Once Upon a September: Saucon Valley and the 1951 U.S. Amateur

By Robin McCool

In September of 1951 Saucon Valley Country Club hosted its first USGA championship the 51st U.S. Amateur. The book chronicles this ground breaking event in club history.
In the book you will meet the patriarch of Saucon Valley, Eugene Grace, president of industry giant Bethlehem Steel Corporation and devoted amateur golfer. You will learn how a chance meeting at the Pinehurst resort in 1909 laid the foundation for the creation of one of the greatest private country clubs in America.
Robin McCool takes you back to a time when amateur golf was king, and the personalities were bigger than life. You will meet all the great players who came to Saucon Valley to compete for the coveted Havemeyer Trophy Frank Stranahan, Harvie Ward, Ken Venturi, Dick Chapman, Jim McHale and Charlie Coe, to name a few.
You will witness Billy Maxwell, a young college student from Texas, rise up from among these giants of the game to capture amateur golfs most treasured prize.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 11, 2015
• ISBN: 9781514430484

Robin McCool

Robin McCool lives in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with his wife Carolyn and has been a member of Saucon Valley Country Club since 1986. He has won a record 33 championships at Saucon Valley, and has also competed in 15 USGA national championships, including three U.S. Amateurs. This is his first book.

Book preview

Copyright © 2015 by Robin McCool.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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Rev. date: 03/21/2016

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Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1    Abilene

Chapter 2    Legends of Texas Golf

Chapter 3    Spirit of the Game

Chapter 4    The Big Dance

Chapter 5    Love at First Sight

Chapter6    Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner

Chapter 7    Who’s Who

Chapter 8    Rhapsody in Blue

Chapter 9    Kris Kringle Bounced in the Christmas City

Chapter 10    Stymie

Chapter 11    The Seige Gun of South Hills Country Club

Chapter 12    The West Texas Cyclone vs. Giant Killer of Winged Foot

Chapter 13    The Fun is Over

Chapter 14    The Friendly Skies

Chapter 15    Dynamite

Chapter 16    South of the Border

Chapter 17    Draft Day

Chapter 18    Ryder Cup

The 19th Hole Jacksonville

Bibliography and Notes

Photograph/Image Credits

Appendix:

1951 U.S. Amateur Championship Contestants

Billy Maxwell Career Victories

Billy Maxwell Record in Major Championships

Billy Maxwell Record in Ryder Cup Competiton

Foreword

This book wonderfully chronicles a noteworthy event in Saucon Valley Country Club’s history, introducing it to a national audience by hosting its first USGA championship. Saucon Valley has gone on to host seven USGA national championships since, the most in Pennsylvania after Merion and Oakmont. I cannot think of a more appropriate author to write about this USGA championship playing experience. Robin McCool has won more golf championship titles at Saucon Valley than any other golfer in its esteemed history. His golf resume is extensive and truly amazing. In addition, he has served as an Executive Committee member for the Golf Association of Philadelphia for nine years, Junior Golf Chair, Green Committee Chair, and various other committees at Saucon Valley over many years.

While reading this book, my mind wandered back to the fact that this national championship started an amazing and important era at Saucon Valley. Soon after this event club leadership showed amazing vision, and determination, by expanding the Club’s grounds and facilities. The inside nine of the Grace course opened in 1953, followed by the outside nine of Grace, Villa Pazzetti, and the six hole practice course in 1957. With Weyhill opening for play a decade later, Saucon Valley, now totaled 60 pristine holes of golf and a club facility unequalled anywhere in the U.S. or world.

The Club’s early leaders were my inspiration when I began a strong push for reinvestment in the Club just after the turn of the 21st century. I have always been a firm believer that we have an obligation to reinvest in Club facilities in order to always offer excellence to our members and their guests. An exceptional private club can’t live and thrive on past accomplishments–a club must always be looking forward to be strong and relevant. Saucon Valley Country Club is an American jewel and could never be built again. Aggressively and responsibly reinvesting over $30 million in capital improvements over the past 10 years through course renovations, etc., Saucon Valley has seen a resurgence of pride and utilization during a time when many private clubs have struggled.

Eugene Grace was a visionary and strong supporter of amateur golf. He was part of a group of gentlemen who founded Saucon Valley in addition to being a founding member of the Augusta National Golf Club. He obviously ran a very successful steel company that gave him financial resources to help accomplish these things, but he still had to respect and admire the great game of golf to invest time, talent, and treasure in it. I, and many others, will be forever thankful for that. It is wonderful to read books like this about events in the 1950’s and 60’s and all those individuals that came before us helping to build and give back to the game of golf.

