1970's Playing Golf with John Mirjanich

THE CHALLENGE by John Mirjanich

When I read Sandy, Debbie, and Billy’s memories about MGCC, I couldn’t be out done. 

Let’s tee off and play a quick nine holes.

Number 1:  I recall walking through the driving range area and seeing all of the STOLEN FROM JOHNIE STAPP golf balls with a red ring around them and the metal  yardage signs every twenty-five yards in bold print 100, 125, 150.

When I finally reached the green there were the two flags, one white flag for the front nine and one red flag for the back nine.

Number 2:  The real power hitters like Dick Lillard and Tom Forbes could cut the dog leg by hitting over the trees.

Number 3:  The pretty par three creek hole took a strong drive to miss the trees on the Calcutta (Fall Festival) I remember being a ball spotter. We wadded in the creek all day long locating golf balls hiding under rocks. The real money bags, John Robinson Sr. would give us a dollar tip for spotting the ball and retrieving it. That was big money back then.  

Number 4: To the north of the fairway and rough stood an old white house and storage shed where the mowing equipment was stored and that old blue tractor with mower attached to the back stood off to the side when it wasn’t in use. I recall this because my ball often landed near the shed. I had to walk over there and then hit over the trees to get back to the fairway. Least us not forget the old gravel dirt zig zagging road that cut through the golf course on holes one and four leading to the greens-keeper’s house and the barn. 

 

picture courtesy of the granddaughter of Bud May, Stacie..

 

Number 5: A really long  tee shot could land the ball right in front of the creek where the opening between the trees gave us a shot to the green, and I could then hit a five or six iron to the green for my second shot. (If, however, the drive strayed right or left then the next shot was over or between the trees.)

Number 6: That was one long par five that seemed to be uphill all the way when I carried my golf bag. It took three straight strong shots to the green. Very few, but those who could, hit the tee shot over the fairway bunker that had the low dip in front of it.  It was a big deal to see the long hitters swing hard trying to go over that bunker.

Number 7: In golf, I learned that I should never think about where my shot might land. Sure enough, when I thought about my tee shot flying over the fence into Fullerton’s pasture, the ball invariably flew left over the fence line and out-of-bounds. How many times did I crawl through that barbed wired fence to find my ball in the cow pasture? It cost an extra stroke and often a lost ball to recover from that errant tee shot.

Number 8: The was a long hard par three with two dangerous traps, one on each side of the green, that seemed to catch my tee shots often. It was a small opening to the green making it even harder to roll on. I thought it offered great potential for a hole-in-one, but it never happened to me.

Number 9: It was a slight dog leg to the right with two very difficult “sand taps” on the right and one smaller trap. What I remember the most were the benches sitting alongside the clubhouse, under the bar room windows. People often gathered there in the shade to cool off, or people could sit upstairs in the bar with cold drinks and a cigarette and knock on the windows to get your attention or clap and cheer if you made a good shot. Occasionally, a bar room window would be knocked out by a long shot over the green. 

 *Sorry John, this is the only Yearbook picture I have of you.

 

 

1964 STORIES AND TIMELINE OF THE MIAMI GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

Spring 1964. A note of gratitude to all of our ladies and parents at the country club who spent many long hot days helping junior golfers around the golf course.

1964 The social page showed monthly "Mixed-Bridge Club"; monthly 'town and country' dances at the club; numerous organizations holding parties through out the year, and men's and women's various social clubs meeting regularly at the country club, not to mention wedding receptions, birthday parties, and family reunions all held at the club. It was an active social club in the 1960's.

1964 March 6 "Instead of Golf Practice"

The practice golf session at Miami Country club was cancelled by the Ladies Golf Association when snow began to fall Wednesday, but a membership coffee was held as planned in the home of Mrs. Jack Brown in Rockdale. The season's first pairings will be April 1. Among the 47 women attending the coffee were Mrs. Stan Ulmer, Mrs. Delmar Barnes, Mrs. Hance VanBeber, Mrs. Bob Temple, and Mrs. George Russell. 

