PGA of America Turns 100
PGA of America got it’s start over lunch in New York City – how else?
The PGA of America began its centennial year this week at the PGA Merchandise Show.
“We celebrate our Association’s remarkable first century by focusing on our most important asset – PGA Professionals and the exceptional work they do in the business, teaching and playing of the game, all to elevate the enjoyment of golf,” said PGA President Derek Sprague. “Throughout this Centennial year, the PGA will share the passion and pride of PGA Professionals along with heartwarming stories of inspiration. Together, our Association will also look forward to the next 100 years, improving education and employment opportunities for our members and nurturing the next generation of golfers.”
The organization was founded April 10, 1916, in New York City, at the Hotel Martinique, but the seeds were planted three-and-a-half months earlier.
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In January of that year, Rodman Wanamaker, a legendary department store owner, invited golf professionals including Walter Hagen, Francis Ouimet, who won the U.S. Open as an amateur, A.W. Tillinghast, a noted golf architect and area golf professionals to a luncheon.
According to PGA of America records, the purpose of the luncheon was to talk about creating a national organization to promote interest in golf and to advance the careers of golf professionals. By April 10th the documents had been signed. There were fewer than 100 members and they created seven original PGA Sections: Central, Metropolitan, Middle States, New England, Northwestern, Pacific and South-eastern. Today there are 41 sections with 28,000 members.
The first PGA Championship was held later that year, Oct. 10–14, 1916, at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, New York. Jim Barnes won it and would go on to win again in 1919. There were 32 professionals in the field.
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Four PGA OF America past presidents are particularly memorable in this centennial year.
The first was Robert W. “Bob” White, golf professional at Wykagyl. He served for three years, through 1919. Born in St Andrews, Scotland, White came to the U.S. 1894 to the United States where he worked as a golf pro and greenskeeper at several clubs. White also designed golf courses and was among founders of the American Society of Golf Course Architects.
George Sargent, the third president of the PGA, was among those to join the young organization in its first year. He served office for five years, from1921–1926. Sargent is believed to have been the first person to use motion pictures to study the golf swing. He was the golf professional at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, Interlachen Country Club near Minneapolis, Minnesota, Chevy Chase Club in the Washington D.C. Area and East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia where he remained until he retired.
Ed Dudley, perhaps best known as the first head pro at Augusta National, was President of the PGA from 1942-1948. He was also the club pro at the Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs for over two decades. Dudley was a fine player and had 19 professional victories on his resume, 15 of them on the PGA Tour. President Dwight Eisenhower, Bing Crosby, and Bob Hope all benefitted from Dudley’s golf instruction.
Horton Smith was president of the PGA from 1952-1954. He is perhaps best known to golf history buffs as the man who won the first playing of the Masters in 1934, long before the tournament was called the Masters. Smith also won it again in 1936. He won 36 professional events over his career, 32 of them credited as PGA Tour events. He played every Masters until 1963.
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The PGA plans numerous activities during the 2016 calendar year to celebrate 100 years of contributions to golf.