Ouimet 100 Historical and Media Guide An overview of why Francis Ouimet’s 1913 “Cinderella” U.S. Open victory is considered possibly the most important moment in American golf history, along with how it impacted the growth of the game, Ouimet’s tremendous career record in golf, his business career and honors, Eddie Lowery’s fascinating life, and how the legacy of Ouimet and Lowery is celebrated today through The Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund. www.ouimet.org What Happened in 1913? Francis Ouimet was the son of poor immigrants who grew up across the street from The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. He was a caddie, and largely self-taught. In 1913, he recorded what many consider the most important upset in sports history. As an unknown 20-year-old amateur, he beat the two best professionals in the world – Britons Harry Vardon and Ted Ray, in an 18-hole playoff to win the U.S. Open. The upset became worldwide news and helped kickoff a tremendous period of growth and change in golf which, in many ways, continues today. Ouimet is considered one of golf’s great pioneers, has been called the ‘father of American golf,’ is one of the original four members of the Golf Hall of Fame, and has been honored and revered for his play, as well as his sportsmanship and gentlemanly and humble personality. Why celebrate in 2013? One hundred years after Ouimet’s upset, it is looked back upon as the moment American golf was, in many ways, born. Mr. Ouimet went on to a great record in amateur golf. Media Overview/Interviews The Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund has prepared this overview of Mr. Ouimet in a simplified format which looks at many facets of his fascinating life, his impact on the game of golf, how he was honored, the life of his caddie, Eddie Lowery, and how Ouimet’s memory is preserved and young people are helped in his name today through the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund. The overview has 24 “chapters,” each with bullet points of a specific topic that relates to Francis Ouimet. We hope it is helpful to you. The Ouimet Fund can provide photos and arrange for shoots at our museum in Norton, Massachusetts. The Fund is also happy to arrange interviews with a number of people who can speak to knowing Francis Ouimet personally (including his daughter), as well as many of our successful alumni (please see page 30). Media Reference Videos To view Ouimet videos listed below and many more, please visit our YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/user/TheOuimetFund -Early Days of Golf in America -The Life of Eddie Lowery after 1913 -Ouimet Shocks World at 1913 U.S. Open -Notable Alumni Spotlight 2013 -Francis Ouimet’s Great Golf Life & Career -Public Service Announcement 2013 -The Legacy: The Ouimet Scholarship Fund -Centennial Gala/Francis Ouimet Day 2013 Please contact: Bob Donovan, Executive Director Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund 300 Arnold Palmer Boulevard, Norton, MA 02766 Office: 774.430.9090 | Cell: 508.367.2134 | Email: [email protected] 2 Ouimet 100 Historical & Media Guide Index Page 4 Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund Overview 5 Ouimet 100 Programs 8 Centennial Event Highlights 9 Ouimet Highlights Overview/Summary 11 Ouimet’s Early Life, State of Golf 12 Key Events of the 1913 Mass. Amateur and the 1913 U.S. Open 13 The Impact of Ouimet’s 1913 U.S. Open Victory 14 Players Ouimet Inspired 15 Golf Equipment and the Emergence of Golf Companies 15 Charitable Efforts in the Game of Golf 16 Quotes About/by Francis Ouimet 17 Ouimet’s Playing Record 20 Ouimet’s Involvement in the Walker Cup 21 Ouimet’s Business Career 22 Other Ouimet Facts 22 The Ouimet Room at William F. Connell Golf House & Museum 22 Ouimet’s Recognition 25 Highlights of Eddie Lowery’s Life 26 The Legacy of Ouimet and Lowery: the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund 29 The Greatest Game Ever Played 30 Notable Ouimet Fund Alumni/Interview Opportunities 34 The Centennial Campaign: Investing in Lifetimes 35 Ouimet 100 Ambassadors 36 Photo Gallery 3 Ouimet 100 Historical & Media Guide Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund Overview Founded in 1949, the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund has: Provided need-based, four-year college tuition scholarships of over $25 million. Supported over 5,000 individual students. Grown from $4,600 in scholarships to 13 students to awarding $1.5 million in scholarships to 263 students in the 2012–2013 academic year. Reached an average of $5,700 in its annual cash award to scholars. Contributed to Ouimet scholars achieving a graduation rate of 92% within four years, significantly higher than the national average of 55% over six years. Fully volunteer Board of Directors of approximately 40 of the region’s top business and industry leaders. The purpose of the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund is to: Provide