Miami, Oklahoma Golf and Country Club History: Johnie F. Stapp--1946-1950 California: the Teaching Pro

1946 April 21 LA Times

Johnie Stapp, former Wichita, Kansas professional golfer, has taken over the teaching duties at Santa Anita Golf Course in Arcadia. Johnie play a lot of golf and became very popular with the local club swinging fraternity during the war years when for a time, Lieutenant John Stapp, was located at Camp Santa Anita.

Stapp will be conducting golf lessons to all Pasadena Junior College golf classes held every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon. Ladies golf days are Tuesday and Friday morning. Lessons are offered every day by phoning AT 7-9901. My father understood the value of advertising and making use of pictures and videos.

1946 THE TOURNAMENT OF CELEBRITIES

In a little "by-play" staged before the celebrities Tournament opened, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Army Chief of Staff, rubs his hands together as he anticipates hitting a ball from the forehead of screen star Edward Arnold. In the background is Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. (From my father's scrapbook.) He and Mother were both Kansas kids who deeply admired Ike.

General Eisenhower has been called "Golf's Ultimate Ambassador." Eisenhower who went on to become our 34th President loved the game of golf which benefited greatly was Ike's interest. The number of golfers doubled during Eisenhower's two terms as president (1953-1960).


Ben Hogan's follow through, c. Johnie and Letty Stapp

We have several of dad's scrapbooks that deal only with teaching the game of golf. He used current magazines and newspaper's to clip photos of teaching/correct golf positions. In California, he also learned to use the old cameras and build his own library of movies based on teaching certain moves in the golf swing. These movies he shared over the years at the Miami Country club during various meetings with men and women. He also shared his movies with various PGA meetings.

Dad most admired Ben Hogan for his perseverance and his swing. He taught the Vardon, one finger overlap grip to every student over the decades. When I struggled as a teen with a severe slice, he insisted that I use a two finger over lap grip, which took some strength away from my powerful right side. It worked for decades. I was in my forties before I changed to a one finger over lap, and studying the pictures available I realized that my right hand had dropped down to low. A refresher course is always a good thing to have. Check out this video and skip the adds: Secrets to the Vardon Grip

Over the next few years Johnie played golf with some of the most well known golfers of his time. Whenever possible he took pictures or videos of their swings or copied notes about their putting or chipping stroke.

Patty Berg became Johnie's long time favorite woman golfer. He took a series of swing photos of her sometime between 1946-49 at Santa Anita. Patty Berg LPGA Founder

Patty Berg c. Johnie Stapp, Letty Stapp

Patty Berg, c.Johnie and Letty Stapp

Patty Berg, c Johnie and Letty Stapp

Dad captured a series of photos showing his swing, he also learned how to the 16mm camera/film in slow motion for groups to see.

Johnie Stapp, PGA

Johnie Stapp, PGA

1946 August 30,31, September 1 and 2

Golden State, $15,000 Open Golf Tournament at California Country club

Names on the pairings included Ben Hogan, Tony Penna, George Fazio (later golf course designer),Jimmy Demaret, Dutch Harrison (Little Rock), Lawson Little, Johnny Bulla, Forrest Tucker (actor), and Ray Mangrum.

The only results I found read: Bob Simmons, a guitar rhythm master from Bel-Air, and Professional Johnie Stapp of Santa Anita, led the Golden State Open qualifying round yesterday.

1947 January 9 Corsicana Daily Sun "Bing Crosby Golf Tournament Opens Friday"

The complete entry list of the $10,000 Bing Crosby pro-amateur golf tournament after a completion of a qualifying round over the Pebble Beach course.

*This is the event dad most often talked about. He played in 1947 and 1948.

1948 May 6 Arcadia Tribune "Johnie Stapp Qualifies for the National Open"

1948 June 10--12 "48th U.S. Open"

Once again dad was able to qualify for this Open championship, only to miss the cut by one stroke. Apparently, his drive on one hole hit a yardage marker and kicked out of bounds. So the story goes.

1948 October 8 "Golf Exhibition"

Louise Suggs (One of the original 13 founders of the LPGA) will play in an exhibition at Santa Anita course. Her partner will be, Santa Anita pro Johnie Stapp and relays of members of the Santa Anita Women's club. Louise Suggs, LPGA Founder

*Dad was also friends with veteran LPGA founder Marilyn Smith of Wichita, Ks. I always admired him for learning about golf through the eyes of women and men.

Dad continued to play in many professional events through out California through 1949. He and mother then moved to Independence, Ks where Jonya Lee Stapp was born in 1951.

The story goes that there was a terrible earthquake in Southern California which knocked their little daughter (me) off the bed. Mother was so upset that she told Johnie they needed to move back home to Kansas.

While this story may be true, the real story is full of heartache. My mother's father died in Wichita in 1947 before I was born, leaving her mother brokenhearted and alone. Dad's father was in failing health, so in time they made the decision to return to family. His father died shortly after they moved to Independence. We never knew our grandfathers.