Johnie F. Stapp, the WAR years and a New Life as a Professional Golfer--1941--1946

1941-1946

Johnie F. Stapp, The War Years

1941 notes from personal scrapbook

Before the war began my father, Johnie Stapp, enlisted. He was stationed at Camp Robinson, Little Rock, Arkansas. The only story I ever remember from him was when they learned to march through the swamps of S.E. Arkansas and Louisiana. He told me that it honestly scared him to pieces, because he could just imagine all of the snakes in the trees. Then one day a snake fell on one of his companions. Although it did not kill him, nor dad, I've never forgotten that picture he described. (No wonder I tell stories.)

"Tough Soldiers Balk at Wet Links" 

The Division golf tournament opened last Sunday as six soldiers waded through rain soaked links in three 18-hole  matches.... Pvt. John Stapp, Medical Detachment, 137th Infantry, defeated Pvt. Pat Shelton, Headquarters Company, 137th, two and one at Fair Park. 

Rain forced postponement of other first round matches. Twenty-two golfers are entered in the championship tournament. All matches are being played on Little Rock links. 

1941  August 12    "Golf Champion" 

Pvt. John Stapp of Wichita, a member of the 137th Infantry, today was crowned golf champion of the 35th division. Stapp won the title in yesterday's championship flight when he defeated Pvt. Richard Logger of St. Louis, 4 and 3. Logger is a member of the 138 Infantry. 

1942 February 20  "Wichitan in the News"

Johnie Stapp formerly of 35th Infantry division made a hole-in-one at Fair Park Municipal Course in Little Rock. He played with Lloyd and Bill DeBacker. 

1943 January 

Lieut. John Stapp is visiting his parents. Stapp, formerly stationed at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland will be stationed at Camp Santa Anita, in California as a staff and faculty. Stapp received his commission on September 26, 1942, and met his future wife, my mother, Helen.

1943 March "Man O' War" Military Newspaper

Lt.Stapp shot a 73, three over par 70, to win Low Gross for officers in the Camp Santa Anita Cup. Stapp received a 14" engraved cup.

1943 April 16  

In the officers and non-commissioned officers event, the team of Lt. Stapp and Pvt. Danner snared the golf titles. "Salute the winners, the Turfbirds",  of the Camp Santa Anita golf tournament. You might as well for one of them raises a highball anyway you look at it." Stapp's score of 73,72,71,73=289 is a strong show. 

1943 August 10 L.A. Times

Lt. Stapp takes the coveted Arcadia Crown. The first man to win the Arcadia City Championship at Annandale Country club, by shooting a 69. 

1943 August 20 by Jack Curnow

"Snead's Navy Golfers Play Army Team"

Sam Snead, who needs no introduction to the golfing world will head a contingent of blue-jackets from San Diego Navy Base today against a soldier outfit from Santa Anita Ordinance Camp in a 10-man play over the sporty county-owned Santa Anita links in Arcadia.

Backing up Slamming Sammy will be an Alhambra product Bill Nary, the long-hitting ex-Rancho Santa Fe pro who joined the Navy several weeks ago....

Heading the Ordinance golfers will be Lt. Johnie Stapp, ex-Kansas golf pro who has been right on his stick lately. He'll have the team of Col.F.G.Bryan, Capt E. H. Christensen.......

The match starts at 2 pm and is open to the public. Off the early dope, the blue-jackets figure to nudge the soldiers.

1943 October    L.A. Times by Mel Gallagher

Lloyd Mangrum, one-time Texas caddy who develop into one of the leading golf professionals of the nation, arrived home last week from his summer links tour prepared to enter the Southern California Open October 15,16, 17.  

The stylish clubbing Mangrum, a mainstay of Walter Hagen's Ryder Cup team for the past two years will be a strong favorite for this Arcadia tournament title. He has shown a liking for the stretching Santa Anita par 70 layout, having spread-eagled an open field there two years ago. ....

1943 October 12 L.A. Times by Jack Curnow

"Mangrum-Bassler Card 63s in Pro-Amateur"

Harry Bassler, Fox Hill pro, and Lloyd Mangrum of Monterey Park, traveling pro, served warning on the large field entered in this weekend's Southern California Open, when they fired identical 68's in the pro-am tourney. Three teams tied for third place money with  65's; Pro Eddie Hobit and Frank Horton, 32-33; Lieut. Johnie Stapp and Joe Mabley 34-31; and Ray Haines, assistant pro to Ellsworth Vines at Southern Country club and Fred Clark, Jr. 32-33. 

1943 October 14  L.A. Times by Jack Curnow

"Southland Open Takes Tee Today"

The big guns start firing today in the Southern California Open at Santa Anita Golf Club in Arcadia. The 72-hole medal play affair; which has lured a big field of local favorites and many newcomers now here in the war work and military service, gets under way with 18 holes of play. ....

At the halfway mark Joe Kirkwood, Jr. lead the field with 70-71....Lieut. John Stapp with a 74-72; 

**At this point in Santa Anita dad has become friends with Sammy Snead, Lloyd Mangrum, and Johnny Bulla, George Fazio, Byron Nelson, Ed Dudley (who was MGCC's first golf pro).  Ray Beardon, head pro at Santa Anita and Ellsworth Vines, pro at Southern California Country club. He and mother often shared stories of Elly Vines, who had been the national tennis champion before turning golf pro.

*Note: Johnie spent the remainder of the war years in the Pacific Islands. After the war he remained in Japan for several months, helping with the closure of the war and  communications with the Japanese. During that time he became close friends with Dr. Seturo, a Japanese doctor at the Tuberculosis Sanatorium.

I followed up on the doctor he befriended after the war. This is a clip from my story. Dr. Seturo's niece writes: 

"Your father's friend, Dr Seturo, was a very talented person. After graduating from medical school in Japan, he was studying at the University of Bern in Switzerland.

