1963 STORIES AND TIMELINE of MGCC

 

 1963 March 10  "Lady Golfers Approaching New Season"

Mrs. Don Johnson hosted the annual lady golfers registration. Among the newcomers present were three who are looking forward to their first golf game: Mrs. Frank McAleer, Mrs. Bill Hirsch, and Mrs. Vern Schwertfeger. The novices' first game is scheduled for April 3. 

 1963 April 7 MNR  "Nowata Defeats Miami's Juniors in Golf Rounds"

*I did not remember that Claire Oliver coached Junior High boys golf during these years. 

Nowata scored a 17-3 victory over Miami in a junior high school golf match Saturday at the Nowata Country club. It was the first outside competition for each team, a new phase of athletic competition for the two schools.

Coach Claire Oliver's Miami juniors were without the services of their No. 1 player, John Robinson, a measles victim.  Mark Wojcik, playing the No 1 spot for Miami, carded an 86 for a 3-0 victory over David Lynn, 110.

Other junior high players were: Woody Painter, Larry LaCaff, Jim Thompson, Jay Reniker, Jim Painter, Richard Varley, and Bob Moody who was called into services when illness forced Robinson's absence. 

1963 April 7 "High School Golfers in Tourney Monday"

Sixteen schools will have teams here Monday for the sixth annual MHS golf tournament held at the Miami Country club. The largest representatives will be from OKC, with defending champion Harding, Capital Hill, Classen, Grant, and Northeast. Nearby, El Reno and Midwest City will attend. Other entries are from Parsons and Coffeyville, Kansas; Sand Springs, Muskogee, Edison, Central, McClain, and Hale from Tulsa, and Miami.  

Golf coach Bill Watkins of MHS will serve as general director of the meet, and is cooperating with Johnie Stapp, local golf pro and other members of the Miami Country club.  

Those who have volunteered to serve as walking scorers are asked to report at the club as follows:

8:30am--Mrs. John F. Robinson, Mrs. Elbert Munson, Mrs. Bud Gaines, Mrs. Loren Williams, Mrs. George Russell, Mrs. Tom Cordell, Mrs. Tom Barton, Mrs. Hance VanBeber, Mrs.  Don Curlee, Mrs. John Schofield and Delmer Barnes.

9:30--Mrs. Paul Wilson, Mrs. Olen Moore, Mrs. Jack Horner, Mrs. Bill Hatfield, Mrs. George Wojcik, Mrs. John Stapp, Mrs. Robert Temple, Mrs. Stanley Ulmer and Glenn Scott.

1963 April 7 MNR "Ladies Golf"

Members of he Miami Ladies Golf association who are beginners were given the first a of series of lesson by Golf Pro Johnie Stapp last Wednesday. A business meeting followed the luncheon in the newly decorated dining room at the club house. Mrs. Claud Jones, president, introduced new members. There were 45 women present. 

Winners of the afternoon low gross competition were: Claire Oliver, championship; Millie Carte and Eva Williams, Class A; Helen Moore, B, and Sue Barnes, class C.  

1963 April 7 "Stag Night"

The Monthly Stag Night at the MCC will begin at 6:30 Tuesday and continue through the fall days. Please call the club for dinner reservations 2-8447. 

*Dad would make the pairings every week by teams. The men could call the golf shop to see who they were playing with or against. Most men confirmed with each other by phone as to when they could be off work to play.  

1963 April 9 "Tulsa Edison Captures Top Honors in Schoolboy Golf Tourney"

*Bill Kelter, a junior from Parsons, Ks. netted a hole-in-one on the par 3 200 yard No.3 hole during the Miami high school tournament. It was the first ace in the history of the six-year old golf meet. 

1963 April 26 "Country Club has Plush New Look"

The newly redecorated lounge at the Miami Country club. Photo by Orrick Sparlin.

Description of the construction & costs click on this link to read the full story of the redecorating and costs.
 

1963 May 3 "4-Ball Tourney Pairings Ready"

First round pairings for the four-ball men's match play tournament at MCC from Sunday until May 13 have been announced by Spencer Dawson, chairman. Handicaps will be used.

1963 May 5 MNR "Miami's Junior Golfers Defeats Nowata"

Miami junior high school golfers, coached by Mrs. Claire Oliver, defeated Nowata juniors 16-14 Saturday at the Miami Country club. The victory avenged a loss at Nowata last month. 

Mark Wojcik of Miami didn't let Saturday's gusty weather bother him. He was medalist with 43-41=84. Other Miami winners were: John Robinson, Jay Reniker, Jim Painter, Jackie Mann.

Splitting their matches were Woody Painter, and Richard Varley. Other players were Jim Thompson, George Parker, and John Riddling.

Front row: Gary West, David Kruitoff, Jim Williams; Back row: Pat Wilson, John Robinson, Phil Ulmer and Bill Oliver.

1963 MHS Wardog Boy's Golf Team: 

 

 

 

 1963 May 19 (Sunday) MDNR  A typical social page reads...Calendar:

 Miami Country club women's division will meet....

