1943-44 Miami Golf and Country Club History
by Letty Stapp Watt
Miami came out of the Great Depression a growing city of 8,375 in a county of 35,736 inhabitants. The start of the decade saw a mighty lake, Grand Lake of the Cherokee's, forming behind the longest multiple-arch dam in the world.
Celebrations included an "America on Parade" pageant sponsored by the American Legion. In 1941 a plethora of hoop-la marking of the golden anniversary of Miami's birth. That also was the year the first parking meters were planted along Main street.
Even before the nation's entry into WWII, work had begun to convert Miami's airport into a training school for British flight cadets. Area mines flourished as wartime created a greatly increased demand for lead and zinc. Many young Miamians went off to war, while on the home front citizens moved from peacetime jobs to jobs related to production for the war effort. Northeastern Junior College gave top priority to training for war-related jobs, and conducted a nursery for children of working war moms.
The college in 1943 received a new name, Northeastern Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, and a new president, Bruce G. Carter. (Information from Reflections, the Centennial Collection of Miami's history.)
1943 January 24 mdnr
Directors of the Miami Country Club, meeting Saturday for election of officers, re-elected all current officials to their present positions for the ensuing year. Club officials for this period will include: G.C. Niday, president; M.C. Bagby, vice president, and Wilbur Worley, secretary-treasurer. R.O. (Hoot) Gibson will head the entertainment committee and Frank E. Spencer will be chairman of the house committee.
Niday, Spencer, Bagby, and Gibson, along with Charles M. Harvey, Jr. and George L. Coleman, Jr., make up the club's board of directors.
1943 February 1 mdnr "The Grist"
Pvt. John R. (Jack) Guild, the former Miami Country club professional, is now stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia. The links expert arrived there last Tuesday, he said in a card..."Am feeling fine with the exception of a slight cold, " he wrote. Jack, who had been in training for approximately six weeks at Camp Robinson, Georgia, may be reached by writing to Company K, 300 infantry, Fort Benning, Georgia...His number is 38323339.
1943 March 7 mdnr
A stag party for members of the Miami Country club is scheduled for 7 0'clock Tuesday night, Chairman Bert Wall said Saturday. The stag session is a regular monthly event at the club.
1943 March 17 mdnr
Chili will be the prize plate tonight when the Junior Chamber of Commerce hold a meeting at the Miami Country club, President Charles Chesnut. "Mutt" Farrier and John Burford will serve chefs.
1943 April 4 "The Grist"
Pvt. Jack Guild, former Miami golf pro, back on a 15 day furlough from Ft. Benning, GA was a tired soldier Saturday. He arrived in town at 2 a.m. after a journey that required almost two days and two nights.
The waistline didn't look the same and inquiry revealed that Jack had trimmed off something like 15 pounds since he entered the Army last Dec. 2...
Jack hasn't touched a golf club since he left Miami...He plans to spend a couple of days here and then go to Tulsa on business.
1943 June 8 "The Grist"
Jack Guild, the former Miami Country golf pro, returned to the city for a brief visit yesterday. Recently discharged by the Army, Jack went to work two weeks ago at the Tulsa Douglas bomber plant's assembly line...With him here were Joe Dahlman, professional at Tulsa's Mohawk club, and Jimmy Gullane, the popular little Scotsman and links tutor from the Bartlesville Hill Crest club.
1943 August 4 mdnr
Newest member of the hole-in-one fraternity at Miami Country club is George Archer, who fired his perfect shot on the 120 yard No. 3 hole last Sunday..Archer was playing with Bert Wall at the time.
1943 August 19 mdnr
*Through out the year The Grist wrote stories about professional athletes who had joined the war effort, much like the article above on Jack Guild. The Miami Daily News Record weekly ran articles and list of soldiers going to war.
Here and there with the service men:
Burrell McGraw, former Miami high school and Northeastern Junior college football and basketball star, i splaying baseball with a hospital unit in North Africa...Burrell's brother, Chick, back here on a furlough from Mississippi, said the Miamian is in the same service league with which Zeke Bonura, the one-time White Sox first sacker, is identified.
George Jenkins, who has seen foreign service with the Marines, hopes to complete training for his commission soon at Quantico, Virginia....In the Marines for more than a year, the former Miami athlete hasn't been back on furlough yet.
