[TEPaul]

I was just thinking and posting about Myopia's golf professionals in the history of golf at Myopia (116 years). It appears Myopia has only had eight golf professionals in 116 years (longer than most American golf clubs have been in existance, but not as old as Myopia as a club is (135 years)). That's quite remarkable but perhaps more so as Myopia has only had two golf pros in the last sixty two years and the present one is still going!

This got me thinking about who has lasted the longest at a single club as a golf pro or a greenkeeper, in America or anywhere? I do have some I can add but what do you all know about this?

I think Charlie Thom was the golf pro at Shinnecock for over fifty years. Eb Steineger of Pine Valley was the greenkeeper for around fifty years as I think Lennie Blogget was at Kittanset. Of course, around the world there are other notables in duration like of course TOC's Old Tom Morris, perhaps the king of them all for duration and respect.

[TEPaul]

Actually, I would like to see this question and answer be for club pros and greenkeepers who were at a club consistently for a very long time (not leaving and coming back). I wonder if anyone has ever really thought who might hold the records that way?

[Mike Policano]

George Jacobus was the head pro at Ridgewood in NJ from 1919 to 1965. The Club has had only four pros since 1919.

[Scott Warren]

James Braid was the pro at Walton heath from 1912-1950.

The club is said to have only had three head pros since it was founded in 1903.

[Peter Pallotta]

Scott beat me to it - but I think Braid might have been the pro there from the founding in 1903...if so that would make 47 years!  Then came Harry Busson for another 25 or so, and then Ken Macpherson for another 30 or so. Amazing. Lovely to see -- a home.

Peter

PS - it is a coincidence that the best treat the best the best?  Just the fact the WH has had only 3 pros makes me want to visit there.

[TEPaul]

"The club is said to have only had three head pros since it was founded in 1903."


Now, THAT really is remarkable! I doubt a club in the world could top that.

[James Boon]

Tom Williamson was the professional at Notts GC (Hollinwell) for 54 years from 1896 till his death in 1950.

In the clubs history book (written in 1987) they do state this to be a World record? He was preceded by 2 professionals and has been followed 5 others including Ryder Cup player Brian Waites, so 8 professionals in total.

In his time as the Notts Professional he played or partnered Harry Vardon in several exhibition matches and tournaments, was PGA captain in 1929, played in ever Open Championship from 1897 to 1947 (another World Record?) as well as being a prominent course designer in the Midlands.

Cheers,

James

[Rob_Waldron]

Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, ND has only had three golf professionals since being founded in 1898: Fred McLeod, William Strasbaugh, and Bob Dolan (its current head PGA Professional)

[Keith OHalloran]

After Charlie Thom, I believe Don McDougall  stayed for around 50 years and, within the last 5 years, Shinnecock hired Jack Druga as the third pro in the history of the club as well.

[Mark Chaplin]

Walton Heath has had 4 pros since 1903;

James Braid - 46 years

Harry Busson - 26 years

Ken MacPherson - 32 years

Simon Peaford - started in 2009 due to leave somewhere between 2035 and 2055!! Should add he's been there a further 9 years as assistant.

[David Whitmer]

The club I belong to in Cincinnati, Western Hills Country Club, was founded in 1912 and is on its 3rd superintendent. The first guy was there from 1912 to 1946. The second guy was there from 1946 to 1986. The 3rd guy has been there since 1986, is probably about 60 years old, and from what I understand has no plans to leave anytime soon.

[TEPaul]

Keith:

It appears from one source of information that Charlie Thom was Shinnecock's third golf professional getting there in 1906 (Willie Davis and Willie Dunn, at least, proceeded him).

[Tom_Doak]

Tom P:

My friend Ken Macpherson was only the third pro in the history of Walton Heath, I believe, after James Braid and Harry Busson.  Ken is now the professional emeritus and his assistant has taken over as #4.

However the longest tenure I know was that of the manager, professional and superintendent at The Links Golf Club, who had been there 55, 56 and 57 years when they closed the doors for good!