His son, Mitsuko's father, was also a doctor. He went to North China as a medical doctor. At the end of the war he was interned in Siberia and missing forever It was a really sad story." 

To read more of this World War II story please click on this link Touching Lives

Helen Stapp, Arcadia, Ca. 1946

1946 May 25 

My mother, Helen Weaver, who met her future husband, Johnie while he was home on leave in Wichita, Ks., married him on May 25 at the Little Church of the West in Las Vegas. Their first daughter, Letty, was born December 26, 1947.

Johnie returned from the war and began working at the Santa Anita Golf Course as a teaching pro. He actively taught golf lessons to students in the various college campuses around Santa Anita. During this time he met many of the Hollywood stars who played the Santa Anita course and bet on the races at the Santa Anita Racetrack Park.

It was through his golf at Santa Anita that he met Bing Crosby and Johnny Weissmueller. In January 1947 he attended the Bing Crosby Tournament being held at Pebble Beach. Knowing this from my father's stories I researched to the best of my abilities any kind of list or story that might show when he played. (If newspapers are not online then the records remain on microfilm or microfiche in area libraries.) I did not find any list of players, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading articles from all over the United States telling tales of the Clambake. I also discovered that in the late 1940's Crosby Tournament was so popular that it was carried on the radio.

Picture of Johnny Weismuller, Tarzan, from Stapp family photos.

From 1937--1942 Bing Crosby held his tournaments at Rancho Santa Fe near San Diego. After the war in 1947 Crosby moved his tournament for more money and larger gatherings to Pebble Beach, California. The nickname "Clambake" came from the early days when Bing gathered the players on the beach for an authentic "clambake" with food, entertainment, and drinks for everyone.

 Bing Crosby Tournament History

 The Crosby Clambake

**I had hoped to find my father's connection to George Coleman, Jr. through the stories on Bing Crosby's Tournament. Johnie would have been invited to the clambake by Crosby since he knew him personally from his work at Santa Anita. I know that he attended the tournament at least one more time before moving to Miami.  He already knew George Coleman, Jr. before moving to Miami. So I am guessing they met in California. 

In our first year in Miami (1954) dad bought a dark green 1952 Oldsmobile from George Coleman, Jr.  It was a supped up engine, and  became a race car. We traveled to California in that car when I was too young to remember anything but looking out the car window and seeing the road drop off in a cliff. I also experienced dirt track racing in that Olds.

This same car 52 Oldsmobile photo became a well known speedster before Johnie bought the Muntz from Lou Newell in 1959 or 1960. The speedster Olds took Johnie and Doc Robert Baron to California in a single day or less, so the story goes. Of course, the same story can be told about Johnie and Doc Jackson traveling to California in 24 hours. I do not recall which Pro-Am's they played in but it seemed to be fun and profitable for dad's teams. 

The Caddy -- 1950's

1950'S THE CADDY by Letty Stapp Watt

It would be impossible to share our history of golf without including the role of the caddies who have perpetuated the game over the last two centuries.

Depiction of Slammin Sammy Snead, who began his career in golf as a caddy.

 

It is important to know that before 1870 caddies carried clubs in their arms with out the benefit of a bag. A retired sail-maker who was the clubhouse attendant at England's Westward Ho! fashioned a strip of canvas to keep the grips from getting wet. Among the wealthier members, this chore of toting the loose clubs was delegated to the caddie.  Because of course conditions (Links-lands and public space for man and beasts) and the caddy's intimate knowledge of the course, they began to advise the player on club selection, distance, direction, and hazards. By the nineteenth century many caddies where known as "professionals." My father, like so many professionals of his era, began his career as  a caddy in Wichita, Kansas.  (THE WORLD OF GOLF by Charles Price, 1962)

1932

1932 June 19 mdnr reports that John Ballard, Custodian of the golf shop will reduce cold drinks by 50 percent. Golfers may now quench their thirst for a nickel. Golf balls are also cheaper this year and caddies made the rounds at considerably reduced fees.

1932 August 2 mdnr  reports that during the club championship between Clarence Gordon and Luther Sheldon, that Sheldon knocked his tee shot into the ditch and rolled under the bridge on hole #4. Caddies who were in a position to watch the ball declared that it bounced back and forth under the bridge before it flopped out and up for several yards on the fairway.

1932 July 11 MNR The annual tournament of caddies of the Rockdale CC is under way this week. The matches being played so far show: McCorkle winning two up and one to play over Breckinridge; Andy Gump winning five up over E. Warner; Glen Heath over Hank Eagle two and one to play; Virgil Pryor winning over Irvin Heath three up and two to play. The semi finals are scheduled to be played the first of this week.(No follow up on the winner.)

In the 1930's the Western Golf Association built a "caddie kit" for golf courses to purchase. 1. Know all 14 clubs;2. Hand player the club he selects; 3. Stand still; 4. Watch the ball; 5. Keep p with the player; 6. Keep quiet; 7. Replace all divots; 8 First n the green takes the flag; 9 Smooth sand in traps; 10. Memorize yardage of each hole; 11. Never swing clubs; 12. If you don't know--ask.  

There were also "Four Things to Do" if you are the player: 1. Know your caddy's name; 2. Cooperate fully with the caddy committee by observing all club caddy rules; 3. Give your caddy constructive advice and suggestions; 4. Help your caddy earn the WGA Honor Caddy badge. 

1942

Linda Neal Reising shares this story about her her father, Leroy Neal. 

My father worked as a caddy at the Miami Country club when he was young. He always told the story about Bing Crosby coming to the course. The boys drew straws to see who would be his caddy. Unfortunately, my father did not win. The boy who received the job to caddy for Bing Crosby was given a fifty dollar tip from Mr. Crosby. That was a fortune. 