Radio Operator Roy Klahr, serving in the engineers' corps, has completed most of his training and is now stationed at San Luis Obispo, California, awaiting further orders...Roy used to be assistant pro at Miami Country Club.
1943 August 22 mdnr "Ky Laffoon Near Leader"
(Chicago, August 21 AP) The ex-Yankee outfield, 35-year-old Sam Byrd, hit a home run in golf today--a sharp sub-par 33-34--67 which pushed him into the halfway lead of Chicago's Victory National Championship with a 36-hole aggregate of 135, nine strokes under standard figures.
A 33-37--70 played by Ky Laffoon of Miami, Oklahoma is in fifth position with a 141.
1943 October 3 mdnr "Social Page"
The dance of the Newcomers' Club of Miami is being held Saturday night at the Miami Country club. It will be combination harvest dance, old clothes party, and square dance, according to the committee in charge. Originally planned as a Halloween fancy dress party, the date was postponed to avoid conflicting plans. Rather than have folk go to the expense of buying, hiring or making costumes, it was changed to an old clothes party and the more ragged your raiment the better your chances of winning on of several prizes being offered for the most appropriately dressed.
1943 October 11 "The Grist"
Glen Scott and John F. Robinson have seen only two holes-in-one during the course of golf matches and both have been scored against them...The local linksmen were in a threesomes at Springfield, Missouri in 1934 when a golfer made a perfect shot at their expense...Yesterday at Miami Country club "it happened again." This time it was M.C. (Buck) Bagby who fired an ace--on the 210 yard No. 3...They hunted for the ball several minutes before they trudged over to the cup to find it there...
This was Bagby's second hole-in-one, the other coming back in 1933 while he was playing a course in the Salt Lake City area for the first time. Using a borrowed club, the Miamian registered an ace on a 247 yard long hole...News has been received that Mrs. Frisbie, long time cateress for the Miami Country club will return after spending time in WAC. She will be serving at tomorrow night's stag dinner. Members are urged to bring a guest.
1943 October 13 mdnr
Jack, Guild, the former Miami Country club pro who's now working at the Tulsa bomber plant in town to help with some improvements at the golf course...Jack has been employed at the bomber plant since last May, when he received his honorable discharge from the Army.
1943 December 12 mdnr
1944
1944 January 23 mdnr "Tony Ming Head the Country Club"
A.J. (Tony) Ming, director of the Spartan School of Aeronautics here, was elected president of the Miami Country club when its board of directors met recently for the purpose of selecting officers for the ensuing year.
H.B. Cobban, general manager of the Northeast Oklahoma railroad, was named vice president. A new secretary-treasurer and various committees will be chosen when the country club's directors meet next month.
1944 February 13 "The Grist"
Former county athletes may be found anywhere on the globe these days...Two of 'em...Lieut. Beverly Morton of Commerce and Lieut. Red Moore of Miami, enjoy a long talk in China about one month ago today...Beverly, serving with the 14th Air Force wrote his parents about the incident..He talked with Lieut. Tom Harmon just before the former Michigan All-American returned to the United States after his second narrow escape from death on foreign soil...
Tee Shots...Tony Ming is undertaking a new job with unlimited enthusiasm...He is the president of Miami Country club and, in his new capacity, already has begun steps to put golfing and other club activities one the sports calendar...I'm going to try my best to do this job," Tony told 85 members and prospective members at the clubhouse last week..."We're going to put this program over, if we can, with the help of the entire membership."
The club's board of directors, which met Friday, was notified of these appointments for club projects: Russ Hawk, chairman of the general entertainment committee; Frank Spencer, chairman of the house committee; Melvin K. Hutts, greens, and Bert Wall, membership...There will be a club party February 23 for members and their wives. a buffet dinner will be served.
Other activities Tony has under consideration include the construction of one or more tennis courts...Himself active at one time in the racquet-swinging game, the club prexy said he had learned a great number of others also had participated at one time or another in the sport, which is rated as one of the top conditioners.
1944 March 5 mdnr "Stag Party
Tony Ming, president of the Miami Country Club, announced Saturday that the regular monthly meeting scheduled for Tuesday night, March 14, will be a stag party. a most successful party for members and guests was held recently when about 175 enjoyed dancing, bingo, and other kids of games.
