By N. C. MORRIS, RALPH MOORE Denver Post ELDER STATESMAN OF GOLF Golf Writer

hen Newton Cleveland Morris cele­ W brated his 73rd birthday last Sep­ tember, Denver's "Mr. Golf" figured he was exactly "one over par." Golf and N. C. Morris are synonymous. Morris, known since his collegian days at Colorado College as "Tub," is currently logging his 41st year as a regional golf official. In 1919 he was elected Secretary- Treasurer of the Colorado Golf Associa­ tion and has been associated with the con­ duct of every major tournament held in Colorado since. In 1939 he became the USGA's Sec­ tional Affairs committeeman in Colorado. He now serves on both the Public Links and the Senior Championship Committees. When the first player teed off in the 1959 Public Links Championship at Denver's Wellshire municipal golf course, it marked a unique distinction for Tub. Through Mr. Morris' efforts it was the first time the tournament was played on the same course twice. Mr. Morris first attempted to bring the N. C. Morris Public Links Championship to Denver in 1942. World War II, however, prevented Mr. Morris also assisted in bringing the this. The USGA Championships were post­ touring pros back to Denver in 1958 after poned until 1946 and Wellshire was the a ten-year absence. site of the post-war Public Links renewel. Tub helped pull golf through some thin Mr. Morris, a late convert to golf despite years. Striving for municipal and private his tenure, has contributed immeasurably course interests. Any attempt here to to the sport in Colorado. "sweeten" the account would not be in Since 1919 he has annually conducted character with Tub. or been associated with at least seven city He is a rare person, not given to lavish and state tournaments. Without his un­ praise or vindictive criticism. He is rare wavering devotion the game would not in another aspect, too—a native Denverite. have attained the stature it now enjoys in Born September 28, 1886, Tub attended Colorado. Denver pubic schools, graduating from The USGA has been particularly favor­ West High School in 1905. able to Colorado recently. The Public He started his formal sports career as Links was played in Denver July, 1959, a West "Cowboy," lettering in football, the National Amateur was held at the and track for four years. Broadmoor course in Colorado Springs It wasn't until after his collegiate days last September, and the 60th National at Colorado College in Colorado Springs Open was played at the Cherry Hills that he took a golf club in his hands. In Country Club, Denver, this year, in June. fact, he once razzed his CC football In 1962 the Curtis Cup Match will be coach for playing "an old ladies' game" played at Broadmoor. because the coach relaxed on the links.

10 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: SEPTEMBER, 1960 After being graduated in 1909 with de- was a Sedgewicke customer and friend grees in history and economics, Mr. Mor- and in a "weak moment," gave golf a try. ris launched a 41-year teaching career be- He played his first rounds at City Park, ginning at Rocky Ford High School and then an .eight"hole .course. terminating when he retired from class- Three years later Tub was runner-up in l'oom duties at West in 1950. the Colorado State Amateur champion- It was at West that Tub first came into ship. prominence as a sports leader. In 25 years By 1924 he was one of the Centennial of coaching his Cowboy prepsters won State's foremost amateurs. That year he seven championships in football, a like won both the Denver and the State titles. number in basketball and three in base- In 1927he reclaimed the Colorado trophy. ball. One of Tub's greatest thrills came in He rates his 1930 Cowboy nine as the 1928 when he defeated Harry Strass- "best high school baseball team I've ever burger, a Coffeyville, Kansas haberdasher, seen." for the Broadmoor Hotel's Invitational That year Morris' boys played only one Championship. complete, nine- game, because of a Strassburger was one down to Tub go- league rule that terminated a contest ing into the 12th hole of the tricky moun- when one team had a ten- advantage. tain course. North's Vikings extended West and forced Strassburger his drive straight down the Cowboys to play nine full be- the middle on the 12th, while Tub's er- fore West won the championship game. rant tee shot trickled off the fairway in- This was the type of team that appealed to deep rough. The Kansan, hitting first, to Tub. Close them out as soon as possi- put his second shot less than four feet ble. It was sound advice in baseball and from the pin on the par four hole and it although he didn't know it then, he was appeared he would even the match here. to carry out that same mercy killing But Tub, after surveying the situation, theory in golf. decided a bold shot was necessary. He While a student at Colorado College he ruled out the safe punch shot back to the played four years at fullback, four as an fairway and took a four-wood from his outfielder and four years as a field man amazed caddie. in track. Wise galleryites shook their heads. Tub threw a block on a momentous day Strassburger's followers smiled. Tub's in 1906 at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo., fans stared in disbelief. when CC's quarterback, Harry Fisher, All were even more shaken when Tub passed to end Herb Sinton for a touch- laced his shot straight for the pin, the down and the CC Tigers defeated Colo- ball flying out of the pesky long hair and rado University 6-0. CC's offense? The rolling inside Strassburger's pin-high "T" formation. position. Gus Dorais and Knute Rockne, who put The clothier proceeded to two-putt and Notre Dame in the nation's sports lime- Tub's birdie climax won the hole. Tub light with aerial proficiency, weren't to had the tailor neatly sewn up. popularize the forward pass until 1913 when the Irish defeated Army 35-13. Other tournaments and other shots Through four seasons as a Tiger fly have dotted Tub's career, but his per- chaser Tub didn't make an error until formance on the 12th that day tops them the final game of his senior year. And all. that bobble didn't have any affect on the Other honors have come to Tub, too. He outcome-CC won handily. has held an office with the Denver Golf Still, Tub feels that miscue Association since 1922 and has been a spoiled a four-year personal goal. He director in the Trans-Mississippi Golf As- can't forget it even now. sociation since 1928. It wasn't until after he came to West Tub suffered a stroke early in 1959 and High School in January of 1915 that Mr. his clubs-except for putter-lie idle. Morris was pushed into his first golf Still Tub found the strength to accept a game. chore with the 1959 Public Links commit- Charlie Sedgewicke, a sports shop man- tee. It was closer to his heart than medi- ager, persuaded Tub to try the game. Tub cine.

USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: SEPTEMBER, 1960 11