Whitmoor CC #9 North & #18 South
The Metropolitan
Upcoming Events
20 Questions with Roger Null
2016 USGA Events
Page 4
St. Louis Golf History 1947 US Open
Twenty Questions with Roger Null
Gateway Cup Summary Pros vs. Amateurs Page 12
superintendent has a long and
Page 8
The former course
Anatomy of Greatness - Book Review Page 13
Olympic Golf in 1904 Page 14-17
MAGA Events Old Warson Cup May 14-15, 2016
Vol. 3 No. 2
distinguished career in
St. Louis golf, in many ways. An accomplished golfer, superintendent, golf administrator and course designer, Roger has become the “go to” architect in recent years for area courses looking for updates and/or renovations. Formerly the superintendent at Old Warson, Norwood Hills and General Manager at Boone Valley, Roger is among the most respected individuals in the business.
US Open Local Qualifying May 10 Forest Hills US Women’s Open Qualifying May 24 Westwood CC US Amateur Four-Ball Men & Women May 21-25, 2016 US Junior Amateur Qualifying June 20, 2016 Aberdeen GC US Girls Junior Amateur Qualifying June 22, 2016 Bogey Hills CC
Page 19
Normandie Amateur May 21-22, 2016
US Open June 16-19, 2016
East Side Amateur June 11-12, 2016 Continued on page 4
See page 9 for full schedule
Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association • 11777 Clayton Rd. • St. Louis, Missouri 63131 314.567.MAGA • Fax: 314.261.9250 • info@metga.org
The Metropolitan
March-April 2016
STAFF Executive Director Curt Rohe - curt@metga.org P.J. Boatwright Interns - 2016 Schaeffer Bell boatwrightintern@metga.org METROPOLITAN CHAMPIONSHIPS Amateur Championship Match Play Championship Open Championship Women’s Amateur Championship Junior Amateur Championship Senior Amateur Championship Metropolitan Cup Matches Four-Ball Championship Mid-America Junior Cup USGA QUALIFYING ROUNDS US Open Qualifying (Local and Sectional) US Senior Open Qualifying US Amateur Qualifying US Mid-Amateur Qualifying US Women’s Mid-Amateur US Junior Amateur Qualifying US Amateur Public Links Qualifying US Senior Amateur Qualifying US Women’s Open Qualifying US Amateur Four-Ball US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball EXECUTIVE BOARD Stanford S. Grossman – President Emeritus Thomas J. O’Toole Jr. – Vice-President Thomas O. Sobbe Jr. – Vice-President M. Ray McCraine – Secretary G. Scott Engelbrecht – Treasurer G.F. (Rick) Meyer Jr. – At-Large Member H. Mick Wellington – At-Large Member ADVISORY COMMITTEE Scott Thomas, Chairman Dustin Ashby Tom Barry Skip Berkmeyer Jim Dunn David Rhoads Curt Rohe Metropolitan Editor Jim Healey
CURTíS COMMENTS Wow! May is here which is really when things kick into high gear for MAGA. We had our first Amateur Series event May 2 at WingHaven CC with 57 golfers out to start the season, including our first female to ever participate in the Amateur Series. Curt Rohe Executive Director
Coming up this month is US Open Local Qualifying (5/10 at Forest Hills CC) and US Women’s Open Q (5/24 at Westwood CC). The “Road to Oakmont” begins for 100 hopefuls at Forest Hills where 5 individuals will move on to the Sectional Round. Westwood will be a great venue to host the Sectional round of US Women’s Open on 5/24. The “official” kickoff to the MAGA championship season will be May 14-15 at the annual Old Warson Cup at Old Warson CC. A sold field of 16 top amateurs from the area are set get a leg up on the 2016 Player of the Year race. The field and Round of 16 matches can be found on the website. I would like to welcome Schaeffer Bell to the MAGA staff for 2016, he will fulfill one of our PJ Boatwright Internship positions. Schaeffer is a senior at Missouri Baptist University and on the golf team where he has one more semester before graduation. Bell is a St. Louis native and went to Westminster Christian Academy. I have received numerous call and emails the last couple weeks of April in regards to the myMAGA app being down and we understand how frustrating this has been. Hopefully you read the update in the May 1 eRevision about why the app is down. The popularity and, more importantly, the use of the app had increased at such a high rate that GHIN decided to shut it down and ensure that a superior product be brought back in due time. Thank you for your patience and keep posting those scores via METGA.ORG or use M.GHIN.COM from your mobile device. Thank you again for taking a moment to read The Metropolitan! We will be bringing you monthly issues May through August to cover all of the exciting things happening at MAGA during the season!
2
The Metropolitan
March-April 2016
the player plays the ball from the new position. The answer is yes; wind is not an outside agency. In this case, Horschel’s ball rolled into the water hazard (yellow) that fronts the pond and was not recoverable. He received a penalty shot under Rule 26-1 and then had options under Rule 26-1. He elected with the option to go back under stroke and distance by playing a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played, to the left of the putting green. Where he two putted from that spot for a bogey 6. He also had the option to go to the Drop Zone, located across on the fairway side of the hazard.
Rules of Golf Corner 2016 Masters - Billy Horschel at the 15th Everyone who watched The Masters this year surely saw what happened to Billy Horschel on the 15th Putting Green on Saturday during Round 3. Horschel went for the green in 2, as most everyone does, and hit that shot to the left of the green. He proceeded to chip up to the right of the hole, which is below the hole and in a great position for a birdie putt. After marking his ball, aligning his putt, etc., he replaced his ball on the spot, removing his ball marker. Therefore, his ball is in play.