To read the story of when Bing Crosby played golf at Miami please click on this link: Bing Crosby

1947 to the early 1950's 

Hermann Childers shared his memories of caddying at the Miami Country club in the early 1947. The pro before your dad came on board after the Scotsman, Jack Guild, left. He was there when I started to caddie in 1947 (Guild 1939-1952). Some of the caddies who worked there were Jack Horner, Larry Warner, Jim and Larry Parker, Ken and Jr. Walker, Ron Edwards, Bob Furnish. There were the Huddleson Brothers, there were five who lived in Commerce worked regularly as caddies. Ernie Warner, and others whose names I don't recall worked as caddies through the late 1940's and early 1950's. 

Those were the good times. We always made good money for hauling those clubs around the course. On Saturdays and Sundays we made $2.00 a day or more. That was great money because we could go to the movies for 10 cents. Ice cream "double dip" was 5 cents and hamburgers were 10 cents at Roy's Lunch and Tucker's Lunch. Those were the days.  

 

James Taylor recalls many stories about the Miami Country club. He writes that the old cement building for caddies stood off to the right of hole #1. It was a block house with benches to offer shade. Caddies would wait until they were called, I believe Ernie, a Sr. Caddy in his thirties, managed them. However, I did caddy and spent a little time in that house. Mostly caddies played poker and gambled while waiting. Conversations were similar to the dialogue in the movie "Caddy Shack." 

James writes, when I was 14, I was going to the CC to practice and observed a dozen or more people grouped around someone hitting golf balls in the range next to hole #1. As I walked over there, I saw Ben Hogan hitting balls and watched him for 60 plus minutes hit seven irons to Ernie. Hogan's forearms were Popeye liked, and those shots were carrying about 155 yards or so. Erie hardly ever had to move other than a step and bend over to pick up the golf balls.

Another treat was when Hogan hit 25 or so shots with just his left arm. Those shots had the same trajectory and were 15-20 yards shorter than his normal shot. Hogan was a good friend with George Coleman, Jr.  George brought Ben to Miami more than once when he visited his mother. George is who also put together the four ball team of Hogan and Nelson that defeated the undefeated team of Ward and Venture as described in the book THE GREATEST MATCH EVER PLAYED by Mark Frost. 

James writes, Johnie Stapp and my father, Gob Taylor, were good friends. Once when I was caddying for John Robinson I overheard John F. and Johnie Stapp discussing activity at the dance at the Miami CC. It must have been a good story.

I also carried double at Southern Hills for Johnie and Doc Baron. Pat Temple and I went double for Johnie, Doc Baron, Jackie Meyers and Doc Jackson at Southern Hills when I was 14 years old and Pat Temple was 15. Southern Hills is hilly and a wonderful challenging course. I only recall I was totally exhausted after the round, going up and down those hills, as was Pat. Johnie took a little pity on us and as did the rest of the foursome and asked after the round if we could go another 18. I almost died at the question as the event was in July and 95 degrees with no wind, but then he just laughed and said, "Just kidding Jimmy" and I thanked the Lord. 

1953 October 7 mdnr  "Pros Women caddies in Paris"

The American Ryder cup golf team confessed to a man today that it is slightly nettled over one aspect of European golf. It is the women caddies.  The American Professionals are here for a match with a European all-star team from six countries. At the suburban St. Cloud golf course they discovered that women were used to carry clubs. Walter Buerkemo's caddy confided in him she's expecting the blessed event in about five months. 

"You know," said the Detroit pro, "I just feel like going up to her and saying, "Ma'am I'll carry that bag".

 

Bob Hill relates his memories of caddying for Ky Laffoon and Jackie Myers, local hustler. It was not uncommon for them to play 18 holes, for which Bob caddied double, then after winning or losing a large amount of money, they would head over to hole #1 and play the hustle game. 

On hole #1 they'd go to a spot on the hole, perhaps a 60 yard pitch or chip shot, throw out a dozen balls each and hit to see who got the closest to the hole. These were of $100+ bets (1950's). Then they'd walk over to hole #2 and perhaps throw down a dozen balls each in the bunker, and again play for who hit the closet shot to the pin. 

During the hustle game Ky would play with his Championship bag of clubs. The special bag contained 5-6 different types of clubs because he was superstitious, and kept only the clubs that he hit the best. In reality they were often the only clubs left in his bag after a round of golf. His temper cost him not only tournaments and money but it cost him many golf clubs (and gave golf historians many outlandish stories to tell.) 

Bob relates that during the hustle round of 9 holes in 3 1/2 hours he was required to keep score 11111,1111.  In the end Jackie Myers owed Ky $9.00

One year when Ky was visiting Miami course, he carried a MacGregor set of irons and copper plated inset on the grooves of each iron. 

Bob Hill retells caddying for Harvey Ward during the 1958 U.S. Open at Southern Hills. Ken Venturi also played in the practice  round group. (This is the same pairing from The Match by Frost.) Mike Souchak and Frank Stranahan were in the foursome with Ward and Venturi. Bob was 16 years old in 1958. *Stranahan was a very wealthy young man, who turned pro just so he could play with the pro's. He liked that level of golf. (read in a golf story.)

In order to learn how to caddy for a pro in the US Open, Bob and other men were required to go to caddy school for 6 weeks on a Monday in Tulsa. Bob's folks took him out of school and drove him to Tulsa to learn the rules that caddy's needed to know.

It seems that Harvey Ward and Ken Venturi were on the rolls as working for Eddie Lowry in his California car dealership, when in essence they never worked a lick, but Eddie paid for their amateur tournaments. Because this was illegal Harvey was forced to turn pro in 1958, Venturi had already turned pro. 

In the 1958 US Open Bob caddied for Ward on the practice round (Wednesday), then 18 on Thursday, 18 on Friday, and 36 on Saturday. $35,000 was the entire purse with the winner Tommy Bolt taking home $8000, and unknown man named Gary Player, placed 2nd.