Maranatha's begin Tuesday at the First Baptist church....

Chapter EJ members will picnic at the home of Mrs. Bill Follis...

Bellettes will meet 7:30 Tuesday at 1811 C Northeast...

Miami Garden Club is sponsoring a workshop at the home of Mrs. L.P Hetherington, 415 Second Ave. Northwest.

Miami OES (Order of Eastern Star) will meet 8 pm Thursday...

Miami Child club will be hosted by Mrs. Wayland Kelly

Chapter AJ, PEO will meet for a dessert luncheon 1:30 Monday

Historical Society will meet at 2:30 o'clock today in the Dodson building.

Other society events include: 

"Circle Day" for First Methodist; Mrs. Bill Landers Hostess to UCW; Mrs. M.F. Owens is Sorosis Speaker; Amy Schmidt, 4 in "Butterfly" Company; 

Brides and Engagements: the former Judy Ann Eby married Johnie Lee Schoenhals; Miss Carline Owen of Bartlesville will marry Tyron Witzel...The future bride's grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Earl Benton;  Miss Carolyn Sue turner will marry Seaman Jerry Neal Hawk. 

College announcements in the spring and fall often take up two columns: 'Miamian To Get Grinnell Degree' Mary B. Shouse, daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. Corbin E. Shouse will receive a Bachelor of Arts degree at commencement June 7. 

1963 June 17 mnr "Hail Hits Area"

Rainfall that accompanied damaging winds, and hail in Ottawa country shortly before 1 a.m. Sunday put a sizeable dent in the worst spring drought here in years. Miami's rain gauge show 1.63 inches. Golf ball sized hail hit the golf course causing extensive damage to the greens. The course will be closed to golfers until repairs are completed. 

1963 June 20 mdnr 

1963 June 20 mdnr "Friday Rounds for Junior Golfers"

Letty Stapp is the new president of the Miami Junior Golf Association. She was elected at the last meeting, along with John Robinson, vice president, and Janie Berentz, secretary-treasurer.

Pairings for Friday's competition follow: Championship flight--Bobby Ballenger, Woody Painter, Susan Russell and Carol Coburn; Mark Wojcik, Bill Fullerton, Jim Thompson and Letty Stapp; John Robinson, Jim Hutchins, Chuck Smith and Jenee Kenreigh; Richard Varley, Paul Pipes and Janie Berentz; Doug Phillips, George Parker and Cathy Olson. (All players in the championship flight must tee off at 8:30 am or earlier. First players named must contact others in the group.)

A flight--Judy Berentz, David Brodrick, Carol Brown, and Jimmy Painter; Sally Meyer, Jackie Nunn, Geoff Schofield and Lee Dell Snyder.

B flight--Bobby Gains, Mark Cordell and Ray Coburn (Ruth Fullerton, scorer); George Haralson, Bill Housman, and Frank Jacobs (Wanda Jo Brown, scorer), John Reynolds, Pete Whitaker and Bobby Wilson (Mavis Ford, scorer); Jonya Stapp, Clara Searle, Cathy Gilmore and Nancy Cordell (Maxine Jeffries, scorer).

Five-hole play--Terry Ford, Gene Feronti Richard Goodwin, and Tommy Cordell (Margaret Coburn, scorer); John Luttrell, Carl Renner, and David Reynolds (Wilma Housman, scorer); Sandy Dale, Karen Jeffries, Carol Kenreigh and Sherri Turner (Elizabeth Hansford, scorer); June Reniker, Forestette Turner, Terry Whitaker and Tammy Romick (LaRue Gaines, scorer)

Two-hole play--Greg Dale, Kenny Gibson and Craig Feronti (Betty Kelly, scorer); Jeff Hansford and Williams Windham (Virginia Wilson, scorer); Rhonda Romick, Kim Feronti, Ann Cordell and Cassie Kelly (Tanya Reese, scorer); Linda Neel, Gala Painter and Nancy Reese (Mary Mann, scorer); Dana Painter, Tanya Reese, Ruth Wills (Virginia Dale, scorer). 

*PERSONAL NOTE: I have no recall of every electing or serving a a Jr. Golf officer, however, I am sure my mother remembered and I added it to my list of accomplishment for college entry. I do recall how busy our mother's were during those years. Often after a round of golf our mothers stayed and went swimming, too. 

**Personal Story:  During the summer of 1963 Billy Fullerton and I played many rounds of golf together.  Since I worked until 2:00 my golf was in the afternoons or evenings when it was the hottest imaginable weather. The movie The Birds by Hitchcock came out in the summer of 1963 and scared many of us across the United States. Billy and I were two of the victims of the birds that summer. 

On hole No. 8 a par 3 going North, there was a tiny creek or drainage area in front of the tee box. Bushes were growing up from the creek water and made it difficult for us to tee off and get the ball up in the air soon enough to miss the trees. One day, one of us lost a ball in the creek or in the bushes. With our golf clubs on our shoulder we took out a club and began to swish through the grass and under the bushes looking for 25-50 cent golf ball. Suddenly, the Red-Winged Blackbirds that had a nest with chicks in the bushes began to attack us. They dive bombed us and one grabbed at my bushy hair. I screamed. Dropping my clubs, I began running toward the clubhouse. Billy came chasing after me. Imagine my father and the adults nearby the clubhouse when two teenagers came running and screaming across the golf course "The Birds"  "The Birds" ...

