John J. McDermott

[John Burnes]

All-

I am doing some research on McDermott-the man, his background, as a player, instructor and maybe designer.  If you know anything (or anyone who knows something), please forward along.

I have attached an image I took today of his tombstone in Yeadon, PA.

http://twitpic.com/bs8yka

[Alex Lagowitz]

I know that during Vardon era, he was one of the best American players.
He is featured in the Francis Ouimet movie, I forget the title.

[Ronald Montesano]

I know that he won the US Open at the first golf course I ever trod in Buffalo, the second site of Country Club of Buffalo.

Golf Digest or Golf Magazine did a big piece on him a few years back.

[Jeb Bearer]

I know that during Vardon era, he was one of the best American players.
He is featured in the Francis Ouimet movie, I forget the title.

The Greatest Game Ever Played. Also a book, by Mark Frost I think.

[Ed Brzezowski]

Try www.gapgolf.org.   They did a piece on him a year or two ago.

[Kevin Lynch]

John,

Have you tried the Fulton Newspaper archives that Joe Bausch referenced a few weeks ago?  Here the link to the thread.

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,44587.0.html

I just did a simple search and found a few articles about him from 1911-1913.  That may give you some additional material.

I just took a quick peek in my Cornish / Whitten book, and saw no references to him as an architect in the profiles.

[M. Shea Sweeney]

Rand Jervis- Golf's Golden Age -great book- has a nice but brief synopsis of his career.

[Tom Walsh]

I know that during Vardon era, he was one of the best American players.
He is featured in the Francis Ouimet movie, I forget the title.

The Greatest Game Ever Played. Also a book, by Mark Frost I think.

Yes--he's featured prominently in the book. Well worth reading.
And obviously wikipedia gives the rundown of his championships http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McDermott_%28golfer%29

His career cut short due to mental illness.

[Sean Remington (SBR)]

John  - I friend of mine caddied for Mr. McDermott after he had been committed to a hospital in Norristown it.  His sisters used to see to it that he was taken over to nearby Jeffersonville G.C. to play golf.  My friend carried caddied for him.  I can put you iin touch with him if you like.

[Mike_Trenham]

John McDermott was admitted to the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame this past year.  My father and his friends helped with the induction ceremonony.  They put together a nice video narrarateted by Jack Whitaker.  It is very well done.

http://www.trenhamgolfhistory.org/PTHGNews.html

        you will need to scroll down a bit

He was put into the Philadelphia PGA Hall of Fame in 1992 here is his profile from there

http://www.trenhamgolfhistory.org/HOFJohnnyMcDermott.html

[Dan King]

If he is featured in The Greatest Game Ever Played do not rely on anything in that book. Mark Frost made up a lot of his "facts" in the book.

Cheers,
Dan King

The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what fiction means.
 --Oscar Wilde

[John Burnes]

I agree, his comments depicted in the movie aren't consistent with what he actually said...good story, but a fun movie at best.

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