 

Tommy Bolt, celebrating the win on hole #18. There is a skinny little kid in the background, Bob Hill. (pic posted on Facebook 3/30/22) Tommy Bolt, US Open Champion 1958

In the late 1950's Bob often traveled to Springdale, Arkansas for a big Pro-am with Doc Jackson, Johnie Stapp, Jackie Meyers, who was the gambler.

Charlie Dawson writes I worked in the golf shop with Johnie Stapp in the late 1950's and early 1960's. In my last event, Bob Dickson who went on to play the tour was in my threesome. Johnie arranged for me to caddy for Mickey Mantle and George Coleman, Jr. when they played at Miami CC. When Coleman left Miami to live in California he was connected with the celebrities out there. I think he was an investor in the Ben Hogan company. 

If it weren't for the role of caddying in the 1920's my father, the next professional to come to Miami, would never have learned the game of golf, nor learned a profession other than janitor, as his hands were twisted and scarred from serious burns he received in his early teens, while working on a car.  The doctor and nurse suggested that dad learn to hold a golf club as therapy, which then opened the door to golf courses and caddying. 

On a personal note:

 I recall caddies being regular hands at the golf course in Independence, Kansas when I would have been 3,4,5 (1951, 52, 53).  There were no gasoline golf carts, so the caddies carried one or two bags and perhaps used a push cart if the player requested. They were there from sunup to sundown and many an afternoon I played out back in the sand pile where the caddies sat around when they weren't working. I remember that they each had cigar boxes, some painted, most just labeled. Inside they kept their cash or other belongings. The cigar boxes were stored at the Bowling Alley when the caddy was working.  I watched them play marbles and tried my best to sit on pop bottles like they did.

My most fascinating memory was from the snakes and fishes in the big lake on the golf course, not far from our home or the putting green.  The boys, dad, and some of the members often fished in the lake. One day the caddies raked out a great long black snake and cut it open. In all of their excitement I left my home and ran down to the lake. There I discovered with own my own eyes a number of rotten golf balls in the snake's belly. The balls don't digest, they just lay in the belly and rot! Ack.

*Note: As I finish this story on the role of the caddy, The Master's golf tournament is 'live on television' this week. The role of the caddy is immeasurable as we watch these men walk the six miles daily up and down the lush hills of Georgia. I hope some of our readers have had the opportunity to watch The Master's in person or another women's or men's professional golf tournament. Being in the crowd and watching this game live is incredible. 

**The story of Pappy Stokes, Grandfather of Caddies explains all of the roles that a caddy carries on his/her shoulders. 

 

MIAMI GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB 1942 TIMELINE

1942 Miami Golf and Country club history

by Letty Stapp Watt

The Miami Daily News Record (mdnr) is my major source of information. When I cannot locate area golf news I may also use the Joplin Herald (jh)  as a source.  For the sake of the "Timeline of the Miami Golf and Country Club" I have chosen to use the exact words from the newspaper writers because of the times, and language of golf, and the cultural standards from the war and depression years. 

When war came for the British in 1939, sports were immediately and completely abandoned. The British dug deep pits the breadth of their fairways to destroy their value as possible landing strips for German gliders, and unless they were in uniform, few Britishers of sound body and military age ventured on the links. After the Battle of Britain, however, and the removal of the immediate threat of invasion, the British perspective on total war altered and it began to be realized that proper relaxation was the best insurance that men and women, working harder than ever before in their lives, could continue to back the men behind the guns. The English, the Scots, and the Welsh returned to their golf courses and, absolved from the fear of condemnation, benefitted from their golf and almost as much from the anticipations of a pleasant round on their day off from the factory. 

In the United States people went through a somewhat similar cycle. The threat of an enemy landing being much smaller. As threats passed most consciences were clear when War Manpower Commissioner McNutt told the nation's golfers, officially, to get out and play--golf was not an unpatriotic diversion. Three quarters of the clubs in the United States remained open throughout the war.  (pb. 301,302 from The Story of American Golf)

1942 January 14 mdnr  ...snippets of news...

The Oklahoma Professional Golfers associating, meeting in Tulsa yesterday, voted to purchase a $500 defense bond...A very fine gesture by the professional men...Jack Guild, Miami Country club pro, attended the session at which the action was taken...George L. Coleman, Jr., and John F. Robinson, Miami amateur golfers, were elected honorary members of the PGA for their efforts in stimulating interest in the sport....

What about the golfer needing a new supply of little white pellets? They ought to be easy to get--except for the fact they're made of rubber and the government already has restricted their sale...

1942 February 8 mdnr  ...snippets...

A stag dinner will be observed at the Miami Country club Tuesday night for the first time since new club officers were elected.  Dinner will be served at 6:30 pm, Frank Spencer, chairman of the house committee, said.

A 1 o'clock covered-dish luncheon will entertain members of the Ladies division of the Miami Country club on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at the clubhouse. A large attendance of membership is desired as the annual election of officers will be held at this time.   

1942 February 23 mdnr    "The Grist" by Mac Bartlett 

First break of the weather is expected to lure a flock of golfers to the nine-hole Miami Country club layout.....The state PGA's coming to the city again, for the fourth consecutive year, but while the event probably will be held sometime in May no definite days have been set...Henry Picard, the great shotmaker from Oklahoma City, and Ky Laffoon of Miami both have to qualify for the National PGA this year and they may try to do so here...Their entry would give the local event some national attention. 

 

1942 March 2 mdnr "Allies Strike to Drive Japs Off Java"

1942 March 9 mdnr  "The Grist" by Mac Bartlett"

It may be that Ky Laffoon is rounding into his best form at just the right time...Yesterday, the Miamian and Johnny Revolta, shooting eight strokes under regulation figures, ousted Sammy Snead and Ralph Guldahl from the international four ball tourney at Miami, Fla...John F. Robinson, tourney committee chair said that he Oklahoma PGA meet, which will be played here for the fourth straight year with a five-day bombardment will open May 20... Preceding all the state meets here, like the one at the clubhouse Tuesday night, are stag night affairs in which the visiting pros renew friendships with local amateurs....

