Association History

There are few organizations in the history of civilization that bring to mind true greatness. Four that historians often group together as having similar impact on the world are the Roman Empire, the great consecutive Dynasties of Egypt, the British Empire, and the Southern Seniors Golf Association. Today, the SSGA alone endures, thanks to an attitude best expressed by William A. (Red) Underwood at his 75th birthday party, when he said, "I don't feel like an old man - I feel like a young man who has something wrong with him."

Indeed, even though archaeologists of the future may discover fossilized golf club shafts preserved in lake beds where they were cast, the SSGA at present time is in the flower of its existence. True greatness continues to be the hallmark of every proud SSGA member who takes to the links. Golf records set by these duffers could have filled the ancient libraries of Alexandria, e.g., in A.D. 1960 Chester I. Williams set the record for the shortest drive off the tee in SSGA history - 9.5 inches.

The Beginning: It was on October 6, 1930, that it all began. Howard G. Phillips, Homer G. Wheeler, and John Heller met in Greensboro's Sedgefield Club and came up with "The Idea." Albert Einstein, in the midst of preparing for his emigration to the United States, said nothing about "The Idea." His silence speaks loudly of the jealousy he must have felt for having not thought of "The Idea" himself. Later in the month, Einstein was conspicuously absent when the first Championship Tournament was held at Sedgefeild. The first Champion was A.P. Bagby. It was about this time that Einstein, while listening to a rather dull and long-winded after-dinner speaker drone on, turned to the man sitting next to him and said, "I have a new definition of Infinity."

Quality above all: Greatness has always been an integral part of the SSGA. Luminaries who have filled the Association's ranks are too numerous to mention. Literally hundreds of history's most important people have belonged. Wilderness explorers and descendents of royalty, presidents and scientist, tycoons and emperors who have ever had the slightest impact on history belonged to the SSGA - but as we say, there are just too many of them to mention any names specifically. Oh, all right, we'll give a few names - just as proof. O.B. Keeler, whom Grantland Rice called the greatest of all golf writers, became a member in 1943. Charles (Chick) Evans was also a member. In A.D. 1916, Chick became the first golfer to win both the National Amateur Golf Championship and the National Open Championship in the same year. His feat was not duplicated until done so by the great Bobby Jones. In A.D. 1955, the SSGA listed the honorable Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gen. Omar S. Bradley, and Gen. Robert Eichelberger as honorary members. At this time the SSGA headquarters was in Pinehurst.

These individuals of greatness are typical of the membership of the SSGA. Future editions of Bartlett's Familiar Quotations will undoubtedly push aside Aesop, Shakespeare, and Twain to make room for wise and enduring truisms uttered by our secretary during the early years. Chester Williams: "I don't avoid confusion - I create it" and "Women like simple things in life - Men."

The Great Revolt: Chester also referred to A.D. 1962 as "a terrible year." That will forever be recorded in the annals of Western Civilization as the year the wives of SSGA members revolted and formed the "Women's Southern Seniors Golf Association." Mrs. A.N. Derouin of Pinehurst, NC, was the first president. The organization lasted one year, disbanding in confusion. In A.D. 1972, however, the SSGA's first Ladies Champion was Bunny MacAlpine of Summit, NJ. Neither Elizabeth Taylor nor Jackie Onassis attended any SSGA functions that year. Were they, like Einstein decades earlier, jealous? We may never know.

The SSGA Today: Today, the SSGA has over 1000 members throughout most of Eastern America. The first headquarters office was established in Winter Park, Florida, in 1968 under the direction of a full-time executive secretary, retired Major General Dudley H. Hale. Over the years members have enjoyed the fellowship of golf at courses all over America. The SSGA's legacy is that of friendship, fresh air, sunshine, and fellowship. Every year, throughout the Southeast, there echoes the sound of easy laughter, the words of praise and encouragement between "youthful oldster," the drone of electric golf carts, and the "thwitt" of golf clubs moving crisply through the fresh-cropped grass. In each member game are moments of greatness and moments of not-so-greatness mixed with a constant sense of belonging. Life is good.

But time is the true judge of greatness. A thousand years from now, no one may remember who was vice-president of the United States. But every schoolchild in America will be able to tell you that since its founding in 1930 it is estimated that SSGA members have lost over 170,000 golf balls. Whether paleontologist of a future age will find these balls in an archaeological dig is not known. But we do know there is truth to those words taken from the "The Idea": that mankind will always "yearn for Southern Senior meetings of good fellowship where the old familiar gang once again steps up to the tee." In the words of the poet Keats: "That is all ye know on earth and all ye need to know."

Printed with permission of Lavidge and Associates, Knoxville, TN, 1988