After receiving our explanation that birds attack people when people get close to a nest with chicks in it, we were humbled and embarrassed. Eventually, dad took us out in a golf cart to pick up our golf clubs and return us to the cool basement of the clubhouse. 

Billy was sent to a private school that summer and I never  played golf with him again.  The next year my good friend and explorer, who did her best to get us grounded, Vicki Newell, was also sent away to private school and I never again played in the pool or parks with her.  The next year C.Ann Richards turned her energies to singing and going to music camps. For me, these were some vivid years.
 

Family fun beside the pool. Jonya, Dad, Letty, Yvonne Temple.

  1963 June 25  MNR "Jackson Medalist in City Golf Meet"

Dr. W.D. Jackson, with a one-over par 73, was medalist as a record field of 91 qualified for the annual club golf tournament for men at the Miami Country Club. Jess Fronterhouse, Picher school Superintendent and 1961 city champion, was next to Jackson with 75. Defending champion Jack Myers did not qualify. 

Matches are to be played at the rate of one per week until champions of the six flights are determined. First round pairings and qualifying scores in the flights follow:

Championship:

Dr. W.D. Jackson 73 vs Ray Coburn, 80: G.R. White, 78 vs Harry Gilmore, 81; Bill Neel, 77, vs Joe Thompson 90: George Windham, 79 bye; Jess Fronterhouse, 75, vs Woodrow Painter 80: Ken Richards, 78 vs Bob Hill, Jr., John F. Robinson, 77 vs Charles Trussler, 81; Bill Ziego, 80, bye.

President's Flight:

 Bob Nunn vs Bill Hatfield; Harry Kenreigh vs Corbin Shouse; Bob Temple vs George Wojick; Al White vs John LaFaller; Buck Bagby vs Tom Barton; Brady Pipes vs Don cherry; Marion Zajic vs Bob Hill Sr; Rex Painter vs. Jack Schofield. 

A Flight:

Bernie Schaff vs John Burford; Loren Williams vs Eldon Smith; Dr. Harry Ford vs Pat Campbell; Ted Vernon vs Dave Wasson; Bill Hirsch vs Bob Goodwin; Dr. Richard Varley vs Kermit Lewis; Harry Whitaker vs Wayland Kelly; Bill Essary, bye.

B Flight:

Don Johnson vs Al Williams; Ronnie Sparkman vs K.C. Jeffries, Frank Hansford vs Art Goettel; Oris Goodwin vs John McLaughlin; George Myers vs W.F. Patterson; Charles Hirsch vs Jack Brown; Dick Neel vs Lee Bearskin; Hank Garwood vs Bob Longacre. 

C Flight:

 John Haralson vs Harold (Delmar) Barnes; V.J. Orcutt Jr. vs Lloyd Cowgill; Dick Wadleigh vs Jim Smallwood; Tony Booth vs Bud Gaines; Bill Oliver vs Dr. Raymond McKinney; Harry Dean vs Kenny Scott; Ed Dudgeon vs E. Scott Myers; Bill Carter vs Norman Gaither.

D Flight

Otto Doty vs Jack Horner; Claude Dale vs Elvin Ridley; Spencer Dawson vs O.A. Rockwell; Alex Hecksher, bye; Roy Enjart vs Gene Feronti; Howard Essary vs George Mayer; Dail West vs Homer Kemper, Tom Wilson, bye.

"Four-ball Finalists"

Championship finals in the men's annual four-ball golf tournament will be played Sunday afternoon with Schofield and Dr. Raymond McKinney vs Spencer Dawson and Dr. W.D. Jackson.

**PERSONAL NOTE: When the Feronti family moved to town I learned about signatures for charges on the club.  I could read the children's names when they signed for their drinks or candy in the golf shop, but Mr. Feronti's name was never, never legible.  Mother, in her wise words, explained that often times men of his status and position did not have to have a signature that a person could read. Me, being a future teacher, had been writing his name correctly above or below his signature so that my mother would know who signed. I honestly wrote names of many of the men who signed for beverages in the golf shop.    

**Personal note from Becky Graham Edwards: My father, DR. Rex Graham, one night went out and cut down the limbs off a tree on the golf course that had been giving him fits.

1963 June 28 "Junior Girls Golf Tourney Here Today"

Some 70 girls from Oklahoma and Missouri were competing today in the fourth annual Miami Junior Girls golf meet-the Mabel Hotz tournament--at the Miami Country Club   Competition is in six flights. Donna Fox of Tipton, Missouri, defending champion, is playing in an 18-hole threesome with Susan Basolo of Muskogee, and Suzy Friels of Tulsa. Each is regarded as a top contender for the 1963 title.

HOLE-IN-ONE! 

