goehring, of Sarasota, defeated W. D. S. Critchlow, of Bradenton 2 and 1. In the third flight D. B. Sutton, of Bradenton defeated A. M. Watson of Bradenton 4 and 3.

The trophy for the winner is the Caples Inter County Trophy, donated by Col. Ralph C. Caples and one of the most beautiful trophies ever placed before golfing contestants in the state. Greenamyre played a consistent game of golf all the way and is showing improvement with each tournament in which he is entered.

GOLFERS MAY QUALIFY FOR CITY TOURNEY

Inasmuch as all those desiring to quality in the city golf tournament were not able to on the days specified, Sunday and Monday, the golf committee has decided to allow qualifications to be made today. Eighteen holes are necessary for qualification, which must be attested by a fellow entry.

It is hoped that as many players as possible will avail themselves of this additional opportunity to enter this most popular tournament. Valuable prizes donated by local merchants are to be given winners of each flight.

INITIAL ROUNDS CITY GOLF START TODAY

THREE TIED IN LOW MEDAL FOR INITIAL ROUND

NEWBURN, GREENAMYRE AND LANCASTER TIED WITH AN 80 FOR LOW MEDAL SCORE

Don Newburn, present city champion; Louis Lancaster, and Harley Greenamyre tied yesterday for low medal score in the qualifying rounds for the city golf tournament, with an 80 each. Greenamyre recently won the Inter-County tournament. C. N. Budd and R. O. Holton were next low with an 84 each.

As the rounds are to be continued today it is expected that some other excellent scores will be made.

The play, which begins tomorrow, instead of today, as originally scheduled, will be for the city title and for the Charles Ringling golf trophy, at present held by Newburn.

Pairing will be announced in the Sarasota Herald of tomorrow morning. Prizes have been offered as follows:

Low Qualifier – Humidor, donated by Badger Pharmacy.

Championship Flight

Winner – Sportogasins, donated by Southard & Mitchell.

Runner-up – Sweater, donated by Turner Co.

Consolation – Bill fold, donated by Sarasota Pharmacy.

First Flight

Winner – Golf Club, donated by Archibald Co.

Runner-up – Pencil, donated by Office Equipment Co.

Consolation – Fountain open, donated by Brown Office Supply store.

Second Flight

Winner – Electric iron, donated by (Mr. Ellis) Fla. Power & Light.

Runner Up – Silk hose, donated by Sarasota Boot Shop.

Consolation – Pipe, donated by Mike Roth.

Third Flight

Winner – Golf balls, donated by Gardner Noble Co.

Runner Up – Golf socks, donated by Phil Levy.

Consolation – Flashlight, donated by Electric Supply Co.

Fourth Flight

Winner – Reel, donated by Russell Thompson.

Runner Up – Safety razor, donated by Hogsed Hardware Co.

Consolation – Score pad, donated by Moore Drug store.

Qualifying scores to date are:

R. O. Holton, 84; H. K. Batten, 85; E. N. Floyd, 113; M. D. Clark, 122; H. K. Browning, 90; W. J.Johnston, 103; Jack London, 115; E. J. Bacon, 114; W. L. Pearsall, 95; J. K. McKanny, 112; L. S.Holton, 99; W. Clark, 105; J. G. Heard, 100; H. Tuttle, 103; E. Holton, 102; Ben Bell, 90; Harry Manush, 91; H. W. Woodill, 88; W. E. Freeman, 98; W. H. Eagle, 98; S. J. Walh, 114; H. K. Knox, 90; J. Carter, 124; V. Lowe, 109; C. N. Budd, 84; John Morson, 99; H. Hathway, 99; J. M. Boggs, 87; J. W. Oliver, 94; Will Murphy, 97; Richard Vidner, 103; W. H. Stevens, 103; I. G. Archibald, 117; C. R. Tison, 103; J. M. Philips, 111; Capt. Prime, 128; F. A. Kauhl, 107; E. L. Koppen, 95; L. Lancaster, 80; Don Newburn, 80; H. Greenamyre, 80.

1500 WATCH CHAMPION ON LOCAL COURSE

JONES-LANCASTER DEFEAT GUNN SENTER IN MATCH ON BOBBY JONES COURSE

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1927

SARASOTA HERALD

Sarasota’s Bobby Jones Golf Course was officially dedicated Sunday afternoon, when Bobby himself cut the strands of red, white and blue ribbons that barred the first tee and amid cheers lead by Jules Brazil, drove the first ball of the day straight and true down the first fairway.

The golf course bedecked with decorations and swarming with the largest crowd of spectators ever to witness a match on the course on the course, fairly bristled with eager expectancy as the players of the day gathered at the first tee. Watts Gunn, runner-up in the National Amateur championship tournament won by Jones last year; Louis Lancaster, president of the West Coast Golf league, and Jim Senter, low man on the city team of the West Coast Golf league, completed the match of players.

More than 1500 persons followed the players as they swung over the course, cheering when an exceptionally well placed shot found its way down the fairways, and sympathizing as the wind found a ball and carried it into the rough. The high wind influenced the course of the balls to an alarming extent and all of the players attempted to keep their drives close to the ground.

W. L. Van Dame, local golf enthusiast and crack amateur player was flagman and in charge of the play. The handling of the crowd was in charge of Everett Johnson, manager of the city links.

The pairings for the match threw Jones and Lancaster together with Gunn and Senter as their opponents. On the first hole Louis Lancaster and Bobby drew a five while Gunn and Senter ended with a six for the hole. On number two hole Bobby drove into the rough but his partner saved the day. Lancaster’s ball went straight down the fairway and almost to the green. He pitched perfectly with the next shot and sunk the putt for a birdie three. Bobby holed out in one over par. Gunn and Senter both chalked up a par four.

On the short third hole, Bobby made a par three while the others got a four.

On the fourth, all of the players except Jim Senter made beautiful 300 yard drives, Senter, however, made a pretty approach to hole out in five par. Bobby again went out in one under the accepted figures. Gunn would have broken par on this hole but he missed a dinky little three foot putt.

On the eighth hole, Bobby had the crowd believing her had strings on the ball. He drove straight down the fairway, chipped onto the green and made a five foot putt. The ball hung on the lip of the cup, the gallery groaned, Bobby waved his hand for quiet and the tiny white globule slid into the cup to give the golfing king a par for the hole.

Bobby and Lancaster finished the first nine three up on their opponents.

Bobby played his prettiest golf on the short thirteenth. He was on in one and sunk a twenty foot putt for a birdie two.

Jim Senter made the only eagle of the match , two under par, when he played perfectly for a three on the difficult fourteenth. His drive, approach and putt were the acme of perfection. It is saying a lot but – Bobby could not have done better.

Bobby stood the gallery on its head on the fourteenth. Instead of attempting a hook around the dog leg, Bobby shot, on a line over the angle and rolled 325 yards down the fairway. He dubbed the second but recovered to make a pretty approach and putt for a par four.

Prominent local amateurs caddied for the players, Harley Greenamyre, brother of Lloyd Greenamyre, professional at the Bobby Jones course, and who was himself city amateur champion last year, carried the sticks for Jim Senter. Joe Masters did the honors for LouisLancaster, Mike Roth, owner of Roth’s cigar stand on Main street, carried for Watts Gunn and William Foulds obliged for the great Bobby.

The players’ cards were:

Gunn – Out – 6, 4, 4, 5, 4, 4, 3, 4, 4 – 38.

In – 4, 6, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4 – 37 – 75.

Senter – Out – 6, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 5 – 43.

In – 4, 5, 5, 3, 3, 6, 4, 4, 6 – 40 – 83.

Lancaster – Out – 5, 3, 4, 5, 5, 4, 4, 4, 5 – 39.

In – 4, 4, 5, 3, 4, 5, 4, 4, 5 – 38 -77.

Jones – Out – 5, 5, 3, 4, 4, 5, 4, 3, 5 – 38.

In – 4, 4, 5, 2, 4, 4, 4, 3, 5 – 35 – 73.

BOBBY JONES GIVEN ROYAL WELCOME BY CITIZENS HERE

FEBRUARY 13, 1927

SARASOTA HERALD

CHAMPION IS HONOR GUEST AT MIRA MAR

BOBBY JONES DINNER ONE OF REAL SUCCESSES OF SEASON IN EVERY WAY

PLAYS GUNN HERE TODAY

TELLS OF PLEASURE AT AGAIN BEING IN SARASOTA MEETING FRIENDS

Bobby Jones came, was seen and again conquered as is his wont, yesterday and the Champion of Champions will again be with us all of today and probably a part of tomorrow. This afternoon he will play a match game over the “Bobby Jones Municipal Course” and it is expected that thousands will be in the galleries which follow the play of these two masters of the ancient Scottish game – in which Americans have wrested the major honors from the founders of the game.

Accompanied by Watts Gunn, the champion of champions, holder of both British and American titles, arrived in Sarasota early yesterday and was greeted by a committee from the Chamber of Commerce and by city officials. Louis Lancaster, chairman of the golf committee and Jules Brazil, official host for the city, extended the city’s greetings to both Bobby and Watts in typical Sarasota style.

During the morning Bobby and his companions played a practice round over the Municipal course and the champion pronounced that course one of the finest over which he had ever played.

In the afternoon a visit was made to the Whitfield Estates Country club where Bobby played so often last season and where yesterday he and Gunn with several others played another round of golf.

It was in the evening that the climax came with the wonderful “Bobby Jones Dinner” at the Hotel Mira Mar. Here there were gathered in the beautiful dining salon the elite of the city to welcome the golfing heroes and to acclaim, noisily and enthusiastically their joy at having these men with us once more.

Jules Brazil was in charge of the festivities of the evening and the one and only Jules was at his best, scintillating wit and radiating good humor everywhere. The affair was made more or less of a community function for everyone present had in some measure a part in the entertainment and nothing surpassing it has yet been staged in this city. Host Carl J. Hammons had exerted himself to the utmost in providing the finest of viands and in seeing to it that everyone was well cared for and guests of honor and all present voiced their sentiments to the effect that the “party” was one of the biggest hits of the year.

There were no tiresome speeches, no moments of dullness. Everything at all times was in a spirit of festivity and everyone entered gaily into this spirit.

This forenoon Bobby and his party will be permitted to rest but this afternoon they will reverse the role of last night and will play entertainers for the populace of Sarasota when they play a match game over the municipal course and it is expected that all roads will lead to this course for thousands will desire to see the4se two superior golfers in action.