Ming says the party's success was due to the over-all cooperation of the membership who helped put it across. The club has an active program of events ahead, including it s next dance for all members and guests on Friday, March 31.
1944 March 12 mdnr
The former Miami Country club pro, Jack Guild, is still working at the Douglas aircraft assembly plant in Tulsa...He's staying out at the Mohawk Country club, but probably has little time to practice his golf shots...
1944 March 29 mdnr "Party at Country Club"
The membership of Miami Country club will have a "party night" affair Friday, March 31, at the clubhouse. A complete buffet supper will be served at 6:30 o'clock, followed by an evening of dancing and games. Music for dancing will be furnished by Seigers Orchestra of Joplin. Admission for the affair will be 75 cents per person. If members plan to bring guest, reservations are to be made by calling No. 1620.
1944 April 9 "For Sale"
Ladies golf club s, man's bicycle, riding, boots size 8. Phone 918.
1944 May 21 mdnr "Jack Guild Returns as Pro"
1944 May 21 mdnr "Country club Seeks Number of Caddies"
Want to work as a caddy, boy? Pro Jack Guild, of the Miami Country club said Saturday he was looking for applicants, between the ages of 12 and 16, to lug golf balls for Miami's fairway swingers.
"We don't want boys too small or too large," Guild said. "We need quite a few and the quicker boys apply the better."
1944 May 26 mdnr
Miami Country club's offering a blind bogey golf tourney, Tuesday, Memorial Day...Participants take their own handicaps, Pro Jack Guild said, and then start on their quest for a prize...Linksmen will be permitted to post scores anytime during the day.
1944 May 31 mdnr "Four Tie for Golf Honors"
Ideal weather conditions lured a large turnout of golfers to Miami Country club Tuesday for the annual Memorial day blind bogey tournament. Four swingers scrambled to a four-way deadlock for first place with 74, the winning number. Sharing first honors were George Archer, W.J. Worley, W.C. Bullock, and DeAtley Hampton. Dr. Robert E. baron and Frank Kiple tied for second with their 70's.
Low gross score of the day was posted by John F Robinson, who toured the par 72 layout in 76. Low net score was bob Shortess' 67. He had a 15-stroke handicap. Bud May won the approach prize, driving one onto No.9 green, that stopped only six inches from the cup.
The ladies' prize went to Mr. Al Scariata with a net 75. Forty-one golfers competed in the blind bogey event, and about 30 other toured the course during the day.
1944 June 20 mdnr "At least 12 to seek PGA Golf Title"
A field of 12 or more of Oklahoma's professional shotmakers, including George Whitehead of Tulsa, thrice champion, will seek the State PGA golf championship over Miami's rolling nine-holes layout June 20. The Miami course, selected for the fifth time in six yeas as the site for either the 36-hole championship test or the National PGA qualifying, is in excellent condititon.
Defending Champion Floyd Farley of Oklahoma City, who captured the crown in 1942 in a 36-hole playoff with Whitehead, will be unable to compete since he is in Army training at Camp Robinson, Arkansas. There was no tourney held in 1943.
In packing all their action into one day, the pros will play 18 holes in the morning and then will pair with local simon pures in the annual pro-amateur event in the afternoon. Low scorer at the end of the two rounds will win Farley's trophy, and the lions share of the cash.
1944 June 21 mdnr "State PGA Golf Title Claimed by Ponca City Man"
Modes Bill Oliver, Ponca City professional who divides his time between golf course and a war plant job, wore the 1944 Oklahoma PGA links crown today. The victory didn't seem to be of outstanding significance to Bill, ye the Ponca Citian kept his consistent game intact through the closing drive that gave him a 151, a two-stroke edge over his closest rival and tournament favorite, George Whitehead, of Tulsa.
"I guess I won by default," Bill offered, "Many of the pros are gone, you know." The smooth-swinging Poncan grabbed first honor, a lion's share of the war bonds which went with the triumph and the big silver trophy that Floyd Farley had captured in 1942.
Whitehead played with a recalcitrant putter that has bothered the Tulsan for years. He carded a one-over-par four on No. 8 and then, as a fair-sized gallery looked on in amazement, required seven shots to get down on No.9 giving Oliver the title by two strokes. Whitehead three-putted from four feet away on the last hole.
