The Golf Library

This is not a reflection on the author. A beautiful premium coffee table book should arrive presentable, not like a damaged bargain bin find. The “environmental policy” is just to save massive costs in materials & time by throwing books in empty boxes without care for the item.

Interesting to note that PGA Tour Enterprises filed a trademark for “Wonderful World of Golf” in 2023 which then lapsed. They did the same in early 2025 but it again lapsed.

The Jimmy Demaret Show was a tv show aired in the early 1950s. I have the following episodes and not sure if there are any more? Each show had a guest(s). Bob Hope Gene Sarazen Bing Crosby and Ben Hogan Bobby Jones Sam Snead Cary Middlecoff Jackie Burke

Happy 100th birthday to Bob Toski. Bob topped the 1954 PGA Tour Money List with 4 wins. George May’s World Championship of Golf at Tam O’Shanter had $50,000 winner’s prize money. Ed Furgol 1954 US Open was $6,000. He moved into teaching a few years later having become a father.

1963

In a follow up to yesterday’s 1968 feature on Merion’s babbling baffling brook 11th hole here is Jack Nicklaus and Jim McKay doing a feature on the same iconic little hole 24 years later for a 1992 vhs “Jack Nicklaus Presents America’s Toughest 18 Holes”. Enjoy the US Amateur at Merion this week.

A lovely little 1968 film short on Merion’s 11th hole with sportscaster Charlie Jones and Merion head pro Fred Austin. Fred was the pro from 1946 to 1969. The US Amateur is at historic Merion this week. In 1930 Bobby Jones beat Eugene Homans 8 and 7 to complete the Grand Slam. It was on the short par 4 11th that he closed out the final. An iconic little hole known for its babbling brook that stretches down the hole and guards the green.

I’m looking forward to the US Amateur at Merion next week. Here is Arnold doing some promotional work in the lead up to the 1971 US Open at Merion.

The unique flowing swing of four times Open Champion Arthur D’Arcy “Bobby” Locke at the 1954 Open at Royal Birkdale. Another World Golf Hall of Fame member keenly watches on.

Some of the American contingent at the 1954 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale. See if you can name all four.

24 year old Peter Thomson won the first of his five Open championships at Royal Birkdale in 1954. This sequence of his beautifully simple swing is taken from a treasured old film reel of that championship. Peter would successfully defend the following year at St. Andrews then again at Royal Liverpool (Hoylake) the year after that. His fourth came in 1958 at Royal Lytham and St. Annes then his fifth in 1965 back at Royal Birkdale again. Royal Birkdale is a special Open venue for Australians with Ian Baker-Finch winning his Open there in 1991. On Sunday “IBF” birdied five of the first seven holes and went out in 29. He closed with 66 to finish on -8, two shots ahead of fellow Australian Mike Harwood.

One of the sweetest golf swings out of New South Wales since Steve Elkington. 🇦🇺

The stunning natural beauty of National Golf Links of America in 1948. The greens running smoothly. A neighbour of Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. The quality of golf on Long Island is incredible.

The “Live From” concept peaked with Alistair Cooke.

This is a new one… Stole the post then gave one of the LPGA founders Marlene Bauer Hagge a new name and identity.

Sam Snead at the age of 57 finished second in the 1969 Canadian Open at Pine Grove. He led for most of the championship but was caught and lost an 18 hole playoff to Tommy Aaron 70-72. Doug Sanders discusses Sam’s grip with Billy Casper noting that even after all those years of playing Sam doesn’t appear to have any callouses.

George Knudson at the 1969 Canadian Open. He was always honest.