Bobby was just as pleased as ever at being again I Sarasota and expressed his delight in no uncertain terms. “Always glad to get back among the folks down here,” he smiled, “and certainly am coming back again. I have never seen any place where hospitality was at so high a pitch as in this section of Florida. You people down are are certainly regular fellows.”

BOBBY JONES’ REAL BOSSES

[PHOTO]

Here is the first picture made of Bobby Jones the Third, two months old son of the golfing champion of the world. He is shown with his mother at the Jones residence in Atlanta. Bobby himself is the guest of Sarasota today and will play a match game with his fellow townsman, Watts Gunn, at the Municipal Golf course this afternoon.

BOBBY JONES – WATTS GUNN PLAY HERE THIS AFTERNOON

MATCH TODAY WILL BE ONE OF YEAR’S BEST

WATTS GUNN IS PROTÉGÉ AND RIVAL OF BOBBY JONES AND REAL STAR

Golfing fans of Sarasota will have in store this afternoon the greatest treat of the year when Bobby Jones and Watts Gunn play an 18 hole match over the course at the Municipal links, which have been given the name of the “Bobby Jones Course.”

Watts Gunn is the Atlanta boy and protégé of Jones who came near wresting the Amateur crown from the head of his mentor two years ago and is recognized as being one of the ten best golfers in America today. His style is somewhat the same as that of Jones’ and the match between the two will be fraught with a great deal of interest.

It is expected that there will be thousands on hand to watch the play this afternoon of these two champions and golf of a variety seldom seen will be the reward to those who attend and follow the play.

Bobby and Watts played a practice match over the course yesterday and pronounced it one of the finest they had played upon. The course is in the best condition now that it has ever been and due to the efforts of the officials in charge is entitled to rank with the finest courses in the south.

This will be the only appearance this year in Florida of Bobby and Watts and because of this many are coming from neighboring cities to watch the match. There will be no charge to the spectators and the event will be one worth traveling many miles to witness.

SARASOTA WILL GREET GOLFING CHAMPION OF THE WORLD

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1927

SARASOTA HERALD

BOBBY JONES WELCOME TO BE A WARM ONE

CHAMPION WILL BE GREETED BY COMMITTEE OF CITIZENS AND ESCORTED TO TERRACE

DINNER AT MIRA MAR

MATCH PLAY TOMORROW BETWEEN JONES AND WATTS GUNN WILL INTEREST

Bobby Jones and his party, which includes among several others, Watts Gunn, with whom the champion will play a match game at the Bobby Jones Municipal Course here tomorrow, O. B. Keeler, noted golf authority, Tom Payne, of the United States Golf association and several Atlanta friends of the British and American champion, will arrive in Sarasota this morning at 9 o’clock and will be met by a committee of citizens and officials of the chamber of commerce.

Tonight the champion and his party will be honor guests at the “Bobby Jones Dinner” to be given in the beautiful dining salon of the Hotel Mira Mar. An elaborate program has been prepared for this big event which is expected to be one of the really outstanding affairs of the season. Jules Brazil will be in charge of the entertainment features and has concocted several surprises for the entertainment of the guests. Louis Lancaster, as chairman of the golfing committee, is in charge of the arrangements for the Jones Day reception here.

Tomorrow at the Municipal Course here Jones and Gunn will play an exhibition match before a gallery which will undoubtedly number thousands of persons.

The Pathe, Fox, Chicago Tribune and New York Times motion picture news weeklies will all have men on hand to get pictures of the arrival of the champion, the dinner tonight and the big match tomorrow and as a result Sarasota will obtain much publicity thoughout the nation.

Bobby Jones is accepted as one of Sarasota’s own and his return to the city where he spent many pleasant months last winter and spring, will be welcomed with delight. His last appearance here was in the summer when, after his triumphs in Great Britain and the United States, he returned to his winter home to receive here the plaudits of his admiring fellow citizens.

No event of the season has been fraught with greater interest than the appearance here today and tomorrow of this champion of the champions and his party. Bobby Jones’ name is a household word wherever golf is played or known and his entry into Sarasota will be in a measure that of a conqueror.

Bobby has hundreds of warm friends her and these will be on hand today to give him a royal welcome.

BOBBY JONES HERE TODAY

[PHOTO]

The famous Bobby, himself, who in company with Watts Gunn, hardly less noted as golfer, anad several Atlanta friends, will arrive in Sarasota at 9 o’clock this morning. The party will be royally welcomed and splendidly entertained while here, the Bobby Jones dinner tonight at the Mira Mar and the match between Jones and Gunn at the Municipal Course tomorrow being the shining lights in the entertainment program.

BOBBY JONES DINNER MIRA MAR TOMORROW EVE TO BE BRILLIANT

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1927

SARASOTA HERALD

Tomorrow evening at the Hotel Mira Mar the friends of Bobby Jones, or all those who can possibly find room within the big dining salon, will honor the star of stars and his hardly less brilliant golfing partner, Watts Gunn.

The “Bobby Jones” dinner is to be the outstanding affair of the month and it is expected that a program more brilliant than anything that has yet been given in Sarasota will be placed before the diners.

Bobby himself will arrive in Sarasota in the morning with his “entourage” of a dozen or more Atlantans who are coming to witness the exhibition match Sunday between Jones and Gunn and also to attend the dinner tomorrow night.

Jules Brazil has been made master of ceremonies for the big dinner with Louis Lancaster, as chairman of the golfing committee in charge of all the arrangements for the affair. Every effort will be made to have Jones and Gunn feel that never before have they been entertained in quite such regal manner – one befitting their station in the golfing world.

Bobby Jones is claimed by Sarasota as one of her own for last year he made his home among us and returned here after his triumphs in Europe and America to again greet and be greeted by, old friends.

Watts Gunn is hardly less well known than his townsman. Gunn is a protégé of Bobby’s and as such came near wresting the crown from his mentors head two years ago. The two are great friends but real golfing opponents and the match at the Municipal Course on Sunday will be one of the hardest fought that has been seen here while it is a certainty that golf of the highest possible brand will be seen by the big gallery. Admission is free to the math on Sunday and everyone is invited to attend and watch these two great stars playing over one of the finest course in Dixieland.

SARASOTA GOLFERS WIN IN WEST COAST GOLF LEAGUE

BRADENTON DEFEATED BY LOCAL GOLFERS

SARASOTA TEAM WINS TWO OF THREE MATCHES FROM THE VISITING GOLFERS

Sarasota defeated Bradenton yesterday in the West Coast Golf league, two matches to one. Don Newburn and William Van Dame on team number one had an easy time with Harry Land and C.E. Quinlan, making the turn five up and winning six and four. Van Dame, playing in place of Jim Senter, who was called to Atlanta, was the sensation of the day, carrying City Champion Don Newburn along on several holes and in general acting in a very stellar manner. He is bound to be heard from in future matches.

Louis Lancaster and Harley Greenamyre defeated William Vanderipe and former Mayor Whit Curry three and two, due to the good playing of Greenamyre. Harley’s shots were coming off in good style and the few holes that Lancaster helped him on were all that were necessary to keep in the lead.

William Foulds and Paul Eckelberry were having a hard time with F. E. Earlyand H. C. Fleming and finally succumbed four and three. The Bradenton pair played almost par golf and that was a little too good for the Sarasota team.

This makes the third straight victory for the Sarasota team and gives Sarasota an excellent chance to finish the first season in second place. Clearwater seems to have first place sewed up but if Sarasota can finish second or third it will be very creditable for a city which does not have the golfers to choose from which some of the larger cities have.

The Bradenton golfers were quite surprised and pleased with the fine condition of the course and praised Manager E. L. Johnston for the manner in which he has kept the course during this very dry winter. Most of the Florida courses are burned out due to the prolonged dry spell, but the fairways at the Bobby Jones Municipal Course are in good shape and the greens are nearly perfect.

The next qualifying rounds will be held Saturday and Sunday, February 19thand 20th. As the new ruling permits the team to be selected from the ten having the lowest medal scores for the 36 holes in qualifying play it is expected that competition will be keen to be among the first ten. The present team consists of Jim Senter, Don Newburn, Louis Lancaster,Harley Greenamyre, William Foulds, Paul Eckelberry, William Van Dame, R. O. Holton, Mike Roth and James Oliver.

WEST COAST GOLF LEAGUE STANDING

Clearwater                  8          0          1.000

Tampa                         6          2          .750

Sarasota                      5          3          .625

St. Petersburg             5          3          .625

Winter Haven             5          3          .625

Lakeland                      2          6          .250

Palmetto                     1          7          .125

Bradenton                   0          8          .000

BOBBY JONES TO VISIT SARASOTA NEXT SUNDAY

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1927

SARASOTA HERALD

OPEN CHAMPION TO DEDICATE NEW MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE

sarasota, Feb. 5. - (Tribune News Service) - All roads will lead to Sarasota next Sunday afternoon when Bobby Jones and his fellow townsman, Watts Gunn, play an exhibition match at the Sarasota “Bobby Jones” municipal golf course. This Donald Ross course has been open for play since last June but has never been formally christened and Bobby has arranged to take off enough time from his law studies at Emory university, Atlanta, to come down and show his “stuff” to his many golfing friends and admirers in Florida.

As this will be his only appearance in Florida this winter, many golf fans from Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater and other towns are arranging to drive to Sarasota to see the match. Sarasotans have planned an elaborate celebration which starts at Saturday noon, and includes a banquet and a dance Saturday night at the Mira Mar hotel. Arrangements are in charge of the Sarasota municipal golf committee, of which Louis Lancaster, president of teh West Coast Golf league, is chairman.

The Sarasota “Bobby Jones” municipal golf course is in excellent condition and it is expected that Bobby will come close to the course record of 68 held by the local pro, William Hartshorn, who summers at the Briargate club, Highland Park, Ill. Par for the course is 71 and the greens are in excellent condition so that the American and British Open champion will doubtless stick close to par.

FATHER AND SON GOLF TOURNAMENT THIS AFTERNOON

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1927

SARASOTA HERALD

Much interest is centered in the Father and Son Golf tourney to be held this afternoon in the municipal course. This is the first tournament of this kind ever held in Sarasota and it is expected that many spectators as well as players will take part.

The manner in which the tourney is conducted is interesting in itself. The father drives off with the first stroke and from then on he alternates with the son on the same ball. The object is to see which pair can make the lowest score on the 18 holes.