Susan White, 17, of Tulsa's Rolling Hills club, scored a hole-in-one this morning on the 125 yard No.3 hole. It was the first ace in the history of Junior Girls tournament.

1963 June 30 mnr "Basolo Takes Honors"

Susan Basolo, 15 year old Muskogee girl who has been making an impressive record in women's golf competition this year, captured the championship of the 4th annual Miami "Mabel Hotz Invitational Tourney". Her score of 43, 39 matched the 82 posted by last year's winner.  2nd place went to Suzy Friels of Tulsa Oaks with an 87. Other Championship scores: Letty Stapp 42-48--90; Susanne Willis, 96; Ann Durand, 97.

Other Miami players:A flight-- Janie Berentz, 2nd; Cathy Olson,Janee Kenreigh; B flight--Susan Russell, Kae Nunn; C flight--Carol Brown, Sally Meyer; D flight--Jonya Stapp, Kathy Gilmore; Pee-Wee flight--Carol Searle 1st, Forrestette Turner, Tammy Romick, Karen Jeffries.

Susan Basolo: HerStory   Several years ago I found reason to write a full story about this remarkable young woman who beat me in every tournament we played in from the 1960's to qualifying for USGA Mid-Am in 1988.

1963 July 14 MNR "2nd Ace for Ken Richards"

Ken Richards' friendly old No. 4 wood did it again. A member of the Northeastern A&M faculty and choir director at the First Presbyterian church, used No 4 for a Saturday afternoon hole-in-one at the Miami Country club. 

The ace was made on No.8, a 200 yard par 3 hole. The ball hit short of the green and rolled straight to the cup. Richards used the same club for a 1955 hole-in-one, his first ace, on the 150-yard No.3 hole at the local club.   

1963 July 5 MNR  (Front Page News) "Jim Taylor Hurt in Fireworks Accident"

 Jim Taylor, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Gob Taylor, 14 B st Southwest, was seriously injured Thursday night while supervising a fireworks display at Marlow. An aerial bomb reportedly struck him in the face as it left the launching unit. He was taken to a Marlow hospital and was in surgery for two hours. 

Jim, former star athlete at Miami high school has assisted his father in past years in July 4 fireworks shows at the Miami Country club and Fairgrounds. He father, who was in charge of the displays here last night, was notified of the accident about 11pm. He and Mrs. Taylor left for Marlow in the southwest part of the state early this morning.  

BERENTZ AND PAINTER JR. GOLF WINNERS

1963 July 21 MNR "Janie Berentz, Woody Painter, Jr., Take Top Honors in Junior Golf"

Members of the Miami Junior Golf Assoc toured the course during Friday red hot weather for the annual handicap tournament. The winners:Championship flight--Girls: Janie Berentz, first; Jenee Kenreigh, second. Boys--Woody Painter Jr., firstr; John Robinson, Jr., second.

A flight--Girls: Kae Nunn, first; Lee Dell Snyder, second. Boys--Jay Reniker, first Jimmy Painter, second.

B flight--Girls: Jonya Stapp, first; Clara Searle, second.  Boys--Tim Schofield, first and Bobby Gaines, second.

5-hole flight--Girls: Carol Searle, first, and Forrestette Turner, second. Boys--David Reynolds, first and Richard Goodwin, second.

Richard Goodwin's 2nd place trophy. 

 

Pee-Wee, 2-hole--Girls: Tanya Reese, first and Rebeca Mirjanich, second. Boys--William Windham, first and Kenny Gibson, second.

Results by flights:

Championship: Wood Painter won playoff with John Robinson; Bill Fullerton, Richard Varley, Paul Pipes, Chuck Smith, Mark Wojcik, Doug Phillips, Jim Hutchins, George Parker.

A flight (9-holes) Jay Reniker, Jimmy Painter, Geoff Schofield, Frank Jacobs, David Brodrick, Jackie Mann.  Girls--Kae Nunn, Lee Dell Snyder, Nancy Cordell, Judy Berentz, Sally Meyer, Carol Brown.

B flight (9 holes) Tim Schofield, Bobby Gaines, Gary Neel, Bobby Wilson, Ray Coburn, Mark Cordell, Georg Haralson, Pete Whitaker, Scotty Jackson, Wes Munson, Bill Houseman.  Girls: Jonya Stapp, Clara Searle, Cathy Munson.

Five holes: Boys--David Reynolds, Richard Goodwin, Terry Ford, Gene Feronti, Karl Renner.  Girls--Carol Searle, Forrestette Turner, Tammy Romick, Linda Neel, Terri Whitaker, Sherri Turner, Carol Kenreigh. 

Two-holes: William Windham, Kenny Gibson, Greg Dale, Tommy Jackson, Pete Smith, Craig Feronti.  Girls--Tanya Reese, Rebecca Mirjanich, Nancy Reese, Rhonda Romick, Ann Cordell, Ruth Wills, Kim Feronti. 

