History of the Pga of America
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PGA MEDIA GUIDE 2011 HISTORY OF THE PGA OF AMERICA Celebrating its 95th anniversary as a leader of the multi-billion-dollar golf industry, The Professional Golfers’ Association of America is committed to developing new programs, which bring both frequent and infrequent players into the game. Today, PGA Professionals are recognized as “The Experts in the Game and Business of Golf.” Aware of the passion that millions share for golf, The PGA – through its 27,000 men and women Professionals – has dedicated itself to growing the game. The PGA’s origin can be traced to Jan. 17, 1916, when a group of New York- area golf professionals, accompanied by several prominent amateur golfers, attended a luncheon at the Taplow Club in New York City. The host was department store magnate Rodman Wanamaker. Among those in attendance were prominent golfers Walter Hagen and Francis Ouimet, and acclaimed golf course designer, A.W. Tillinghast. The purpose of the gathering was to discuss forming a national organization, which would promote interest in the game of golf and help elevate the vocation of golf professionals. Wanamaker, who viewed the public’s growing enthusiasm for golf as the beginning of a national trend, promoted the idea of an association to help accelerate the growth of the game. Little did Wanamaker or his guests realize that they were laying the groundwork for what would become the world’s largest working sports organization. Rodman Wanamaker PGA MEDIA GUIDE 2011 The PGA Championship has produced a trio of consecutive history-breaking finishes, beginning in 2008, as Ireland’s Padraig Harrington became the first European in 78 years to capture the Championship. In 2009, Y.E. Yang of South Korea stunned the golf world when he became the first Asian-born male player to win a major golf championship; and Germany’s Martin Kaymer added to PGA Championship lore in 2010 when he emerged from a playoff to become the first from his homeland to capture the Season’s Final Major. In May 1920, the first issue of The Graeme McDowell lifted Professional Golfer of America was Europe to a thrilling one-point published. Percy C. Pulver, a golf victory at the 38th Ryder Cup, writer for the New York Evening last fall in Wales. Sun, who had attended the first meeting at the Taplow Club, was named editor. The magazine was When that first meeting concluded, The first PGA Championship was renamed in 1977, James Hepburn, a former British held Oct. 9-14, 1916, at Siwanoy PGA Magazine and today is America’s oldest PGA secretary, was named as chair Country Club in Bronxville, N.Y. continually published golf journal. of a seven-member organizing Jim Barnes defeated Jock Hutchison, committee. Meetings were held over 1-up, in the finals. Wanamaker The Ryder Cup, which first the next two months, and on April honored his pledge and donated matched PGA Professionals and 10, 1916, with a Constitution and a purse of $2,580 and the trophy their counterparts from Great by-laws firmly in hand, 78 founding that still bears his name. Today, Britain, began in 1927 with a 9½ members – including 35 charter the Wanamaker Trophy remains to 2½ victory for the Americans members who attended the first one of the most coveted pieces at Worcester (Mass.) Country meeting at the Taplow Club – created of hardware in sports. Club. Since then, the Ryder Cup The Professional Golfers’ Association has since developed into one of the The PGA Championship, the of America in New York City. pre-eminent events in all of sports. season’s final major championship, The PGA’s first order of business has produced a highlight reel of golf’s While the onset of World War II in was to establish the organization’s special moments. It perennially Europe cancelled the Ryder Cup from objectives. The members agreed attracts the strongest field in golf, 1939-45, the event resumed in 1947, to the following: including the most international at Portland (Ore.) Golf Club, where players of any U.S.-based major. Ben Hogan captained the first U.S. ■ Promote interest in the game of golf. Since 1994, the PGA Championship Ryder Cup Team to be selected via ■ Elevate the standards of the golf professional’s vocation. also has featured the most top-100 a points system to an 11-1 victory. rated players from the Official ■ Protect the mutual interest Yet, the fact that the Ryder Cup was of its members. World Golf Rankings. contested once again was perhaps the ■ Hold meetings and tournaments Walter Hagen and Jack Nicklaus greatest victory, as the British Team – for the benefit of members. hold the record for most PGA which was still subjected to post-War ■ Assist deserving unemployed Championship titles, with five each. food rationing – would