Already many boys are practicing and expect to be on hand to be selected by some “father”. The High School golf club, with about 25 members, has been taking advantage of the free lessons by Bill Hartshorn and no greens fees, and they are anxious to test their ability.

The purpose of the tournament is to encourage boys to take up golf and as they will play with an adult, who will coach them as they play, the boys will gain much valuable experience. It is hoped that a great many men will be on hand at 1:30 to choose a boy to be his “son” for the afternoon.

TERRIFIC DRIVE ON GOLF COURSE IS IN DISPUTE

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1927

SARASOTA HERALD

The glory of achievement by E. L. Koppen, of this metropolis, was short0lived, when his claim to a terrific 350 yard drive from the first tee-off at the Municipal Golf course was questioned by his partner in crime, Leo Aroudian, who claim’s Mr. Koppen’s calculations went awry. According to “Rudy” the drive in question measured 150 feet up, the same distance down and 50 feet out. “Kop” graciously admitted his error, but the incoherent mutterings under his breath about “getaway money” never ceased until he redeemed himself at the difficult 16thhole by making an eagle two. When the smoke of battle finally lifted, the two cronies embarked upon a campaign of dissipation by blowing each other to a “coke”.

FATHER-SON TOURNAMENT HERE FEB. 5

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1927

SARASOTA HERALD

ATTENTION CENTERED ON THE COMING MATCHES BY LOCAL GOLFERS

A Father and Son golf tournament will be held at the Municipal course, on February 5, and promises to be one of the most unique tournaments possible in the ancient sport.

Considerable attention has been centered around the coming matches and many enthusiastic parent and offspring has signed to play in the contest.

Medal play will be the rule of the day and each contestant will be matched as he enters. Father and son will play one ball instead of the regular two.

Each will alternate their strokes with the intention of scoring the lowest possible score at the end of the game. Many large tournaments have been conducted following the same lines and have proven successes.

The purpose of the recreation department in sponsoring the matches is to encourage the playing of golf among younger men and boys. Recently a golf club was organized at the local high school and special privileges have been granted the group. Many benefits have been derived from the popular sport and it is fast taking a hold on the boys of Sarasota.

STANDINGS OF GOLF LEAGUE

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 1927

SARASOTA HERALD 

Team                       W.       L.      Pct.

Clearwater                  7          0          1.000

Tampa                         5          2          .714

St. Petersburg             5          2          .714

Winter Haven             4          3          .571

Sarasota                      4          3          .571

Lakeland                      2          5          .285

Palmetto                     1          6          .142

Bradenton                   0          7          .000

SARASOTA GOLFERS DEFEAT LAKELAND

LAKELAND IS DEFEATED BY LOCAL TEAM

FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 1927

SARASOTA HERALD

FIRST HALF OF WEST COAST GOLF LEAGUE CLOSES WITH WIN OVER OPPONENTS

Sarasota finished the first half of the season of the West Coast Golf league yesterday with a win over the strong Lakeland team at the Whitfield Country club, winning two out of the three matches. Jim Senter and Louis Lancaster defeated E. Sharwood and Robert Ferris two and one. The Sarasota pair made the turn five up on their opponents, but Sharwood got going on the second nine and negotiated the last half of the course in 34 strokes, so that the two tall Sarasota golfers had to sink a few long puts to stay out in front.

Don Newburn and Paul Eckelberry defeated D. D. Smead and A. H. Sturgess three and two. The Lakeland team won four out of the first five holes and it looked as though they would be easy winners, but Eckelberry slipped in a couple of wins and Newburn got himself a birdie three on the long ninth and they made the turn all even and after that the Lakeland team never has a chance. William Foulds and Harley Greenamyer lost to Dale Williams and E. R. LeMaster five and four. Harley won the first hole for Sarasota with a par four, but after that the local team could not seem to connect with the ball and were down all of the way around.

The Whitfield course is in beautiful condition and the Lakeland golfers were high in their praise of the course, calling it the best course in the South. The scores were remarkably low considering the gale-like wind which blew straight down the course on most of the long holes.

This finished the first half of the season and Sarasota is sitting pretty in third place, tied with St. Petersburg. As the next two matches are with teams which Sarasota has already beaten the local fans expect to see Sarasota near the top in another month. At a directors’ meeting in Tampa Wednesday a resolution was passed allowing each city to select and arrange its own team from the ten lowest qualifiers each month. The qualifying rounds will be held as usual, but the best teams can be selected from anyone of the ten who have the lowest medal scores for the 36-hole qualifying rounds. The present Sarasota team consists of Jim Senter, Don Newburn, LouisLancaster, Mike Roth, Paul Eckelberry, Williams Foulds, Harley Greenamyre, R. O. Holton, William Van Dame and James Oliver.

MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE DRAWS RECORD CROWD

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1927

SARASOTA HERALD

ATTENDANCE MARKS BROKEN DURING PAST WEEK; FATHER AND SON MATCH JAN. 29

Two attendance records were made last week in the Municipal Golf Course. During the week 564 players utilized the course and on Sunday 134 took advantage of the splendid golfing privileges afforded.

These attendance figures set both a record for a week’s play and a day’s attendance, all of which demonstrates the increasing interest of the people in Sarasota in this fine course.

Among those who played on the course were: Ex Governor Harry L. Davis and Ex Congressman Charles L. Knight of Ohio, both of whom acclaimed this the finest course they had played upon in Florida. They heartily congratulated the people of Sarasota upon having the foresight to build such a course.

Everett Johnson, manager and greenskeeper of the course, Lloyd Greenamyre and Bill Hartshorn, professionals of the course, are receiving a great deal of praise for their work in handling the crowds over this popular course. Many embryo golfers are daily receiving instruction from Greenamyre and Hartshorn and are profiting greatly by this.

A “Father and Son” tournament over the course is to be played in the near future. Such a tournament will be an innovation in Sarasota and is expected to attract as wide attention as any golfing event ever staged in the city. The tournament will be played on Saturday, January 29.

Work on the club house is progressing rapidly and the new structure will be ready very shortly.

SENTER LEADS LOCAL GOLFERS WITH 81 AND 85

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1927

SARASOTA HERALD

DON NEWBURN SECOND WHILE LANCASTER IS THIRD AND ECKELBERRY IS FOURTH

Jim Senter, the tall, hard-hitting golfer from Atlanta, home of Bobby Jones, led a large list of qualifiers for the Sarasota City Golf team with scores of 81 at the Municipal course and 83 at the Whitfield Country club. Don Newburn, who led the field the first day with a fine 73, experienced the same trouble that his former team mate, Harley Greenamyre, had run into the previous day and took 92 strokes to negotiate the difficult Whitfield course. This tied him with Louis Lancaster with 167 strokes for the thirty-six holes of medal play.

There has been some dissatisfaction through the West Coast Golf circuit with the present method of lining up the teams on the results of their medal play, on the grounds that a good match player may not be the best medal player. Louis Lancaster, president of the league, has called a meeting in Tampa for next Wednesday and is going to propose that every city hold a 72 hole qualifying round, medal play to select the ten best players in each city. The captain and the director in each city are then to select the three two-man teams from these ten. Any one can at any time challenge any team or any one the ten, and if he beats the person so challenged by two up in eighteen holes of match play, he would then be eligible for the team.

The scores for the two rounds, the first being at the Bobby Jones Municipal course and the second for the Whitfield course, Saturday and Sunday, are as follows:

Jim Senter --- -----       81        83 – 166

Don Newburn----       75        92 – 167

Louis Lancaster--       79        88 – 167

Paul Eckelberry--       77        91 – 168

Mike Roth---------       82        85 – 168

William Foulds---       78        91 – 169

R. O. Holton-------      85        84 – 169

Harley Greenamyer-90        81 – 171

William Van Dame--  89        86 – 175

James Oliver-------     89        86 – 175

Major Boggs-------      84        92 – 176

The next inter-city match will be against the strong Lakeland team Thursday afternoon, at the Whitfield Country club, starting at two o’clock.

LONGBOAT GOLF COURSE IS NOW OPENED FOR PLAY

The Golf Course of the Sarasota Country club, located on Longboat Key, is now open for play. Instead of crossing the bay by boat as was necessary last year, players now drive straight across the Causeway to Lido Key and follow the road north which leads to the Country club’s boat dock. Regular boat service is available throughout the day to carry passengers across the pass between Lido and Longboat Key. Nick DeMane, the genial professional, who had charge of the course last year, is back on the job again this year, A greens fee of $1.00 is charged those not members of the club. Monthly and season tickets also are obtainable.

PAIRINGS FOR SARASOTA GOLF TRIALS GIVEN

January 22, 1927

SARASOTA HERALD

Following are the oaring for the monthly qualifying rounds for positions on the Sarasota golf team: Louis Lancaster and Joe Masters, Guy Livingston and Mike Roth, Fred de Canizares and Randolph Pipes, Don Newborn and Bill Van Dame, Bill Foulds and Harley Greenamyre, Jim Senter and Paul Eckleberry, Major Boggs and Ralph Faber, Z. F. Lewis and Jack Beasley.

Play will start in the Municipal course at 1:30 Saturday afternoon. Those desiring to enter in this qualifying round must have their names in by 1:30. They can notify either Don Newborn, phone 2677, or Mr. Johnson at the golf course. No scores will be accepted unless qualifying with a contestant for the team.

Bill Hartshorn, professional at the municipal course, has established a new course record of 68. Hartshorn’s low ball since he has been playing the municipal course has been 65, 32 for the first nine and 33 for the second. Bill has been having great success in rounding out Sarasota’s young golfers as well as the seasoned players.

JONES AND GUNN VISIT SARASOTA ON FEBRUARY 12

January 20, 1927

THE TAMPA TRIBUNE

Bobby Jones and Watts Gunn will visit Sarasota Saturday, Feb. 12, and on the following day will officially open the “Bobby Jones” municipal links of the city, Louis Lancaster said yesterday.

Bobby and Watts will play in a feature match on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 13., in a foursome to be completed by two Sarasota’s. The previous day will be given over to various festivities, including a dinner at night, to be followed by a dance.

The Bobby Jones Day

January 18, 1927

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Louis Lancaster, chairman of the entertainment committee, said that Bobby Jones would arrive in the city on February 12, would be met by a band and that a parade would be staged followed by an elaborate dinner at the Hotel Mira Mar and that on the following day a match contest between Jones and Watts Gunn would be played on the Municipal Course here to formally dedicate that course. Much publicity is expected to result to the city by reason of the scheduling of this match.

