A Retrospective: Important Dates in New York State Golf History

Each month, the NYSGA features historical moments in New York golf history by golf historian Kevin Casey.

A look back at October dates...

October 24, 1923 – The first shots were struck in the inaugural New York State Men’s Championship at Long Island’s Garden City Golf Club. New York’s first statewide golf championship brought together 61 qualifiers from across the state playing 18 holes to earn one of 16 spots in match play. The 36-hole final match went to Cherry Valley’s Eddie Driggs, who started 3-3-3 on the way to building an eight-up lead that he never relinquished.

The New York Times concluded, “The first championship of the newly organized NYSGA more than justified itself.” A century later, we can say the Times was right. The 101st edition of what we today call the New York State Men’s Amateur Championship was held at Wanakah Country Club in Hamburg this past July.  Aiden Spampinato, from Rochester, shot a six-under 210 to capture the trophy over 150 of the state’s best amateurs.

October 25, 1910 – Willie Anderson, who became the first golfer to win four U.S. Opens, was born in North Berwick, Scotland. With U.S. Open victories in 1901, 1903, 1904, and 1905, Anderson remains the only man to win three consecutive Open titles, and only Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and Jack Nicklaus have equaled his total of four championships.  His overall record in the U.S. Open has never been matched: in the 14 Opens that he played (1897-1910), Anderson won four, was second once, third once, fourth twice, fifth three times, 11th twice, and 15th once.

During the years he won his Opens, Anderson listed The Apawamis Club in Rye as his home course from 1901 through 1906. This transplanted New York talent died very young, at age 31. Anderson has been inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

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