1964 April 5 "Schoolboy Golfers Play Here Monday"

Golfers from 15 school are scheduled to compete in the seventh annual Miami High School Invitational tournament.Tee off time is set for 8:00am in the 18-hole rounds to determine the winners of the four-man, two-ball, and medalist trophies. Coach Bill Watkins of the Miami high school will serve as the general director of the meet in co-operation with Johnie Stapp, club pro. Members of the Miami Ladies Golf association will assist as scorers and with other tournament details. 

Team champions since the tournament was launched here were Harding, 1958 and 1962; Edison 1959, 1960, 1963, and Muskogee in 1962.

The Miami War Dog teams for the tournament will consist of John Robinson, Pat Wilson, Woody Painter, and Mark Wojcik.

1964 April 5 "Pup Golfers Play Nowata"

Miami War Pup golfers will begin their second season at Nowata juniors at the Miami Country club this Tuesday.  Coach for the Miami Pups again this year is Mrs. William (Claire) Oliver, a member of the Will Rogers junior high faculty.

Woody Painter, a freshman will play the No.1 spot. Other members of the team are Richard Varley, Jim Painter, Jim Thompson, Jackie Mann, and George Parker. Playing for the squad for the first time are Tim Schofield, Scott Jackson, Bob Gaines, Gary Neel, and Steve Patterson. 

1964 April 5 "Ladies Golf Notes"

Winners of the Miami Ladies Golf association "million dollar" tournament the past week were Hattie Wall, championship; Lottie Mae Russell, Class A; Ethel Carselowery, class B; Doris Wilson, C, and Mary Whitaker 5-hole. 

Winter ringer winners were Evelyn Hatfield, Lottie Mae Russell, Gladyce Hirsch, and Jean Phillips. 

Pairings for this week:

18 hole: Helen Jones, Faye Berentz, and Virginia Sapp; Hattie Wall, Pat Horner, Tanya Reese and Martha Campbell; Lib Lillard Yvonne Temple, and Mary Varley; Eva Williams, Beverly Jackson, and Cora Wilson; Claire Oliver and Joan Smallwood.

9 hole: Mary Kay Nesbitt, LaRue Gsines, and Pat Parker; Wanda Jo Brown, Lottie Russell, Dorothy Schofield and Gladyce Hirsch; Margaret Coburn, Clara Barton and Kay Kilthou; Gladys Wetzel, Lois Garwood and Sarah Mirjanich, Mavis Ford; Irene White, Nancy Johnson; Norma Lou Jackson, Erin Wojcik, Liz Hansford, and Dorothy Ulmer. Melba Cordell, Louise Curlee, Christine Carroll, and Maxine Jeffries; Mary Ann Hecksher, Dottie Ridling, Virginia Lee Wilson, and Doris Wilson; Sue Barnes, Val Dale, and Helen Stapp; Mae Farrier, Millie Carter and Jean Phillips. 

5-hole: Claire Butcher, Bea Gilmore, and Mary Lou Wickham; Marilyn Adams, Betty Smith, and Loretta Hankins; Pauline Mayer, Virginia Romick, and LaVon Young; Mary Whitaker and Beverly Ewing; Kate McAleer, and Betty Schwertfeger.

1964 April 5 "OSU Golfers Win College Meet Title"

Oklahoma State's Cowboys turned in a trim 864 to capture the fifth annual Oklahoma Intercollegiate Golf tournament. *These are the years of the OSU golf team dynasty. 

1964 April 7 "Miami's O Club Tournament"

An 18-hole golf tournament will begin 9 am Saturday at the Miami Country club for members of the O club. Leaders of athletic discussions at the coaching clinics will include: Bill Pace, Arkansas U, offensive coach; Leon Fuller and Tom Turvey of OSU; Benny Lee and Ken Tiger of KU; S.A. Red Robertson and Max Buzzard, NEO; and Bob Palmer and Jack Wallace of Miami schools, and others, 

1964 April 8 "Nowata Juniors Win Golf Match"

Nowata junior high school golfers defeated Miami juniors 10 to 8, Tuesday afternoon at the Miami Country club. Because of cold weather, play was limited to nine holes.

