Today in History: The Professional Golfers Association was formed
In the years since 1916, the PGA has grown into one of the sporting world’s largest professional associations.
On this day in 1916, a group of golf professionals and several leading amateur golfers gathered at the Taplow Club in New York City for a meeting that resulted in the founding of the Professional Golfers Association (PGA).
The lunch meeting occurred at the invitation of Rodman Wanamaker, the son of the pioneering founder of Wanamaker’s department stores (now Macy’s). A graduate of Princeton University, Wanamaker joined his father’s business in 1886. He used his considerable wealth and influence to support a number of interests, including aviation, art and sports.
Believing that golf needed an official organisation to promote interest in the game, which was already growing at the time, Wanamaker invited a group of players, including the celebrated Walter Hagen, and other representatives of the sport, to the Taplow Club for an exploratory meeting.
The Taplow Club gathering began a series of several meetings that took place during the next several months, and on 10 April 1916, the PGA was officially established with 35 charter members. Wanamaker proposed that the newly formed organisation hold an annual tournament, and offered to donate money for a trophy and prize fund.
That October, the first annual PGA Championship took place at the Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, New York. James M Barnes defeated Jock Hutchinson in the championship match, taking home the trophy and a purse of $2 580.
At its official founding, the PGA set out the following objectives:
• Promote interest in the game of golf
• Elevate the standards of the golf professional’s vocation
• Protect the mutual interest of its members
• Hold meetings and tournaments for the benefit of members
• Assist deserving unemployed members to obtain positions
• Establish a benevolent relief fund for deserving members
• Accomplish any other objective which may be determined by the Association from time to time
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