A little side note regarding Horschel at the 2015 US Open. You may recall that he was not happy when this happened to him during his third round at Chambers Bay, and he was very critical of the USGA afterward. By coincidence, I was the walking official with Horschel’s group during that third round on Saturday at Chambers Bay and I can tell you he could not have been more pleasant. He was very talkative and while walking up the 7th fairway made the comment to me “I really love this golf course from tee to green.” I was at the airport waiting for my flight home on Saturday evening when I saw his rant and was completely taken aback, as this did not seem to be the same guy I spent 4 hours with earlier that morning.
Spieth at the 12th
The other question that came up quite often after The Masters was Jordan Spieth’s 12th Hole on Sunday. As most know, Spieth stood on the 12th Tee with a one shot lead after just making back-to-back bogeys. He hit his tee shot on 12 into Rae’s Creek, where so many green jackets have gone to drown. He had his options under Rule 26-1 after that fateful tee shot, 1) play the ball as it lies (in Rae’s Creek…not possible); 2) play from original spot (teeing ground) that many have said would have been his best option; 3) take the point his ball last crossed the hazard and go back on that line with the flag as far as he wanted. Additionally, there is a Drop Zone on 12, which was about a 60-yard shot. He chose option 3 above and went to a yardage he was comfortable with - about 80 yards - to clear the hazard, where he hit an untimely 65-yard shot, laying over a huge divot where his Masters chances all but ended.
As most saw, Saturday was extremely windy at Augusta. Before Horschel could attempt his putt, his ball, lying very close to the edge of the slope on the green, began to roll due to the wind and proceeded to roll toward the edge and ultimately down into the pond that fronts the green. He stood there in disbelief looking for a Rules Official. Rules Officials at The Masters now walk with groups, as they do at the US Open, and are also given assignments, such as at the 15th green. Horschel knew exactly what the answer was, but was still in awe that it had just occurred to him. There is a Decision (18-1/12) that is titled Ball Replaced and at Rest Is Thereafter Moved by the Wind. In the Decision, the question is asked whether
3
20 Questions with Roger Null Repreinted by permission. Article by Paul Hurst Where did you grow up? “I grew up in Le Mars which is in Northwest Iowa. My junior year of high school we moved to Early, Iowa and I graduated there with a class of 24 boys and four girls. We had a hell of a football team with that small amount of people. Dad was a football coach and my brother was a football coach. Throughout high school I worked at the 9 hole local course selling golf balls, shagging range balls, changing cups, etc. Whatever they needed done. I actually had a football scholarship my freshman year of college. It was a very strict and religious college and lost my scholarship there because there were a few of us that got caught drinking beer one night. When I lost my football scholarship I was working at Sioux City Country Club and the Superintendent there talked me into going to Iowa State for Turf. Kind of a means to an end, gave me a reason to stay close to the game of golf. Hell, I did not know anything about growing grass at that point. “ What lead to you becoming a Golf Course Superintendent? “Fate really, I thought I would end up being a football coach because that is all we did. My family watched football and played football. I went to Iowa State for two years and actually ran out of money. My professor, Dr. Elliot Roberts, got me a job as an Assistant Superintendent at The Rock Island Arsenal Golf Club in Rock Island, Illinois. Dr. Elliot was one of the pioneers of bringing turf into the Universities. My first summer the Superintendent, Hank Hennings, had his wife pass away and decided that he did not want to do the job anymore and quit. The Greens Chairman came to me and told me that I was now in charge. I had no idea what I was doing. The first day on the job I learned my biggest lesson on the golf course. It was our Member Guest and the club champion Whitey Barnes told me the golf course was the worst he had ever seen it. I felt like crawling in a locker. A few minutes later another member chimed in and said the golf course was as good as he has ever seen it. Turns out the guy that complimented me played well and the guy that ripped me played poorly. Taught me to just shake my head and go about my business.” Where did you go from Rock Island? “Tom Van De Walle was at Short Hills CC in Moline, Illinois and Jack Litvay was at Crow Valley Golf Club in Davenport, Iowa and the three of us became close friends. I was at the Arsenal Golf Club for about 7 years and then went to Cedar Rapids Country Club for another seven years after that. In 1980 I came to Old Warson. Jack Litvay had left Crow Valley and was working at St. Louis Country Club. He told me about the job opening at Old Warson so I sent in a resume. I got an interview and got the job. In 1987 I went to Norwood on the premise that I could do a renovation. I did a Master Plan for the West and East course and almost finished but got an offer from Boone Valley I could not refuse in 1993. My role at Boone Valley was General Manager and I did that until around 2000. Wanted to step down at that point and take on a more consulting role, play some senior amateur events around the country and start doing some design work.” Playing golf has been a big part of your career? “I started playing golf at the age of 12 following my older brother. I played my freshman and sophomore year on the high school golf team. When we moved to Early they had no golf team so my junior and senior year so I played some local events. The game is what brought me to turf management, not necessarily the grass. At the Arsenal Golf Club I started realizing how turf management and golf coincided and what they meant to each other. I was still playing amateur tournaments at this point and was playing in the evening with one of our members, Dr. Paul Barton. He was an accomplished player and close friends with Jack Fleck who beat Ben Hogan to deny Hogan his 5th US Open victory. Dr. Barton kind of
The Metropolitan
March-April 2016
4
