The History Of Golf At Callaway Gardens

SIGNFICANT DATES IN THE HISTORY OF GOLF AT CALLAWAY GARDENS

1920s 1920 On April 3, 1920, Cason Jewell Callaway of LaGrange, Ga., marries Virginia Hand in her hometown of Pelham, Ga. 1922 Fuller Callaway, Cason’s father, was the first president of the Highland Country Club in LaGrange, Ga., when the club opened its Donald Ross designed nine-hole course. Cason and Virginia Callaway were on hand that opening day as well as Bobby Jones. 1924 At the age of 30, Cason Callaway was selected to serve on the inaugural Board of Directors for the Georgia State Golf Association. 1928 Cason and Virginia Callaway picnic with friends for the first time at Blue Springs in Hamilton, Ga. This experience becomes the inspiration for Callaway Gardens. 1929 Cason Callaway serves as president of the Highland Country Club in LaGrange, Ga., until 1934.

1930s 1930 On August 12, 1930, Cason Callaway discovers a nearly extinct flower, the Plumleaf Azalea, that grows in the wooded area around Blue Springs. The emblem of the Plumleaf becomes the logo for Callaway Gardens. Later that year he purchases 2,500 acres of land in Harris County. The Callaways eventually own 40,000 acres in the area. 1935 Cason Callaway resigns as president of Callaway Mills but continues as chairman of the board. He moves his family to Blue Springs. 1936 On January 27, 2936, the Ida Cason Callaway Foundation™ is chartered in LaGrange, Ga. 1938 Cason Callaway resigns as chairman of the board for Callaway Mills. He now focuses on the land in Harris County, Ga.

1940s 1944 Cason Callaway implements the One Hundred Georgia Better Farms Program. This innovative subsidy program that existed until 1950 paired businesses with struggling farmers to help implement wise farming practices and result in profitable farms. It lasts until 1950. 1948 Cason Callaway suffers his first heart attack at the age of 54. 1948 On November 23, 1948, Cason Callaway contracts J. B. McGovern, a design assistant for the revered golf course architect Donald Ross for more than 28 years, to build a golf course at Blue Springs (later to become the Lake View golf course at Callaway Gardens). 1949 Spring flooding leaves Blue Springs Farm under several feet of mud, which leads to Cason Callaway’s decision to close it. Cason and Virginia turn their energy to creating Callaway Gardens. 1949 In the fall, construction begins on Mountain Creek Lake and boathouse, the first nine holes of Lake View golf course and the clubhouse (which now serves as the Gardens Restaurant), all to be completed in 1951.

1950s 1950 The Callaways deed the land, known today at Callaway Gardens, to the Ida Cason Callaway Foundation™. 1951 Jack Key of Columbus, Ga., a 1987 Georgia Golf Hall of Fame inductee, wins the first golf tournament at Ida Cason Gardens. 1952 On May 21, 1952, Ida Cason Gardens opens to the public. Also opening to the public that day is Lake View Golf Course. 1952 Ida Cason Gardens Mixed Four-Ball Tournament. Jack Key and Bebe Smith, both of Columbus, won and were awarded silver pitchers. 1954 On July 1, 1954, Ida Cason Gardens hosted a Ladies Golf Tournament. 1955 The Gardens name changes to Ida Cason Callaway Gardens. 1955 Second Annual Ida Cason Gardens one-day golf Tourney (won by Billy Key) 1956 Fourth Annual One-day Men’s Golf Tournament (Sept. 16) at Ida Cason Callaway Gardens (won by Jack Key) 1956 Cason Callaway was featured in the September 8, 1956, issue of The Saturday Evening Post in an article titled “His Own Garden of Eden.” The article by Harold H. Martin included a picture of the first nine holes of Lake View golf course by photographer Bill Shrout. 1959 Spring Invitational Golf Tournament at Ida Cason Callaway Gardens

1960s 1960 Hugh Royer Jr. serves as Golf Pro for Callaway Gardens through June 1966. 1961 The Gardens name is changed to Callaway Gardens. 1961 On April 12, 1961, Cason Callaway suffers a fatal heart attack at the age of 66. (Cason Callaway was born Nov. 6, 1894). 1961 One-day Golf Tourney at Callaway Ida Cason Callaway Gardens 1961 First A-frame cottages are built, motel receives addition of 120 rooms and Lake View Golf Course adds second nine holes. 1963 Lake View club house opens 1963 Hosted 34th Georgia Women’s Amateur Match Play Championship (won by Mrs. Grady McDonald – this Tournament determined the Georgia Women’s State Champion) 1964 (January) Callaway Gardens is the site of the Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association annual meeting 1964 Callaway Gardens contributes to funding Dr. Glen Burton’s turf research as part of “Golf Course Superintendent’s Turf Research Fund” in Tifton at the Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station 1965 Dick Wilson, revered golf course designer know for Doral’s Blue Monster and LaCosta, designs Mountain View and Sky View golf courses. 1965 Site of GSGA-GPGA Challenge Cup (won by GPGA) 1966 Site of GSGA-GPGA Challenge Cup (won by GPGA) 1966 Tommy Aaron is named a Touring Pro for Callaway Gardens. Aaron goes on to win a green jacket at the 1973 Masters. 1967 Callaway Gardens’ Golf Course Superintendent Bill Sumrell is selected vice president of Georgia Golf Course Superintendent Association; and later served as president. 1968 Callaway Gardens opens the nine-hole executive Sky View Golf Course. 1968 PGA TOUR’s Southern Open Golf Tournament begins in Columbus. The Tournament will move to Callaway Gardens in the 1990s. 1968 (April 1-5) Site of the 39th Georgia Women’s Amateur Match Play Championship where Mrs. Tom Molloy won the title of Georgia Women’s State Champion/ 1969 Callaway Gardens opens Gardens View Golf Course expanding the number of holes to 63 and establishing Callaway Gardens as one of the first destination golf resorts. The golf clubhouse is expanded at that time. The ribbon was cut by Furman Bisher, sports writer for the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