RECORD CROWD PLAYS ON CITY COURSE SUNDAY

JANUARY 3, 1927

Times

125 PLAYERS TAKE PART IN GOLFING CONTESTS DURING DAY

Popularity of the Municipal Golf course was attested Sunday when 125 players were on the links during the day, a new record for the beautiful 18-hole course. Many of the players were from Tampa, St. Petersburg, Bradenton and other nearby cities and all were loud in their praises of the new links which are only about six months old.

E. L. Johnson, manager of the course, reported Monday that during December 1,520 men and women had played over the course, thus establishing another new record. The greens fee is 75 cents per day, with a reduction to 50 cents after 4 p. m., while special monthly tickets are sold which reduces the cost to the golfer to 16 cents per day.

Lloyd Greenamyer, professional at the course, is busy each day instructing new beginners, and reports that an unusually large number of women players are taking up the old Scottish game in this city.

chicago golf ‘pro’ arrives here tuesday

JANUARY 4, 1927

sarasota herald

will in no way affect operations of muny golf course, to play here

“The arrival Tuesday of Bill Hartshorn, the well known Chicago golf professional, in no way affects the operation of the Bobby Jones Municipal Golf course,” said Louis Lancaster, member of the city recreational commission and chairman of the golf committee.

The municipal course is managed by Everett Johnson and her deserves a great deal of credit for the wonderful condition that the course is in now. Almost everyone playing over the course can hardly believe that the course has only been open for play a little over six months.

The professional at the course is Loyd Greenamyer, who has proven himself to be an able and popular player and instructor. At almost any hour of the day he can be seen on teh practice field giving lessons to Sarasota people. Loyd has been connected with teh city course for almost two years and everyone who has taken lessons fro him has been more than satisfied. With his brother Harley [Greenamyer], who is a member of the Sarasota City Golf team, he holds the course record of 72. Golf seems to run in teh family and both of the brothers are top notch players.

The mayor and council, with the aid of J.R. Brumby, Jr., are working on a plan to erecrt a small clubhouse so that the many players can have a place to dress. On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays about 100 people are now playing on the course and during the week the play will average about 50 people. The course will soon not only pay for itself but should prove a profitable investment for the city, and this in view of the fact that the rates for playing are being kept at a very low point.

Bill Hartshorn has developed into one of the best tournament players in the country and has long been recognized as an excellent teacher. He will be a welcome addition to the golfing fraternity in Sarasota and together with Loyd Greenamyer and Everett Johnson will help create more interest in golf in Sarasota. He is being brought to Sarasota as a playing professional by twenty local golfers and will give lessons to them and a few of their friends while here. Loyd Greemsmyer will continue as professional at the Municipal course and those desiring lessons are requested to make appointments as he is getting busier every day.

FIRST WEST COAST GOLF LEAGUE MATCH PLAYED IN FLORIDA

NOVEMBER 5, 1926

OAKLAND TRIBUNE

TAMPA, Fla., Nov. B.M The first round Of the 1926-27 season of the West Coast Golf League was played yesterday in matches at Palmetto, St. Petersburg, Lakeland and Bradentown. Winterhaven won over Lakeland, two matches to one, while Sarasota defeated Bradentown by the same count. Tampa and Palmetto fought to a tie when the third and deciding foursome of the match was halted on the 20th hole by darkness. Clearwater, led by John F. Dailey, state champion, and including Dailey’s runner-up, Harry K. B. Davis, won over St. Petersburg in all three contests. The league schedule calls for 14 matches to be played at two-week intervals. League standings, similar to baseball percentage tables, will be maintained throughout the season and the winning team will be presented with a trophy placed at stake by Louis Lancaster, president of the league.

TEN RANKING GOLFERS NAMED HERE

NOVEMBER 3, 1926

SARASOTA HERALD-TRIBUNE

The ten ranking golfers for the Sarasota golfing team as announced yesterday through the offices of the department of public recreation follow:

 J. C. Senter, Harley Greenameyer, Don Newburn, Louis Lancaster, J. M. Boggs, Z. F. Lewis, Russell Gray, George Van Dame, Dot Fulghum and Jack Beasley.

According to Supt. D. B. Wright the ratings given in order above are subject to change each golfer in the list having the privilege to challenge the person next above him on the list. It is also permissible for any person in Sarasota to enter the list at any time, and work his way up through the open challenge-play method, provided he first hands in a qualifying round of 36 holes.

The first team match will be played Thursday at 1:30 p.m. over the [Donald Ross designed] Bradenton Country Club course. Another round will be held this afternoon at [Donald Ross designed] Whitfield Estates.

The scores for 72 holes were:

Jim Senter 333, H. Greenameyer 334, Don Newburn 344, Lewis Lancaster 345, J. M. Boggs 352, Z. F. Lewis 352, Russell Gray 359, W. W. Johnson 361, Mike Roth 368, Dot Fulghum 371, Rand Pipes 380, Jack Beasley 381.

NOTED AMATEUR MAY LEAD CITY GOLFERS’ TEAM

October 29, 1926

The Evening Independent

CHICK EVANS PROBABLY WILL CAPTAIN LOCAL ENTRY IN COAST LEAGUE

Everything points to the West coast of Florida as the center of amateur golf interest this fall and winter. While the professionals, lured by the siren that makes them pros, are trekking to California for the winter season, famous amateurs will disport on the fairways and greens of Florida. The West Coast Golf league is coming in for a big play from these well-know niblick wielders. Chick Evans, who has taken more important golf titles, perhaps, than any other amateur of his age in the world, will probably lead in the Sunshine City team in the West Coast circuit.

Bobby Jones, world’s golf champion, who calls Sarasota his home a part of the time, may be called upon to aid that city in the league championship battle which will begin with the opening matches on November 4. Jones has been mentioned as a leader of his team and many have to swing into competition in order to keep his city in the running.

SARASOTA GOLF COURSES AMONG FINEST IN NATION

Sunday, October 3, 1926

Sarasota Herald

When the chill winds of winter bring snow to cover the golf courses to the north, golf enthusiasts may pack their clubs and find two of the sportiest and most beautiful courses of the country in Sarasota. Sarasota also has a municipal course, which is still known to golfers as the “Bobby Jones course,” although the champion has gone far afield to conquer his laurels.

At Whitfield Estates, now Bobby’s “home club,” is the golf course reputed to be one of the five best in the entire country. Here it was that Walter Hagen met Bobby Jones in a match that was called the greatest in golf history. The course occupies a tract of high, rolling ground of an area of 125 of the most beautiful acres in Whitfield Estates. Boles Creek, running through the course, affords perfect drainage and is crossed no less than nine times in playing the eighteen holes.

The course was designed and constructed by Donald Ross, master golf architect. During the last season it was a mecca for famous golfers. Such players as Johnny Farrell, Jim Barnes, Tommy Armour, Leo Diegel, Gene Sarazen tried their prowess along its fairways, and two matches were played by Compston and Massey, the British and French champions. Arrangements are now being made for just as interesting matches this season.

The championship length of the Whitfield course is 6,671 yards, with a par of 71. It is regarded by its designer as his masterpiece.

In building the clubhouse the architect took advantage of a high spot of land near the road. From the porches on one side the house, a large part of the course is visible. From the other side is an almost uninterrupted view of Sarasota Bay. Adjoining the club is the new swimming pool and beautiful gardens.

This season the club will be under the direction of a manager of national repute. The social calendar will include the usual dinner and tea dances, as well as special parties arranged during the exhibition matches.

Longboat Key Club

The Longboat Key Country Club and golf course, which has long been under construction, will be open for play this season. Its location is particularly advantageous. Both the gulf and the bay are visible from all fairways, adding inestimable beauty to a course which is one of the most hazardous in the state. 

Ground for the course was donated by John Ringling, whose estates encircle it. The clubhouse was built at a cost of approximately $150,000 by the members of the club.

Arrangements to have the country’s leading golfers exhibit on this course are also underway by the managers of this club, who promise that the coming season will be an especially brilliant one.

Municipal Course

The “Bobby Jones Course” is now the official name of the fine 18-hole municipal golf course located just east of the new fair grounds. The course was dedicated early in the summer and the first nine holes then opened for play. Only last Thursday [September 30] the remainder of the course was put in shape and the entire 18 holes are now ready for the aspiring golfer. The course is beautifully located and is one of the most sporty in the entire state of Florida. Many of the city’s best golfers have played over it in individual games and in tournaments and pronounce it one of the finest in the South. Lloyd Greenamyre is the efficient professional at the club.

Palmetto Golf Club

Located north of Palmetto, in Manatee County, the Palmetto Golf and Country Club draws many from Sarasota for its course, which is one of the best and most attractive in the entire state - a state, it may be remarked of splendid golf courses. The Palmetto club extends the welcome hand of good fellowship to Sarasotans at all times and in each tournament played at this club there are a score or more of entrants from this city.

The Palma Sola Club

And at Bradenton there is the Palma Sola Club, located west of the city. The club was officially dedicated on January 1 and has one of the most attractive and best equipped country club homes in the state. The links are sporty and yet attractive to even the average golfer and are frequently used by golfers from Sarasota.

O. B. KEELER TELLS STORY OF FISHING FOR TARPON HERE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 1926

SARASOTA HERALD

NOTED SPORTS WRITER WHO ACCOMPANIED BOBBY JONES TO CITY RELATES INCIDENTS OF STAY HERE AND OF DRIVE TO ATLANTA IN BOBBY’S NEW PIERCE-ARROW

By O. B. KEELER

BOBBY JONES and Forrest Adair, Jr. did a neat job of driving in that new Pierce-Arrow coach they gave Bobby in Sarasota, and Tom Paine and I did an exemplary job of passengering, or being passengers, and the result of the combination was our arrival about 6 o’clock Sunday evening, after doing about 630 Florida and Georgia miles of which the closing hundred was (or were) byu far the longest. You might fancy that one mile is the same length as another mile, but whether it is a paved mile or not makes one large slice of difference, and whether the paved mile is in Spalding county makes another difference. It seems that they paved the main line in Spalding county and are so proud of it they make you travel at a most conservative pace so you can admire the pavement. And then the detours, at this end of the journey. As Will Rogers said, the roads named after the various presidents were all fine but every road named after that darned Frenchman DeTour was terrible. Florida miles are shorter than Georgia miles, partly by reason of the paving and partly because in Florida they figure you are going to bust the law if they make it too tight so they allow you 45 miles an hour on the open road and wish you well. No doubt about it, Florida is a fine state in which to drive a car.