refined my game and took me from a country boy just beating the ball around to learning how to really play the game. While at the Arsenal Golf Club I qualified for my first US Amateur and again at Cedar Rapids I qualified for another. I also played in two US Amateurs and two Mid Amateurs while at Old Warson and one more US Amateur while I was at Norwood. Finally at Boone I finished up with two Senior Amateurs and a USGA Team Championship.” What do you consider your biggest golf accomplishment? “Winning three GCSAA championships meant as much as anything to me. I think I am the only one that has won three. I do have 15 holes in one but I think that is merely a reflection of how much golf I get to play.” Biggest piece of advice for young Superintendents? “Pauses….the one thing that I told all my guys is always think about what you do and how it impacts the game. The biggest difference between here and Europe is in Europe the game is the number one priority, the golf course is two and the golfer is three. Here we are just the opposite the golfer is first, the course is second and then the game. If you think how your work is going to affect the game than everything else will fall into place. We are way too worried about the golfer in the United States.” What’s the biggest change you have seen in Golf Course Maintenance since you have retired? “Equipment by far is the biggest change. Research has done a lot but equipment has been the biggest change. Hell I was at my first job when the first riding greens mower came out.” Explain your involvement with Golf Course Architecture and Design? “Let’s see, prior to 1983 I was always intrigued with golf course design but did not put much thought into it. 1983 is when I first visited Scotland and I really became interested. While there I bought Allister Mackenzie book called Golf Course Architecture. Once I read that I could not get enough of reading about architecture. The GCSAA put on some regional studies and I went to one in Chicago with Jeffry Cornish who was the most noted historian of golf course architecture at the time. He was a huge influence on me and actually came to Norwood to help me validate my Master Plan. From the early 80’s through the 90’s I went to as many places as I could to visit great designs from Long Island, to California and Europe.” Norwood was really the first place I did a lot of design work and I am very proud of that. Before I semi-retired at Boone Valley I did some work at Westwood Hills CC in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. That was really my second chance at design work. In 2005 I rebuilt 12 Null (r) with St. Louis Country Club’s green complexes at Westwood Country Club followed by some work Superintendent Tim Burch (l) and former head at Old Warson in 2007. The following year I did some bunker work professional Steve Spray (center). at Westborough and then some small projects again at Old Warson and Westwood. The project here at Bogey/Log Cabin started with rebuilding one green, went to some zoysia conversion and then blossomed to a total renovation over the past three years. Favorite Tour Player? Arnie is really the one that got me started. Saw him chip in at the Masters one year. But my favorite one of all time was Ben Hogan, I have read every book about him.” Favorite Golf Course Architect? - “Allister Makenzie, no question. I love his designs, style, strategy, use of deception and his bunkering. His statement that there is no blind hole after you play it once is my favorite.”
continued on page 6 The Metropolitan
March-April 2016
5
20 Questions with Roger Null - (continued) What’s makes a Golf Course Superintendent great? “I would say his respect of the game and attention to detail. Detail gets lost the most in the big picture and is seen by the golfer the most. The details are what are seen by the golfer while the big picture is often lost.” How much Golf are you playing these days? “As much as I possibly can, I am a golfaholic and addicted to the game. I will hit balls or play some holes every day if I can. If I take on a project on I will drop the game and play only on weekends. That is the only way I know how to do it.” From Mike Null of Norwood Hills - Who was the best golfer…you, your brother or your Mom? “Laughs..I was young when my mom played but I would have to give it to her because Mike would think that I would say me.” From Tim Schwierjohn of Pomme Creek – What is the one thing now, (equipment, fungicide, technology…etc) that you wished you could have had while you were a Superintendent? “I think it has to be equipment. We did not have the technology in my era but we still had good playing surfaces. Today’s equipment has made aerification and topdressing so much easier.” From Robert Shaft of The Falls Golf Course – What is your favorite golf course? “My favorite course is The Old Course at St. Andrews which I have played five times. I played it twice in a small competition with some Scottish Supers with Tip Anderson as my caddy. Tip was Arnolds Palmers caddy in every British open he played in. It cost me a lot of beers after the round to listen to Tips stories but it was a hell of an experience. “ From Robert Shaft of The Falls Golf Course - Proudest Moment? “It is this right here, the Bogey/Log Cabin Club renovation. The only total renovation I have done on a piece of property. To see what it was and what it could be and then pull it off has been incredible. Also, the other night when the MVGCSA gave me the Honorary Membership. I feel like between my work here Bogey/Log Cabin and the MVGCSA recognition everything culminated and made me feel like I left something behind that made the game better.” From Tim Roethler of Old Warson Country Club – Tell me about the irrigation leak when you first started at Old Warson? “When I first came to Old Warson the irrigation was center sod cups in the greens. In the middle of each green there was a quick coupler and you would put your impact sprinkler or hose with a roller basin and move as needed. My first year on a Sunday morning I was out checking greens and all I saw on #7 green was this big bubble. The coupler had busted and the whole green was one big water trampoline. I opened the bubble up with a knife and the green was dead by 2 p.m. Needless to say we got a new irrigation system soon after. It also taught me that if you are going to grow grass in St. Louis you needed to have a large nursery.” From Kris Rickman of the Quarry Golf Club - How many individual golf clubs do you have in your house right now? “I used to collect vintage clubs so I have maybe 700 golf clubs in my attic. When I was in Iowa I would spend winters in the pro shop refinishing persimmon shafts and did a lot of club repair. Who knows what I will do with them, probably give them to Mike Null.” From Kris Rickman of the Quarry Golf Club -Who is the most interesting person in golf right now? “Hard question, in my opinion its Tiger Woods and what is happening to him and where does he go from here.”