Medalist of the meet was Woody Painter of Miami with a score of 42. By virtue of his victory over the No 1 Nowata player, Bob Berry (44), Miami gained 2 points for the win and one point for the medalist achievement. Other junior players were: Jack Mann, Richard Varley, Jim Painter, George Parker, David Broderick, Tim Schofield and Scotty Jackson.  

 

The 1964 Miami High School Golf Team:  Mark Wojcik, Pat Wilson, Johnnie Robinson, and Woody Painter

*PERSONAL NOTE FROM JIM BALDWIN: In 1964 Jim Thompson and I worked in the golf shop one summer. I think I road a motor scooter. At 14 years old, I had transportation from home to the club.  

Little story, I was to lock up the shop one night and hide the money in a golf bag. I went upstairs to the dinning room and told your dad I was leaving for the night, then I blurted out that  I'd hidden the money in Mr. So-So's bag. Don't know why he didn't fire me on the spot.

"Yes, my father hide the cash in one of his older golf bags with a fake name on it."

I also recall Johnie's pistol that he kept at work. One day he took the pistol out and killed a squirrel then took it to the kitchen. After some elaborate work they placed the squirrel standing on it's hind legs in the middle of a table. It was a joke for someone...

I also remember that special car that your dad drove.

** PERSONAL NOTE FROM TOM FORBES:  

What a delight to hear from you....certainly goes back many years! I have fond memories of your dad, and you and Jonya. I moved back to Miami after college and was  new to golf. Dick Lillard and Dick Neel would let me play with them but didn't cut me much slack, as they were better than I was. You would play with us sometimes, and of course also beat me like a drum. From time to time Johnie would join us and I was grateful for the help and encouragement he gave me. I always felt he liked to help everyone enjoy the game better. He was quick-witted, funny, and had many stories to share. 

One evening towards dark I was on the practice green and I heard this voice say, "move away from the cup." I wasn't sure what that meant so kept putting and shortly he appeared and showed me what he meant. Never have forgotten and taught my sons the same.

Wish I could remember other incidents. Mostly I remember the laughter, the pointers that you all gave me to be a better player, and how much it helped improve my game to play with such good players. While it was frustrating to constantly get beat it hastened the learning process and I'm grateful for the experience.

1964 June 14 "Miami Juniors in Tulsa Meet"

Miami will have four entries in the Jay Myers Memorial Junior Golf Tournament at Meadowbrook Country club in Tulsa. Flights will be by age group.

Mark Wojcik, Woody Painter, Jackie Mann, and Richard Varley will all be entered in the 13-14 age group. The boys are products of golf pro Johnie Stapp and sponsored each year by the Ladies Golf association.

1964 June 14 "Mick Stars as Yanks Beat White Sox, 6-3"

1964 June 28 "Basolo Repeats as Jr. Girls Winner" by Gary Garton

Susan Basolo, 16, of Muskogee, turned in an 18-hole score of 83 at the Miami Country club Friday to become the first girl to win the Miami Junior Girls Invitational two years in a row. The tournament, sponsored by the Miami Ladies Golf Association, in co-operation with the Country club, drew a total of 64 contestants. 

Susan was only one-point off her winning score from last year of 82. She has displayed potential to become one of the best women golfers in Oklahoma. Sherri Taylor of OKC, state junior champion the past two years, on third place with an 88. Other championship scores: Suanne Willis, Tulsa 100, Cheryl Crain, Tulsa, 100, Letty Stapp, 103, Sondra Benjamin, Tulsa 110, Loni Sumpter, Tulsa 115. 

Winners in other flights: A flight-- Rita Albertson, first; Louise Stekoll, second. B--Suzanne Sherman,first; Sally Meyer, Miami, second; C--Signe Brown, first; Debbie Banfield, second. Pee-Wee--Tanya Reese, Miami; and Cindy Putnam, Tulsa. 