NOW about this tarpon fishing, because everybody is asking me what happened and if we caught any tarpons or got any strikes.

I DID NOT catch any tarpons, and did not get any strikes, and did not get any bumps, and did not have any association with a tarpon whatever, expect visually…

-

ON THE WAY to the fishing place I got another sort of kick, We had arisen at the unhallowed hour of 3:45 a. m. and naturally no gentlemen, in Sarasota, anyway, is going to be completely himself at that time. Then we went down in the cool darkness – fairly cool – to the pier, the round yellow moon sinking in the west, and got aboard a couple of motor boats. Bobby and Abe Adair and Tom Paine were with Sam Sweeting and Jim Senter and I went with a skipper named Townsend. I sat down in a swivel-chair with cushions and became comfortable as the skipper gave her the gun and we sat out under the low moon.

BOBBY JONES AND HIS NEW CAR [Caption]

Bobby Jones, as her appeared on his recent visit in Sarasota just after being presented by the citizens of Sarasota with a handsome new Pierce-Arrow sedan. The photograph showing Bobby and his new car was taken at McAnsh Park. The photograph adjoining shows the mayors of three Florida cities paying homage to Bobby. They are, left to right: Mayor George B. Wallace, of Bradenton; the champion himself; Mayor Everett J. Bacon, of Sarasota and Mayor Wilbur E. Mann, of Palmetto.

SARASOTA WILL WELCOME HOME GOLF CHAMPION

THURSDAY, July 22, 1926

Bobby Jones to Get Elaborate Reception on Return to Winter Home

TAMPA BAY Times

SARASOTA, July 21 – (AP)

All is in readiness for Sarasota’s big welcome home to Bobby Jones, golf champion and winter resident of this city. At the last moment an effort to detain Jones on his way to this city in another Florida town was learned of and this effort has been circumvented by the appointment of a huge body guard which will meet him north of Tampa.

Immediately upon his arrival here a public reception and welcome will be held in McAnsh Park. Mayor Bacon will deliver an address of welcome and the champion will respond briefly. Other civic leaders will also make brief talks. The afternoon is to be given over to the champion in which to plan his own program of entertainment, this having been his expressed wish that he might renew friendships here.

In the evening a banquet will be served at the Sarasota Terrace Hotel and at 9:30 o’clock a dance and reception will be held at the Whitfield Estates Country Club, where Jones last winter played and of which he is a member.

Business houses will close at noon tomorrow to permit their employees to attend the welcome. Scores of reservations were reported at local hotels tonight from out of town guests for tomorrow and it is expected that thousands of visitors will attend the celebration in honor of the golf champion.

bobby jones to visit tampa thursday

July 18, 1926

TAMPA SUNDAY TRIBUNE

KING OF LINKS TO BE MET HERE BY PARTY OF SARASOTA FRIENDS

British and American Open Champion To Be Feted With Celebration at Winter Home; To Play Match With Leading Professional of Section While on West Coast

Bobby Jones, whose victories in golf’s two major event – the British and American Open tournaments – have stamped him as king of the links, will make a triumphant return to Florida this week. 

Thursday, Bobby will be in Tampa for a short while, enroute to Sarasota for a big celebration and home-coming being arranged for him there.

Press notices yesterday were to the effect that a delegation from Sarasota will meet Bobby as he steps from the train here Thursday. After a short stay-over here, he will be carried on to Sarasota to visit again the links of the Whitfield Estates, with which he was associated last winter.

The homeward journey of the British and American golf champion has bene one of glory, in which the Atlanta boy had been greeted and acclaimed all along the route. In Florida, where he is known as on the greatest of the state’s winter golfers, Bobby is expected to meet an even warmer reception.

Plays Exhibition Matches

Bobby will visit Florida – including Tampa – after playing a series of exhibition matches in Kentucky and after visiting with his parents in Atlanta.

He will leave the train at Tampa, press notices last night said, to make the remainder of the trip to Sarasota by automobile.

He will be met by the Sarasota delegation here. Although no arrangements had been completed last night, Bobby’s friends in Tampa expect to fete him during his brief stay here.

 Sarasota Plans Party

SARASOTA, JUL 17. – (Tribune News Service.)

Arrangements are practically complete for the celebration to be held here July 22 in honor of Bobby Jones, winner of the National open golf championship. The golfer will be met in Tampa by a delegation of Sarasotans and brought to the city by auto. Arriving shortly after noon, the champion will be taken to the Mira Mar Park, where the public exercise will be held, followed by a public reception. Three decorated automobiles will meet the car bearing the golf king at Palmetto and accompany him to Sarasota as an escort of honor. It is expected here that the attendance at the ceremonies will be large because of the popularity of the winter resident in this city. The address of welcome will be delivered by Mayor E. J. Bacon.

To Play Match

Louis Lancaster, ardent follower of the game, will make a short talk on the achievements of Jones, while Jules Brazil will be in charge of the entertainment features. During the afternoon Jones will be entertained privately by his friends. In the evening there will be the banquet to be held at the Sarasota Terrace hotel and the dance at the Whitfield Estates Country club, of which Jones is a member.

Jones will play a match game while here with one of the leading professionals of this region on the Whitfield golf course and it is expected that thousands from every part of Florida will come to witness this match. The day has been officially designated by the mayor as “Bobby Jones Day” and the entire city will be turned over to him.

SARASOTA WILL GIVE JONES BIG RECEPTION

July 13, 1926

St. Petersburg Times

SARASOTA, July 12 – (AP)

Plans were completed here today for a mammoth reception to be given here for Bobby Jones, national and British golf champion, who will arrive July 22. Jones is a winter resident of Sarasota and during last winter several matches here with Walter Hagen, Archie Compston, Tommy Armour, Chick Evans and other noted golfers. The reception here will include the entire west coast of Florida and invitations will be sent to all nearby towns to participate.

OFFICIAL OPENING NEW GOLF COURSE THIS AFTERNOON

SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 1926

SARASOTA HERALD

CIVIC CLUBS TO STAGE TOURNEY THIS AFTERNOON

OFFICIAL OPENING FOLLOWS CLOSING OF OLDEST COURSE IN AMERICA

Founded as a city in which to play golf, Sarasota is holding to her enviable reputation as a center for the famous Scottish pastime and one week following the closing of the oldest course in America comes the opening of its new municipal links which will take place at two o’clock this afternoon.

Extensive plans have been outlined which are expected to make the official opening of the course a gala event. The mayor and city council will officiate on the occasion, Mayor Bacon having been chosen to cut the ribbon surrounding the first green and to tee off. The council members will follow in order, photographs to be taken and the balls saved as historic relics.

The first matches will consist of a city club tournament, the first flight of which will be staged this afternoon.

The Kiwanis club have entered Louis Lancaster, Wade Stephens, Dr. W. J. Johnson and Bill Pearsall. The Civitans are entering Jack Beasley, Randolph Pipes, Gay Livenston and Dick Wilson.

The Junior chamber of commerce will have Albert Arno, Russel Gray, Emerson Phillips and Frank Evans on their entry list while the A. B. C.’s have entered J. L. Fulghum, Dr. Landess, A. Strudabar and John Carter, Jr.

Rotarians are entering: Major Kimball, Voltaire Sturgis, Fletcher Lewis, and J. C. Hughey. The realtors will also have a representative in the event, Wayne Johnson, Clarence Stokes and two others whose names have not been made public to make up the team.

GREENMYER IS TITLE WINNER ON MUNY LINKS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1926

SARASOTA HERALD

HISTORIC OLD COURSE CLOSES: GREENMYER DEFEATS MAXWELL IN FINALS

Harly Greenmyer won the title yesterday in the finals over the old Municiapl Course, defeating F. P. Maxwell. The championship title thus won by Greenmyer is the last that ever that will be awarded on this course for with the close of this tournament the links passed officially out of existence as a golf playground and will become sub-divided into building lots. A good gallery watched the play.

Greenmyers score was

Out…   555 355 454 – 41

In         453 445 444 – 37

Total 78.

Maxwells score was:

Out…   555 456 555 – 43

In         563 465 545 - 43

Total 86.

The final tournament attracted many of the city’s best golfers and was an object of great interest even to those who did not participate, marking as it did the closing of what is claimed to have been the first golf course ever established in the United States. The Associated Press took note of the importance of the final tourney to be carried to all parts of the nation last night.

hartshorne takes pro post at new links in florida

1926

Bill Hartshorne, professional at the Briergate Golf Club, near Deerfield, will have the distinction of presiding over Sarasota’s new course, the Bobby Jones Municipal Links, this Winter.

The dedication ceremonies are scheduled early in January and Bill will leave Chicago for Florida right after New Year’s Day. Hartshorne will return to Briergate early in April.

The new course will be operated on a semipublic basis, with a limited membership. It is hoped to have Bobby Jones in person at teh dedication.

NEW MUNICIPAL COURSE WILL OPEN ON JUNE 5

TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 1926

SARASOTA HERALD

GOLF COURSE TO OPEN WITH TOURNEY JUNE 5

MAYOR BACON TO CUT RIBBON SURROUNDING FIRST TEE NEXT SATURDAY

Sarasota’s Municipal Golf Course will be formally opened for play on Saturday afternoon, June 5th, at two o’clock. Mayor Bacon will the cut the ribbon surrounding the first tee at two o’clock and balls will be driven off of this tee to celebrate the opening of the course by Mayor Bacon, Members of the Council, Louis Lancaster, Chairman of the Golf Committee of the Board of Recreation, and R. K. Thompson, who, together with Mr. Lancaster, was responsible for the securing of the land and the developing of the idea of a municipal golf course for Sarasota.

Unless any of the balls are driven so far that they cannot be found, or unless they are sliced into the deep creek, which parallels the first fairway, each ball will be brought back and will be kept by the player, mounted on a silver stand and will prove to be a valuable souvenir of the opening of this fine golf course.

Immediately following this ceremony a tournament will be staged between the luncheon clubs of this city, the Kiwanis, Rotary, Civitans and the A. B. C. Realtors and Junior Chamber of Commerce. After these players have teed off, the course will then be thrown open to the public free of charge for the rest of the afternoon, and also the following Sunday and Monday, June 6th and 7th, so that everyone in Sarasota will have an opportunity to play this new course and become acquainted with it.

When the idea of a municipal golf course was first promoted, R. K. Thompson prevailed upon the Palmer Corporation to sell to the city at a very low figure over one hundred acres of the most fertile soil in this section, extending north from the Fruitville Road just east of the new Fair Grounds. This land has been carefully drained and has been set out with tropical trees, and by the coming season should be one of Florida’s finest golf courses.