Meanwhile, Jack Guild the home club pro, and Ed Lentz, his local amateur partner with a 20-stroke handicap, waltzed off with the pro-amateur title and a sizeable chunk of war bonds with their low net score of 64, eight under par.
Tied for second and third place were the medalist Bill Oliver and Luther Sheldon, local amateur, and Chuck Worley, Tulsa pro, and Claud Jones, Miami club member. Both combinations had low nets of 66.
For Sheldon it was his second finish in the "top money." In 1929, the year the first of six PGA meets to be staged here, the local simon pure and Johnny Gatherum, then club pro, scored a fine 65 for first honors. Sheldon played yesterday with a 12 stroke handicap, but 15 years ago he had none, shooting from "scratch." That day, he recalled this morning, he fired a 69 over the ten sand greens layout.
1944 July 23 mdnr "Tee Shots" by John N. Simpson
One of the oldest golfing foursomes on record around here was seen in action again the other day. This foursome includes Mayor F. E. Millner, E.C. Fitzgerald, city attorney, Moody Tidwell, Red Cross official, and George Cunningham, of the Cunningham Oil Company.
According to the information this column received this same foursome has played golf together for 15-20 years. Another unusual feature of the match play is they have always had the same partners with Mayor Millner and Moody Tidwell pairing off against Fitzgerald and Cunningham.
Golf activity has improved by leaps and bounds during the last few days with the recent cooler spell. Not many except the braver linksmen faced the hot days.
Picked up at random around the course during the last few days: Dr. Rex graham took the prize the other day when he laid into his tee shot on No. 1 and it wound up on the green. This is a 328-yard hole and not many of the better golfers drive to the green on this hole...George Stein must have really buckled down and played one for the boys, as he wound up with a 49 for the best round he has ever shot. Mayor Ed Millner came in for his share of the best when he played nine holes in a 49 for the first time he has broken 50...It seems that some of the old timers are coming out again with Russ Hawk's beaming countenance being seen on the links for the first time in years...We wonder if Bert Wall and Cecil Coop and their partners ever got together in the big match that was being talked about some time ago.
** On the author's note, it appears to me that returning golf pro, Jack Guild, is the glue that has led this country club and kept it in the weekly newspapers.
1944 September 10 mdnr "First County Men Entering Berlin, Tokyo to win Prizes"
Tow Ottawa county servicemen--the first to enter Berlin and likewise the first man to arrive in Tokyo--do not know it now but they are going to share equally in a rich award for their distinctive experience.
Growing out of a recent action by the Miami post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the "Ottawa County Berlin-Toko Award" took root when that organization of overseas fighting men deposited a $100 in the Security Bank and Trust company here Saturday.
"Nelson Four Strokes Out in Front of Jug"
Lord Byron's 208 tops the field in the Texas Open. Ky Laffoon shoot a 219 to count.
1944 September 20 mdnr "Ringer Tournament"
Miami Country club's women golfers are invited to participate in a ringer tournament which probably will continue until late October, Jack Guild, club pro said today. Women wishing to participate should post scores for the three rounds so that handicaps may be determined. Most of the play will be on Monday and Saturday afternoons.
**Note: Even until I was a teen in the 1960's women and junior golfers were not allowed to play until after 2:00 on Saturday and Sunday. Women had their day on Wednesday in the late 1950's and 1960's. I don't recall any other restrictions.
1944 September 24 mdnr
The Miami News Record gave a vivid portrait of the war effort on a daily basis. As the war effort changes for the Allies the pictures show up.
1944 December 10 "In Society"
C.H. Mullendore, vice-president and cashier of the First National Bank of Miami, was host to the bank's personnel Friday night with a 7 o'clock Christmas turnkey dinner at the Miami Country club. During the evening motion pictures of local interest were shown by Dick Wills.
Those present were Charles S. Fox, W.M. Williams, C.V. Ayers, H.S. Maupin, J.B Lehmer, J.W. Hanna, Lyndon Wagnon, Hess Taulman, Theda Barron, Constance Clark, Betty Jane Moon, Audrey Hunter, Evelyn Whetstine, Betty Woods, Mary Lou James, Dorothy Sue Lunday and Virginia O'Bryne.
Special guests were Mrs. J. F. Robinson and Dick Wills.
1944 December 21 mdnr advertisements
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* 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
The
Miami Daily News Record (mdnr) is my major source of information. 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 of the decades.
