WINGED FOOT by

LINCOLN A. WERDEN Writer, AND ITS GOLF FAMILY The New York Times • OVER the years, the , in Mamaroneck, N. Y., has been the scene of many important golfing events. The Open, the Amateur and a Walker Cup match have been played over one of its two courses, and this month the Women's Open is to be played over the other. On the stone terrace in front of the clubhouse, a Winged Foot president led a happy gathering in song after Bob Jones had scored his 1929 Open victory. On dis- play near the main lounge are trophies of many Champions. Occasionally on a bul- letin board you may also see photographs of youngsters swinging golf clubs. They are all hallmarks of a club where tveryone seems to have more than a casual r~1ented .Harmon the other day. "I had interest in golf. One of those who spurs lIttle gU1dan~e and I learned nothing. It the spirit of activity now is Claude was not unnl later that I realized what a Harmon, the club's professional. differenc~ good coaching meant. Craig A Handshake From Jones Wood hIred me as his assistant in 194 I and taught me how to hit a golf ball." A native of Georgia, Claude recalls the days when his, as well as everyone's hero Stepping Stone to Greater Things was Bob Jones. In the crowd at the Atlanta One of the successes attributed to railroad station in 1925 when Jones re- Harmon is that those who have served as ~urned home after losing the Open title ?is assista,?ts have gone on to greater things m a play-off with was m golf. I do spend a lot of time with a small, dark-haired lad. Claude rushed Ub them, trying to improve their games. And and asked his idol for an autograph. H~ I also emphasize that there are lots of beamed when Jones not only signed his q~alities that go into the making of a top- name but also shook hands. fjlght ," admits Harmon. Harmon never did forget the handshake. When comes to Living across the street from the Piedmont Winged Foot in 1959, many of these public course in Atlanta, Claude became former assistants will return as famous more and more interested in golf. Before players. he became a professional, at the age of 19, An assistant must conform to Harmon's he often played the game for as much as idea of gentlemanly behavior. He must be ten hours a day. "But they were wasted hours," com- ~ble t~ withstand taunts or disappointments If he IS to become a proficient tournament Reprinted by permission of The New York competitor. And Harmon also believes that 'times . .1 pro must look and dress the parr. "He

14 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT, JUNE, 1957 The Winged Foot clubhouse forms a stately background to the tenth green on the East course where the Wamen's Open Championship will be held at the end of this month. It will be the first time that Winged Foot has played host to a women's event. must know how to select his clothes with Mayfield, , Buck Worsham, good taste," is a Harmon precept. George Schoux, Harry Dee, Tom Burke, "Yes," added Harmon, "and his langu- , Ed Draper and . age must be such that I can take him home "We're always sure that when they leave to supper with the kids and no one will us, they will go on to good jobs," Harmon feel the least embarrassed." Harmon and stated. his wife Alice have four sons, ranging in Besides the professionals, there are ama- ages from 8 to I3. And the Harmons have teurs, business men and youngsters who a knack of making everyone feel at home. come under Harmon's golfing tutelage. "Winged Foot is the reason why my as- Some of the ranking tournament players sistants have done so well," said Harmon. who have been Harmon pupils include "The members are pretty wonderful to Jimmy McHale, former Walker Cup them. They take an interest in their golf player; Dick Chapman, former British and game and in their ambitions. It isn't long Amateur Champion, and Joe after an assistant of mine comes from the Gagliardi, ex-Metropolitan Champion. South or West that he is immediately adopted into the Winged Foot family. It Clinic for Youngsters helps him a great dea1." Harmon also runs a clinic for young- It is easy to agree with Harmon after sters. That project receives his attention as inspecting a list of his former aides well as that of the assistants on his staff. Jack Burke, Jr., now the Professional Once a week, the free instruction for Golfers' Association Champion, worked on club members' children goes to some his game constantly and never wanted to twenty to thirty potential stars of varying take his regular day off while at Winged ages from 5 to I8. Foot. His youngest brother, Jimmy, along In addition to his unusual record as an with Jay Revere, are Harmon's current instructor, Harmon has an imposing assistants. tourney record. He won the Masters at is a graduate of the Augusta, Ga., in I948 and three times has Harmon shop. "His football training at been a semi-finalist in the Professional Duke was a great help in my opinion," Golfers' Association Championship. That observed Harmon. "Mike was an adept golf puts him in the unique class of being both pupi1. He absorbed everything you told a teaching and playing pro. "I don't know h1m,' " anywhere I could accomplish all this, ex- The list of ex-Harmon aides is formid- cept at Winged Foot," noted Harmon. able. It also includes Otto Greiner, Shelley "There's no other club quite like it."

USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: JUNE, 1957 15