 

Other Miamians: A flight--Susan Russell; B flight--Barbara Bomford, Clara Searle, Gayla Dale, Susie Goettel, Nancy Cordell, Nancy Adams, Janet Weldon. C flight--Jonya Stapp, Karen Jeffries, Billie Bennett, Carol Searle. Pee-Wee flight--Tanya Reese, Nancy Reese, Susie Wickham.

1964 July 2 "Twilight Golf Begins Friday"

Twilight Scotch foursome golf matches will begin Friday at the Miami Country club and will continue for six weeks. Tee-off time is not later than 5:30. Players should contact their partners and opponents for tee-off time. 

1964 July 2 "Fireworks Slated Saturday"

Spectacular fireworks displays Saturday night will climax Independence Day. The fireworks show at the Miami Country club will begin at 8:30 and at the Fairgrounds between 9 and 9:15. Both shows are free to the public. 

The Fairgrounds program, sponsored by Miami's Floyd L. Perry post of the American Legion will open at 7:00 with the raising of the American flag by Boy Scouts at 8:30. A.R. Tyner of Oklahoma City, state adjutant of the Legion will be the principal speaker. Commander Jack Brown of the Miami Legion will be master of ceremonies

 1964 July 12 "Junior Girls State Golf"

Letty Stapp of Miami won first place in A flight competition Friday as the week-long Junior Girls State Golf Tournament ended at the Oaks country club in Tulsa. She defeated Ann Durand, Bartlesville, 1-up for the title.

Other Miami girls placing in the tourney were Karen Jeffries, third in C flight, and Clara Searle, fourth in D flight. Also participating were Barbara Bomford, Susan Russell, Carol Searle, and Jonya Stapp.

1964 July 12 "Muskogee Youth is Miami Golf Winner"

 Muskogee has good reason to be proud of its junior golfers. Scott Robinson, a Muskogee junior player, won the Miami Junior Boys Golf Invitational here Friday. The win came a couple of weeks after Susan Basolo of Muskogee walked off with the Junior Girls Invitations tourney, and only hours after Susan won the Junior Girls State Championship title in Tulsa. 

Robinson took the championship here with a 75 score. Runner-up, Jon Axton from Bartlesville turned in a 77. Other Miami players were John Robinson, Jack Mann, Mark Wojcik, Woody Painter, Frank Jacobs, Richard Varley, Dough Phillips, George Parker, Jon Street, Jimmie Painter, Bob Gaines, Scotty Jackson, Mark Cordell, Bobby Wilson, David Adams, Jeff Butcher, Gene Feronti, Pete Smith, and Kenny Gibson.  

1964 July   "Mark Wojcik, Letty Stapp Champions of Junior Meet"

First-place winner of their divisions in the annual Miami Junior handicap golf tournament. In the front row from left are Letty Stapp, championship, Jonya Stapp, B flight; Susie Wickham, 5-hole and Elaine Butcher, 2 hole. Back row, Mark Wojcik, championship, Jackie Mann, A flight; Bobby Gaines, B flight; Tommy Cordell, 5-hole and Tommy Jackson 2-hole. 

There were 76 boys and girls competing in the Junior club championship. Runners up in championship flight were Woody Painter and Susan Russell.

A flight, boys Jack Mann, and Ray Coburn

B flight, Bob Gaines, Mark Cordell, and Jonya Stapp, Clara Searle

5-hole flight, Tommy Cordell, Kenny Gibson, and Susie Wickham, Rebecca Mirjanich

2-hole flight, Tommy Jackson, Bruce Norton, and Elaine Butcher and Janie Adams.

Putting winners were Richard Varley and Nancy Cordell. 

1964 August Tri-State Women's Tournament

1964  September 3 MNR  " Mrs. Wayman Jackson Wins Tourney Title"

 Mrs. Wayman Jackson won the Virginia Campbell Memorial Championship when she defeated Mrs. Bill Hatfield in a sudden death playoff when their title match. In the championship match Mrs. Jackson was down  four at the end of 14 holes, with four holes to to. She won the last four to tie the match and go into sudden-death.

