Whitmoor CC #9 North & #18 South

Vol. 3 No. 2 TheMetropolitan

20 Questions with Upcoming Events Roger Null Page 4 2016 USGA Events

St. Louis History Twenty Questions with US Open 1947 US Open Roger Null Local Qualifying Page 8 May 10 The former course Forest Hills Gateway Cup Summary superintendent has a long and distinguished career in Pros vs. Amateurs US Women’s Open St. Louis golf, in many ways. Page 12 Qualifying May 24 Anatomy of Greatness An accomplished golfer, Westwood CC - Book Review - superintendent, golf administrator and course designer, Roger has Page 13 US Amateur Four-Ball become the “go to” architect in recent years for area courses looking Men & Women Olympic Golf in 1904 for updates and/or renovations. May 21-25, 2016 Page 14-17 Formerly the superintendent at US Junior Amateur Old Warson, Norwood Hills and Qualifying MAGA Events General Manager at Boone Valley, Roger is among the most respected June 20, 2016 individuals in the business. Aberdeen GC Old Warson Cup May 14-15, 2016 US Girls Junior Page 19 Amateur Qualifying June 22, 2016 Normandie Amateur Bogey Hills CC May 21-22, 2016

US Open East Side Amateur June 16-19, 2016 June 11-12, 2016 See page 9 for full schedule Continued on page 4

Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association • 11777 Clayton Rd. • St. Louis, Missouri 63131 314.567.MAGA • Fax: 314.261.9250 • [email protected] The Metropolitan March-April 2016

STAFF Executive Director CURTíS COMMENTS Curt Rohe - [email protected] Wow! May is here which is really P.J. Boatwright Interns - 2016 when things kick into high gear for Schaeffer Bell MAGA. We had our first Amateur [email protected] Series event May 2 at WingHaven CC with 57 golfers out to start the METROPOLITAN CHAMPIONSHIPS season, including our first female Amateur Championship to ever participate in the Amateur Match Play Championship Series. Open Championship Curt Rohe Women’s Amateur Championship Coming up this month is US Open Executive Director Junior Amateur Championship Local Qualifying (5/10 at Forest Hills Senior Amateur Championship CC) and US Women’s Open Q (5/24 at Westwood CC). Metropolitan Cup Matches Four-Ball Championship The “Road to Oakmont” begins for 100 hopefuls at Forest Mid-America Junior Cup Hills where 5 individuals will move on to the Sectional Round. Westwood will be a great venue to host the USGA QUALIFYING ROUNDS Sectional round of US Women’s Open on 5/24. US Open Qualifying (Local and Sectional) US Senior Open Qualifying The “official” kickoff to the MAGA championship season US Amateur Qualifying will be May 14-15 at the annual Old Warson Cup at Old US Mid-Amateur Qualifying Warson CC. A sold field of 16 top amateurs from the area US Women’s Mid-Amateur are set get a leg up on the 2016 Player of the Year race. The US Junior Amateur Qualifying field and Round of 16 matches can be found on the website. US Amateur Public Links Qualifying US Senior Amateur Qualifying I would like to welcome Schaeffer Bell to the MAGA staff US Women’s Open Qualifying for 2016, he will fulfill one of our PJ Boatwright Internship US Amateur Four-Ball US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball positions. Schaeffer is a senior at Missouri Baptist University and on the golf team where he has one more EXECUTIVE BOARD semester before graduation. Bell is a St. Louis native and Stanford S. Grossman – President Emeritus went to Westminster Christian Academy. Thomas J. O’Toole Jr. – Vice-President Thomas O. Sobbe Jr. – Vice-President I have received numerous call and emails the last couple M. Ray McCraine – Secretary weeks of April in regards to the myMAGA app being down G. Scott Engelbrecht – Treasurer and we understand how frustrating this has been. Hopefully G.F. (Rick) Meyer Jr. – At-Large Member you read the update in the May 1 eRevision about why the H. Mick Wellington – At-Large Member app is down. The popularity and, more importantly, the use of the app had increased at such a high rate that GHIN ADVISORY COMMITTEE decided to shut it down and ensure that a superior product Scott Thomas, Chairman be brought back in due time. Thank you for your patience Dustin Ashby Tom Barry and keep posting those scores via METGA.ORG or use Skip Berkmeyer M.GHIN.COM from your mobile device. Jim Dunn David Rhoads Thank you again for taking a moment to read The Curt Rohe Metropolitan! We will be bringing you monthly issues May through August to cover all of the exciting things happening Metropolitan Editor at MAGA during the season! Jim Healey

