NEW YORK – The Holiday Inn Martinique on Broadway was all dressed up Monday night as if a hit play was about to debut in its main ballroom.
At closer glance, the venerable hotel already had a long-running hit on its ledger. This night, more than 250 guests gathered at the site of the founding of The Professional Golfers’ Association of America. Together, they viewed a timeline of historic documents and images, posed with the Wanamaker Trophy as if they had just won a major championship, had their golf swings analyzed by both the latest technology and Metropolitan PGA Professionals and capped the evening by toasting the careers of two of its eldest members.
A long-running success story, The PGA of America grew from a meeting on April 10, 1916, in the Martinique’s diminutive boardroom, where 35 charter members and 78 total Professionals were elected to membership and formed the springboard into the world’s largest working sports organization, with more than 28,000 men and women professionals.
The PGA of America needed a catalyst at its founding, and the support came through department store magnate and philanthropist Rodman Wanamaker.
"Mr. Wanamaker was a visionary," said PGA of America President Roger Warren. "He, too, was willing to support those who had dreams. By encouraging them, he helped them financially. And so we owe a lot to the fact that Rodman Wanamaker saw something in these golf professionals in their dream and their vision and said, ‘I want to help and support you.’ "
John Wanamaker-Leas of Philadelphia and Palm Beach, Fla., was among the guests at the Martinique, representing the fifth generation of Wanamaker descendants.
"Had my great grandfather lived to see this evening, he would have been extremely proud," said Wanamaker-Leas. "The PGA of America has much to be proud of and has done so much for golf."
"PGA Professionals, all 28,000 men and women of them, are committed to the vision and the dream that was established in 1916," said Warren. "And that has been to grow participation in the game and raise professional standards of the industry."
Two PGA Professionals of distinction, Don Malarkey of South Pittsburg, Tenn., and William Powell of East Canton, Ohio, were honored guests and represented the bond PGA members share in building participation in the game and serving as role models for the next generation of players.
Malarkey, who turned 101 on April 3, 2006, is the oldest living PGA member and made his first pilgrimage to New York City since 1939, when he and his first wife visited the World’s Fair. A golfer who had competed in two PGA Championships and two U.S. Open Championships, Malarkey became a popular PGA Professional before his retirement at age 68.
For the next 25 years, he would continue to help in club operations at Signal Mountain Golf and Country Club near Chattanooga and would shoot his age or lower 627 times. He kept signed scorecards to support his feat.
"This has been the biggest thrill of my life," said Malarkey, who was joined by his son, PGA Life Member Mike Malarkey of Knoxville, Tenn. "To be a guest and the oldest member of The PGA of America is unbelievable. I will never forget this night. I’ve played a lot of golf. I’ve hit slices, hooks and anything else you can think of. I’ve enjoyed every year of it. I love The PGA and everybody in it."
Powell, who turns 90 in November, was making his first trip back to the city since 1942, when he had returned home from World War II and would soon discover that his homeland would deny him the right to play golf at the public course of his choice due to the color of his skin.
Powell went about his own plan to continue his love of golf. Denied a G.I. Loan despite his service record, Powell sought funds from African-American doctors in Canton, Ohio, to support his dream of building, owning and operating a golf course that had no racial barriers.
In 1946, Powell began construction of Clearview Golf Club. Today, marking its 60th anniversary and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Clearview is guided by Powell’s daughter, Renee, a PGA and LPGA Professional and the 2003 PGA First Lady of Golf. Powell’s son, Lawrence, is the course superintendent.
"I thank The PGA of America and its officers for doing a great job and for having me as a member. The PGA Professionals you watch on TV and those at home clubs are workers, dedicated workers. They have saved a lot of lives, because they have kept a lot of children on the right track.
"This is the best honor I have had, because I have always loved the game of golf. I came up in the Great Depression, and we had to caddie to get some money. Golf, if you let it, will give you dividends that you will be proud of. The game has been good to me, because I’ve been given the chance to take over. I can’t help it, because it’s bit me, and I can’t shake it. And, I don’t want to shake it."
Mike Malarkey, 60, a former University of Tennessee men’s golf coach, drove his father, stepmother and wife from Knoxville to attend the anniversary celebration. The long road trip was due to Don Malarkey suffering irreparable ear damage from a flight several years ago.
"The game of golf has brought structure and purpose to my life," said Mike Malarkey. "And my Dad also found that golf could provide the same. Golf professionals build a bond and camaraderie that is special, and you get the impression that they can relax among one another and seem as if they had known each other a long time."
Don Malarkey had received a golf tip from a PGA founder, legendary Walter Hagen, in the 1927 PGA Championship. Malarkey said Hagen "would have been proud to see this [celebration] and be proud of all of us."
"To have become a PGA Professional was something that I had wanted," Malarkey added. "And it has meant so much to me, and it has been so great to also have a son who also became a PGA member."
Founded in 1916, The PGA of America is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf, while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. Its more than 28,000 men and women professionals are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.
Contact:
Bob Denney
561/624-8582
bdenney@pgahq.com