1942 April 5 mdnr  "war snippet"

The news often reports on athletes being called to war. Lieut.-Col. John C. Butner, Jr., welcomes Maj. Wallace Wade to Field Artillery Replacement Center at Ft. Bragg, N.C. Major Wade left athletic directorship and head foot ball coach's position at Duke University to return to active service. Lieut.-Col. Butner was his teammate on the Brown football team which lost to Washington State in the Pasadena Rose Bowl, January 1, 1916. 

1942 April 12 mdnr  "Ky Laffoon Back From Golf Wars: Miamian Shot Sub-Par 67, Despite Cold Putter, in Asheville Event.

Ky Laffoon, Miami's No. 1 golfer, has returned from the professional tournament trail for a much needed rest. The local shotmaker, who reached his best form in his last rough at Asheville, N.C., during the Land of the Sky open last Sunday, said he had made no plans to qualify for the National PGA tourney. This event will be held May 15-31 in Atlantic City, N.J.

Laffoon said the 67 he fired in his closing round as Asheville was "one of my finest in a long time" He turned in the par-shattering performance despite a recalcitrant putter.

"I missed eight putts on the round that ranged from two to six feet," Ky said Saturday. "Otherwise my shots were clicking and in the round I played some of my best golf in alone time." His remarkable finish enabled the Miamian to finish in a tie with Ralph Guldahl and Jimmy Demaret for fourth, fifth, and sixth place money. His total for the 72 holes was 253. 

Laffoon and his wife arrived his Friday and will stay for several days. The Miamian, who is still listed as a PGA member from Chicago district, cold transfer his membership to Oklahoma and thus become eligible to participate in the state meet in Miami next month. However, he did not indicate he would try to qualify anywhere this year. 

 

1942 April 14 mdnr  "Lyndon Scott Scores Year's First Ace"

The year's first hole-in-one member out at Miami Country club is Lyndon Scott, Picher business man. Playing in a threesome Sunday with Sam Fullerton and Tony Ming, Lyndon used a No 4 iron on the 151-yard No. 3 hole to score his ace. 

A stiff wind was blowing at the time the ball plopped into the cup. In fact, Lyndon's drive struck about two inches past the hole, but with the aid of the wind and backspin bounded in the "back door" for his ace.  "Whew!" the linksman exclaimed after the perfect shot finally dawned on him. "That's my first ace and I'm just waiting here to see that it fell into that hole."

More  than 20 other pellet swatters toured the nine-hole layout, now in splendid condition, Sunday afternoon...Perhaps the best round--it was the lowest reported anyhow---was the 37-37--74 turned in my John F Robinson. Playing with Robinson, MC. (Buck) Bagby had a pretty fair last nine, requiring 39 strokes after goin out in 42...

Others who got in some swings over the course yesterday, included: Dr. L.P. Hetherington, W.C. Lueders, Dr. R.E. Baron, Wesley Bullock, Alderson Thompson, R. O. Gibson, S.E. Long, F. E. Millner, Jack Myers, Bill Neel, Kenneth Neal, G.C. Niday, D.E. Reitz, Glenn Scott, Ted Stith, G. R. White, Bob Dixon, Dr. F.K. Kirkpatrick, and DeAtley Hampton. 

***

Jack Guild has been notified by the national association that sectional qualifying rounds must be played by May 8. Guild said he would contact Floyd Farley at Oklahoma City today to clear up the tournament-getting problems...

1942 May 3 mdnr  "Professional Golfers to Play Over Miami Course this Week"

Although five of the "old guard" won't be here, this week's annual Oklahoma PGA golf tournament is churning up lots of interest locally in the links sport. Miami Country club's rolling nine-hole course is ready to give the play-for-keeps boys another severe test. Par's seldom been broken, not over the 36-hole stretch at least, and there's no visible evidence the layout is going to be easier this time.

U.C. Ferguson, assistant pro at Lincoln Park in Oklahoma City, is joining the army Tuesday. He's the fifth PGA member who'll not be back for this year's show, which starts with the 18-hole pro-amateur next Thursday and runs through Sunday with the finals in the match play.

Others who will not be on hand are Harold Nenhinger of Tulsa and Howard Estep of Fort Smith, Ark., both in the army, and Buddy Poteet and Frank Higgins, both of Tulsa, who have accepted national defense jobs. 

Pro Jack Guild announced Saturday night that 35 local "simon pures" have signed up to participate with the visitors in the pro-amateur Thursday. 

Guild said Joe Dahlman of Tulsa, a veteran professional links instructor and former president of the Oklahoma PGA will make his fourth consecutive appearance in the event on the Miami layout. George Whitehead of Tulsa Indian Hills is the defending match play titlist. Last year Floyd Farley of Oklahoma City won the 36-hole qualifying test here (which will be played next Friday). He will return to defend his honors. 

On Saturday, the eight low scorers in the qualifying will be bracketed for the start of 18-hole match play. The two survivors in morning and afternoon competition that day will meet for the big trophy now in Whitehead's hands. 

1942 May 4 mdnr  "The Grist" by Mac Bartlett"

Charley Lewis and Lyndon Scott, Miami Country club golfers, ousted Fred Rauch and Harold Stiles, Tulsa swingers, by a 2-up margin Sunday in the first round of the Tulsa World PGA four-ball tourney....It was Scott's fine play that gave the Miami combination an early lead...

Scott toured the first six holes of the Mohawk course in par figures to give the local combination a three-hole edge in the match play affair...Lewis and Scott will compete in the second round next Sunday...