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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 ules of olf orner (yellow) that fronts the pond and was not recoverable. R G C He received a penalty shot under Rule 26-1 and then 2016 Masters - Billy Horschel at the 15th had options under Rule 26-1. He elected with the option to go back under stroke and distance by playing Everyone who watched The Masters this year a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the surely saw what happened to Billy Horschel on the original ball was last played, to the left of the putting 15th Putting Green on Saturday during Round 3. green. Where he two putted from that spot for a Horschel went for the green in 2, as most everyone bogey 6. He also had the option to go to the Drop does, and hit that shot to the left of the green. He Zone, located across on the fairway side of the hazard. proceeded to chip up to the right of the hole, which is below the hole and in a great position for a birdie A little side note regarding Horschel at the 2015 US putt. After marking his ball, aligning his putt, etc., Open. You may recall that he was not happy when this he replaced his ball on the spot, removing his ball happened to him during his third round at Chambers marker. Therefore, his ball is in play. 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 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 As most saw, Saturday was extremely windy at most know, Spieth stood on the 12th Tee with a one Augusta. Before Horschel could attempt his putt, his shot lead after just making back-to-back bogeys. He ball, lying very close to the edge of the slope on the hit his tee shot on 12 into Rae’s Creek, where so many green, began to roll due to the wind and proceeded green jackets have gone to drown. He had his options to roll toward the edge and ultimately down into under Rule 26-1 after that fateful tee shot, 1) play the the pond that fronts the green. He stood there in ball as it lies (in Rae’s Creek…not possible); 2) play disbelief looking for a Rules Official. Rules Officials from original spot (teeing ground) that many have said at The Masters now walk with groups, as they do at would have been his best option; 3) take the point his the US Open, and are also given assignments, such ball last crossed the hazard and go back on that line as at the 15th green. Horschel knew exactly what with the flag as far as he wanted. Additionally, there is the answer was, but was still in awe that it had just a Drop Zone on 12, which was about a 60-yard shot. occurred to him. He chose option 3 above and went to a yardage he was comfortable with - about 80 yards - to clear the hazard, There is a Decision (18-1/12) that is titled Ball where he hit an untimely 65-yard shot, laying over a Replaced and at Rest Is Thereafter Moved by the huge divot where his Masters chances all but ended. 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, . 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

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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 .”

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 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

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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 and what is happening to him and where does he go from here.”

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6

St. Louis Golf History 1947 US Open St. Louis CC 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 Snead looks on as officials determine who is away. 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. 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 Lew Worsham (l) and Sam Snead shake played another 18 holes and came to the 18th hands before beginning the playoff for the championship. 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 Hogan hitting his tee shot on the par 3, 16th this day, it remains one of the mysteries of the game how Snead never won the US Open.

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8 Competition Schedule 2016 MAGA Competitions Entry Championship Date(s) deadline venue The Old Warson Cup May 14-15 ------Old Warson Country Club Normandie Amateur May 21-22 May 11 Normandie Golf Club East Side Amateur June 11-12 June 1 Spencer T. Olin Golf Course Women’s Amateur Championship June 29-30 June 8 Greenbriar Hills Country Club Open Championship July 8-10 June 22 The Country Club of St. Albans Junior Amateur Championship July 11-12 June 29 Franklin County Country Club Amateur Championship August 4-6 July 13 Glen Echo Country Club Senior Amateur Championship August 15-16 August 3 WingHaven Country Club Four-Ball Championship October 3 September 14 Sunset Country Club

2016 USGA Qualifying Rounds Entry Championship Date(s) deadline venue US Open Local Qualifying May 10 April 27 Forest Hills Country Club US Women’s Open Qualifying (36-holes) May 24 May 4 Westwood Country Club US Junior Amateur Qualifying (36-holes) June 20 June 1 Aberdeen Golf Club US Girls’ Junior Amateur Qualifying June 22 June 1 Bogey Hills Country Club US Senior Open Qualifying June 27 June 8 St. Clair Country Club US Amateur Qualifying July 18-19 June 29 Old Hickory Golf Club US Mid-Amateur Qualifying August 8 July 20 Spencer T. Olin Golf Course US Women’s Mid-Amateur Qualifying August 8 July 27 Spencer T. Olin Golf Course US Senior Women’s Amateur Qualifying August 24 August 3 Glen Echo Country Club US Senior Amateur Qualifying August 29 August 3 The Country Club of St. Albans (TC) US Amateur Four-Ball Qualifying September 26 August 10 Lake Forest Golf & Country Club US Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Qual. September 26 August 10 Lake Forest Golf & Country Club