The Metropolitan
March-April 2016
6
St. Louis Golf History 1947 US Open St. Louis CC
Snead looks on as officials determine who is away.
The 1947 US Open was a thriller from start to finish. Byron Nelson, who had won 18 of 35 tournaments in 1945, including 11 in a row, had officially retired after the 1946 season (where he won six tournaments), though he came back to play the occasional tournament through 1965, especially at The Masters. The 1946 champion, Lloyd Mangrum, would be on hand to defend the title as Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Dutch Harrison, Bobby Locke and others looked to win the second post-WWII Open. The first two rounds saw a low score of only 67, but putting two together proved difficult as 139 was low by Dick Metz and Chick Harbert. Eight players were within four shots entering the final 36 holes. Amateur James McHale posted a 65 in the third round - still a USGA record score by an amateur - with the leaders narrowing as Lew Worsham led at 211, followed by Locke and Snead at 212. Hogan fell away with a second round 75 to be at 217.
Lew Worsham (l) and Sam Snead shake hands before beginning the playoff for the championship.
Snead bettered the 29-year-old Worsham by 1 shot in the final round, leaving them tied at 282 and a playoff looming. The next day, they played another 18 holes and came to the 18th level for their round. A par at 18 would give both players a 69 and another playoff round. Worsham was on the back fringe and chipped toward the hole, with the ball catching the cup before spinning away to within 30 inches. Snead putted from about 15 feet across the green, also leaving it about two and one-half feet short. As Snead prepared to finish, Worsham called for a measurement. In those days, the continuous putting rule was not in effect. Forced to wait while officials determined who was away - Snead by an inch Sam steppd up and missed the cup on the low side. Worsham them calmly holed his putt. To this day, it remains one of the mysteries of the game how Snead never won the US Open.
Hogan hitting his tee shot on the par 3, 16th
The Metropolitan
March-April 2016
8
Competition Schedule 2016 MAGA Competitions Entry Championship Date(s) Deadline Venue The Old Warson Cup Normandie Amateur East Side Amateur Women’s Amateur Championship Open Championship Junior Amateur Championship Amateur Championship Senior Amateur Championship Four-Ball Championship
May 14-15 May 21-22 June 11-12 June 29-30 July 8-10 July 11-12 August 4-6 August 15-16 October 3
--------- May 11 June 1 June 8 June 22 June 29 July 13 August 3 September 14
Old Warson Country Club Normandie Golf Club Spencer T. Olin Golf Course Greenbriar Hills Country Club The Country Club of St. Albans Franklin County Country Club Glen Echo Country Club WingHaven Country Club Sunset Country Club
2016 USGA Qualifying Rounds
Entry Championship Date(s) Deadline Venue US Open Local Qualifying May 10 US Women’s Open Qualifying (36-holes) May 24 US Junior Amateur Qualifying (36-holes) June 20 US Girls’ Junior Amateur Qualifying June 22 US Senior Open Qualifying June 27 US Amateur Qualifying July 18-19 US Mid-Amateur Qualifying August 8 US Women’s Mid-Amateur Qualifying August 8 US Senior Women’s Amateur Qualifying August 24 US Senior Amateur Qualifying August 29 US Amateur Four-Ball Qualifying September 26 US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Qual. September 26
April 27 May 4 June 1 June 1 June 8 June 29 July 20 July 27 August 3 August 3 August 10 August 10
2016 MAGA Amateur Series Schedule
Forest Hills Country Club Westwood Country Club Aberdeen Golf Club Bogey Hills Country Club St. Clair Country Club Old Hickory Golf Club Spencer T. Olin Golf Course Spencer T. Olin Golf Course Glen Echo Country Club The Country Club of St. Albans (TC) Lake Forest Golf & Country Club Lake Forest Golf & Country Club
2016 MAGA Play 9
Event Date Venue
Event Date Venue
#1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 Championship
#1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 Championship
May 2 June 17 July 15 July 25 August 19 September 12 October 8-9
WingHaven Country Club Sunset Hills Country Club Bear Creek Golf Club Tamarack Golf Club Annbriar Golf Club Forest Park Golf Course * Aberdeen Golf Club
April 16 Ballwin GC May 7 Highlands at Forest Park June 18 Ruth Park Golf Course July 16 Berry Hill GC August 20 Joachim GC September 10 Creve Coeur GC October 1 Four Seasons CC
Online applications for ALL MAGA events are available on the MAGA website. Events in grey have been completed.
The Metropolitan
March-April 2016
9
The Metropolitan
March-April 2016
MAY 2016 1
2
3
4
5
6
Amateur Series #1
8
9
Play 9 #2
10
11
12
13
US Open Local Qual.
15
16
17
18
19
20
21 Normandie Amateur
23
Normandie Amateur
29
14 OWCC CUP
OWCC CUP
22
7
24
25
26
27
28
1
2
3
4
8
9
10
11
Women’s Amateur
Women’s Amateur
15
16
US Women’s Open Local Qual.