probably have members in obtaining positions. Tiger Woods has won the PGA not taken part, had it not been for an ■ Establish a benevolent relief Championship four times. unlikely hero who funded their trip fund for deserving members. PGA MEDIA GUIDE 2011 to the United States. PGA Advisory to Dunedin in the winter, and the even more PGA events necessitated Committee member Robert Hudson, Association continued to grow. another move. an Oregon fruit packer, paid for the By 1961, The PGA had moved the PGA officials focused on the dynamic British Team to sail on the Queen national office to larger quarters Florida East Coast and began talking Mary. They then joined Hudson on in Baywood, Fla., six miles north with Palm Beach County developer a 3½-day journey by rail to his club of PGA National Golf Club. John D. MacArthur. At the time, in the Pacific Northwest. The PGA Winter Tournament MacArthur wanted the impact of In 1979, the event underwent a Program (now PGA Winter The PGA name to help sell his Palm key renovation, when players from Championships) had grown to four Beach Gardens development. It Europe joined what was then the events, and the PGA Merchandise took several sessions for both parties former Great Britain & Ireland Team. Show — started in the parking to finally reach the agreement that This move came two years after Jack lot of PGA National Golf Club was finalized on Oct. 30, 1964. Nicklaus and PGA Past President by salesmen working out of their In March 1965, the Association Henry Poe made passionate pleas to cars — now was being staged in large moved into 10,000 square feet British PGA President Lord Derby tents. The need for more office space of office space in the east wing to add players from continental and additional playing facilities for Europe, in order to increase the level of competition. The U.S. was in the midst of an 18-year streak for David Toms held off Phil Mickelson by one stroke to win the 2001 PGA Championship. retaining the Ryder Cup that began Atlanta Athletic Club, the venue that year, will in 1957, and would eventually come host the 93rd PGA Championship in August. to an end in 1985. The U.S. holds a 25-11-2 lead in the storied competition. Europe currently has possession of the Cup, thanks to a dramatic victory last fall in Wales. The Senior PGA Championship, which began in 1937 at Augusta (Ga.) National Golf Club at the invitation of course founder Bobby Jones, was moved to Dunedin, Fla., in 1945 and remained there through 1962. In 1954, Dunedin also became the home of the PGA Winter Tournament Program and the site of the PGA Merchandise Show. Relocating the national office to Dunedin was discussed at the 1946 Annual Meeting, but the move didn’t take place for another 10 years, when the second floor of the Dunedin First National Bank Building became The PGA of America’s headquarters. The PGA celebrated its 40th anniversary in 1956 with 3,798 members and 31 geographical Sections. PGA members flocked History of The PGA of America PGA MEDIA GUIDE 2011 of the clubhouse in MacArthur’s new country club, which for the next eight years would be known as PGA National Golf Club (now BallenIsles Country Club). The PGA Merchandise Show has also since found a home in the spacious Orange County Convention With his second consecutive Center in Orlando, Fla. The Show, PGA Professional National celebrating its 58th anniversary Championship title secured in 2011, is the world’s largest in 2010, University of Illinois men’s golf coach golf exposition. Mike Small now shares When The PGA of America was the all-time Championship formed, there was no distinction victory mark , with three. between club and touring professionals. As The PGA began to develop and In 1968, PGA tournament players, The PGA of America staff moved promote tournaments, it became who comprised a small percentage into its present national headquarters easier for the touring professionals of the membership, broke away from in February 1981, with a staff of 63. to devote their efforts to playing the Association to form a Tournament The building was expanded in 1990. tournaments and exhibitions. Players Division and acquire more A second office building to its west control of the tournament schedule. side was opened in 2001, which today houses PGA personnel representing In 1975, the Tournament Players the Finance, Championships, and Division was renamed the PGA Information Systems departments. Tour. Today, the PGA Tour is headquartered in Ponte Vedra In 1992, The PGA purchased the Beach, Fla. The PGA Tour and The rights to the 13-year-old International PGA of America maintain a close Golf Show, the world’s second largest working relationship, and most golf exposition, from the Southern Tour professionals maintain dual California PGA Section.