1963 July 28 MNR "Fischer Captures Junior Boys Golf Invitational"

Forrest Fischer of Tulsa's Edison high school shot a one-over-par 73 for the top honors in medal play. Fischer, who will enroll at OSU in September shot a 35-38.Sponsored and efficiently conducted by the Miami Ladies Golf association, the one-day tournament had a record of 138 entries, including 28 in championship flight.  

Other Miami players: President's flight--Paul Pipes, Jim Hutchins; 2nd place A flight Bill Fullerton, John Robinson, Woody Painter, Mark Wojcik, George Parker; B flight--Richard Varley, Jim Thompson, Bob Ballenger, Doug Phillips, Frank Jacobs, Jimmy Painter; C flight--2nd David Broderick, Scotty Jackson, Jack Mann, Ray Coburn, Fred Ripley, Bobby Gaines, Bobby Wilson, Mark Cordell, Tim Schofield, Billy Houseman, George Haralson, David  Reynolds.   

1963 August 12 MNR "Unusual Golf Event Is Set Here Tuesday"

Teams captained by Harry Whitaker and Bill Hirsch will complete in a novelty golf tournament Tuesday afternoon at the Miami Country Club. The losing team will be host to the winners at dinner Tuesday evening.

On the Whitaker squad are John Stapp, Dr. W.D. Jackson, Bill Neel, G.R White, Bob Temple, Ted Vernon, Hoot Gibson, Loren Williams, Wayland Kelly, George Parker, Harry Kenreigh, Bill Ziego, Dick Neel, Spencer Dawson, Al Williams, Harold Barnes, Hank Garwood, Bill Oliver, Bill Jergens, and John Haralson.

Hirsch's team includes Jim Hatfield, Bob Hill, Jr. Ken Richards, Al White, Bob Hill, Sr., Ray Coburn, Dr. Harry Ford, Kermit Lewis, Bill Hatfield, George Wojcik, G.P. Campbell, Dr. Richard Varley, Frank Hansford, Dr. Raymond McKinney, Lloyd Cowgill, Bill Carter, Jack Horner, C.M. Phillips, Elvin Riding, and Marion Zajic.

Scores for nine holes will be compared to determine the dinner host. Following the dinner, a drawing for the men's fall tournament will be conducted and a film, "Race to Live" will be shown, courtesy of Standard Auto Parts. Men not playing in the golf event will be expected to make reservations for the Stag Night dinner.   

1963 September 3 MNR  ""Winners at Miami Country club Announced"

Winner in Mixed-Twilight league for the past six weeks have been announced as follows: Men--Bill Carter, first with 10 points; Harry Whitaker, Al White and Frank LaCaff (tie) for second with 9 1/2 points.

Women--Louise Curlee, first with 11 points; Helen Moore, 10 1/2 points, Stormy Lewis, 10 points. 

1963 September 5, MNR  "Faye Berentz is Tourney Champ"

Trophies were presented Wednesday to winners of the annual Virginia Campbell memorial tournament for members of the Miami Ladies Golf (*note: Virginia was the wife of G.P. Pat Campbell. She was an avid golfer and bridge player. She was one of the first ladies to die of cancer and have the local club memorialize her. It has been a positive tradition in many clubs since the 1960's.) The trophies were furnished by Pat Campbell.

Front row: Melba Cordell, Louise Curlee, Lavern Munson, first, second and third in A flight--Jean Phillips, second, and Mavis Ford, third in C flight (winner Mary Ann Hecksher was absent). Top row--Faye Berentz, tournament champion, Yvonne Temple, runner-up; Sue Barnes, first and Helen Stapp, second in B flight.

 

1963 September 8, MNR "Miami, Missouri Golfers in Tie for Tournament Lead"

Miami businessman John F. Robinson and Bill Stewart, former Missouri state amateur champion from Springfield shared medalist honors Saturday as a record field of 119 posted qualifying scores in the eight annual invitational golf tournament at the Miami Country club. Each shot even par rounds of 72.

1963 September 9, MNR "Joplin Golfer Champ Here"

Robert Smith of Joplin, a telephone installer for SW Bell, won the championship of the eighth annual Miami CC Invitational. Smith's three-under-par 69 Sunday was the best 18-hole round of the tournament. With a 76 score in Saturday's qualifying rounds, his two-day total was 145.

Invitational Champion Robert Smith shakes hands with runner-up Jim Hatfield with John F. Robinson in the middle taking 3rd place in the Invitational Tournament.

1963   Match Between Men and Women

The LPGA first gained national television coverage during the 1963 U.S. Women’s Open Championship final round, won by 23 year-old Mary Mills. That same championship retired tennis pro, Althea Gibson, age 35, became the first African American to play in a U.S. Women's Open.

1963 Golf Shop Employees:

Ed and Cora Westfahl, Bobby Ballenger, and Letty Stapp (June, July, August 7am--2:00 unless at a golf tournament.)We also had full time afternoon help, but I could not find a record of who worked those shifts

I have found of record of some of the sales from the golf shop. In 1963 the shop sold on average 43 cartoons of cigarettes a month. A single cartoon from Botts Wholesale costs $2.70  Beer and liquor, now legal in Oklahoma, was purchased from Brown/Stansell which later became Wilson/Stansell.