30
31
MAGA Events in RED | USGA Events in BLUE
JUNE 2016
5
6
12 East Side Amateur
13
19
20
7
14
17 Amateur Series #2
21
US Junior Qual.
26
East Side Amateur
27
22
23
US Girls Junior Qual.
28
29
30
US Senior Open Qual.
10
24
18 Play 9 #3
25
The Metropolitan
March-April 2016
Please Support our Supporters
Exclusive Corporate Partner of the Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association Allied golf associations and supporters of the
Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association
Resources
11
Gateway Cup Matches Sunday’s Four-Ball Matches end tied with 3 1/2 points apiece. Monday’s Singles Matches are postponed when rain continued to fall at St. Albans. On Sunday, April 10, the players arrived at the Country Club of St. Albans for the Gateway Cup Matches. Played for honor, the pros against the joes was restarted in 2009 to bring back the camaraderie that was present among area professionals and top amateurs for decades. However, after taking the initial matches in 2009, it has been all pros since. Co-captains for the amateurs, Skip Berkmeyer and Toz Barry, planned their lineup carefully for the Sunday Four-Ball Matches before presenting it to the captain of the pros, Mike Tucker of Bellerive CC. Both sides were well aware that each point was important as they attempted to match players who would complement each other’s game. The planning paid off for both sides as the matches were played even. The amateurs took three and the pros took three, with one match halved, giving each team 3 1/2 points at the end of the day. The results were as follows: Bob Gaus and Rob Sedorcek (P) defeated Ryan Eckelkamp and Ryan Sullivan, 3 and 2 Chad Niezing and Bob Hanneken (A) halved with Mike Tucker and Ryan Roy (P) Brian Fogt and Jeff Whitfield (P) defeated Skip Berkmeyer and Andy Fogarty, 2 and 1 Sam Migdal and Chris Kovach (A) defeated Brandon Veld and Shane Blankenship, 3 and 2 Phil Caravia and Ted Moloney (A) defeated Gideon Smith and Matt Gindler, 4 and 2 Toz Barry and Tony Gumper (A) defeated Scott Brauer and Ty Zimmerman, 4 and 3 J.C. Anderson and Nash Haxel (P) defeated Scott Edwards and Scott Seibert, 2 and 1 The lineup for the Monday’s singles matches are as follows: Ted Moloney vs. Rob Sedorcek Sam Migdal Scott Seibert vs. Brandon Veld Skip Berkmeyer Tony Gumper vs. Matt Gindler Chris Kovah Phil Caravia vs. Shane Blankenship Ryan Sullivan Andy Fogarty vs. Scott Brauer Tom Barry Bob Hanneken vs. Jeff Whitfield Scott Edwards Ryan Eckelkamp vs. Mike Tucker Chad Niezing
vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs.
Bob Gaus J.C. Anderson Ryan Roy Brian Fogt Nash Haxel Ty Zimmerman Godeon Smith
However, as players arrived, the rain continued to fall. They waited patiently for a while before the realization set in that the course was becoming water-logged and the day’s event would be postponed. As of this writing, there is hope that another date can be found that fits with everyone’s schedule to allow the singles matches to be played.
The Metropolitan
March-April 2016
12
The Anatomy of Greatness St. Louis native Brandel Chamblee’s first book on the golf swing is one worth purchasing, reading and then using to improve your game! I’ll be the first to admit I’ve never been a fan of Chamblee. Hard to pick a specific reason, but just never cared much for his style. So when the publisher offered to send me a copy of his book, “Anatomy of Greatness” I was initially not all that interested. Then I read a review and it peeked my interest to learn more. I’m glad I did. Unlike a lot of “instruction” books, this one does not put forth his ideas or concepts. Rather, he looks at the best players in the game; Harry Vardon, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Walter Hagen, Byron Nelson, Bobby Jones, Mickey Wright, Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Tiger Woods and many others, to identify the common characteristics that made them the great players they were and among the best ball strikers of all time. His opening chapter on the grip immediately got my attention. As he noted, many of us in the “over 50” group read Hogan’s “Five Lessons: The Modern Fundamentals of Golf” and tried to apply them to our game, attempting to mimic his “weak grip,” so masterfully illustrated in the Anthony Ravielli drawings. However, as Chamblee points out, Hogan’s grip was made for his unique swing, to correct his early duck-hook that nearly caused him to quit the game. Had Hogan not found his own grip, as detailed in “Five Lessons” his name would likely only be a footnote in golf history. Chamblee goes on to illustrate, through some terrific images, why a strong grip - the one preferred by nearly all other great players - is what most golfers should adopt. He also provides the reasoning for this, which makes perfect sense. Each chapter is filled with illustrations, making it easy for the reader to apply the written word description to a practical application. It is a very easy read as you spend time reviewing the images and analyzing the captions provided. Whether you are a fan of Chamblee or not, I believe you will find the book fascinating. The images of players depicting the various swing components certainly grabs your attention. Everything from how the right knee of the best players started their swing, to the width of their stance, to the proper alignment, ball position and more, it makes some great points by showing the reader how the best players used these to their advantage to reach the pinnacle of their era. So, if you’ve struggled with the best setup, posture, the initial move away on the backswing, the transition to the downswing or your finish, Chamblee’s book addresses each one in a clear, concise manner, while pointing out that maybe if the commonalities that exist among the games very best worked so well for them, perhaps they would bear fruit for your game. Who knows, this might just be the one non-instruction book that can improve your game!