Jack Guild, local professional, and his amateur partner, Dr. R.E. Baron, were eliminated by a couple of fine golfers, Clyde King, Jr., and Harold Lahar, former University of Oklahoma football star...The margin was 6 and 5...

***

While at Tulsa, Miamians learned that there'll be a representative field of pro golfers here Thursday through Sunday for the annual PGA...Among them will be: Bill Witherspoon, Tulsa Southern Hills who hasn't competed here previously in the PGA; Jess Stuttle, Marion Askew, John Dahlman, C.J. Worley, Hugh Bancroft and Sandy Francisco, all of Tulsa; Jimmy Gullane and Harland Hicks, both of Bartlesville; Charley Weisner of Muskogee and Floyd Farley of Oklahoma City...There'll be several other from Oklahoma City and Bill Oliver of Ponca City also is expected....

Worley and Bancroft are newcomers to PGA circles...Both have served out the necessary five years of links instruction to qualify for membership...

***

Saturday night's storm brought some damage to the local links....Both No 7 and No 9 greens were damaged by flying pieces of wind-swept wood...A table on the south porch of the clubhouse was smashed against the roof of the "drive-under" to the clubhouse and then was carried onto and over the No. 9 green, tearing up the sod in several places...The greens will be smoothed out and limbs blown down from many of the trees will be removed from the fairways today....

***

While the pro-amateur event, slated for Thursday, is really the first bit of fairway fireworks, in the fourth annual meet in Miami, the club members and pros will gather at the dinner table Wednesday evening to lay their plans...

1942 May 5 mdnr "P.G.A. Thursday"

From the reports already received from the shotmakers, Jack Guild Miami Country club pro, estimated today there would be 15-18 professional golfers here Thursday through Sunday for the Oklahoma PGA tourney.

A surprise entry came Monday with the arrival of Bill Laffoon, granted a week's furlough from Fort Sill. 

There are 37 club members signed up for play in Thursday's pro-amateur. They include:

G.R. White, Buddy May, Mil Caldwell, Jack James, E.K Scott, Glenn Scott, Dr. R.E. Baron, George Windham, Joe Thompson, Bert Wall, Fred Newton, Myron Jenkins, John F. Robinson, Dr. M.A. Connell, Kelly Spencer, Joe Spencer, Jack Myers, Lyndon Scott, L.J. Bowers, W.J. Worley, LeRoy Heath, Claude Jones, R.O. (Hoot) Gibson, Bob Dixon, M.C. (Buck) Bagby, M.K. Hutts, W.C. Bullock, Jim Campbell, Wilton Taylor, Al white, 

__________________________________________________

Fried chicken and strawberry shortcake, gentlemen, will be the main dishes on the menu. Wednesday night when the Country club dinner is served at 6:30 o'clock in the clubhouse. At this time, pairings for the Thursday's 18-hole pro-amateur will be announced. Club members also will met the pros with whom they are to play.

__________________________________________________

C.J. Carselowery, G. C. Niday, Sonny Peacock, Alderson Thompson, Luther Sheldon, Dr. L.P Hetherington, and Sam Fullerton.

Handicaps will be figured out for the 'simon pures' by Wednesday morning and their pairings with the visiting golfers will be announced at the stag dinner. 

 

1942 May 5 mdnr  "Ky Laffoon Is Low Scorer at Chicago"

Ky Laffoon of Miami Okla, a free-lance pro who holds a membership in the Illinois section of the PGA, yesterday posted a 73-75--148, on Glen Oaks' par 72 course to pace the seven qualifiers for the PGA golf championship in Atlantic City the week of May 25.  It was the tenth straight time Laffoon qualified for the tourney. 

1942 May 8 mdnr  "Three Way Tie as PGA Meet Begins"

Jess Stuttle of Tulsa and George Windham; Bill Oliver of Ponca City and Al White; and Bill Witherspoon of Tulsa and Dr. M.A. Connell have low ball scores of 64.

The professional shotmakers got away on their 36-hole test in threesomes. After today's eight low scorers are named, pairing will be made for two rounds of match play Saturday morning and afternoon. Then the finals will be held Sunday over the 36-hole route. 

The best round of the day was Whitehead's even par 72. The Tulsa Indian Hills pro went out in 37, but came in with a sparkling 35. Outstanding shot and the most timely as well was amateur Al White's hole out on No. 18 when he took a sand wedge to blast out of the trap. It enabled him to tie for highest honors.

1942 May 10 mdnr  "Tulsa Pro to Meet O.C. Player Today for PGA Trophy"

Defending champion George Whitehead of Tulsa will meet dapper Floyd Farley of Oklahoma City at Miami Country club today in the 36-hole finals of the annual Oklahoma PGA match play tournament. The finalists will be firing away for about $75 cash today, with the lion's share, 50 going to the winner. 

If he's victorious in the finals Farley will have made a clean sweep of the annual tourney. For he led the field Friday with a 36-hole total of 149 to qualify for the National PGA meet in Absecon, N.J. May 25 to 31.

1942 May 11 mdnr  "Floyd Farley Lifts Oklahoma PGA Trophy"

 Handsome Floyd Farley of Oklahoma City had a handsome golf trophy today to show for his links consistency. Driving just a bit more accurately into and with a stiff southwest wind that swept across the local course throughout the day, the Oklahoma Citian combined this slight edge with an enormous advantage on the greens to rout George Whitehead 5 and 4, Sunday afternoon. 

The conquest came in the 36-hole finals. Whitehead, the defending champion, simply didn't have enough to hold on. Terminating the match on hole No. 32, after lifting his game to near par levels in the afternoon, Farley was decidedly the better of the two in the Sabbath struggle. During the morning round, both faltered in the stiff wind that swept the layout. They staggered in for lunch with seven-over-par 79's for the first 18 holes. 