Mrs. Kelso Berentz defending champion was eliminated in the semi-finals by Mrs. Hatfield. Mrs. Jackson gained the finals with a victory of Mrs. Bob Temple. Mrs. Hatfield was tournament medalist. 

Results of other flights were:

Class A--Mrs. Derrel Buzzard defeated Mrs. Bud Gaines

Class B--Mrs. Bill Hirsch defeated Mrs. Walter Patterson

Class C--Mrs. Jack Adams beat Mrs. George Romick

Mrs Henry Garwood was tournament chairman.   

1964 September 10 "The Local Scene"

Four men who will take part in the invitational golf tournament this weekend at the Miami Country club and their wives will be house guests of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Garwood, 100 McKinley. The visitors will be Mr. and Mrs. Aubry Davis of OKC, Mr. and Mrs. John Overton of Bartlesville, and Mrs. and Mrs. Harry Teel and Mr. and Mrs. Carl Kenney of Tulsa. 

 Mrs. Sue Nell DeHart, formerly of Miami, and her husband, Blake DeHart, have moved from Chickasha to Wichita, KS where Mrs. DeHart will be a speech therapist in the public schools. DeHart will continue his education at the University of Wichita. Mrs. DeHart received a BS Degree in speech therapy last May from Oklahoma College for Women at Chickasha. 

1964 September 10 "New TV Season is Near'

Analyst, James Cornell, predicts that for still another year the two top programs will be CBS "Beverly hillbillies and NBC's "Bonanza". The only new show that he expects to climb into the top 10 ratings is CBS's "Cara Williams Show", which just happens to follow "Beverly Hillbillies" and the top rated "Dick Van Dyke Show" on Wednesday nights.

1964 September 11 "Miami's Invitational Golf Tourney Opens Saturday"

he field of entries is 115 with five more expected today. Defending champion Robert Smith of Joplin will be unable to play in this year's meet, but other former champions will be back--and this might be the year for Miami's John F Robinson to take the title. He has finished among the top four in the last five tournaments. Two time winners of the meet are Pursie Pipes of Mt. Vernon, Ill., 1961-62; Jack Myers 56,58 and Jim Hatfield of Neosho won in 1962. 

1964 September 14 “Miamian Captures Golf Title” Dr. W.D. Jackson, a Miami dentist, captured the sixth annual Miami Invitational Golf Tournament Sunday with a 36-hole score of 151, three over par. Jess Fronterhouse of Picher fired a par 72 for the best round of the tourney, and finished second with a 153. Harry Robeson finished third with 156, followed by Dick Neel, 156, and Marshall Smith, 137

1964 October 4 MNR "Golf Course Addition is Slated Here"

Land has been acquired and preliminary plans approved by the Miami Country club board of directors for addition of a second nine-hole golf course west of the present nine-hole layout. Club officials said the new addition may be opened to the public. For special golf events, it could be used in forming an 18-hole course.

Dr. W.D. Jackson, club president, Johnie F. Stapp, club pro and John F. Robinson are committeemen in charge of the proposed expansion.

1964 October 11 "Handicap Golf Tourney for Couples Here Today"

The annual handicap tournament for couples will be held this afternoon with a shotgun start at 1:00. Prizes will be awarded in a celebration beginning at 6:15. 

Tee No. 1: George Wojcik, Lib Lillard, Tom Barton and Sue Barnes; Fuzz Lillard, Mary Varley, Bill Hirsch, and Martha Campbell.

Tee No. 2: Bill Neel, Claire Oliver, Roy McKinney and Delmar Barnes; Hank Garwood, Evelyn Hatfield, Pat Campbell and Gladyce Hirsch

Tee No. 3: Dickie Neel, Marylyn Adams, Harry Gilmore, and Val Dale; George Romick, Eva Williams, Bill, Williams, and Clara Barton.

