1955
The first golf carts at Miami Country club were gas powered. It was a big deal for anyone to take a cart and all of the club members were excited because we were the first club to have the first gas golf carts in the Tri-State area. I remember they were kept under the country club ballroom and Johnie was a knowledgeable mechanic and did all of the maintenance on them himself. Johnie did a lot of original things like that.(Story from Jim Taylor, son of Gob Taylor.)
Bob Hill recalls that the Johnie only bought two gas powered scooters in the beginning. Gob Taylor, John Burford, and Ted Lowry were three regulars for using the golf carts. The carts were used and often backfired while going down the fairway, which sometimes caused people to scream or drop to the ground thinking it was gun fire.
1955 March 20
Al Spaulding, production superintendent at B.F. Goodrich, was recently elected president of the board at the Miami Country club. Congratulations, Al, we feel the board couldn't have made a better choice.
1955 April 23 "Miami Golfers Capture Tulsa Pro-Am Honors"
Four Miamians, paced by Country club professional Johnie Stapp, Sunday teamed up to win the pro-amateur meet at Tulsa's Indian Hills.
Turning in a net best-ball score of 57 were Stapp, Jack Myers, Dr. W.D. Jackson, and Dr. R.E. Baron. Their 15-under-par effort included a combined 14 birdies, one eagle, one bogey and two pars. Stapp toured the 18-hole layout in 73 strokes. Myers shot a 75, Dr. Jackson 80, and Dr. baron 83.
1955 May 1 "Record Attendance at Club Luncheon"
Fifty-five members of the Ladies division of the Miami Country club and their guests, a record attendance, enjoyed the April luncheon and card party Thursday afternoon.
Mrs. Monte Hall won the high score for bridge. Other bridge prizes went to Mrs. George W. Beck III and Mrs. Irving Proper. Canasta prizes were received by Mrs. Phillip Peacock and Mrs. Charles F. Hoffman.
Serving as the hostess committee for the occasion were Mrs. Lois Cowles, chairman; Mrs. O.J. Dahl, Mrs. W.V. Stout, Mrs. L.K. Newell, and Mrs. Johnie Stapp. Luncheon tables in the clubhouse ballroom were decorated with a variety of small potted plants. A miniature maypole was used as a centerpiece for the central table.
1955 May 8 "Robinson Low Gross Winner Here"
John Robinson fired a nine-hole round of 36 Thursday evening at the Miami Country club, good for low gross prize during the first session of play in the new Twilight golfing league.
Low net honors went to a team comprised of Rex Painter, George Beck, Marion Zajic and Bill Carter with 138 total strokes. The second place foursome included Wes Bullock, Noel Wyatt, Woody Painter, and Howard Essary. Ed Badger's 33 was the best individual low net score. Woody Painter was runner-up.
Low putt prizes were distributed to the team of G.R. White, Dr. Robert Baron, Hoot Gibson and Al White with 63 putts. Individual putting honors went to Ken Richards and Al White.
1955 May 10 "Country Club Links Report"
This past week has been a busy one for golfing members of Miami Country club. First, the Northeastern A&M golf team went to Coffeyville for a match. Then the ladies went to Twin Hills in Joplin before beginning qualifying play for their spring handicap tournament.
The men's Twilight league action got underway and a husband-wife tourney Sunday was conducted as a Mother's Day specialty.
Johnie Stapp, club professional, reports the busy pace will continue for most of the season, with tournaments, matches and league play affording plenty of exercise for the golfing set.
Stapp's golfing tip for today..."For better golfing, grip the club firmly in the left hand, using a palm and finger grip. Place the thumb slightly to the right of center on the top of the shaft, forming a "V" with the thumb and index finger which points to the right shoulder."
"In placing the right hand on the shaft, use the fingers only to grip the club. The palm should not touch the shaft. Place it over the thumb of the left hand. The little finger of the right hand should overlap the index finger of the left hand, leaving three fingers and the thumb to grip the club firmly. The "V" formed by the right thumb and finger should also point to the right shoulder. This is known as the Harry Vardon grip and is used and taught by 98 percent of the pros."
1955 May 17 "The Golfing Scene"
The team captained by Walter Williams holds a half-point lead after the first two sessions of play in the newly installed Twilight league. Hank Garwood's foursome is in second place, only a fraction ahead of the Marion Zijac and Noel Wyatt entries, tied for third.
The Williams team, which also includes N.J. Messler, Charley Mallory and Nelson Shouse, took low net honors with 143 strokes. In second was Kenneth Sample's quartet made up of Sample, Bill Neel, Max Peacock and Earl Gaines. Individual low net honors went to Al Spaulding and Ken Sample with 36's. Low putts went to Dr. Harry Ford and Spencer Dawson requiring only 13 putts for nine holes.
