Bob Robinson - Golf in Oregon: Historic Tales from the Fairway

Published by The History Press

Charleston, SC 29403

www.historypress.net

Copyright 2012 by Bob Robinson

All rights reserved

First published 2012

e-book edition 2012

ISBN 978.1.61423.503.3

print edition ISBN 978.1.60949.648.7

Library of Congress CIP data applied for.

Notice: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. It is offered without guarantee on the part of the author or The History Press. The author and The History Press disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

CONTENTS

FOREWORD

My earliest memories of golf in Oregon are of accompanying my father, Erling, and brother David to Portland Golf Club for the Portland Open Invitational in the 1960s. I can remember watching Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Billy Casper and Bob Rosburgand for the first time in my life, I became aware of the PGA Tour and what it meant to be a professional golfer. Up to that point, all I knew about the game of golf was that my dad liked to play it.

Like my father, I quickly developed a love for the game, and soon I was caddying for him and his friends at Waverley Country Club in Southeast Portland. As a caddie, I not only learned how to play, but I also learned the rules and etiquette and developed important social skills, like how to get along with people of all different ages. Most importantly, I learned how to respect others.

When I was a senior at Lincoln High School, preparing for the upcoming state tournament at Glendoveer Golf Club, I remember reading the Oregonian and seeing that the golf writer Bob Robinson had predicted that Peter Jacobsen would win the high school tournament. I thought to myself, Wow, I cant believe a guy like Bob Robinson even knows who I am. Funnily enough, I did win that tournament and then went on to play collegiate golf at the University of Oregon.

After I turned pro and experienced playing golf around the world, I began to realize how much I had been influenced by watching the pros play at events like the Portland Open and the 1969 Alcan Golfer of the Year Championship, which was held at Portland Golf Club. How exciting it was for me, as a kid, to watch them play shots that actually countedfor real money.

It was the realization and reflection of how much I had been influenced by golf in the state of Oregon that helped us create the Fred Meyer Challenge in 1986. We wanted to bring back the excitement that surrounds having in-person access to some of the greatest players in the world, and Bob was there to show his support along the way. Bob was always there, right at the forefront of Oregon golf. He was honest, fair and, above all else, supportive of Oregons and the Northwests favorite sons. Players like John Fought, Jeff Sanders, Kent Myers, Mary Budke, Casey Martin, Brian Henninger and Bob Gilder; Seattles Mike Reid and Fred Couples; and local heroes like Mike Davis, Bunny Mason, Pat Fitzsimons, Craig Griswold and Ralph Dichter.

As for Oregons golf coursesIm a huge believer that the courses in Oregon are underrated! From traditional designs like Portland Golf Club, Waverley Country Club, Columbia Edgewater Country Club and Astoria Golf and Country Club to the more recent and modern additions like Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Oregon Golf Club, Pumpkin Ridge, Running Y Ranch and Brasada Ranch, these courses and more are all fantastic places to play. While Im fortunate enough to have played almost all of the courses that Oregon has to offer, my favorite course in the state remains the track at Waverley Country Club, where I grew up. Close seconds include Old Macdonald at Bandon Dunes, Tokatee Golf Club in Blue River and Brasada Canyons Golf Course at Brasada Ranch.

I would like to thank Bob Robinson for his support and contributions to the game of golf in Oregon throughout the years, as well as his commitment to supporting players of the game, young and old, amateur and pro. His dedication surely helped build and strengthen the love that we all have for this great game of golf.

Peter Jacobsen

PREFACE

Its strange how chance happenings can have a major influence on a persons career. Such was the case for me a couple years after I joined the sports department staff of the Oregonian in the fall of 1961.

I was at my desk, doing research for a story, when I overheard another reporter talking to executive sports editor Don McLeod about a possible assignment change. The reporter had been covering golf but was interested in switching to an open beat covering the Portland Buckaroos hockey team. As the conversation continued, I heard only snippets of what was said, but I could tell that McLeod was going to grant the request.

Anyway, as soon as their meeting was finished, I casually walked over to McLeods desk and said, I understand that the golf beat is open. I would like to have a shot at it. He grinned, obviously aware that I had been listening in on his conversation with the other reporter. Now how did you know about that? he said.

He didnt wait for a reply, instead asking me a couple questions about my knowledge of golf and my interest in it. Apparently satisfied with my answers, he told me I could have the assignment.

Thus began a long run for me as a golf reporter and columnist. I had a couple interruptions when I had other assignments, but I had the golf beat for most of the next thirty-five years before my retirement in 1999. Even after that, I continued to write a weekly golf column, Golf Talk, for the Oregonian for the next five years.

My coverage centered on golfers and tournaments in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, but I also had the opportunity to cover the worlds finest mens players in twenty-four major championships and two Ryder Cups. On the distaff side, I attended more than forty LPGA tournaments, including five majors.

I anticipated that I would enjoy covering golf because so much of it would involve a closer relationship between writer and participant than is the case in most sports. I particularly enjoyed it when I could delve into a subjects personality and background as part of a story. Covering golf offered me that chance even more than I expected.

As with any work assignment, there were times of frustration on the golf beat. But honestly, not that many. For the most part, I had a long run of enjoyment covering golf.

Over the years, I kept an extensive clipping file of some of my stories and columns. I used that file extensively in writing this book. I hope that the reader will enjoy reliving the excitement of some of these events and personalities as much as I have in writing about them.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This project never would have gotten off the ground without the gracious assistance of many. I give thanks to them all, including photographers Michael Lloyd of the Oregonian and Tom Treick, Jon Ferry, Wood Sabold and Eric Yaillen of the Oregon Golf Association. Im also grateful to the Pacific Northwest Golf Association, the Pacific Northwest PGA, Portland Golf Club, Astoria Golf and Country Club, Peter Jacobsen Sports and Jeff Sanders Promotions for their assistance.

Aubrie Koenig, my commissioning editor, was wonderful in keeping my attitude positive through some struggles with the publishing process. Lastly, I give special thanks to my wife, Donna, for her patience, and to my grandson, Jean-Paul Wallis, whose digital technology intellect carried me through formatting and delivery.