1942 June 16 mdnr  ...snippets from The Grist...

About 60 golfers, playing under ideal weather conditions tested the Miami County club layout Sunday...Some unusual shots and several good scores...Phillip (Skinny) Peacock ran down a 35-foot putt on No 9 and, a few moments later, Paul Campbell, a member of a different foursome pitched into the cup from a short distance off the carpet...Those are the kid of shots that chill the boys standing around to wait for a six-footer...Miami Golfers will be doing their part for the Red Cross war fun on July 4 and Labor Day links events...All proceeds from the entry fees will go to the Red Cross. 

Since the days of clubs and rocks, fighting
men have had their mascots...WARDOG.

 

 

 

 

1942 July 26 mdnr  ....snippets from "The Grist"

Seven Miamians are  competing in the Tri-State meet at Joplin today....Charley Lewis qualified last week with a 71 and will play 36 holes in the championship class...Others from Miami who were slated to compete in various brackets include Dave Coats, Dr. R.E. Baron, George Windham, Clarence Carselowey, Joe Thompson and G.R. White...

 

1942 August 16 mdnr  ...snippets from "The Grist"

 

The WPB's (War Production Board) latest order concerning sports good may affect golf more than any other...Jack Guild, pro at Miami Country club, said Saturday he received a letter from the L.A. Young company stating that WPB will permit no more covering of old golf balls...The process by which the old pellets were covered had been looked upon as a method of saving certain vital materials....

 

Eight-year-old Marlene Bauer, youngest player in Women's Western Amateur Golf Tournament in Chicago, blasts out of a sand trap with purpose. The Aberdeen, S.D. miss has an 18-hole average of 96.  (Marlene later becomes one of the 13 founding members of the Ladies Professional Golf Association.)
 

1942 September 25mdnr "Bing Crosby and Golfer Ed Dudley, Who Visited Miamians Thursday, to Play Benefit Golf Match at Tulsa Today."

Ed Dudley, the pro golf star and Bing Crosby, the movie crooner, played one unscheduled match in the state when they stopped in Miami to see their friends Mr. and Mrs. George L. Coleman, Jr., on their recent bond-selling tour. That was over the Miami Country club course, where Big Ed served as professional 22 years ago.

Dudley and Bing stopped at Miami on their way to Tulsa. Dudley wanted to pay a call on his old friend, Jack Guild, now pro at the Miami layout. Big Ed recalled that when he was at Miami the club had sand greens back in 1920—the year he started his meteoric rise in the golfing world that has carried him to the present rank as one of the nation’s best and President of the Professional Golf Association.

"I don't see how he holds up under the strain of meeting hundreds of persons everywhere he goes--but he does," said the congenial Dudley. "At Kansas City yesterday, 400 to 500 persons swooped down upon him when we got off the train at the Union station. There's nothing he can do, except meet them, and he does a good job of it" 

Bing, who is really on a vacation but spending it selling war bonds on the golf links of the nation, dresses for comfort and appears nonchalant, while playing golf although he's in there consistently with the 70's.  The film-star and Dudley, played 13 holes over the local course late in the afternoon. A gallery that numbered only a few at the start swelled to unexpected proportions before they called it a day, swinging back to the No. 5 green from the short No. 3.

Mrs. George Coleman, Jr., and Miss Patty Fullerton  joined them in  a foursome. "I don't know exactly what I have shot," the singer admitted toward the end of his play. He said, he enjoyed shooting over the course, which he said was in "fine" condition. 

Bing's drives carried considerable depth for a man who weights 145-150 pounds. Rather short, heavily-tanned, he wore a yellow sport shirt, brown trousers, white shoes and a gray, striped cap. 

Before tuning up their golf shots for today's appearance at Tulsa's Southern Hills club, Bing and Dudley visited Judge S.C. Fullerton's Sunbeam farm. There they saw Prince Sunbeam, 29 grand champion at the Fort Worth livestock show. Sam Fullerton escorted them through the barn, housing the prize animals.

Bing made a number of friendly wagers on the outcome of today's matches. He lost one yesterday when he said he could tour the par 36 country club layout in 38. Whatever his score was, it was a bit above that number. However, he shot par figures on a few holes, and made a remarkable approach on the long No.6 hole, over 500 yards in length. 

Before leaving the clubhouse, a large group of teen-age girls swarmed about Bing, pleading for him to sing. "I really couldn't do it," he told them seriously, "I don't have any music with me"

But they all "nailed" him for his autograph, which he gave graciously and with a frequent smile.

He will be back "on the job" October 1 when he resumes his radio (Kraft music hall) and film work. After Tulsa, they will go to Oklahoma City, then on to Houston where they will conclude their bond-selling tour. 

Note the signature of Crosby across the bottom of the tee top.

* The small red tee, only one inch and a half long, is a true souvenir from a thirteen year old golfer and Crosby fan, Sarah Hilliard Mirjanick, who received it from Bing Crosby on the day he played golf in Miami. The picture of the tee was shared by Sarah's daughter,  Rebecca Mirjanick Davis. 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1942 September 27 mdnr "Nation-wide Gas Rationing Slated to Start Nov. 22"

1942 October 11 mdnr  "Golfers Swing for Fat Prizes"

Miami Country club officers announced Saturday a lucrative prize list for the golfers who emerge victorious in the current tournament, which will reach completion of the second round in all flight by Sunday night. 

The championship field already has been narrowed down to four players, but there were only six placed in the select class this year. M.C. Bagby, who drew a bye, will oppose Glenn Scott, a 4 and 3 victor over Alderson Thompson. M.K. Hutts, who eliminated Paul Wilson 2 and 1, will meet Dr. R.E. Baron, who drew a bye, in the other. 

