Bobby Jones

Alayna Liskey

Mr. KMoore

CP English 10

8 April 2019

Bobby Jones
 Liskey 1

Bobby Jones is a very familiar name in the game of golf. Through the help and influence

of the people that surrounded him, he won many tournaments, therefore becoming known as a

very determined and successful golfer and effected the thoughts and views of a lot of people

about golf. He accomplished goals many only dream of and received extravagant awards that

still to this day, inspire golfers around the world. After beginning golf at a young age, Bobby

Jones became a successful golfer due to the dedication he possessed and influenced the

popularity of golf by winning many tournaments.

As a young boy, Bobby Jones began his golf career because of the influences made on

him. Robert Tyre Jones Jr. was born on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th, 1902, in Atlanta Georgia

(“Jones, Bobby” 86). According to Mark Frost, he was named after his grandfather, Robert Tyre

Jones, and raised by his parents Robert Purdemus Jones and Clara Jones (17). Bobby Jones

started golf at the age of five with help from his father (“Jones, Bobby” 86). As O.B. Keeler

writes, “Bobby was a tiny, spindling figure in rompers at that time, just past his fifth birthday”

(1). As Keeler continues, “The club was approximately the same length as Bobby and poked him

woefully in the stomach so that he missed the ball altogether” (2). Although, Jones did have

flaws himself. As “Jones, Bobby” writes, he had an abysmal temper on the course when he was

not playing the game like he wanted to (86). It even got to the point where Jones was throwing

clubs after a bad shot when he was 14 and 15 years old (Keeler 15). During his early teenage

years, Bobby Jones struggled maintaining a healthy weight, due to a slight eating disorder. When

he was 14 years old, he was 5’4” and 165 lbs (Keeler 7-9). Some may consider him as

overweight, but his weight was always unstable and changing. As Keeler writes, “The first five

years of his life, Bobby was about as unpromising a prospect for a competitive athlete as could

have been selected” (2). Bobby dreamed of being as much of an athlete as his father was.
 Liskey 2

Bobby’s father, Robert Purdemus Jones, was a gifted baseball player (Frost 16). As Frost

explains, his dad was very proud of him and a huge advocate in his golf career. His number one

supporter never missed one of his important matches (22). As Keeler explains, “It was often

exploited by Bobby’s father for the entertainment of his own friends on the veranda of their

home on Sunday afternoons when Bobby was encouraged to get out on the lawn and perform

imitations” (5). Stewart Maiden, a “stocky little scot from Carnoustie”, came to East Lake and

assisted Bobby in starting his golf career. Young Bobby followed Stewart all of the course,

learning and observing how to be a successful golfer. He would coach him by giving him lessons

on the basics and fundamentals of the game when he first picked up a club, as well as being

Bobby’s acquaintance to some of his important tournaments (Keeler 3-4). As Ted Ryan explains,

he later joined his father’s law firm and became a lawyer, to undertake business with The Coca-

Cola Company. Bobby Jones, “following in his father’s footsteps, became president of the

Atlanta Athletic Club from 1946 to 1947” (Ryan 2). During Jones’ early life and the beginning

of his golf career, he was inspired and greatly supported by his friends and family, which guided

him to become a tremendous golfer because of his conscientiousness, diligence, and drive to

becoming successful.

Bobby Jones became a successful golfer because of his hard work and dedication he put

in as a competitor. He won many tournaments throughout his golf career and showed people how

skilled and accomplished he is in the game of golf. According to Encyclopedia, at age 9, he won

the Junior Championship Cup of Atlanta Athletic Club, but lost in the semi-final round at age 10.

When he was 14, he won the Georgia State Amateur Championship and qualified in playing in

his first national amateur tournament, but lost in the third round at Merion. However, the

following year, he won the Southern Amateur Championship. At ages 18 and 20, he won the
 Liskey 3

Southern Amateur, and in addition, he won both matches in the Walker Cup Contest (48). Bobby

Jones’ 20s are shown to be the most successful years in his golf career. As Encyclopedia

continues, Bobby Jones won the National Open, after the play-off with Bobby Cruikshank, when

he was 21 years old. The next two years, he won the National Amateur at Oakmont, and one

singles in the Walker Cup Contest. At the age of 24, he won the British Open and the National

Open. Once again, he won the Southern Open, the National Open, British Open, and the National