Great interest is being shown the opening of the course, and it is expected that the course will be crowded during the summer months. The regular fee is only $1.00 per day, and 50c after five o’clock in the afternoon. E. L. Johnson, for many years the popular and efficient greens keeper at the old Ringling course, has been appointed greens keeper of the new golf course, and has done remarkably well in bringing the course to its fine condition in such a short period of time.

The Golf Course will be under the management and direction of the Department of Recreation. All tournaments and individual play will be sponsored, and encouraged, by this department and all possible will be done to make this a record breaking summer for municipal golf in the city. A. G. Spalding and Bros., have donated the balls to be used in the opening tournament.

OLD GOLF COURSE TO BE ABANDONED FOR HOME SITES

Friday, May 28, 1926

Fort Lauderdale News

(BY ASSOCIATED PRESS)

SARASOTA, MAY 28.

The old Sarasota municipal golf course, founded in 1881 by Colonel J. Hamilton Gillespie, and said to be the oldest golf course in America, will close with appropriate ceremonies Saturday.

The old course has become a part of the city proper and will be subdivided into lots by Charles Ringling of circus fame.

Last summer the first nine holes were abandoned and where once the first tee stood the Sarasota terrace hotel, 10 stories high, now rises. The new municipal course which will supplant the old is being built east of the city and will be opened within the next several days.

GOLF TOURNEY TO BE HELD IN CITY MARCH 22

Sunday, March 14, 1926

SARASOTA HERALD

Play for Championship of Sarasota and Ringling Cup To Be Staged

The first golf championship of Sarasota will be held during the week of March 22 to 27 on the links of the municipal course for which event Charles Ringling had donated a handsome cup to be known as the Charles Ringling Trophy Cup, the winner to have possession of it for one year and the player winning it three years to retain permanent possession.

Sarasota is a town of golfers and it is believed that the coming tournament will be seen a tremendous entry list. Being for the championship of the city it will naturally carry significant prestige.

The tournament will be held under the auspices of the department of recreation and will be played over the municipal links. This tournament will be followed the following week by one for women, and the week after that, by one for the junior players of the city.

All players wishing to compete are asked to hand in their entries before six o’clock of Saturday, March 20thon which day match play will start. All matches in the tournament will be 18 holes except the finals and semifinals which will be over the 36-hole route.

D. B. Wright, director of recreation, Andy Anderson, professional at the municipal links, and A. E. Johnson, manager of the same links, will have charge of the tournament.

All those wishing to enter are asked to turn in their names to one of the above mentioned gentlemen, either at the pier or the municipal course.

The tournament will consist of flights of 16 each, the 16 making the lowest score being placed in the championship flight. Suitable trophies will be given to the winners of all the other flights.

GOLF CHAMPION HERE TO SPEND ENTIRE WINTER

Tuesday, November 10, 1925

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Bobby Jones Not To Play In California Tournament

Will Golf and Real Estate Right Here in Sarasota, Bobby Jones Declares

R. T. Jones, Jr., known to the golfing world as Bobby Jones. American amateur champion and rated as one of the greatest golfers of all time, is in Sarasota to spend the winter. He is connected with Whitfield estates as assistant sales manager and while here will shoot a little golf now and then.

Bobby was asked last night to state whether he intended visiting the Pacific coast this winter and taking part in some of the big tournaments being planned. For the past few weeks California press agents have been announcing that the ace of American golfers would probably tear himself away from Florida long enough to seek additional honors out in the Golden West.

“Nothing to it – just say for me that I am in Sarasota for the winter,” said the golf champ last night. He was told of the repeated reports, or rumors, from the far west concerning a visit there, but he merely repeated that he was in Sarasota for the winter for the purpose of selling real estate.

The arrival of Jones means Sarasota is taking its place of prominence in the sporting world. Tommy Armour, pro at Whitfield estates course, is due shortly and in Jones and Armour Sarasota can offer as crack a golfing team as any point in the state – and that means the golfing world, for each city has secured the best links talent available as the state’s great attractions for the winter.

Followers of the great links game have every reason to be enthused over the prospects of seeing some of the best golf shot on local courses this season that has been played in Florida.

WHITFIELD OFFICES INADEQUATE FOR BIG VOLUME OF BUSINESS

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1925

SARASOTA HERALD

The field office at Whitfield Estates is being remodeled. The present facilities proved too small and inadequate to handle the increased number of visitors brought each day by the new bus line from St. Petersburg and Tampa, not the mention the crowds that come through Sarasota and other places to see the Donald Ross golf course, now completed and waiting until January first for play to begin. The new office space will be larger and more complete in every detail with greater room to handle the increasing business.

APPROVE PLANS OF PLAYGROUND HEAD FOR CITY

UNOPFFICIAL ADVISORY BOARD OKEHS PLAN OF T. B. SETTLE. COUNCIL TO ACT.

Report of T. S. Settle in regard to an adequate playground and playfield system for Sarasota and Greater Sarasota was enthusiastically received yesterday afternoon by an unofficial advisory board for the recreational commission which is expected to be appointed in the near future, anticipating the adoption of Mr. Settle’s survey by the city council at its meeting Monday night.

Besides the present public playground at the city park, Mr. Settle’s survey for a future system of playgrounds for the city include:

1.     Nine-acre tract east Sarasota owned by the city, to be made into beautiful park and playfield.

2.     Playground in the new municipal fairgrounds adjoining the golf links now under construction by Donald Ross.

3.     Old fairgrounds, place for all city league major sports and contests.

4.     School playground and athletic field to be erected in future on ten-acre tract owned by school board at corner of Bee Ridge and Osprey roads.

5.     Tract to be selected for playfield on northern end of city.

6.     Waterfront playground and park development to be constructed when Gulf View avenue fill to the bay is completed.

WHITFIELD ESTATES GOLF COURSE TO OPEN SHORTLY WITH ARMOUR IN CHARGE

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1925

SARASOTA HERALD

Tommy Armour, one of the country’s best known golf professionals and one of the world’s finest players of the same, is expected to report soon to take over the Donald Ross Golf course at Whitfield Estates.

Golfers and golf lovers of the section believe that the combination of the splendid new championship course with a star of such renown will bring to Whitfield Estates this season many of the world’s best known players, for exhibition matches and tournaments after the opening of the club this December.

Tommy has been engaged as tutor for those who play the new 18-hole Whitfield course, designed and built by Donald Ross, probably the greatest of all golf architects.

Since his arrival in this country from Scotland, Armour, who was at that time an amateur of note, has steadily increased in favor among followers of the game; and, in addition to having been a decided contender in all important tournaments, has added to his collection several important titles.

It is significant that his attractive personality has made him universally popular among those of his acquaintance.

Tommy first came into national prominence as a professional while with the Westchester-Biltmore club of New York. Before abandoning his amateur status and considerable fame in the British Isles and continental Europe, Armour had served for several years as secretary of the famous club.

While the date when Tommy will assume his duties at the new Donald Ross Golf course in Whitfield Estates has not been definitively announced, it has been stated by the officials of the Adair Realty and Trust company, sole selling agents of the property, that he will arrive soon to assist Mr. Ross and his associates in the final grooming of the course for play and to arrange other details of the formal openings and of the management he will give the new rendezvous for resident and visiting players.

BOBBY ROCKED AS KID, NOT PETTED

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1925

SARASOTA HERALD

ATLANTA, Oct. 23 – (A.P.)

Bobby Jones, national amateur golf champion, when a baby was rocked more than modern physicians would have approved, but was not “petted too much.”

Mrs. Robert H. Jones, mother of the golfer, made this statement in connection with a discussion in Atlanta relative to present day methods of caring for babies as compared with those 25 years ago.

She disagreed with a young matron that “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world,” no longer is true. In Mrs. Jones opinion, babies still are rocked and mothers can find time to do their part of ruling the world even if they spend a large part of their time in nurseries.

Bobby was rocked because he was a delicate child, and young Mrs. Bobby Jones rocks her six months old daughter, christened Clara Malone but already known as “Bobby,” when she is sick or needs “extra babying.”

Grandfathers, in the opinion of Grandmother Jones, still are the principal causes of spoiled babies – but they are not to be blamed, for they know nothing of rearing babies.

Sarasota golf plans maintain city's early tradition and history

Sunday, October 4, 1925

Sarasota Herald

Lovers of the fairway need have no fears as regards to ample room to develop their talents this winter. House shortages may come and go but golfers will soon find Sarasota to be always ready with three of the finest courses of the country.

Founded, the tradition goes, as a place to play golf, the first golf course in American was laid out in 1885 by Col. J. Hamilton Gillespie, youngest son of Sir John Gillespie of Moffatt, Dumfrieshire, England.

For Practice Only.

“Two holes for practice, and it can be extended later,” the colonel is said to have remarked the day after he had pitched his tent, golf clubs and all, on what is now the present site of the main street of Sarasota.

Col. Gillespie’s prophecy was not long in being fulfilled. Within a few years he was playing on a nine-hole course. He lived to establish courses for his favorite game at Belleair, Winter Park, Jacksonville, Tampa, Kissimmee and Havana, Cuba. Col. Gillespie died two years ago. A pioneer in America’s golfing history, had he lived until the fall of 1925 he could have been the season opener of three splendid courses in his home city.

The opening of the Ringling Causeway will also mark the opening of the 18-hole Longboat Key golf course. This, together with the beautiful course of the Whitfield Estates, will have none superior to it on the west coast. At present the old Ringling course near the Atlantic Coast Line station is operating nine holes, the other nine now being in line for repairs.

The course at Palmetto has proved rather popular for Sarasota golfers this summer, especially for those who enjoy coupling a short motor ride together with their round of the links.

Siesta Beach, only a short ride from the city, will also have her 18 holes within a year. While professionals have not been hired for any of these courses, they will undoubtedly be on hand when the season opens on all of them. The local clubs are taking more than the usual interest to boost their respective organizations with the result that Sarasota as a veritable golfers’ paradise is fast becoming more and more widely known.

Sarasota pro sets new mark

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1925

fort lauderdale news, THE TAMPA TIMES, THE TENNESSEAN (NASHVILLE) [ASSOCIATED PRESS]

Sarasota, Feb. 17.

W.G. (Bill) Hartshorn, of Chicago, professional at the Sarasota Golf club course, toppled the record of the course here yesterday when he turned in a 69. Par at the local course, made by Bobby Jones, national champion, formerly was 71.

