Sir Walter Hagen

One of the Walter Hagen books in the Hagen memorabilia
Brandenburg Museum
Cinnabar Hills Golf Club

Walter Hagen was born in 1892 in Rochester, New York, as the only boy in a family of five children. Beginning as a caddy to earn some money for his family, he quickly started developing his golf game. He played as often as he could, although caddy access to the course was during off peak hours only. Gradually improving his skills, he was considered an expert player by his mid-teens, and was hired by the club to give lessons to the members. At the age of 19, he debuted at the 1912 Canadian Open, where he finished 11th.

Also a very skilled baseball player, playing shortstop and pitcher, Hagen not only had opportunity to succeed as a golfer. He eventually canceled a 1914 tryout for the Philadelphia Phillies in order to play in a golf tournament. Later that week, Hagen won the U.S. Open and by that, his choice had been made.

Hagen changed the way professional golf was seen. During this time, the separation between amateurs and professionals was oftentimes severe. If you read the blogs about Bobby Jones, and his decision to stay an amateur, you know that being professional golfer wasn't as highly respected as it is today. Professionals were seen as gamblers and amateurs frequently had the upper hand. This was in particular the case in the United Kingdom, where Hagen started much of his career. Professionals were generally not even allowed to enter the clubhouse through the front door, or to partake in the clubhouse festivities. In 1920, Hagen rented a Pierce-Arrow car to serve as his changing room after refusing to enter the clubhouse through the dressing room. On a different occasion, he rejected claiming his price all together because he had earlier been denied to enter the clubhouse.

The 1920 U.S. Open signified a change. Having finally been granted access to the clubhouse, Hagen along with other professionals chose to donate a large grandfather clock to show their appreciation to the host, Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio. Hagen was to become the main character in the improvement of professional golf.