1913 US Open at NGLA?

[wsmorrison]

Although the 1913 US Open was initially awarded to The Country Club in Brookline, MA, for a time it looked like the event was going to be played at NGLA.  Think for a minute how golf in America may have been altered had this occurred.

The USGA awarded the event to TCC and scheduled the championship for June 4 and 5, 1913.  A few days after the event was awarded, Robert Watson, the President of the USGA received word from Vardon and Ray that they would participate in the championships, however they could only agree to a date in August.  Also, the reigning Open Champion, J.J. McDermott said that he couldn't play in June because he was to compete in the British open championship.  

TCC Board replied that it would be impossible for them to hold the championship in August as the course would not be in proper condition.  They suggested late September or early October.  This interfered with Vardon and Ray playing in the French Open.    It seemed there was a dilemma.  Into the mix came C.B. Macdonald offering the use of National Golf Links of America for the tournament to be held in August when all parties were available.

A vote by mail of the delegates almost unanimously approved of changing the date and venue to August at NGLA.  Just a few days later Watson received a cable from Vardon and Ray stating that they would be able to participate in September after all.  As a result, Brookline kept the championship and it was moved to September 17 and 18.  

Would Ouimet have participated if the event was held at NGLA?  Did he have a chance of winning there?  Who knows?  What seems likely is that golf in America may have been influenced by the change in venue.  The life of Francis Ouimet may have turned out quite differently as well.

[Tom_Doak]

There is no way that Francis Ouimet would have played at National in 1913.

But, it's just as interesting to me that the USGA scheduled the US Open around Vardon's touring schedule!

[Peter Pallotta]

Wayne
thanks - that's a really neat story, and the "what ifs" that come to mind could be a useful lens through which to look at what actually did happen, as well as what might have.

Off Tom D's point (of the USGA working around a Brit's schedule)...was there ever a "Boston Tea Party" of American golf? Was there a point/event that can be seen as a definite and defiant break with the past?

Peter  

[Gene Greco]

     Great stuff, Wayne.  Thanks for sharing.

[wsmorrison]

"Off Tom D's point (of the USGA working around a Brit's schedule)...was there ever a "Boston Tea Party" of American golf? Was there a point/event that can be seen as a definite and defiant break with the past?"

Peter,

Tom Paul has often alluded to an early break the USGA had with the R&A where the president made it clear there was going to be an Americanization of golf.  This may have been the last straw for CB Macdonald as he was consumed with replicating the spirit as found in the home of golf here in the United States.  Perhaps Tom will see this and weigh in with his far better understanding of this pivotal point in time.

[Dan Kelly]

Good stuff, Wayne. Thanks.

The way I look at life (and at history): Ouimet probably wouldn't have won the Open at TCC had it been played in June, either!

And then everything else would have changed, too, from that point forward.

[wsmorrison]

Tom,

It is surprising that the USGA was willing to comply with the touring schedule of two British professionals.  I guess it reflects the status of the US Open at the time; it took a definite back-seat to the US Amateur.  The top two professionals in the world added a great deal of credibility to a championship that wasn't as popular as it is today.

Dan,

You're probably right.  The starts were definitely aligned for Ouimet those two days in September 1913.