Tee No. 5: Woody Painter, Virginia Romick, Dick Varley, Tanya Reese; Lou Mirjanich, Wanda Jo Brown, Jim Smallwood and Yvonne Temple.

Tee No. 6: W.D. Jackson, Erin Wojcik, Rex Painter, and Sarah Mirjanich; Don Young, Mavis Ford, Bob Hill Sr., and Cora Williams.

Tee No. 7: Joel Ridenour, LaVon Young, Bill Oliver, and Dorothy Schofield; Don Curlee, Warren Viers, Pauline Mayer, and Helen Jo Painter.

Tee No 8: George Mayer, Etta Viers, Loren Williams, and Jo An Smallwood; Jack Brown, Louise Curlee, Frances McKinney and Claude Dale.

Tee. No. 9: Harry Ford, Bob Temple, Dora Ridenour; Jack Schofield, Bea Gilmore, Jack Adams, and Pat Parker.

1964 October 12   "Dickie Neel Winner of Golf Crown Here" 

The Neel Brothers--Dickie and Bill-finished 1-2 in the top division of the annual Miami Country club golf championship tournament, which ended Sunday. Dickie, the new championship flight king, posted a 149 score to succeed Robert Hill Jr., who did not defend his title. Dick's older brother, Bill, was runner-up with a 153 for 36 holes.

Sixty-five men competed in the event, which opened two ago. Other flight winners:

President" Harry Gilmore, champion; Charles Hirsch, runner-up.

A flight--Kermit Lewis, Neosho, champion; Daniel Shaeffer and George Myers, tie for runner-up.

B flight--Eldon Smith, champion and Bill Oliver runner-up. 

C flight--Jack C. Brown, champion and Tom Logan, runner-up.

Trophies will be presented during a stag night dinner Tuesday night at the club. 

1964 October 13 "Handicap Golf Winners Here"

 Two golfing honors were won during the weekend by Dickie Neel at the Miami Country club after capturing first place in the annual men's championship tournament, he shot a 71 for the lowest gross score in Sunday afternoon's couples handicap tournament. Evelyn Hatfield's 96 was the low gross score for women.

Prizes were awarded on the basis of net scores after subtracting handicaps. This left Neel, Fuzz Lillard, and George Wojcik in a three-way tie for first with 67 scores. In a draw, Lillard won the first prize, Wojcik second and Neel third

JoAnn Smallwood was the women's champion with a net score of 79. Other leaders were Val Dale 72, Louise Curlee 73, Evelyn Hatfield 74, Gladyce Hirsch 74, Martha Campbell 76, and Sue Barnes 77.

Leaders, below the top three men were Jack Brown,Joe Ridenour, Harry Gilmore, and Dr. W.D. Jackson. Dr. Raymond McKinney and Mrs. George Mayer won high gross prizes.

1964 October 20 "Country Club is Scene of Dinner"

The Miami Country club was the setting for the October dinner of the Miami Business and Professional Women's club Friday evening. Tables were colorful with autumn leaves, and an arrangement of fall flowers graced the head table. In charge of arrangements was the personal relations committee composed of Grace Broyles, chairman; Myrtle Stivers, Sylvia Bingham, Clare Malone, and Agnes Collins. 

Dinner music was furnished by Barbara Foust. Other program features were humorous readings by Jesse Haley and a personality demonstration, "A More Attractive You," by Cheryl Nixon.

 

 

 

1964 December 11 "Golfers Merchandise"  

This is the first golf shop advertisement I have noticed in the News Record. Sadly, the print is nearly too light to read. This is what I've been able to read and guess: 

             USED WOODS

MacGregor MT....1,2,3,4 woods  $43.00                                                             MacGregor TP.....1,3,4,5 woods $65.00                                                              Haig Ultra 1,2,3,4.........  woods $48.00                                                            

 

   

 

 Popular Movies in 1964

The Unsinkable Molly Brown

The Carpetbaggers

Goldfinger

Fistfull of Dollars

Mary Poppins

A Hard Day's Night