“The Anatomy of Greatness” from Simon & Schuster and Classics of Golf. Available in hardcover. 121 pages, illustrated. $30.00. The Metropolitan
March-April 2016
13
1904 Olympic Golf It wasn’t like we think of an Olympic Event Today!
by Jim Healey St. Louis Golf & 1904 Olympic Golf Historian
With the first Olympic Golf Event in over a century just a few months away, and with the last event held here in 1904 at Glen Echo CC, perhaps it’s a good time to look at what the event was really like 112 years ago. The concept for an International Golf Event took place in 1901, right after Colonel George McGrew, founder of Glen Echo, opened his new club on May 25, 1901. McGrew proposed hosting an International Golf Tournament in 1903, with the project receiving good reviews from all corners of the globe. Part of the reason for this was that Albert Bond Lambert, McGrew’s son-in-law, was not only an avid golfer, but he had taken part in the 1900 Paris Olympics at the Compiegne GC, where golf was first held during the Olympics. During World’s Fair Poster the competition, Lambert won the Handicap Event, and with it a gleaming silver bowl (currently in the museum of the USGA). George Sand, of the Chicago Golf Club, won the individual competition, while Margaret Abbott took the ladies’ title. In a strange quirk of fate, since medals were not awarded during the 1900 Olympics, Miss Abbott never knew she had won an Olympic Event. It was only many years later that a researcher uncovered those facts. Having won the Handicap Event, and since Lambert had a home in Paris, he was well known to most English and Scottish players. Lambert, in addition to being namesake for St. Louis’ International Airport, was not only an avid flyer and promoter of aviation in America, he was also president of Lambert Colonel George McGrew Pharmacal, a chemical company whose primary product was Listerine. In the days before the Income Tax Amendment was approved, Lambert was a man of substantial means. As McGrew and Lambert planned for the 1903 International Golf Event, events took place that would forever reshape the St. Louis area. Originally, the Worlds Fair was to be held in St. Louis in Missed Opportunity 1903. However, delays forced the event to With all the best players thought be pushed back to 1904, coinciding with to be headed to St. Louis for the the 1904 Olympics, which, at that time, Olympic Golf event, the USGA wrote had been awarded to Chicago. With the a letter to Colonel McGrew implying Worlds Fair being a much larger event at that if Glen Echo were to put in a the time than the Olympics, the leadership request to host the 1904 US Open, of St. Louis approached Chicago about it would be looked at favorably. Albert Lambert relinquishing the Olympic Games in order For an unexplained reason, Glen for St. Louis to hold them in conjunction Echo never wrote back to the USGA with the Worlds Fair. Chicago balked at this idea. With that, St. requesting the event. It ended up Louis began to plan to host the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) being awarded to the Glen View Club in suburban Chicago. championships during the summer of 1904, a competing event to the Olympics. With the AAU behind the St. Louis event, the Olympic Games would be but a shelll, as the best athletes would opt for the The Metropolitan
March-April 2016
14
AAU events. The Chicago folks were livid at this suggestion. Finally, the matter was resolved when it was taken to President Teddy Roosevelt who, after weighing the factors involved, told Chicago to relinquish the Olympics to St. Louis in order to have the Worlds Fair and the Olympics together, thus ensuring the success of each. Upon hearing of Roosevelt’s decision, it was said that Baron de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympics, was furious. In fact, of all the Olympic Games from 1896-1924, when Coubertin was president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), St. Louis was the only games he did not attend. While the primary Olympic Events would be held in Forest Park and at Washington University, McGrew petitioned the IOC to host the golf events at Glen Echo. The IOC quickly agreed. Invitations were sent out to players across the globe to come to St. Louis for this event. The competition would consist of a Driving Contest, a Putting Contest, a Ladies’ event, a Men’s Team Event and the Individual Championship. H. Chandler Egan It would also be the first to award medals to the champions, in addition to over two dozen trophies donated by St. Louis individuals for the various events and competitions. In the end, all but the women’s event were held. At the time, there were four St. Louis newspapers; the Republic, the StarTimes, the Globe-Democrat and the Post-Dispatch. Beginning in early 1904, almost daily, there were reports of plans for the Olympics and of individuals who would be coming to compete. Among the golfers, Walter Travis and H. Chandler Egan (defending U.S. Amateur champion), and a number of English players were said to be planning to attend, including John Ball, Harold Hilton and Horace Hutchinson. To help ensure a truly international field, McGrew prepared a lavish booklet touting the club and the golf events. In addition, Lambert made a trip to Europe to meet with the best players, attempting to convince them to make the journey. In the end, none did. The golf event was to be held in late September, the 17-25. Glen Echo began making preparations for a variety of dignitaries to attend, with several making inquiries for membership to the club. The host professional and greenkeeper, Robert Foulis, had the course in top condition. Several holes Olympic Team Medal had been changed from 1901, with most of these changes making the course play stronger. At 6,148 yards - in the days of hickory shafts and gutty or the new Haskell balls - that was plenty long. Twenty-five St. Louisans were in the field of 111 competing for the title. The field included only three non-Americans, with those players from the Lambton Club in Toronto, Canada. Chandler Egan, of the Exmoor Club in Chicago, was by far and away the heavy favorite. The Harvard student was defending US Amateur Champion and a solid player. With Travis absent, and no English players taking part, writers of the day gave other Glen Echo’s 9th hole - 1904 competitors little chance. To begin his march to the title, Egan took the driving contest, with a distance of over 240 yards! On Friday September 16, an informal team match, pitting the Chicago-area Western Golf Association team against ten men from representing the Trans-Mississippi Association - with over half this team being St. Louisans. In this informal ‘tune-up’ event, the Trans-Miss team won. However, the next day, with medals The Metropolitan
