Mashie Monday

It's US Open Month!

It’s U.S. Open month. As most of you know already, I grew up with a golf pro father, and I got my first set of clubs when I was four. I would love to say that I immediately began practicing a lot and playing often. I did not. Instead, I spent most of my summers poolside until high school. Once I got deeply involved as a participant, I fell in love with the game—just like my dad. And my mom, who was also an avid and fine player.

Before then, I went to plenty of golf tournaments. I have recollections about the Open going back a long time, but my most profound memories come from the 1979 U.S. Open at Inverness Club in Toledo, where my father was the pro. Being there every day is an experience I treasure. Tournament week (June 16-21), I’ll have six days of fun recollections and experiences, so watch for those articles.

Today, we’re delving into the background of the event. For decades, the Open has been the premier tournament run by the United States Golf Association, which was founded in 1894. The USGA first event, the U.S. Amateur, took place in 1895 and was immediately followed by the Open. The latter tournament received much less fanfare. Back in those days, golf pros were not big celebrities.

Amateur golf was the primary focus for decades although the 1913 Open drew tremendous attention at the time and since then. It took place at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts. Francis Ouimet, a nineteen-year-old amateur and local boy, won in a tremendous upset by winning over a field that included the two top players in the world. His accomplishment sent the popularity of golf skyrocketing. Before that, the game served mainly as a leisure activity for the wealthy. Afterward, others like Ouimet, who came from a working-class family, took up the game. The Greatest Game Ever Played, which is a book and a movie, traces the story. I highly recommend both!

The USGA settled into June dates for the Open early in the Twentieth Century. Since the mid-1970s, the final day has traditionally fallen on Father’s Day. As you might guess, a family of golfers watches the event on television, if they don’t attend in person. That was true in my family. My dad is gone, and I miss his expert commentary during the tournament. I still enjoy watching because the event evokes many tremendous memories, and some of those memories influence my novels.

Photo courtesy of Mark Nickerson. My parents and me at Inverness.

Next Monday, watch for “Bootlegger Briefs!” Until then, keep it in the short grass

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