2016 MAGA Amateur Series Schedule 2016 MAGA Play 9 Event date venue Event date venue #1 May 2 WingHaven Country Club #1 April 16 Ballwin GC #2 June 17 Sunset Hills Country Club #2 May 7 Highlands at Forest Park #3 July 15 Bear Creek Golf Club #3 June 18 Ruth Park Golf Course #4 July 25 Tamarack Golf Club #4 July 16 Berry Hill GC #5 August 19 Annbriar Golf Club #5 August 20 Joachim GC #6 September 12 Forest Park Golf Course * #6 September 10 Creve Coeur GC Championship October 8-9 Aberdeen Golf Club Championship October 1 Four Seasons CC

Online applications for ALL MAGA events are available on the MAGA website. Events in grey have been completed.

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MAY 2016

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Amateur Series Play 9 #2 #1

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 US Open Local OWCC CUP Qual.

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 OWCC CUP Normandie Amateur

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Normandie US Women’s Amateur Open Local Qual. 29 30 31

MAGA Events in RED | USGA Events in BLUE

JUNE 2016

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Women’s Women’s East Side Amateur Amateur Amateur

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 East Side Amateur Series Play 9 #3 Amateur #2

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 US Junior US Girls Junior Qual. Qual.

26 27 28 29 30 US Senior Open Qual.

10 The Metropolitan March-April 2016

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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 vs. Bob Gaus Scott Seibert vs. Brandon Veld Skip Berkmeyer vs. J.C. Anderson Tony Gumper vs. Matt Gindler Chris Kovah vs. Ryan Roy Phil Caravia vs. Shane Blankenship Ryan Sullivan vs. Brian Fogt Andy Fogarty vs. Scott Brauer Tom Barry vs. Nash Haxel Bob Hanneken vs. Jeff Whitfield Scott Edwards vs. Ty Zimmerman Ryan Eckelkamp vs. Mike Tucker Chad Niezing vs. 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.

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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, , Mickey Wright, , 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.

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13 by Jim Healey 1904 Olympic Golf St. Louis Golf & 1904 Olympic Golf Historian It wasn’t like we think of an Olympic Event Today! 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 the competition, Lambert won the Handicap Event, and World’s Fair Poster with it a gleaming silver bowl (currently in the museum of the USGA). George Sand, of the , 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 Colonel George McGrew flyer and promoter of aviation in America, he was also president of Lambert 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 Missed Opportunity Worlds Fair was to be held in St. Louis in 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 For an unexplained reason, Glen relinquishing the Olympic Games in order Echo never wrote back to the USGA for St. Louis to hold them in conjunction requesting the event. It ended up with the Worlds Fair. Chicago balked at this idea. With that, St. being awarded to the Glen View Louis began to plan to host the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) 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

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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. It would also be the first to award medals to the champions, in addition to over H. Chandler Egan 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 Star- Times, 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, 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, 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 Olympic Team Medal greenkeeper, Robert Foulis, had the course in top condition. Several holes 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

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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. Olympic Golf Gold Medal The following day, qualifying rounds 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 (Lambton Club) defeating Albert Lambert 5 and 4. Francis Newton of 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

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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 twelfth green. As Egan struck his tee shot it dove Marker on the 15th tee at Glen 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 George Lyon that, though the winning of this trophy carries with it the title of Champion of the 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 not be held. Consequently, for 112 years, the 1904 Olympic Golf Chandler Egan’s runner-up trophy, currently 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.

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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 previously committed to District Member Clubs. The book will not be reprinted.

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.

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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!

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19 Whitmoor CC #9 North & #18 South

Vol. 3 No. 2 TheMetropolitan

Metropolitan Amateur Golf Association • 11777 Clayton Rd. • St. Louis, Missouri 63131 314.567.MAGA • Fax: 314.261.9250 • [email protected]

Important Information USGA website: www.usga.org MAGA website: www.metga.org GHIN website: www.ghin.org

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