**The resources I use call the Miami News-Record the Miami Daily News. Since the newspaper title reads Miami New-Record, I will use MNR in the future for my source. 

1950 TIMELINE AND STORIES

 1950 TIMELINE AND STORIES

By Letty Stapp Watt

 

Jack Guild, polishing the clubs.

 

1950 January 1 mdnr  "Stockholders Meeting"

The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Miami Country Club of Miami, Oklahoma, for the election of two directors and the transaction of other business that may come before the meeting will be held at the clubhouse on January 10, 1950 between the hours of 6 and 10 p.m.

signed, M.C. Bagby, President

1950 January 25 mdnr  "In Miami, Local News Briefs"

Clay Potts, director of short courses and supervisor of dining rooms at Oklahoma A &M college at Stillwater, has returned after a visit in Miami during which he directed the barbecuing of food for 350 people at the Fullerton banquet at Miami Country club Sunday. Potts has been featured in a magazine of national circulation as the "Barbecue King." Recently in Colorado he supervised a barbecue for 10,000 people.

1950 February 19 mdnr  "Commerce Star" 

Mickey Mantle, 1950

The New York Yankees appear to have a "comer" in Mickey Mantle, who at 18 will enter his second year of professional baseball this spring. With whom the former Commerce high school athlete will be playing is not definitely known as diamond fever starts settling in. Mickey made the first team in a post-season all-star balloting last year after hitting .314 with Independence's pennant playoffs winners. The agile shortstop has considerable power at the plate and attracted lots of attention at a Yankee baseball school in Phoenix, Arizona earlier this year. 

1950 February 20 mdnr "Thoughts for the Week"  

**Note: I am including this as a reference to how the times have changed. 

"Thoughts of the Week"

Monday 

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations--I Peter 1:6

Every temptation is an opportunity to get nearer to God. J.Q. Adams

**There are two thoughts listed for each day of the week. This is the first I have seen of this column.  

1950 March 30  mdnr  "Miami Schools"

Floyd Thompson of Okemah, director of secondary education in the Northeast Oklahoma area has made visits to each classroom in the Miami schools this week. Thompson reported finding Miami schools superior in all respects, from administration to janitor services he said. He added that each department was above average.  

***

"Outstanding Boss Selected"

Miami bosses were special guests of the Junior Chamber of Commerce last night. At the first "Bosses Night," which the Jaycees plan to stage annually. Walter E. Head, manager of the Miami BF Goodrich company pant, was introduced as the "outstanding boss of the year." 

1950 April 2 mdnr "Hog Varsity Golfers Beat Vikings Here"

The Northeaster A&M golf team was blanked by the strong Arkansas university varsity Saturday afternoon on the Miami Country club course. All four Arkansas golfers shot in the 70's with Randy Warner, the No. 3 man, carding the lowest total of 75.

Max Peacock led the Miamian totally 80 over the course. 

Friday, the Norsemen golfers were beaten by the Joplin junior college squad, 9 1/2 --2 1/2 points on the Schifferdecker layout in Joplin. 

Following are the scores in the two matches with Miami players named first:

Miami vs. Arkansas

Dale Smith, 81 J. Mosley,77
Max Peacock, 80  M. Marks,78
Thomas Witte, 83, Randy Warner, 75
Wayne Mason, 84, J. Eisermann, 77

Miami vs. Joplin

Dale Smith, 79, Jim Thomas, 74                                                            Max Peacock, 77 Fritz Kauffman, 79                                                      Thomas Witte, 89, Dick Shaw, 76                                                          Wayne Mason, 98, Dale Hawkins 91.                                                                 

1950 April 5 mdnr  "Young Ed Johnson Wins Florida Golf Title"

Eddie Johnson, a former Miami high school athlete, added another trophy to his collection recently when he captured the Florida state high school golfing championship.

Johnson, who lived in Miami until two years ago, had already bagged the Georgia high school championship in 1949 and his victories this year rate him as one of the better young golfers in the south. 

He is the grandson of Mrs. Carl Pulford, 219 D southwest, Miami, and is a nephew of Ky Laffoon, a prominent member of the professional golf fraternity for years. Eddie's parents are Mr. and Mrs. H.E. Johnson of Tallahassee, Florida. 

1950 April 9 "Women Golfers"

The Women's Golf association met Wednesday for a luncheon at the Miami Country club. Those present were: Mrs. Henry Garwood, Mrs. Bob Hughes, Mrs. Harry Ford, Mrs. Bert Wall, Mrs. Floyd Myers, Mrs. Bus Williams, Mrs. Frank Pauly, Mrs. Jack Horner, Mrs. Gib Reynolds, Miss Susan Stansell and Miss JoAnn Taylor.

1950 April 16 mdnr  "Golf in the Air" 

Even before spring arrives officially, Jack Guild, Country club pro, begins to polish the clubs. The likeable 50-year-old bachelor has been with the club 12 years. During that time he has witnessed development of the local course into one of the finest nine-hole layouts in this part of the country. 