The first nine holes were made by Hartshorn in 33, while the second nine holes he finished with a total of 35.

NOVEMber 14, 1924

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Bob MacDonald’s big course in the Letter building was crowded yesterday, Jock Hutchison and Chick Evans being among the players trying their game. MacDonald will have for assistants at present Alec Duncan and Jim Gourlay. Later he may increase the force of instructors.

Billy Hartshorn, who has been with MacDonald for a year, has a southern assignment for the winter, at the Sarasota Golf club in Florida. Hartshorn will leave Dec. 1 and return to Chicago some time in April.

MUGGSY BANS GOLF AS PASTIME FOR PLAYERS

TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1924

THE DISPATCH (Moline ILLINOIS)

New York, March 4. - Manager McGraw of the Giants signalized his arrival at Sarasota by banning golf as a ballplayer’s pastime. A similar edict has been issued by Ty Cobb. The general theory is said to be an opinion that attention can not be given to golf without a lessen gin interest in baseball.

NOVEMber 16, 1923

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Bill Hartshorn, for six years assistant to Bob MacDonald, is now with the Sarasota club of Florida. Soon after his arrival Bill set a new record of 35 for the course when playing a round with Mr. and Mrs. Louis Lancaster of the Westmoreland club. Par for the course is 38.

EXCERPT FROM A LETTER FROM A SARASOTA (FLA.) SUBSCRIBER

January, 1909

THE AMERICAN GOLFER

“The group shows mid-December golfers, male, female, human and canine, but they are all beginners except the old man in the back row whom you may recognize. I look like Rockefeller, and resemble him in being the owner of my own golf course and Clubhouse.

“If a man, or woman, can play golf on my course, they can play anywhere, the variety of bad lies encountered being endless, and the holes long. We have no connection with any R. R. hotel scheme for inducing golfers to come here, but I am proud and glad to welcome all golfers who do not expect too much. The course is certainly as good as most courses were in the days of my youth (B. C. something or other) and much better than what you encountered at the Tampa Bay some years ago.

“As all the golfing magazines are giving pointers to golfers intending to winter in the South, there can be no impropriety in letting them know that, after playing at Belleair, they can find another course yet unconquered by Bogey, on the West Coast, where they may find a game interesting with the only extant relic in Florida of old time golfers, who believe in stymies and swear by foursomes.” – J. H. G. [John Hamilton Gillespie]

“We have a good hotel on the beach.”

WILLIE SMITH WINNER OF FIRST HONORS IN THE TAMPA BAY GOLF TOURNAMENT

Sunday, January 28, 1900

THE MORNING TRIBUNE

American Open Champion Maintains His Reputation and the Successful Series of Contests Closes With Some Pleasant Speeches and Prize Awards.

The Golfers Play Their Finals in Dispiriting Weather, Break One Record, make Some Crack Drives, and Hold a Happy Social Session – Going to Kissimmee – Harry Vardon, British Champion, is Coming.

The fine weather that had rendered the playing Thursday and Friday such an unqualified success, was marred yesterday by a lowering sky, a north wind and light, driving showers. Nevertheless, quite a large crowd witnessed the playing, among the spectators being Mr. Morton B. Plant, who witnessed the final with the keen appreciation of a true sportsman.

The course was the same as yesterday – over the regulation eighteen-hole links. Thirty-six holes were played – eighteen on the forenoon and eighteen in the afternoon.

Play was begun at 10 a. m. by Burlock. He made his first hole in five strokes, and Dunn – his opponent – in four.

The contest for the consolation was interesting, but Burlock did not play in quite the same form that characterized his match with Gillespie yesterday. Dunn, on the contrary, played an exceptionally fine game. To a Tribune reporter Burlock remarked:

“Tom Dunn played a game worthy of his best days. As he himself said. He had given up all idea of playing such a game again.”

The score for this event, according to medal play was:

Burlock – (first 9 holes) – 5 4 4 4 5 5 4 6 6 – 43:

            (second 9)       –  6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 –    46.       Total, 89.

Dunn – (first 9 holes) – 4 4 3 4 4 4 4 5 7 – 39:

            (second 9)       –  5 5 6 5 4 4 4 4 4 –    41.       Total, 80.

Dunn came in with 9 up at the close of the forenoon match.

The match between the two contestants for the $100 prize was intensely interesting. Public favor wagged as wide and diversely as a feather in a gale of wind. The magnificent showing of Rawlins in Friday’s game was set as almost an even balance against Smith’s acknowledged excellence. 

The scores were:

Smith – (first 9 holes) – 4 3 5 5 4 4 4 4 6 – 39:

            (second 9)       –  5 4 5 4 5 4 3 5 4 – 39.          Total, 78.

Rawlins – (first 9 holes) – 4 4 4 5 4 4 3 4 5 – 37:

            (second 9)       –  4 4 6 5 5 4 4 4 5 –    41.       Total, 78.

At the seventeenth hole, when both men were playing even, Smith drove his ball beyond bounds. There was some discussion as to whether the local or the association rules should apply, and it was decided to play according to the later. Smith, therefore, went back and drove from tee at his second stroke, losing the distance. Rawlins won this hole and came in on the eighteenth hole, one up, but Smith evened by clever playing. An extraordinary coincidence made their match scores 9, and their medal scores 78 each.

PLAY IN THE AFTERNOON

The large start that Dunn had gained on Burlock rendered it almost impossible for the latter to win. The game was short, and scored as followed:

Burlock – 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 – 30.

Dunn – 3 4 4 5 4 4 – 24.

It is not exaggerating to say that such a decisive victory as this over as cleaver a player as Burlock is ample cause for congratulation to Tom Dunn.

ABSORBING PLAY

Exciting as had been the match of Smith and Rawlins in the forenoon, that in the afternoon far surpassed it. From the first tee to the fourteenth hole, at which it ended, no such exhibition of golfing has ever been played on Southern links.

The game of Smith was almost faultless, but the general impression of Rawlins’ playing seemed to be that it did not do him entire justice.

The scores were:

Smith – (first 9 holes) – 4 3 3 3 3 5 4 5 5 – 35:

            (second 9)       –  4 4 4 5 3 4 5 4 4– 37.           Total, 72.

Rawlins – (first 9 holes) – 4 3 4 4 3 5 4 4 6 – 37:

            (second 9)       –  5 5 5 5 6 5 3 4 4 – 42.          Total, 79.

Smith won by 5 up and 4 to play.

The record for the eighteen-hole course had previously been 75, played last Friday by Harry Rawlins. Smith broke this record to-day by his phenomenal score of 72. His playing was judged by experts to be fully as fine as when he won the championship for 1899 at Baltimore.

DRIVING CONTEST

After the conclusion of the match game, a prize for the best driving was competed for by the golfers. It was won by Servos, who made, (approximately) 220 yards, with Smith as second, who fell about ten yards short of this figure. The champion made a drive as long as the winner, but, unfortunately, it curved out of bounds. Low ran a close third, and Rawlins had the honor of driving six balls, each of which struck fair within the prescribed limit.

AWARD OF PRIZES

The prizes were awarded in the music room of the hotel. Mayor Bower, assisted by Tom Dunn, officiated, and made the presentation in the following language:

“In behalf of the Tampa Bay Golf Club I wish to extend to you one and all a hearty welcome. There has been here for the past three days a most successful tournament. We are very pleased to have the pleasure of entertaining such distinguished golfers. We trust that their stay has been pleasant, and for our part, we have been pleased to have them with us.” (Applause.)

Mr. Dunn then responded as follows:

“It is with pleasure that I have to respond on behalf of my brother professionals and myself to your kindly welcome. I am sure I express the opinion of the whole company in saying that we have had a jolly good time here. The opinion of my brother professionals as regards the links is that there is in them the making of a good course.”

The prized were awarded as follows.

1.    Qualifying round - $1=25 – George Low.

2.    36-hole match play - $100 – “Willie” Smith.

A DRAMATIC MOMENT

As the winner stepped up to receive his award, the hotel orchestra struck up a few bars of “See, the Conquering Hero Comes.” This exemplification of Mr. Dick’s dramatic talent and managerial skill evoked loud and continuous applause.

3.    Runner-up in match play - $25 – Harry Rawlins.

4.    First Prize in consolation - $25 – Tom Dunn.

5.    Runner-up on consolation (value in plate) – W. E. Burlock, Jr.

6.    Driving contest – $2$ – L. Servos.

The announcement of each award and the presence of the victor were greeted with hearty applause. 

Colonel Gillespie was called upon, and responded in a short and interesting speech, which was greeted with much handclapping.

The orchestra then rendered a sweet, old Scotch song, the words of which were sung by Mr. Dunn, in a fine, rich baritone. He was repeatedly applauded, and came back to sing, “Auld Lang Syne.” The entire company – golfers and guests – joined in the chorus, which seemed to awaken a responsive thrill in every heart.

The evening closed dramatically by an orchestral rendition of “God Save the Queen,” a sentiment which every American present joined in expressing: and the “Star Bangled Banner,” which aroused almost riotous enthusiasm.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

“Willie” Smith, victor in the tournament, was born at Carnoustie, Scotland, twenty three years ago. He has been in this country for over two years. He won the open championship of America last September on the links of the Country club at Baltimore, and within two weeks contested for and was victorious at the Western championship.

Tom Dunn was born in Scotland, and is accredited with laying more golf links than any other man alive to-day. He has been victorious in numerous contests and has always been regarded as a formidable opponent. He instructed the Hon. W. E. Gladstone in the mysteries of the game, and inducted the Hon. A. J. Balfour (now leader of the House of Commons) into its secret pleasures.

George Low was born at Carnoustie; is 23 years of age, and played second in the match where Smith won the championship for this year.

Harry Rawlins was born at Bombay, India; is 23 years old, played in Bembridge, Isle of Wight; belongs to the Equinox Golf club, of New Hampshire, and has charge of the Tampa Bay links.

L. Servos is a Canadian, and was born at Niagara-on-the-lake; belongs to the White Mountains Golf club, and has charge of the links at Belleair.

Burlock is considered the best golfer among the American newspaper men; belongs to the Magnolia Golf club, Jacksonville; was born in New York.

J. Hamilton Gillespie was admitted to the Florida bar by Judge Phillips; has been a member of the Royal and Ancient Golf club of Scotland since 1872, and is captain of the Kissimmee Golf club, having laid out the links there.