"The Ladies News"
The Ladies Spring Handicap tournament will wind up this week with Mrs. J.R. Organ and Mrs. Spencer Dawson colliding for the championship. Mrs. Organ was a semi-final victor over Mrs. Jack Horner, while Mrs. Dawson was eliminating Mrs. Floyd Newton. The playoff will cover 18 holes.
"Other News"
State Senator Jess Fronterhouse from Fairland returned to the Country club Sunday after a long absence. Once of the district's better golfers for years, Jess carded a fine 38 during the nine-hole workout.
Today's tip from Johnie Stapp, club pro--"The best way to improve your scoring is to improve your putting. Of the top 60 players in the country there is very little difference in their games from tee to green. It is usually the player with the hottest putter who wins, most of the time with a score of 274 to 280 for four rounds. He will have used his putter between 130-138 times and the other 13 clubs in his bag 152 to 158 times."
"The three outstanding putters in the past 20 years have been Horton Smith (from Joplin), Lloyd Mangrum, and Bobby Locke. Smith and Mangrum use the reverse overlapping grip.
1955 May 25 "The Golfing Scene"
Pro Johnie Stapp's tip for today--"On sand trap shots, don't ever stop your club in the sand; make a full follow-through."
1955 June 6 "Ladies Golf News"
Mrs. G.R. Organ won last week's championship flight. Mrs. Woodrow Painter took honors in class A. Marilyn Jones and Mrs. Rodney DeVilliers in class B and Mrs. Lois Cowles in class C.
The women's league this year currently has over 50 ladies playing golf weekly. The pairings (This list is quite long. I will post winners names in the future when available instead of full pairings.)
Mrs. Floyd Newton, Mrs. George Murphy, and Mrs. James Moore.
Mrs. Woodrow Painter, Mrs. Bert Wall, and Mrs. Sam Fullerton.
Mrs. G.R. Organ, Mrs. Joe Ramsay and Mrs. Claud Jones.
Mrs. L.K. Newell, Mrs. Walter Patterson,Jr., and Mrs. G.A. Spaulding.
Mrs. Ed Badger, Mrs. Wayman Jackson, and Mrs. Vernon Sapp.
Mrs. Spencer Dawson, Mrs. Elmer Jarrett, and Mrs. Bob Temple.
Mrs. Jack Horner, Mrs. Joe Thompson, and Mrs. O.R. Westfall.
Mrs. Al White and Mrs. Glen McCollum.
Mrs. Frank Lacaff, Mrs. O.J. Dahl, and Mrs. Gib Reynolds.
Mrs. Bob Nunn, Mrs. Corbin Shouse, and Mrs. Lillian White.
Mrs. Dick Wright, Mrs. Rodney DeVilliers, Mrs. Ray Cundiff, and Mrs. Henry Garwood.
Mrs. Don Johnson, Mrs. Lois Cowles, and Mrs. Earl Gaines, Jr.
Mrs. Jim Smallwood, Mrs. Robert Baron, and Mrs. Rex Painter.
Mrs. George Russell, Mrs. Lee Adkinson, and Mrs. James Nowlin.
Mrs. Hance VanBeber, Mrs. W. D. Jackson, Mrs. Rex Graham, and Mrs. Charles Hoffman.
Pauline Dykes, Marilyn Jones, Mrs. G.R. White, and Mildred Gibson.
1955 June 6 "Mantle Clouts Long Homer in Yank Victory"
...In New York's Yankee stadium Mickey Mantle blasted a 486 foot homer as the Yankees beat Kansas City 6-2. It was one of the longest balls every belted in the stadium.
1955 June 25 "Winners Listed; Juniors to Play"
The team of Corbin Shouse, H. Wright, Joe Thompson, a substitute, and George Walbert captured low net honors in the seventh week of play in Miami Country club's Twilight league. Total score was 147 with the team of Jack Myers, Dr. W.D. Jackson, Bob Temple, and Spencer Dawson shooting a 150.
Meanwhile, club pro Johnie Stapp announced that golfing lessons will begin Saturday morning at the club for junior players. Free lessons will continue for a month to precede a tournament for youngsters in several age groups. This will be held in late July.
Saturday's clinic will open at 10a.m. and youths are urged to report at the clubhouse their intentions to participate. The junior links program is planned for children up to 16 years of age. Last year 30 youngsters participated. Free golfing lessons will be given by Stapp each Saturday.
1955 June 30 "Dance Scheduled"
An informal dance will be held at the Miami Country club Saturday night beginning at 9:30 o'clock as part of he July 4 weekend celebration. Provisions have been made to keep the clubhouse cool and comfortable, according to Spencer Dawson, chairman. (It is hard to imagine that Tudor style building without air conditioning. In 1960 the inside of the clubhouse was completely remodeled with air conditioning upstairs and in the third floor apartment. The downstairs pro-shop and locker rooms were painted and cleaned up but no air conditioning installed. A huge wall fan sucked air from the outside into the downstairs to keep it cool and comfortable.)