March-April 2016
15
1904 Olympic Golf
(continued)
on the line, WGA captain Egan, changed his lineup, with the WGA team taking the team title. This was the first golf event where medals were awarded; ten to the winners and ten to the second place team. There was a third team involved, representing the United States Golf Association, comprised of the best of the remaining better players. However, they were not awarded medals for their effort. Following the team event, the newly installed lights were turned on over the putting course - specifically installed for the Olympic Matches. (Today, we would think of this as a large practice putting green, but in 1904, these were virtually non-existent at most courses). Burt McKinnie, a former Algonquin player but in 1904 representing Normandie, defeated Clement Smoot from Exmoor CC, for the trophy. The following day, qualifying rounds Olympic Golf Gold Medal were held - 36 holes - to determine the final 32 players who would compete for the Olympic title. Ralph McKittrick and Stuart Stickney, both playing out of St. Louis CC, tied for the low round, with McKittrick earning the medal in a playoff. The caliber of players varied drastically among those who qualified. In the first round matches, each of which were 36 holes, one ended 12 and 10, another 10 and 9, with four at 8 and 7 and another two at 8 and Champion’s Trophy 6. Only one match went to the final hole among the 16 played. Even in the second round, players won by the score of 11 and 9, and 12 and 10, with only one match finishing at the eighteenth. The quarterfinals found George Lyon (Lambton Club) defeating Albert Lambert 5 and 4. Francis Newton of Seattle downed Mason Phelps of Chicago 2 and 1. Egan defeated Harry Allen of the Field Club (later Bellerive) 4 and 3, with McKinnie taking Chicagoan Ned Sawyer 4 and 3. In the semis, Lyon defeated Newton 1up, with Egan edging McKinnie 4 and 3, setting up the Egan-Lyon final. Lyon 46 years old, was over twice Egan’s age. However, he was a powerful man and was a champion cricket player in Canada. More importantly for the final match, he was a very long and accurate driver of the ball. Glen Echo’s 16th hole - 1904 Overnight rains softened the course, giving the edge to Lyon off the tee. Lyon easily drove the first green and won with a three to Egan’s four. Lyon won the second, fourth and fifth, with Egan getting his first win at the sixth. When Lyon won the eighth, Egan charged back with a birdie two at the ninth. However, for the first nine holes, Lyon stood 3-up. However, Egan’s iron play and putting improved and at the end of the first round, Egan was only 1-down. The medal score for each player had been 83, with Lyon posting a 37 on his first nine holes. In the second round, Egan’s game collapsed. Egan began forcing the action, attempting to keep up with Lyon off the tee and began spraying his tee shots wildly. Finding his drives in the deep rough or The Metropolitan
March-April 2016
16
behind trees, on two occasions Lyon found himself 4-up. However, each time the twenty-year-old Egan battled back, closing the gap. At the end of the third nine, Egan stood 2-down, well within reach. The next two holes were halved; a brilliant recovery shot by Egan at the eleventh and a long putt holed by Lyon at the twelfth. Egan took the thirteenth with the fourteenth ending with a halve. The fifteenth would prove a deciding hole. A 360-yard par 4, with the fairway sloped right to left, falling off into a lake running down most of the left side the fifteenth continues to confound players to this day. The green sits on a little plateau, not far from the thirteenth tee and Marker on the 15th tee at Glen twelfth green. As Egan struck his tee shot it dove Echo noting Egan’s failed tee shot. quickly to the left and into the lake. Dejected at losing the hole, he was now 2-down with just three to play. At the sixteenth, the 423-yard par 5 - “Punch Bowl” - he sliced his tee shot toward the lake on the previous hole. He had difficulty recovering before finally holeing out with a six to Lyon’s four. Egan had run out of holes as the match ended 3 and 2. Lyon was the victor; the Gold Medal man! To celebrate his win he said, with great modestly; “Now, I’d just like to say that, though the winning of this trophy carries with it the title of Champion of the George Lyon World, I am not foolish enough to think that I am the best player in the world, but I am satisfied that I am not the worst.” Later, after dinner and a few drinks, he went into the dining room at Glen Echo and, proving his prowess, walked across the room on his hands! When someone asked Lyon about his ancestry, whether he was Irish or Scottish, he replied: “I’m a wee bit of Irish and a good bit of Scotch.” Young Egan was so distraught that following the awarding of prizes, he set off straight to his room for the night. However, it is said that his 16-year-old caddie took the loss even harder as he was seen walking in the clubhouse with tears in his eyes. In 1908, with the games to be held in London, Lyon prepared to defend his title. However, as is the case in many ways to this day, the IOC neglected to bring in the right people to ensure its success. The IOC did not accommodate the Royal and Ancient at St. Andrews to have them persuade English clubs to open up their courses to players. As a result, British courses refused to let players from certain countries compete on English soil. Lyon was in London practicing for the event when it was announced that the Olympic Golf Matches would Chandler Egan’s runner-up trophy, currently not be held. Consequently, for 112 years, the 1904 Olympic Golf part of the collection established following the Trophy has sat in the Canadian Golf Museum in Toronto, silently Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games by the LA84 waiting for the day when another golfer would be able to claim the Foundation. It was on loan to Glen Echo in 2004. title of Olympic Gold Medal winner. As a side note, Lyon’s Gold Medal was lost over time. In 2004, his descendants petitioned the IOC for a replica Medal. The IOC presented them with a Gold Medal, but not a replica of the medal that Lyon won in St. Louis. That medal was designed by Colonel McGrew specifically for the golf event, with the same basic design used for both the Individual competition and the Team event.
