THE PGA OF AMERICA AND CHICAGO HAVE A LASTING BOND
THAT MADE THE WINDY CITY THE PGA’S ‘SECOND HOME’ FROM 1930-1956

The PGA of America and Chicago enjoy a deep-rooted history that stretches to the 1920 PGA Championship and also is highlighted by the Association’s transfer of its headquarters from New York City to the “Windy City” in 1930. The PGA’s relationship to the Illinois area now includes six PGA Championships, numerous annual meetings, PGA Presidents that called the state home and other interesting footnotes that uniquely tie the more than 28,000 men and women PGA members to the "City with Broad Shoulders."

"Both Chicago and the state of Illinois represent a special place in the history of our Association," said PGA President Roger Warren, an Illinois native. "With this week’s PGA Championship at Medinah Country Club the sixth to be contested in the state, and PGA Headquarters calling several strategic Chicago locations home over a wonderful 26-year run, The PGA of America is forever grateful to the countless people from the state of Illinois who embraced the Association and worked tirelessly to ensure our success."

As The PGA of America celebrates its 90th Anniversary this year, there is a special historical trail that developed when last year’s PGA Championship at Baltusrol Country Club in Springfield, N.J., was a friendly drive from the first PGA Headquarters in New York City, and this month’s PGA Championship is a relatively short ride from The PGA’s original second headquarters, located at Chicago’s old First National Bank Building. The following outlines The PGA of America’s long-standing presence in Illinois:

PGA Headquarters in Chicago
• Old First National Bank Building – South Dearborn and West Monroe in Downtown Loop District (1930-Circa 1939)
• Lytton Building -- 14 E. Jackson Street (Circa 1939-1945)
• Hotel Continental (1945)
• Metropolitan Building 134 N. LaSalle Street (1945-1956)
Page 2\The PGA of America Through Chicago History

PGA Annual Meetings in Chicago
While historical records are incomplete prior to 1942, at least 11 PGA Annual meetings were held in Chicago while The PGA was stationed in the city, including two at Medinah Country Club:
• Morrison Hotel (1933, 1934, 1935, 1947)
• Congress Hotel (1936)
• Medinah Country Club (1942, 1943)
• Hotel Continental (1944)
• Bismarck Hotel (1945, 1946)
• Sheraton Hotel (1950)

The PGA Championship and Illinois
Medinah Country Club will host the sixth PGA Championship contested in Illinois this week. It will also host the 2012 Ryder Cup, the first ever in Illinois. A summary of PGA Championships contested in the state:

• 2006 Medinah Country Club Medinah, Ill. TBD
• 1999 Medinah Country Club Medinah, Ill. Tiger Woods
• 1989 Kemper Lakes Golf Club Hawthorn Woods, Ill. Payne Stewart
• 1961 Olympia Fields Country Club Olympia Fields, Ill. Jerry Barber*
• 1925 Olympia Fields Country Club Olympia Fields, Ill. Walter Hagen
• 1920 Flossmoor Country Club Flossmoor, Ill. Jock Hutchison
*Won in an 18-hole playoff

• With the 2006 PGA Championship, Medinah Country Club becomes just the 13th venue to host multiple PGA Championships.
• Illinois becomes just the second state with two venues (Medinah – 1999, 2006; and Olympia Fields – 1925, 1961) that have hosted multiple PGA Championships, joining Ohio (Firestone Country Club – 1960, 1966, 1975; and Inverness Club – 1986, 1993).
• 1988 PGA Champion Jeff Sluman, of Hinsdale, Ill., is one of two competitors in the PGA Championship to call Illinois home. The other is 2005 PGA Professional National Champion Mike Small, of Champaign, head golf coach for the University of Illinois.
• The 1935 PGA Championship at Twin Hills Country Club in Oklahoma City, featured two Chicago residents in the match-play final, as Johnny Revolta defeated former Medinah PGA Head Professional Tommy Armour, 5 and 4, for the Wanamaker Trophy.
• Tommy Armour’s 1930 PGA Championship, a 1-up decision over legendary Gene Sarazen at Fresh Meadows Country Club, in Flushing, N.Y., came prior to Armour’s tenure at Medinah Country Club. Armour remains the last European-born PGA Champion.
• Illinois resident Hutchison won the 1920 PGA Championship, the 1921 British Open, and was the runner-up to Jim Barnes in the inaugural PGA Championship in 1916.

Selected Highlights of Events From The PGA of America’s Chicago Tenure
• The inaugural Senior PGA Championship was conducted in 1937, at Augusta (Ga.) National Golf Club, with native Scotsman Jock Hutchison, then of Golf, Ill., capturing the first of two Alfred S. Bourne Trophies.
• The first Vardon Trophy was awarded in 1937 to “Lighthorse” Harry Cooper, of Glen Oak Country Club in Glen Ellyn, Ill.
• The original PGA Hall of Fame was established in 1941. The inaugural class featured native Scotsman and Chicago resident Tommy Armour, Jim Barnes, Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones, Francis Ouimet and Gene Sarazen.
• In 1942, The PGA of America purchased two ambulances for the Red Cross, raising $25,000 for the war effort.
• The PGA and LIFE Magazine co-sponsored the first National Golf Day in 1952, raising $80,000 for charitable efforts.
• The inaugural PGA Merchandise Show of 1954 was conducted at PGA National Golf Club in Dunedin, Fla. The PGA of America relocated from Chicago to Dunedin two years later.

PGA Presidents’ Ties to Illinois
• Past PGA Presidents the late Tom Walsh (served from 1940-1941) and Lou Strong (1961-1963) both represented the Illinois PGA Section during their terms of office.
• Current PGA President Roger Warren, a Galesburg, Ill. native, graduated from Western Illinois in 1972, and earned a master’s degree from Northern Illinois in 1981. He has served as both national and Section President, Vice President and Secretary; a Board of Director for both the Illinois PGA Foundation and Hook-a Kid on Golf Foundation; and was vice president of the Illinois Junior Golf Association. His golf shop at Seven Bridges Golf Course in Woodridge, Ill., was named one of “America’s 100 Best Golf Shops” by Golf Shop Operations magazine five times. From 1973-1986, he worked for the Dundee (Ill.) School System and summers at The Village Links of Grand Ellyn. Warren is currently president of Kiawah Island (S.C.)
Golf Resort.

The PGA Championship is one of the premier golf events conducted by The PGA of America. Others include the Ryder Cup, Senior PGA Championship and the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. Since 1916, golf’s best professionals have been competing for the PGA Championship’s coveted Wanamaker Trophy. Past Champions include Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Tiger Woods, Davis Love III, Jack Nicklaus, Sam Snead and Walter Hagen.
Celebrating its 90th anniversary, The PGA of America was founded in 1916, and is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf, while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. The Association is comprised of more than 28,000 men and women PGA Professionals who are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.