 

Class A--Al White defeated Luther Sheldon, 2 and 1; Ted Stith ousted Virgil Fichter, 3 and 2; R.O. (Hoot) Gibson, bye; Lyndon Scott, bye; G.R. White bested George Windham, 4 and 3; JOe Thompson trimmed Dr. W. B. Sanger, 4 and 3; Kenneth Neal, bye.

 

Class B--DeWitt Watters won by default; G.C. Niday eliminated Gene Reitz, 5 and 4; Frank Spencer, bye; C.R. Jones downed Bob Dixon, 7 and 6; Bud May, bye; W.J. Worley defeated Noel Wyatt, 7 and 6, and Philip Peacock and Bert Wall both advanced by defaults.

Class C--W.C. Bullock won by default; Leroy Heath, bye; Carl Hilliard, won by default; A.J. Poleete, won by default; H.C. Hampton, bye; Sonny Peacock, won by default; Sam Long, bye; E.K. Scott, won by default.

Class D--Georg J. Stein, Dr. J.B. Hampton, and Dr. F.K. Kirkpatrick each won by default; Myron Jenkins, nosed out Dr. L.P Hetherington, 1 up in 19 holes.

 

Following are prizes:

Championship flight--Silver cup, donated by Williams Jewelry, first prize; one-half dozen golf balls, Oklahoma Tire & Supply, second prize.

Flight A--Hair brush and comb set, Simon Jewelry, first; shaving set, Miami Coca-Cola Bottling company, second.

Flight B--Billfold, Dr. R.E. Baron, optometrist, first; three golf balls, Ed Millner hardware, second. 

Flight C--Eversharp pencil, Dawson Jewelry, first; sweater, Hub clothing, second. 

Flight D--Shaving set, Coleman-Hutts, first; tie, B&K clothing, second.

 

For the first contestant scoring a 91 a fountain pen will be awarded by the Dixon Printing company. 

 

**Final results of the 1942 Club Championship were not found in the Miami Daily NewsRecord. The reasoning may be the massive numbers of men called to war, including Pro Jack Guild. 

 

 

 1942 October 20 mdnr  ...snippets from The Grist

 

 Paul Smith, former Miamian now stationed at Tulsa, paced the floors of Tulsa's St. John's Hospital the other day with Buddy Poteet, formerly of Commerce and one-time an assistant pro at Miami Country club...Smith became the father of a girl, while Buddy beamed at the arrival of a boy..Another golfer, no doubt, who'll knock those clothesline drives down the fairways like his daddy, who won the Oklahoma PGA Open here several years ago.

1942 November 29 mdnr  "The Grist" 

For the second time in his life, affable Jack Guild, golf professional at Miami Country club is marching off to war. He'll be fighting again for the Allies, but under the American flag instead of British colors. When 17, he made his first trip to war, joining the Royal Marines with whom he saw two years of service, eight months of which were spent in campaigns in France, at the Rivers Meuse-Argoone offensive, the battle of Somme River, and the Soissons River.

The Miamian will leave here Wednesday for Fort Sill and assignment in the regular army.

Jack Guild, professional, called to war.

Jack Guild, a native of Troon, Scotland, the links professional began World War duty after residing at Newcastle, in Northern England. His brother and sister presumably are in England (he hasn't heard from either of them for more than a year) and the former, who has served with the British fleet's air arm, was stationed at last reports, at an airdrome. 

Jack took out his first U.S. citizenship papers a number of years ago and is no awaiting his second. After four years of links apprenticeship in Newcastle, England and at Troon, the Scotsman became eligible for professional work. He came to this nation in 1924, serving  his first club at Bonham, Texas. 

During succeeding years, the Miamian has been a golf instructor at Louisville, Ky., Muskogee and at Tulsa's Oakhurst club (now the Oaks Country Club, Tulsa redesigned by Perry Maxwell), from which he came t this city in March of 1939. 

***

Golf has enjoyed a noticeable growth here--until wartime conditions affected it--under Guild's direction. "I like it fine here," he said Saturday, "and would like to return after the war. But I may not get back into the golf business when this is over."

The Scot is proud of his many good golfers developed in this city and is of the opinion they could "hold their own" with those of "practically any other club in the state."

***

In 1929, Jack finished in second place in the annual Oklahoma PGA golf tourney, which was played, incidentally, at the old grass greens course here. With the new grass greens layout, golf membership steadily has increased and a marked interest was shown until the tie war broke out. 

The golf expert, who also is well qualified in caring for grass greens, is single. No successor has been named to his position by the Country club.

1942 December 7 mdnr "Athletics Help In War Effort" by Harold Classen

A year ago today...Pearl Harbor.

Despite the early-death rumors for sports immediately after the Japs' unannounced visit to Hawaii, the nation-wide interest in athletics continues today and the sports world--remodeled in spots and revamped in others--goes on in its three-fold war purpose of (1) furnishing entertainment and holstering morale, (2) raising relief funds, and (3) conditioning prospective fighters. 

So let's make a brief check to see what has happened to sports and what sports has made happen in the past 12 months.

Sports described: Boxing, Racing, Baseball, Football and Golf.

Golf: The ruling body gave up its national championship program but sent its professionals out for relief exhibitions and its amateurs to digging divots for the same cause...Relinquished such players as Bob Jones and Bud Ward to the Air Force, Sam Snead to the Navy, Dick Chapman, Pat Abbott, Ed Oliver, and Jim Turnesa to the Army.

 

All other branches of sport contributed--both in cash and manpower--in proportion. Virtually the only outright casualties were the Pan American games, automobile and boat racing. And they were dropped only because they consumed gasoline which Uncle Sam needs for his fighting nephews.  

 

 

1942 December 9 mdnr  ...snippets from The Grist...Jack Guild, the former Miami Country club pro, writes from Fort Sill, where he is temporarily stationed with the army, that "things are going all right so far"...He says he's been outfitted and had his shots, but doesn't know yet where he'll be assigned..."All the Miami boys are doing fine," the veteran of World War I added...