GOLFERS LEAVE TAMPA

The contestants in the three-days tournament will leave early next week for Kissimmee, where the golf club of that place will hold a meet. It is not known whether they will play any except in friendly matches.

HARRY VARDON COMING

Harry Vardon, the great English crack golfer sailed from Liverpool yesterday. He has been forwarded an invitation by Colonel Dick, of the Tampa Bay hotel, to play his first match here. Should he consent, it will be contested somewhere about February 5. A match between this crack and the recent winner of the tournament would make the Tampa Bay links famous for all time.

FINALS COMING TODAY

Saturday, January 27, 1900

THE MORNING TRIBUNE

Yesterday’s Golfing Reveals Some Excellent Scoring.

RAWLINS MAKES A RECORD

HE AND SMITH WILL BE THE TWO PRINCIPAL PLAYERS IN THE CONCLUDING CONTESTS ON THE TAMPA BAY LINKS

The conditions that rendered Thursday such an ideal day for golfing were equally present yesterday. Not a cloud flecked the azure sky, and a light, bracing breeze swept the Tampa Bay links from start to finish.

Only eighteen holes were played in the semi-final match, and the run was made over the regulation course, including the nine holes within and the nine holes without the race-track.

The entire contest was in match play, the players drawing for their opponents.

The order of the playing was: – Smith vs. Servos; Dick vs. Dunn; Low vs. Rawlins; Gillespie vs. Burlock. Smith “teed off” at 10:30; both he and his opponent – Servos– made the first hole in five strokes.

The scores of the contestants for the $100 prize, according to medal play, were:

Smith – (first 9 holes) – 5 5 5 3 3 5 3 4 6 –     39:

            (second 9)       –  4 5 6 5 5 3 5 3 4 –    40.       Total, 79.

Servos – (first 9 holes) – 5 5 3 4 4 6 5 6 6 –    44:

            (second 9)       –  4 4 5 4 3 4 5 4 4  –   37.       Total, 81.

Smith won by 2 up and 1 to play.

Rawlins – (first 9 holes) – 4 4 4 5 5 4 4 4 5 – 39:

            (second 9)       –  4 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 3 –    36.       Total, 75.

Low – (first 9 holes) – 4 4 4 6 5 6 4 4 6  –       43:

            (second 9)       –  4 4 5 5 6 4 5 4 4 –    41.       Total, 84.

Rawlins won by 5 up and 4 to play.

In the contest for the consolation prize, Dunn won from Dick by the nest score of 81; and Burlock from Gillespie by 2 up and 1 to play.

In comment upon the play yesterday attention may be called to the remarkable score of Rawlins, who made the circuit in 75 strokes. Dunn deserves especial mentions for having made his first nine holes in 36 – a remarkable score when taken in consideration with the small amount of playing which that gentleman has been doing lately. The contest between Burlock and Gillespie was spiriting, and hung in the balance until the seventeenth hole.

In the afternoon a friendly foursome in match play was contested by Col. A. E. Dick and Harry Rawlins vs. Tom Dunn and Col. J. Hamilton Gillespie. The following score show how closely the contest was from start to finish:

Gillespie and Dunn – (first 9 holes) – 4 2 5 5 4 6 6 5 5 – 42;

                                    (second 9) – 3 7 7 5 5 4 4 6 5 – 46. Total, 88.

Rawlins and Dick – (first 9 holes) – 6 4 3 4 6 5 5 5 7 – 45;

                                    (second 9) – 4 6 6 6 5 5 6 5 4 – 47. Total, 92.

The contesting parties come in even on the eighteenth hole, each having 9 to the good. It was, therefore, decided to play off three more holes to decide the contest, the scores for which were:

Gillespie and Dunn – 4 5 4 – 13.

Dick and Rawlins –     5 4 5 – 14.

Gillespie and Dunn won by 1 up.

On the whole, the contests yesterday were far more exciting than those on Thursday. The scores were better, the playing more scientific and the contestants evinced a keener interest in the issue of the game. The best sport, however, will undoubtedly be seen to-day. Thirty-six holes are to be played, eighteen in the afternoon, and the winners will be entitled to the two purses of $100 and $25, respectively. The prize for the highest medal score has already been won by George Low. Who the winners will be must be decided to-morrow.

LOW GETS FIRST LEAD

Friday, January 26, 1900

THE MORNING TRIBUNE

Great Golf Tournament Opens at Tampa Bay Links

CRACK PLAYERS CONTESTING

Interesting Matches in the Semi-Finals To-Day, When the Professionals Will Begin to Work in Real Earnest

Yesterday was an ideal day for golfing – a clear sky and an atmosphere with just sufficient chill in it to make active exercise a pleasure. A large assemblage – among which were many ladies – witnesses the first day of the tournament given by the West Coast Golf association – enthusiasts even following their particular favorites twice around the nine-hole course.

The original intention seems to have been to play out the match on the none-hole course inside the race-track, but owing to objections raised by some of the players, this course was abandoned, and the other substituted. 

The links on which the tournament was played are in the open field outside the track, and constitute, with those inside, the regulation eighteen-hole course.

The names of the golfers and the clubs to which they belong, are as follows:

Col. A. E. Dick, Tampa Bay Golf club; Tom Dunn, Bournemouth (Eng.) Golf club; J. H. Gillespie, Kissimmee Golf club; Harry Rawlins, Tampa Bay Golf club; W. E. Burlock, Jr., Magnolia Golf Club; L. Servos, Belleair Golf club; George Low, Dike Meadow Golf club (Brooklyn, N. Y.); “Willie” Smith, Midlothian Golf club (Chicago), and A. L. Taylor.

Of this number, four – Rawlins, Servos, Smith and Low– were professionals.“Willie” Smith is the American open champion for 1899: Low won the recent golf tournament at Magnolia Springs, in which Rawlins came in second. Among the amateurs, Tom Dunn has charge of the links of the West Coast Golf association; Burlock is considered the best gofer among American reporters; Colonel Gillespie comes from Sarasota and Colonel Dick is too well known to need to mention here.

The meet was played off in three pairs, viz: Dick vs. Rawlins; Burlock vs. Servos; Low vs. Taylor, and a threesome – Dunn, Gillespie and Smith.

The tournament was opened by the genial host of the Tampa Bay, who “teed off” in regulation crimson coat and white duck trousers. The first hole was made by Rawlins in four strokes, and by Colonel Dick in eleven. The other golfers then followed in this order: – Burlock and Servos; Low and Taylor; Dunn, Gillespie and Smith.

The score for the eighteen holes played in the forenoon was as follows:

Dick –  (first 9 holes) – 11 4 7 6 6 6 8 6 7 –    61:

            (second 9)       –  9 5 7 8 8 9 6 7 6 –    65.       Total, 126.

Rawlins – (first 9 holes) – 4 4 6 5 4 6 5 4 6 – 44:

            (second 9)       –  4 4 5 6 5 4 6 5 5 –    44.       Total, 88.

Burlock – (first 9 holes) – 5 8 6 7 5 6 7 5 6 – 55:

            (second 9)       –  6 5 7 7 4 6 6 5 5 –    51.       Total, 106.

Servos – (first 9 holes) – 7 4 6 4 4 6 6 4 3 –    44:

            (second 9)       –  5 4 5 7 4 4 5 5 7 –    46.       Total, 90.

Low –  (first 9 holes) – 5 4 5 7 4 4 5 3 5 –       42:

            (second 9)       –  5 4 5 4 5 4 6 4 4 –    41.       Total, 83.

Taylor – (first 9 holes) – 8 5 7 7 8 5 9 6 5 –    60:

            (second 9)       –  6 6 6 7 8 9 9 5 5  –   61.       Total, 121.

Dunn – (first 9 holes) – 6 5 6 5 4 4 6 6 6 –      48:

            (second 9)       –  5 3 6 6 8 5 7 6 7 –    54.       Total, 102.

Gillespie – (first 9 holes) – 5 5 5 8 5 6 8 4 5 – 51:

            (second 9)       –  5 5 6 7 6 6 8 4 4 –    51.       Total, 102.

Smith – (first 9 holes) – 5 5 4 5 6 4 6 5 8 –     48:

            (second 9)       –  4 4 5 5 4 5 5 4 4 –    40.       Total, 88.

This program was slightly altered in the afternoon, owing to the loss of Taylor, who decided not to continue in the tournament. Smith was substituted in his place, and he and Low played the eighteen holes that continued the match.

At 3 o’clock Servos “teed off,” and was followed by his opponent – Burlock. The order of the golfers in the afternoon was: Servos vs. Burlock; Dick vs. Rawlins; Smith vs. Low; Gillespie vs. Dunn.

The score by holes was:

Servos – (first 9 holes) – 4 2 5 10 4 6 8 5 5 – 49:

            (second 9)       –  5 4 6 7 5 4 6 7 5 –    49.       Total, 98.

Burlock – (first 9 holes) – 5 4 7 8 6 4 6 5 6 – 53:

            (second 9)       –  5 4 7 8 6 4 6 5 6 –    51.       Total, 104.

Dick –  (first 9 holes) – 5 6 6 6 7 7 8 6 6  –      57:

            (second 9)       –  6 3 8 7 5 6 6 6 4 –    51.       Total, 108.

Rawlins – (first 9 holes) – 6 5 4 6 4 4 5 4 6 – 44:

            (second 9)       –  5 5 3 6 5 4 5 4 5 –    42.       Total, 86.

Smith – (first 9 holes) – 4 5 6 5 3 5 5 4 4 –     41:

            (second 9)       –  5 4 4 5 5 4 6 4 4 –    41.       Total, 82.

Low –  (first 9 holes) – 4 3 5 4 4 5 4 5 6 –       40:

            (second 9)       –  6 3 5 4 4 5 7 4 5 –    43.       Total, 83.

Gillespie – (first 9 holes) – 7 7 6 7 6 6 5 5 5 – 54:

            (second 9)       –  not taken.

Dunn –(first 9 holes) – 8 4 7 5 3 4 7 4 4 –      46:

            (second 9)       –  not taken.

The playing yesterday left Low a winner by the small margin of four over Smith; eight over Rawlins and twenty-two over Servos.

According to the rules of the tournament, these four will play to-day in two pairs.

A consolation prize will also be competed for by the four contestants with lowest scores.

Undoubtedly the best playing will be seen to-day and Saturday. Yesterday the golfers were merely qualifying for to-day’s match, and did not exert themselves to the utmost. To-day, however, we may expect to see some fine golfing and, possibly, some records broken.

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