This is the best editing I can do on this old photo. Since the carrying of the golf clubs and old cart showed up, along with the club in the background, I decided to add it to the story.

 

The attractive foursome turned to the fairways last week to absorb some spring weather. All members of the Women's Golf association at the Country club, they are, from left to right--JoAnn Taylor, Mrs. Bob Hughes, Billye Ann Green, and Susan Stansell.

 ***

Promotion of the Northeastern Oklahoma recreation area has been given a boost through the arrival of 75,000 Grand-Spavinaw lake maps. The maps, which depict the high points of interest in the sporting territory, are published jointly by the Chamber of Commerce and the Northeastern Oklahoma Lakes association. Besides Miami, included in the NOLA are Afton, Disney, Jay, Pryor, Tulsa, Bernice, Fairland, Ketchum, Spavinaw, Wyandotte, Cleora, Grove, Langley, and Vinita. 

***

"Miami Census"

Will the census records show that Miami has doubled it population in the last decade? That was the $64 million dollar question going around here Saturday while Uncle Sam's nose counters entered the final lap in the 1950 business and residential tabulation.

Jack C. Brown, Miami attorney and district census supervisor for Ottawa and six other counties, said Saturday he'll probably break the big news late next week immediately following completion of the census in Miami.

1950 May 8 mdnr "Stag Night"

A regular Stag night meeting will be held at the Miami Country club Tuesday evening. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m.  All members are urged to attend. 

1950 May 19 mdnr  "Country club Women Meet"

At a Wednesday luncheon of the Women's Golf association at the Miami country club, prizes on blind holes were awarded to Mrs. Floyd Newton, championship class; Mrs. Frank Pauly, class A; Mrs. Richard Wright, class B; and Mrs. Elmer Gaines, class C.

Those present for the luncheon were: Mrs. Frank Pauly, Mrs. Harry Ford, Mrs. G.W. McCollum, Miss Susan Stansell, Mrs. Richard Wright, Mrs. Wallace Dunn, Mrs. Bert Wall, Mrs. Jack Galloway, Mrs. Claud Jones, Mrs. John E. King, Mrs. Floyd Newton, Mrs. Jack Horner, Miss JoAn Taylor, Mrs. Gib Reynolds, Mrs. Robert Temple, and Mrs. Elmer Gaines.

1950 May 28  mdnr "Holiday Tourney"

A mixed foursome golf tournament will be held at the Miami Country club on Decoration day, Tuesday, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

All members have been asked to register their names with Jack Guild at the club house either Sunday or Monday. Pairings will be announced Tuesday morning. 

The match originally scheduled between the Miami and Pittsburg clubs for June 4 has been postponed until June 11.

 

 

1950 June 5  "Letters from the PGA Championship Office"  

While my father was the pro at Independence, Kansas Country Club he qualified for the 1950 PGA held in Columbus, Ohio.  These are copies of his original letters from the PGA. This little piece of history is quite captivating. 

Please note the signature of Horton Smith, who was an outstanding amateur and professional from Joplin, Missouri.

1950 June 23 mdnr "Women Golfers"

The Women's Golf association of the Miami Country club met Wednesday noon for a luncheon at the clubhouse. Those attending were: Mrs. Elmer Gaines, Mrs. Bus Williams, Mrs. Jack Galloway, Mrs. Frank Pauly, Mrs. Richard Wright, Mrs. Bill Blackwell, Miss JoAnn Taylor, Mrs. D.E. McIntire, Mrs. G.W. McCollum, Mrs. Rex Graham, Mrs. Dee WAtters, Mrs. Henry Garwood, Mrs. Bert Wall, Mrs. Floyd Newton, Mrs. John King, Mrs. Claud Jones, Mrs. Wallace Dunn, Mrs. Gib Reynolds, Mrs. Harry Ford, and Mrs. Robert Temple. 

Prizes for last week's low gross were won by Mrs. Floyd Newton, championship; Miss JoAnn Taylor, class A; Mrs. Frank Pauly, class B; and Mrs. Bill Blackwell, class C.

***

"Junior Group" night at Miami Country club will be observed Friday from 7:30 until 10 pm. Folk dancing and other entertainment will be furnished. 

1950 June 30 mdnr  "Mixed Foursomes"

Jack Guild, Miami Country club pro, announced today that mixed foursomes will be played Sunday at the club course. Play will start at 1 o'clock. Pairings will be made Saturday and published in Sunday's New-Record.

1950 July 2 mdnr  "Pairings Made for Local Golf Play"

Miami Country club Pro Jack Guild announced Saturday that pairings for today's mixed foursomes, originally slated to be made yesterday, will be paired this morning at the country club.

Members may learn the pairings by contacting Guild. He said that an 18-hole flag tournament with handicap has been scheduled for the Fourth of July. Members may play in the tourney any time during the day. 

In the low-ball Calcutta tournament, Charles F. Lewis carded a low gross score of 70 strokes for top honors, while Jess Fronterhouse and Walter Williams, Jr, tied for low net honors with 67. 