1970s 1970 Callaway Gardens hosts the SEC Men’s Golf All-Time Champions. 1971 Site of SEC Men’s Golf All-Time Champions 1972 Site of SEC Men’s Golf All-Time Champions 1973 Site of SEC Men’s Golf All-Time Champions 1975 (Nov. 13-16) Site of PGA Club Professional Championship (won by Roger Watson) 1976 (Nov. 2-5) Site of PGA Club Professional Championship (It was so cold; like 25 degrees with wind chill of 10 or 11; would use dry cleaners bag over tee shirts put sweater over to keep shirt on) – five years (won by Bob Galloway) 1977 (Nov. 10-13) Site of PGA Club Professional Championship (won by Laurie Hammer) 1978 (Nov. 9-12) Site of PGA Club Professional Championship (won by John Gentile) 1979 (Nov. 8-11) Site of PGA Club Professional Championship (won by Buddy Whitten)

1980s 1983 Site of GSGA GA-FL Women’s Team Matches 1984 (April 15-17) Site of 5th Annual Chet Atkins Celebrity Golf Tournament 1986 Site of 7th Annual Chet Atkins Celebrity Golf Tournament 1988 Site of NFL Alumni 1987 Super Bowl of Golf Tournament (won by Pete Mikolajewski) 1982 Site of SEC Women’s Golf All-Time Champions 1983 Site of SEC Women’s Golf All-Time Champions 1984 Site of SEC Women’s Golf All-Time Champions 1985 Site of SEC Women’s Golf All-Time Champions 1986 Site of SEC Women’s Golf All-Time Champions 1987 Site of SEC Women’s Golf All-Time Champions

1990s 1991 (Sept. 22-29) Mountain View Golf Course becomes home of the PGA TOUR’s Buick Southern Open (won by David Peoples) 1992 (Sept. 28-Oct. 4) Site of PGA TOUR’s Buick Southern Open (won by Gary Hallberg) 1993 Site of PGA TOUR’s Buick Southern Open (won by John Inman) 1994 Site of PGA TOUR’s Buick Southern Open (won by Steve Elkington) 1995 Site of Tournament name changes to PGA TOUR’s Buick Challenge (won by Fred Funk) 1996 (Sept. 25-29) PGA TOUR’s Buick Challenge (Won by Michael Bradley). Having recently turned pro, Tiger Woods arrives on Tuesday for the practice round and plays nine holes before participating in a media briefing. Sometime that night he becomes disoriented due to his exhausting schedule and, with his agent’s approval, leaves the tournament. He was scheduled to receive the Haskins Award on Thursday night. 1996 (Nov. 11) Tiger Woods returns to Callaway Gardens to receive the Haskins Award, presented annually by the Haskins Commission to recognize the outstanding college golfer. The award is named for the late Fred Haskins, who was a teaching professional at the Country Club of Columbus (Ga.). Selection is based on a national poll of golf writers, golf coaches and golfers. 1997 (Sept. 29-Oct. 5) Site of PGA TOUR’s Buick Challenge (won by Davis Love III) 1998 Site of PGA TOUR’s Buick Challenge (won by Steve Elkington) 1999 Site of PGA TOUR’s Buick Challenge (won by David Toms) 1999 Ely R. Callaway Jr., founder of Callaway Golf, donates $3.5 million to build the Callaway Brothers Azalea Bowl at Callaway Gardens. Its name is in memory of his father, Ely R. Callaway, and his uncle and father’s half-brother, Fuller Callaway. Fuller Callaway was the father of Cason Callaway, founder of Callaway Gardens. 1998 (Sept. 2-3) Site of G. Gunby Jordan Intercollegiate Golf Tournament (won by Scott Shelton of UNC Charlotte)

2000s 2000 Lake View Pro Shop closes, and all golf functions are consolidated into the Mountain View Pro Shop. 2000 (Sept. 28-Oct. 1) Site of PGA TOUR’s Buick Challenge (won by David Duval) 2001 Lake View and Mountain View golf courses undergo an extensive $3.1 million improvements. 2001 (Oct. 25-28) Site of PGA TOUR’s Buick Challenge (won by Chris DiMarco) 2002 (Oct. 24-27) Site of PGA TOUR’s Buick Challenge (won by Jonathan Byrd). This is the final year of the Buick Challenge when Buick pulls its sponsorship of the charity PGA TOUR event. 2002 (October) Gardens View Golf Course is closed for potential new development. 2004 Site of Georgia Section PGA Junior Tour: Callaway Gardens Junior Classic 2005 U.S. Kids Golf names Callaway Gardens a “Family Course” by after establishing two sets of forward tees for 6-12 year olds 2005 Site of U.S. Kids Golf National Camps 2005 Site of Georgia Section PGA Junior Tour: Callaway Gardens Junior Classic 2005 Site of Family Challenge U.S. Kids Golf Two-Day Tournament 2006 Site of Southeastern Junior Golf Tour Tournament: Callaway Gardens Junior Classic 2006 Site of U.S. Kids Golf National Camps 2006 Site of PGA Georgia Section Match Play Championship 2006 Site of GSGA Senior Women’s Championship 2006 Site of Georgia Section PGA Junior Tour: Callaway Gardens Junior Classic