significant need-based college scholarships to students who have given “service to golf” by working at a Massachusetts golf course. Award scholarships that are re-analyzed annually, ranging from $1,200 to over $10,000 per annum, and can surpass $40,000 over four years. Allow Ouimet scholars to graduate with as little debt as possible as they go on to the next phase of their lives. Give Ouimet scholars the chance to participate in sports, school and community activities without having to work extra jobs to support their college expenses. Annual Ouimet Events: Golf Marathon: Among the first and largest fundraisers of its kind in the country for 20 consecutive years. On one day, over 40 teams compete and play upwards of 6,000 holes of golf. Annual Banquet: The most well-attended golf dinner in the United States attracting upwards of 2,000 guests annually. Past honorees include: Arnold Palmer Nancy Lopez Gene Sarazen Greg Norman Ben Crenshaw Peter Jacobsen Curtis Strange Barbara & Jack Nicklaus Ken Venturi Gary Player Former President George H.W. Tom Watson Bush Annika Sorenstam Chi Chi Rodriguez Mark O’Meara 2013 Centennial Gala: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at Boston Convention & Exhibition Center honoring Francis Ouimet and featuring Arnold Palmer, Peter Jacobsen, The Greatest Game Ever Played author Mark Frost and movie director Bill Paxton, Master of Ceremonies Rich Lerner of the Golf Channel, and more TBA. 4 Ouimet 100 Historical & Media Guide Ouimet 100 Programs The Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund is proud to host a wide range of events and programs as part of its Ouimet 100 celebration. All programs are geared toward increasing awareness of Francis Ouimet and his contributions to golf, as well as further building Mr. Ouimet’s legacy, our scholarship program. Here is an overview: Centennial Events Centennial Gala: The Ouimet Fund’s Annual Banquet has been the largest golf dinner in the U.S. over the past 15 years (average attendance of 1,500). The highlight of the Banquet is always the awarding of the Francis Ouimet Award for Lifelong Contributions to Golf. Past recipients (chronologically) are Arnold Palmer, Gene Sarazen, Ben Crenshaw, Eddie Lowery (posthumously) and Ken Venturi, Former President George H.W. Bush, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Nancy Lopez, Greg Norman, Peter Jacobsen, Jack & Barbara Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Annika Sorenstam and Mark O’Meara. This year’s “Centennial Gala” was held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center on May 15 – officially proclaimed “Francis Ouimet Day” in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by Governor Deval Patrick. The “honoree” of the evening was Francis Ouimet and the headline guests included Arnold Palmer, Peter Jacobsen, Mark Frost, and Bill Paxton. Golf Channel’s Rich Lerner served (once again) as master of ceremonies. Media events that day included a special *Boston Harbor golf ball shoot photo-op and media conference. Many *special videos and international video tributes were shown throughout the evening. A special highlight was a phenomenal talk by current Ouimet Scholar, *Julia McCarthy. This was the biggest single event in Ouimet history, topping the 2,100 that attended the Jack Nicklaus Banquet in 2007. The Gala was followed by a special Centennial Breakfast at The Country Club the next morning. *View videos: www.youtube.com/user/TheOuimetFund Francis Ouimet Memorial Tournament: The Ouimet Memorial began in 1968 after the death of Mr. Ouimet the previous year. It is a 54-hole amateur invitational played over three days at three different courses. It is traditionally one of the strongest tournaments of the New England golf schedule, and its past champions are a regional “who’s who.” The 2013 Ouimet Memorial Tournament will be held at Wollaston GC (July 24), Wellesley CC (July 25) and Woodland GC (July 26). Mr. Ouimet won the 1913 Mass. Amateur (his first significant win) at Wollaston GC which earned him a last-minute invitation to the historic 1913 U.S. Open. Mr. Ouimet had his final practice round before the U.S. Open at Wellesley CC, and Woodland GC was his home club, and the traditional final round site of the Ouimet Memorial. The tournament is unique in that it features Championship, Senior (Eddie Lowery) and Women’s divisions. 5 Ouimet 100 Historical & Media Guide TCC Sponsor Event: The Fund will host a special sponsor outing at TCC (Composite Course) on September 24. This event is part of a special sponsorship program the Ouimet Fund has developed for Ouimet 100. More details TBA. Ouimet Society Outings: The Francis Ouimet Society is a special membership group within the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund. We will have two special outings this year at Salem CC on June 4 and the Hyannisport Club on October 7. Ouimet Marathon: The Ouimet Marathon will be held for the 21st year at Stow Acres CC in Stow, MA on August 7.