The swimming pool will be open Saturday night. Dinner will be served from 6 o'clock until dance time. For dinner reservations members may call William George at the Country club. The phone is No. 4429. Complete proceeds of the dance are to be used to purchase a record player for the club.
**Once upon a time the swimming pool at the country did not have a fence around it. A few years ago, I met with a beautiful lady named Mary
VanBeber, known as Mrs. Hance VanBeber at that time. She was in an assisted living home in Miami when I found her. Oh, such stories she could tell.
Her favorite story it seems was about the adventures a group of members shared in the swimming pool on hot summer nights when no one had air conditioning. One night, or many nights, she recalled that she and Hance and others in the neighborhood would go swimming about midnight. Once the neared the club their husbands would turn off the car lights to hide their entrance. They parked their cars in north driveway where people living nearby couldn't see them, then giggling like kids they would shed their clothes in the car, grab their bathroom towels and run and jump into the pool.
I gathered from her memory this happened on many a summer night, including evenings when they had been to dances and remembered to bring their towels and swimsuits, so they could cool off before going home.
I recall as a a small child that the lifeguard left at 6:00 but parents were required to watch their children in the pool and call for help if anyone drowned! Because our homes were not air conditioned, I know that my sister and I often stayed late at the club swimming until dad closed the shop down at dark. Mother brought a sandwich out to dad, to hold him over until dinner around 8-9:00. We were never alone at the club and many a family enjoyed the cool nights around the pool until....the fence was built and a lock put on a gate!
Mary's second best story involved clothing at the golf shop. "Your father never could select ladies golf wear that I liked. I decided to buy my own golf clothes through the Neiman Marcus catalog. Hans was always willing to drive me to Dallas to shop. It made me so happy."
1955 July 3 "The Golfing Scene"
A field of over 120 golfers, largest of the season, will tee off Monday morning in the unusual lady pro-amateur Fourth of July tournament at the Miami Country Club. For the one day only, lady members of the club will be designated as professionals for the purpose of teaming with the men. Each woman golfer will head a team also including two men.
Forty-two pairings have been announced. The first threesome will tee off at 8 o'clock. Handicap play will be for low net. The tournament will be followed by driving and putting contests for both sexes. Some 40 prizes will be awarded at the day's close. Upon conclusion of the golfing program, a barbecue dinner will be served, to be followed by a fire-works display. A nocturnal putting party will inaugurate new lights installed at the practice green.
1955 August 16 "The Golfing Scene"
Jackie Myers retains his club championship title beating John Robinson in the final 18 hole medal event. Myers won last year and Robinson was runner-up.
1955 September 11 "The Ladies Golf Notes"
Miami Country club women will launch their annual fall tournament next Wednesday, opening with a driving contest and Pitch and Putt competition at 1 p.m.
Mrs. Gene Owens won championship honors in last week's activity. Mrs. Sam Fullerton won out in the class A, Mrs. Corbin Shouse and Mrs. Al White tied in class B and Mrs. George Russell prevailed in class C.
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| Miami News Record September 11, 1955 |
1955 September 26 "Golfing Winners Announced"
Mr. and Mrs. Rex Painter are man-wife Scotch foursome champions at Miami Country club. The won the golf title with a 2 and 1 victory over Mrs. and Mrs. Richard Wright.
Consolation flight winners are Mr. and Ms. Henry Garwood. They defeated the Jack Horners, 1-up. Mrs. and Mrs. Joe Ramsey in A flight defeated the Henry VanBebers, 1-up, while the Wayman Jacksons emerged on top in the A flight consolation bracket with a 1-up verdict over the Bob McClains.
First-round winners in the annual men's Calcutta championship bracket include: Jim Nowlin over We Bullock, Jack Doan over Jack Schofield, Earl Fisher over Dr. W.D. Jackson, Ken Sample over John Reese, Bert Wall over Bud May, Bob Temple over Joe Thompson, Buck Bagby over John Burford, Jack Buzzard over Dale Mabon, Pat Patterson over J.R. Organ, Ted Lowry over Lee Adkinson, Jack Brown over Bernie Schaff, Paul McIntosh over Richard Wilson, Walter Williams over G.R. Stripling.
1955 September 27 "Four Miamians Playing in Tulsa Golf Event"
Miami is represented in the pro-amateur event being held today in connection with the Oklahoma State Open golf tournament at Southern Hills Country club in Tulsa.
Johnie Stapp, Miami Country club professional, is paired with three local amateurs in the preliminary event, which carries a $500 purse. Playing with Stapp are Jack Myers, John F. Robinson, and Ken Childress.
More than 80 pros are battling the par 71 over the 6,756 yard course. Defending open champion is Jimmy Gaunt of Oklahoma City.
*Record above came from the Miami Daily News Record found in the NewsArchives.