The Metropolitan
March-April 2016
17
St. Louis District Golf Association publishes Centennial Book Organization celebrates 100th season of Championship Golf This coffee-table book chronicles the 100-year history of the area’s oldest golf organization. The current 23 clubs that make up the organization are each featured within the book, along with photos of some of the area’s top players throughout the years, among them are: Bob Goalby, Jay Haas, Jerry Haas, Jim Holtgrieve, Skip Berkmeyer, Jim Jackson, Bob Cochran, Jim Tom Blair and many more. In addition, a complete listing of the champions and runner-up in each event since 1916 is included, along with over 75 pages listing competitors since 2001. If you have played in a District Event, or just want to see what a great history golf has had through the years, this is the book for you. Nearly 300 pages of pictures, records, results, and facts about area clubs, courses and players.
To purchase your copy send your check for $37.25 (includes tax and shipping) to: STLDGA Centennial Book PO Box 31696 Des Peres, MO 63131 This is a Limited Edition Print Run of only 1,500 copies. Over 1,100 books are District Member Clubs. The book will not be reprinted.
previously committed to
The St. Louis District and the MAGA are proud to support the efforts of each organization to promote golf within the St. Louis area. The Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association provided support for the publishing of this book by the St. Louis District Golf Association.
The Metropolitan
March-April 2016
18
2016 Old Warson Cup The “official” kickoff to the MAGA Tournament Season takes place May 14-15 with The Old Warson Cup. Old Warson is the permanent home to the Association’s match play championship and the name was changed to The “official” kickoff to the MAGA Tournament Season takes place May 14-15 with The Old Warson Cup. Old Warson is the permanent home to the Association’s match play championship and the name was changed to “The Old Warson Cup” in 2013. Sixteen of the St. Louis areas top amateurs will compete for the Old Warson Cup. These 16 players were invited based on their finish on the 2015 MAGA Player of the Year Point Standings. Five-time Match Play Champion Skip Berkmeyer (The Legends CC) finished as the 2015 Player of the Year and will come in as the #1 Seed. Berkmeyer was Runner-up in 2015 to Cy Moritz (pictured below right), it was his 5th Runner-up finish to go along with his 5 titles. Berkmeyer will face off against Steven Souchek (The Prairies GC) in the Round of 16. Sam Migdal (Aberdeen GC), will be the #2 Seed. Migdal had a great 2015 season finishing as Low Amateur in the MAGA Open. Migdal will get Old Warson CC member Toppie Hogan in Saturday’s first round. 2015 Metropolitan Amateur Champion Jimmy Siegfried (Metropolitan GC) comes in as the #3 Seed. Siegfriend is currently on the golf team at the University of Missouri and had that remarkable final round last year at Boone Valley to force a playoff with Berkmeyer to capture the Amateur title. He will face Chad Niezing (The Legends CC) at 8:00am of Round 1. Rounding out the top 4 seeds is Chris Kovach (Metropolitan GC). Kovach was the St. Louis District Champion in 2015 and will get Patrick Riordan (Normandie GC) on Saturday morning at 7:20am. Here is the full slate of Round of 16 Matches for Saturday morning: 7:00am Skip Berkmeyer (1) vs. Steven Souchek (16) 7:10am Ted Moloney (8) vs. Tony Gumper (9) 7:20am Chris Kovach (4) vs. Patrick Riordan (13) 7:30am Phil Caravia (5) vs. Tim Jasper (12) 7:40am Sam Migdal (2) vs. Toppie Hogan (15) 7:50am Ryan Eckelkamp (7) vs. Ryan Sullivan (10) 8:00am Jimmy Siegfried (3) vs. Chad Niezing (14) 8:10am Nick Arman (6) vs. Bob Hanneken (11) Quarterfinal matches will be played in the afternoon on Saturday. Sunday morning the Semifinal matches will begin at 7:00am with the 18-hole final match beginning approximately 11:30am. Follow all the matches via the MAGA website from the outset Saturday morning. Spectators are welcome to attend the matches and see the area’s top amateurs contend for the 2016 Old Warson Cup! For all of the Pairings, Match Play Bracket and Match Results, visit the Plaza Motors MAGA Scoreboard!
The Metropolitan
March-April 2016
19
Whitmoor CC #9 North & #18 South
The Metropolitan
Vol. 3 No. 2
Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association • 11777 Clayton Rd. • St. Louis, Missouri 63131 314.567.MAGA • Fax: 314.261.9250 • info@metga.org
Important Information USGA website: www.usga.org MAGA website: www.metga.org GHIN website: www.ghin.org
CONNECT WITH US... Visit us on
Or for the Latest Updates... At Twitter