I must admit, prior to this book, I had never read much about Billy Maxwell, and had no idea he eventually became a golf professional and played on a Ryder Cup team. Billy Maxwell is yet another example of a thoughtful person who gave back to the game he loved. This story has inspired me to learn more about all the past champions of USGA championships held at Saucon Valley. These national champions and Saucon Valley Country Club will forever share a special bond.

In closing, I would like to say that Robin McCool exemplifies all the gentlemanly aspects of the game of golf and continues to give back to the game in many ways, but specifically by writing this excellent history of the 1951 U.S. Amateur Championship. I hope you enjoy reading about this seminal event as much as I did.

Thank you, Robin, for continuing to give to the game of golf!

Andrew F.S. Warner, President

Saucon Valley Country Club, 2010 -2015

Acknowledgments

Many people contributed to the making of this book. Billy Maxwell, and daughter Melanie Maxwell Bevill are at the top of this list. My personal interview with Billy Maxwell is the focal point of this entire work. Research into the many interesting personalities and events of the 1951 U.S. Amateur at Saucon Valley Country Club provided a great deal of material, but eventually everything circles back to the heart of this book – Billy Maxwell. The Maxwell family’s cooperation made this book possible.

A special mention of appreciation goes to Matt Borocz, Director of Golf at TPC Sawgrass, and his staff for their very generous hospitality during my trip to Jacksonville, Florida to meet with the Maxwells.

Special thanks to dear friends Chick and Cheryl Kozloff for hosting me during my time in Florida.

My sincere appreciation goes to immediate past president of Saucon Valley Country Club, Andrew Warner, for his wonderful Foreword. Many share Andy’s love of Saucon Valley, but few have given back so much. Andy’s appreciation for the history of our Club is only matched by his vision for its future.

The unconditional support of Gene Mattare, Saucon Valley Country Club’s Director of Golf and General Manager, is greatly appreciated. Gene was there for me from the beginning and was always available whenever I needed help or advice. Likewise, my sincere appreciation goes to Saucon Valley Country Club for granting me unlimited access to Club archives and for permission to use video archives for the companion piece to the book.

Good friend, and published golf author, William Godfrey, provided the initial information and motivation necessary for me to undertake this project. Ever since William allowed me to participate in the research and write the Foreword to his book, Maryvale Golf Course, The First 50 Years, a flame of inspiration kindled within me.

Several librarians assisted with my research. Nancy Stulack, Lyle Slovick, and Victoria Student of the USGA Library were very helpful. Bess King and Steven Firgko of the E. W. Fairchild-Martindale Library at Lehigh University also helped.

Many others assisted along the way. David Staebler, USGA Director of Rules Education, and a longtime friend, made himself available to answer any of my questions and assist with research whenever asked.

Bernie Loehr, recently retired USGA Director of Amateur Status, was extremely helpful with research pertinent to Chapter 10.

A special thank you goes to Hilary Cronheim, Special Collections Librarian at the USGA. Hilary was not only very helpful during my visit to the USGA Library, but responded to all of my subsequent requests for information in a prompt, professional, and cheerful manner.

Erin Shellaway, Saucon Valley Country Club Member Services, and George Mowers, Club Archivist, were both very helpful during my research of club archives.

Martin Emeno, Golf Association of Philadelphia Director of Operations, proved once again to be the epitome of professionalism and efficiency. Tony Regina, GAP’s Assistant Director of Communications, did a marvelous job editing the compilation of home movies included in the companion video.

Mark Wogenrich of The Morning Call and Karl Gilbert were both available for help and advice whenever needed.

Sincere thanks to all those interviewed: Clyde Oskin Jr, Jim White, Tom McHale, Bill McGuiness, Wade Borg, John Benson, Jim Roney, Jerry Hoesteter, Michael Cumberpatch, Rick McCall, and Debbie Moore.

In his role as a member of the Lehigh Valley Golf Hall of Fame nominating committee, Brian McCall conducted detailed research into the life of Eugene Grace. Brian has always been very helpful and eager to share his research information with me.

I wish to express my sincere thanks to Arnold Palmer and Doc Giffin. It goes without saying, when the most famous figure in golf responds to a request for information within two business days–that’s impressive! This speaks volumes about Mr. Palmer and what he stands for.

Nancy Meyer, a longtime family friend and published author, provided much appreciated editing and publishing advice.

Saucon Valley member Jim White not only shared his personal experiences from the 1951 U.S. Amateur, but is responsible for creating the five volume photographic record of the 1951 U.S. Amateur that resides in club archives. Jim dedicated these volumes to his late father, Daniel White,