[TEPaul]

TomD:

What you just said there about the pro/greenkeeper at The Links Club being there that long pretty much makes this thread for me. I did not know that and I used to play there in the early 1980s I think it was. George Bahto mentioned him on here on some other thread this year. George said Macdonald brought him to The Links himself.

Do you remember the way it was there? The maintenance stuff and the pro shop (if you could call it that) was in the barn. As for the manager of The Links, I believe he was in the house next to the barn. His name was Bert, and he used to cook and make the drinks and open the place up and close it up. Closing it up could be a bit tricky for him sometimes because some of those professional drinkers would stay into the wee hours of the morning, but Bert actually lived in the clubhouse so it wasn't so bad for him.

I've mentioned in on here before but Bert had an ability that would blow those guys away----he would just bring them their drinks and exactly what they wanted and when they wanted it at various times without even being asked.

[Tom_Doak]

Benny Zukowski was the superintendent, and I think Joe Phillips was the pro (or maybe he was the manager).  Both of them knew Macdonald very well, to the point that they wouldn't let me take photos of the course, because Mr. Macdonald told them photos did not do justice to it!  I had to get special permission from one of the members to photograph it before they shuttered the doors.

[George_Bahto]

Tom, the super at Links was Ben Zukosky who I had the pleasure of interviewing when he was 92, He remembered a lot about the course and he knew Charlie Macdonald, again, because he was the first and only super at the course.

He also remembered Mackenzie coming over to look at the links bunkering when Mac was building
Bayside.   

The pro was Joe Phillips. He was also the first and only pro at Links. He had passed away before I had a chance to speak with him.

I have an attested scorecard in my files from 1948 that shows him; 5 birdies on the front 9 and 4 birdies on the back  - (73 the par), 9-under (31-33) 64. He was playing with a “Julie” Phillips - either a wife or daughter.

I don’t know the manger’s name. I think Phillips was both

[TEPaul]

TomD:

If you happen to have a photograph of that old reverse redan at the Links I sure would love to see it someday. More than any other hole I remember that one really got the attention of some of the pretty good players from the Links. It was a shot that was just so hard to get precise enough to actually make work and hold on that green. Today many would probably call it unfair for various reasons.

[Mike Hendren]

Tom, I believe Memphis CC's superintendent Rod Lingle is only the club's third or fourth in 100 years. 

Mike

[Keith OHalloran]

TE PAul,
You are right, that was an oversight on my part, but in my defense, at least Charlie Thom was there when the course opened as it is now  and they have only had three since then (icluding Charlie). Does that make up for an obvious mistake in my first thread?  Just reaching here!

[Patrick Glynn]

Lahinch have done pretty good - Robert McCavery (current) and his father stretch back continuously to the ~1900s, dont think we had a professional before then.

[SL_Solow]

Two years ago, my club, Briarwood CC, retired our Superintendent, Paul Voykin, after 47 years of continuous outstanding service.  Paul is now an honorary member and spends most days at the Club.

[jeffwarne]

After your first 20 years as  Head Professional at a private club you have the surgery  (complete spine removal)
.........and the next 30 are easy

I'd assume it also works in marriages

[Bill_McBride]

After your first 20 years as  Head Professional at a private club you have the surgery  (complete spine removal)
.........and the next 30 are easy

I'd assume it also works in marriages

How do you survive the first 20 years?   

[jeffwarne]

After your first 20 years as  Head Professional at a private club you have the surgery  (complete spine removal)
.........and the next 30 are easy

I'd assume it also works in marriages

How do you survive the first 20 years?   

duck and weave Bill
.......and always have an alternate exit-----one way glass doesn't hurt either

[J_ Crisham]

Beverly CC has our pro emeritus, Dick Carparelli who is 94 yrs old. He started after the war and has been there since. He is around every day in the summer. He flew bombers in the war-very interesting gentleman.
                  Jack

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