EP. 7: Golf’s Giants Tour Texas

Episode 7, “Golf’s Giants Tour Texas” (35:07)
• [02:01] Two boys from Jersey. Vardon and Ray both grew up in Grouville on the Channel Island of Jersey and learned the game at what became Royal Jersey Golf Club.
• [04:21] Vardon’s career. His record six Open Championships, the “Vardon grip” (which he didn’t invent), knickers on the course, and his fight with tuberculosis.
• [08:21] Ted Ray. The longest hitter of his day, known for his pipe, his blunt advice (“hit it harder”) and his dislike of slow play.
• [12:10] The 1900 tour and the first endorsement. Spalding’s deal with Vardon came five years before Honus Wagner signed with Louisville Slugger.
• [16:12] Alex Findlay. The tour manager went from Scottish golfer to Nebraska cowboy to designer of more than 100 courses, including San Antonio Country Club. Also covered: where “par” comes from.
• [21:16] The 1913 U.S. Open. The USGA moved the Open to September so Vardon and Ray could play. Ouimet then won the playoff at Brookline.
• [24:45] A young Bobby Jones watches. An 11-year-old Jones saw Ray hit what he later called the greatest shot he’d ever seen.
• [25:32] Dallas, October 17. At Dallas Country Club, Texas Amateur champions George Rotan and Charles Dexter pushed Vardon and Ray hard. Perry Maxwell was in the crowd.
• [27:54] Houston, October 18. A 36-hole match at the original Houston Country Club, now Gus Wortham Park.
• [28:40] San Antonio, October 19. A best-ball medal match on a Findlay-designed course.
• [30:37] What came after. Ray won the 1920 U.S. Open, captained Britain in the first Ryder Cup, and Ouimet became the first American captain of the R&A.
• [32:33] The 19th Hole. Places you can visit: Gus Wortham, the Texas Golf Hall of Fame at Brackenridge Park and online at TexasGolfHOF.org, the World Golf Hall of Fame at Pinehurst, Ouimet’s boyhood home, and Royal Jersey.
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