Amateur (48). As Encyclopedia writes, Jones’ won the National Amateur and both matches in

the Walker Cup Series when he was 26. The following year, he competed in the National Open

and won after play-off with A Espinosa at Winged Foot. The year of 1930 was a big year for him

because he won the British Open, the British Amateur, both matches at the Walker Cup Series,

the National Open, and finally the National Amateur (48). Bobby Jones was a determined golfer

and never gave up during his matches because always wanted to be the best: “Bobby had

climbed another step up the mountain: he held a share of the lead at a major going into the final

round” (Frost 119). As Frost explains, he wanted to win all four of the major events of Golf in

1930, and he succeeded that goal (126). He worked for his success and his dedication was

legendary: “Bobby was on the course all day and night” (Frost 136). Bobby Jones was a very

determined competitor and he set him up for success in the famous tournaments he participated

in, receiving a large quantity or awards and special mentions.

Jones influenced the popularity of golf by winning because he received extraordinary

awards. He competed in most momentous tournaments in golf history. Before Bobby Jones

retired, he played 31 majors, winning 13, and finishing top 10 in 27 of them (Frost 62).

According to Keeler, by the age of 19 years old, he competed in three U.S. Amateur

Championships, one U.S. Open, one British Amateur, and one British Open (45). As “Jones,
 Liskey 4

Bobby” explains, Bobby won four U.S. Opens, five U.S. Amateurs, and three British Opens in

eight years. As a result of winning 12 significant tournaments from 1922 to 1930 (89). In May of

1915, Jones set a new scoring record at East Lake (Frost 32). According to Keeler, not only was

Bobby Jones a tremendous golfer, but he was also very smart in his academic studies. When he

was 18 years old, he finished his sophomore year at the Georgia School of Technology and

graduated a couple years later (25). By the age 19, he became a veteran as part of the Air Force

(Frost 32). Bobby Jones finished his B.S. course and acquired his degree, along with a Harvard

sweater at Harvard University (Keeler 67). According to “Jones, Bobby”, one of his greatest

highlights in the game of golf is when he scored a 42 on nine holes using only one hand (19). He

received a cup from Findlay S. Douglas, president of U.S.G.A. after victory over Homans

(Encyclopedia 49). As Encyclopedia writes, Bobby Jones signed a contract with the Warner

Brothers to create a series of 12 one-reel motion pictures dealing with the instructional side of

golf (47). He was the first to sweep golf’s Grand Slam. Finally, Bobby Jones retired when he was

28 years old and quit for good in 1948, suffering from back problems and a crippling nerve

illness (“Jones, Bobby 86). As “Jones, Bobby” explains, Jones created the plans and founded the

famous Masters Tournament, at the Augusta National, in 1934 (89). According to Frost, he was

one of the most successful amateur golfer ever to compete at a national and international level

(93). Winning many tournaments and being awarded some of the most significant golf awards in

history, has shaped the point of view on golf today.

Bobby Jones is a pioneer in his sport. He began playing golf at a young age and is a

prime example of how hardwork and dedication can lead to many great successes. Throughout

his career he won many tournaments and became a great influence in the game of golf and its

popularity. Because of this, Bobby Jones will always remain a legendary figure of the game.
 Liskey 5

Works Consulted

Aumann, Mark. “Three Reasons Why Bobby Jones Excelled.” PGA, 4 Feb. 2019,

https://www.pga.com/news/golf-buzz/three-reasons-why-bobby-jones-excelled-golf.

Barkow, Al. “1900-1930: The Birth of a Golf Nation.” The Golden Era of Golf, St. Martin’s

Press, 2000, pp. 7-58.

“Bobby Jones.” How Stuff Works, 4 Feb. 2019, https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/bobby-

jones-golfer.htm.
 Liskey 6

“Bobby Jones Wins U.S. Open.” Sports in America, Facts On File, Inc., 2004, pp. 24-25.

Frost, Mark. The Grand Slam, Time Warner Books, 2004.

“Jones, Bobby.” The Lincoln Library of Sports Champions, 8th ed., vol. 7, The Lincoln Library,

2007, pp. 86-91.

Keeler, O.B. The Bobby Jones Story, Triumph Books, 2003.

The New York Times Encyclopedia of Sports: Golf, Gene Brown, vol. 5, Arno Press, 1979.

Parascenzo, Marino A. “Jones, Bobby.” World Book, 2011 ed., p. 157.

Ryan, Ted. “The Story of Bobby Jones, East Lake and Coca-Cola.” Coca-Cola Journey, 6 Mar.

2019, https://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/the-story-of-bobby-jones-east-lake-

and-coca-cola.