BOBBY JONES CENTENARY CELEBRATION AT ST. ANDREWS
March 15 - 17, 2002

The Advisor was too young to have attended the original celebration at Younger Hall in honor of Bobby Jones, but wild horses couldn't have kept me from attending the Centenary Celebration in St.. Andrews. Over the past few years, I have been privileged enough to spend quality time in the marvelous 'Old Grey Toon' on several visits. Becoming familiar with its unique personality and popular haunts. It is easy to see why Bob Jones always considered himself at home here, such is the warm welcome afforded even mere mortal golfers, let alone those of his stature.

I have no problem passing the time in St. Andrews visiting old friends, meeting new ones, playing golf and browsing through favorite shops, or just walking the beaches, the town, the courses. For golfers, St. Andrews is a living history and proud of its heritage. Too many golfers these days come in, grab their trophy round on the Old Course and head right out. This is a shame because the town and its people, not to mention the numerous quality surrounding courses, within an hours drive, are all worth getting to know.

The weekend began with a Black-Tie dinner in Younger Graduation Hall, site of the 1958 presentation. There were only several hundred people seated on the floor of the hall for the evening's dinner and it felt full, so you can imagine the electric atmosphere in 1958 as the intimate hall which can hold 1,700 at the breaking point was filled to that and more.

I'm sure you all have attended more than your share of five course dinners with speakers (no matter how important) where you were asleep by the entree, I can tell you that this was not the case. The speakers, Dr. Duncan Lawrie, Chairman of the Trustees, St. Andrews Links Trust; John Imlay, President, The Atlanta Athletic Club; Dr. Robert T Jones IV, Bobby Jones' grandson; Sidney Matthews, one of the world's leading historic experts on Mr. Jones; and Sir Michael Bonallack, OBE, former Secretary of the Royal and Ancient, were both entertaining and compelling in their recollections of Jones the golfer, and perhaps more importantly, Jones the man.

John Imlay related that Jones was born a sickly child, not expected to live, and his parents had moved to the 'country' near what is now East Lake Golf Club to improve his health. The 'country' where Bobby Jones grew up is now in the middle of urban sprawl, but East Lake Golf Club has been lovingly restored, by Tom Cousins, to its former glory. It was here that Bobby Jones won his first and most treasured golf trophy at age six, a tiny silver cup, for beating Alexis Stirling and two other youths. Bobby loved that Cup more than anything, even sleeping with it under his pillow. The trophy, small enough to cup in one's hand, still exists today and John Imlay had carefully brought it across the Pond.

He learned the game at East Lake, not by lessons, but by mimicking Stewart Maiden, the head professional. He was a child prodigy, breaking 80 at age 11, winning at 13, and entering his first US Amateur at age 14. But then the fiery temper of youth invaded his world and at age 19, on his first visit to St. Andrews, he did not complete his second round - walking off on the eleventh hole of the Old Course. This would be the only time he did not complete a round in competition. He returned in style in 1927, and with his temper in check, played the Old Course, after much study, like a fine musical instrument - coming away with the Claret Jug for his efforts.

Imlay also gave insight into why a man would retire in his prime from the competitive stage where he so excelled. It was because while golf was a very important part of every facet of Jones' life, competitive golf was only a part of the puzzle. He left to spend more time playing golf with his friends, to spend more quality time with his family, to practice law and to write.

His grandson, Dr. Robert T. Jones, IV, told a humorous story that rings true with many Americans visiting the British Isles. In 1958 for the opening of the Eisenhower Cup, they were having a small reception in his hotel room, so he called down for some ice. After some time the bellman appeared with a great silver bucket. Upon opening the bucket, Jones discovered that it only contained two ice cubes. So he called back down and thanked them for the ice, but requested could they please send up some more. A very long time passed before the bellman again reappeared with another giant silver bucket, this time before the bellman left, Jones opened the bucket to again find only two cubes. When he questioned the young man, he earnestly replied that he was terribly sorry, but the first time they had sent up all the ice in the hotel and the next time they had sent up all the ice in St Andrews.

The important thing that he conveyed, being in the position to best observe, was that the public person and the private person were one in the same. That Jones' graciousness and interest in those around him extended to Presidents and dignitaries as well as those who worked for him domestically.

Sidney Matthews, Jones' biographer and devoted Jones historian, affirmed that he was exactly the same man after 5 o'clock that he was on the playing field. Saying that not only was his golf swing in perfect balance but his life was balanced as well.

The world knows him today as Bobby Jones. But it was the Scots, Sir Michael Bonallack related, that gave Bob Jones his enduring nickname. And names are very important for Sir Michael. Upon hearing that that his wife had picked out the name Heidi for their second daughter, he overruled her choice in favor of Jane, in honor of Bobby Jones' famous putter, 'Calamity Jane.'

I also had the opportunity to meet and talk with Arthur Monfort, who still plays a mean game at Glasgow Gailes. Montfort was there in 1936 when Bobby Jones had decided to play a round on the Old Course without prior arrangements. He had come down from Gleneagles and before lunch entered the name Robert T. Jones, Jr. in the starter's book for an afternoon round. The news spread like wildfire through the town - "Bobby's back" - by the time he teed off half the town was there to watch, and by the time he finished, the other half had shut their shops and come out to follow.

One of the biggest treats for The Advisor was meeting and talking to Gordon Christie, a wonderfully sharp 87-year young gentleman who can recall with perfect clarity how he and his best mate, David Henley, got out of lessons to watch Bobby Jones win The Open in 1927.

As magical as March 15th, 2002 was in remembering the man and the golfer, Bobby Jones, nothing could have compared to the emotional intimate interchange on the night of October 9, 1958, between him and the people of St. Andrews. The simple, yet totally appropriate and eloquent words by the Provost, Robert Leonard and Jones himself are worth reading and rereading. In them the true soul of golf and its ability to change lives clearly shines through.

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