Official picture of All Star Match P.G.A. of America Ryder Cup vs. Bobby Jones Challenge team.
Played at the Detroit Golf Club, Detroit, Michigan, August 23rd and 24th, 1941. Standing, left to right, Fred Corcoran, tournament mgr. P.G.A. of America; Lawson Little, Ed. Dudley, Ben Hogan, Jimmy Demaret, Gene Sarazen, Robt. T. Jones, Captain of Challenge Team; Denny Shute, John Bulla, Clayton Haefner, Craig Wood. P.G.A. Ryder Cup Team.
Seated, left to right, Jimmy Hines, Henry Pecard, Ralph Guldahl, Walter Hogan honorary captain, Tom Walsh president P.G.A. of America, Horton Smith, Paul Runyon, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Harold McSpaden, Vic. Ghezzi. T
he Jones Challenge Team were victors, 8½ points to 6½ points.
GOLF PROFESSIONALS
In May 1900 the Golf Club hired its first professional, Joseph Schlotman. A former employee of Crawford, McGregor and Canby, a club manufacturer in Dayton, Ohio, he was not only the club's resident professional but also its groundskeeper and served as general manager. The members found not only a professional, but an excellent teacher. By May of 1803 Joe was elected a member of the club and served on many committees.
Ernie Way became the club's second professional, replacing Joe Schlotman in 1912, and like Joe his responsibilities also extended to groundskeeper. He remained the club's professional until 1916, when he concentrated on supervising construction of the club's new Donald-Ross designed courses, turning over his duties as pro to Alex Ross. He is still regarded as the club's hardest working and most accomplished groundskeeper.
Alex Ross followed his brother Donald to the United States in 1900. He later became well known in his own right by winning the US Open in 1903 at the Philadelphia Cricket Club. Ross also finished the Open in the top 10 five times.
As a teacher of golf, he had the distinction of giving Horace Rackham, a charter member of the Detroit Golf Club, his first golf lesson. Theirs was a life-long friendship, and Rackham was instrumental in Ross' appointment as head professional at the Golf Club and later providing Alex with a trust fund in his will. Appropriately, Ross specified in his will that his ashes be scattered at the club.
Born in Springfield, Missouri, in 1908, Horton Smith is best remembered on the national golf scene as the winner of the first Masters Tournament in 1934. His accomplishments and awards are too numerous to list.
After a tour of duty in Europe as an officer in U.S. Army, he arrived at the Golf Club in 1946 to replace retiring Alex Ross. Smith also served as president of the PGA for three consecutive years.
In 1963, Horton Smith died in Detroit after a long illness. Golf legend Bobby Jones paid a personal tribute to his friend. Said Jones, "There is no way to measure what Horton has done for golf. He has the fiercest and most belligerent dedication to golf of anyone I ever knew."
After the death of Horton Smith, native Detroiter Walter Burkemo became the Golf Club's fifth professional in 65 years. At age eight he took up caddying at the Lochmoor Club and four years later won the district caddy championship.
In 1938 Burkemo won the Public Links Championship. However, at this point in time his career pursuits were aimed at becoming a professional boxer. After service in World War II, he finally decided to become a professional golfer in 1944.
Beyond the Public Links Championship, "Wally" as he was called, played on the 1953 Ryder Cup team, finished fourth in the 1957 US Open and fifth the following year. The highlight of his professional career was winning the 1953 PGA Championship.
George Bayer, the club's sixth professional was born in Washington, D.C., in 1925. At 6 foot 5 inches he starred at football at Washington University and was later drafted by the Redskins.
Soon after signing with the Redskins, he played a round of golf with Bob Hope. Hope, impressed with Bayer's long drives, introduced him to Tony Penna, and at Penna's suggestion Bayer tried his hand at the PGA Tour.
By 1954 Big George joined the professional tour and played full time for 10 years. His first championship came at the 1957 Canadian Open. He won two more tournaments in 1958 and was a consistent money winner throughout his career. Geroge, a "big bear" kind of man with an engaging smile, set up shop at DGC on March 15, 1972.
Generally regarded as the longest hitter on tour, Bayer soon sacrificed distance for accuracy. To this day, he still holds the world record for the longest drive, 589 yards.
By 1983, the Detroit Golf Club would employ its seventh professional since 1899. After a year-and-a-half as assistant to George Bayer, 28-year-old Jim Vaughn took on the responsibility of the top job when Bayer joined the newly formed Senior Tour.
Vaughn soon learned the varied responsibilities ahead of him. Organizational skills together with playing skills forged the image he would soon have at the club. After immediately revamping the pro shop, he built a strong junior program which was one of the accomplishments for which he is best remembered.
By December 1990, Michigan native John Traub was on the job as Detroit Golf Club's new professional. He had served as assistant at the club in 1976 and 1977 and then went on to become head professional at Great Oaks Country Club in Rochester, Michigan, before returning to DGC.
His titles include the 1980 National Club Professional Champion and 1984 Michigan PGA Champion. The appointment at the Golf Club was a fulfillment of a life-long dream. John's focus at the club was always servicing the membership needs.
Currently, Jonathan Gates serves as the Golf Club's ninth Head Professional.