Winners in the play were: Dr. R. Baron and Jack C. Brown, with a 56 net score; Bill Jones and Noel Wyatt, 60 net; Dr. R.E. Baron and W.C. Bullock, 60 net; Jack Myers and Max Peacock, 60; Charles F. Lewis and Claude Jones, 61; Charles F. Lewis and George Beck, 61; Charles F. Lewis and Jack James 62; and Jack Guild and Rex Painter, 62. 

1950 July 5 mdnr  "Notes  from Your Town"  

The area of his left hip painfully, though not seriously seared, when eight fuses went off in his pocket at Miami Country club last night, Charley Trussler, 23 C st. Southeast, was sittin' carefully if not pretty today. 

The injury, which cost Charley a pair of almost new trousers, occurred while he was setting off fireworks display for the club members and their families. According to Charley, he had just touched off a "motor rocket" when sparks flew into his pocket and set off the fuses he was keeping handy there. His wallet also was seared but no currency was destroyed--he wasn't carrying any, he said.

1950 July 6 mdnr  "Dunn Wins Golf Tourney" 

Results of the Miami Country club Fourth of July golf flag tournament were released yesterday by club pro, Jack Guild. 

In the tourney Wally Dunn won first place honors with a 74 minus 10 stroke handicap for a 64 net. Second place was won by W.L. Williams, with a 78 minus 12 for net 66, while M.K. Hutts came in third with an 81-12, 69 net. Others with 69 nets, were Dale Mabon, 96-27, and Harry Dean, 87-18. Deadlocked with 70 nets were M.W. Hall, 94-24, Jack C. Brown 55-15, G.R. White, Jr., 80-10 and M.C. Bagby, 80-10. 

Guild also announced the winners of the mixed foursomes tourney held last Sunday. Low net honors went to Mrs. Claud Jones and C.F. Lewis, Jr., with a 40-11, 29 low net, while Mrs. Frank Pauly and Glenn Scott carded second low net of 46-15, 31. Low gross cards were turned in by Joann Taylor and Jack Meyers with a 40, while Mrs. George Anderson and C.E. Trussler had second low gross with 44. 

All prizes for the winners may be picked up at the golf shop.

In other Sunday links action C.F. Lewis, Jr., aced the No. 3 hole. Using a No. 6 iron Lewis made his hole-in-one on the 150-yard drive while playing with Dee Watters, Max Peacock and Phillip Peacock, Jr.

1950 July 23  mdnr "The Grist"   -- Mickey Mantle

The answer to the New York Yankee's pennant prayers is stuck deep in Joplin, Missouri--and his name is Mickey Mantle. Who sez, you say?

Well, these words come from no less an authority than ol' Casey Stengel himself. And he ought to know, for he's the guy whose managing the Yanks in their pennant climb.

Stengel is really sold on the Commerce flash, now going like a house afire for the Miners in the class C Western association, according to a recent news release. 

"I've seen great baseball prospects in my lifetime," Stengel said, "but no one to compare with this kid Mickey Mantle at Joplin I saw this Mantle at the Yankees in Phoenix winter camp and he really made my eyes pop."

The Yank mentor was sold all the way around on Mickey, who performed so superbly for Commerce on the athletic field. Stengel likes his hustle, his size and especially gets a gleam in his eye when Mickey's prodigious batting feats were mentioned, the report said. Right now the husky Miner shortstop is hitting a robust .391 leading the league in runs batted in, triples, and total bases. 

And Stengel would love to have him up there now. But if Mickey was the parcut Yanks he'd play on third, Stengel said, for "with his natural ability, he'd go good anywhere." 

But Casey isn't planning on getting him for awhile, because of the Yankees system of leaving a youngster in the minors for a few years. Stengel doesn't go along with that theory--that a player must serve a long apprenticeship in the minors before he is ready to play in the bi time. He thinks that if a kid's good enough and ready, bring him up. 

 

1950 July 30 mdnr "Golfers to Oppose Pittsburg"

A golf match between the Miami Country club and the Pittsburg Country club will be played this afternoon on the local links. club pro Jack Guild announced. 

Matches between the two squads, each composed of 20 players will start at 1 o'clock. Members who played in a previous meet at Pittsburg, won by the Kansas golfers were requested to sign up for the match this morning at the golf shop. 

 

 

1950 August 4 mdnr   "Mixed Tourney Set"

It will be  mixed foursomes at the Miami Country club Sunday afternoon, club pro Jack Guild announced today.  Pairings for the tourney will be decided Sunday. Any local golfers interested in playing need to call the golf shop.

**NOTE:  There are no copies of the Miami Daily News Record available from August through December 1950.

 

 

* The book Miami Forever in our Hearts is available for purchase if you click on the blue link. 

** If you are interested in pictures of Miami in the 1930's, 1940's, 1950's, 1960's consider purchasing one of Ron Enderland's Hand Drawn Miami, Ok. Calendars.  2022 Historic Miami, Ok. Calendar

 

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...