Bob Gustafson - Golf

Golf Written by Robert K. Gustafson December 2018

My golfing career started in 1942 at age twelve. I told my dad I'd like to learn to play golf. He said, "You will take lessons from the Pro, practice chip and putt for one year, and not play any golf holes during that time." So, I diligently practiced, took golf lessons from the Head Pro for one year. The end of the year came and I went out to play my first round of golf on a Saturday morning at Annandale Golf Club in Pasadena where we were members. Needless to say, it didn't go very well. I shot 167. Terrible!

Then I played another 18 holes in the afternoon. I did better. 164. Not too good. But I continued to work hard at my golf, and within nine months I was a 9 handicap. I played on the Flintridge Prep Golf Team and then started college at Claremont McKenna. I played on the team there and in 1952 as first man on the team, I played a college match against Ken Venturi at Red Hill C.C. in Upland, CA. He had never seen the course before, played beautifully and shot 5 under par, 67. He was very nice, but quiet.

Needless to say, he won the match. The next year in 1953 he won the U.S. Amateur National Championship and went on to become a very good PGA Pro, winning the U.S. Open at Congressional in 1964.

Since the Korean War was on, we had to join R.O.T.C. to stay in school. Upon graduation I went to Fort Benning, GA for Basic Infantry Officers Training. I was later stationed at Fort McArthur, San Pedro, CA, about 40 miles from my home in Pasadena.

The golf Championships then took place and we went up to the Presidio in San Francisco for the 6th Army Championship Tournament. Five players would qualify to go on to the all Army Tournament in Rockville, Maryland. Play was four rounds; medal play best 5 scores. I didn't play very well the first 3 rounds, but did better the last round to just get the 5th spot. Very fortunate. I went back to the All Army Tournament but didn't play well. It was won by Billy Maxwell from Texas, who went on to be successful on the PGA Tour.

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In 1952, while still playing golf at Claremont Men's College, and golfing at Annandale, a friend of mine, Ed McManus and I signed up for the 1st Annual Thunderbird Two-Ball Championship in Palm Springs, CA John Dawson had just founded Thunderbird in the Desert in 1951. This was a match play event, 32 teams, upper limit of Handicap 6. There were quite a few noteworthy people in the Tournament including Phil Harris, Forrest Tucker, Bob Lemon, Bing Crosby, Jerry Priddy and Walker Cup players Johnny Dawson, Bruce McCormick, Charlie Coe and Jimmy Vickers who had just won the prestigious Trans-Mississippi Amateur Championship. Ed McManus was really an 8 Handicap but agreed to play as a 6. I was a 6. We went down to the Desert, stayed in a cheap motel and carried our own golf bags.

There was a nice Calcutta Dinner the night before the tournament. The minimum bid to buy a team was $200.00. We obviously couldn't afford to buy ourselves as we hardly had two nickels to rub together. Charlie Coe's team and Johnny Dawson's team sold for $1000.00. Nobody bid on us, we were really unknowns and 2 other teams. All 3 teams sold as the field for $400.00.

The next day was bright and sunny we played against Jimmy Vickers and his partner. We were obviously the underdogs, but played pretty well and beat them 1 up.

Pretty close match.

Next day were two matches. We won the morning match and played Bruce McCormick, a 1 handicap, and his partner in the afternoon, and beat them 5 and 4.

Bruce threatened to write a letter to the Southern California Golf Association about our phony handicaps. If he only knew that Ed McManus was a really an 8! By now the people that bought us in the Calcutta were getting really interested. They offered to get us a caddy and buy us lunch.

The next day in the morning for our 4th match we played Forrest Tucker, the actor in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, and Jerry Priddy, the baseball player for the Boston Red Sox. We polished them off 2 and 1.

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Our final match was against Johnny Dawson, founder of Thunderbird and his partner, Johnny was a scratch golfer. We beat them 2 and 1 to win the whole Tournament! Not too bad for a couple of school boys. We received a beautiful Lord Elgin Gold watch which I have worn every day since. Also, the Manso's that bought us in the Calcutta gave us each an alpaca sweater. We got written up in the L.A. Times titled "Annandale Duo Captures Desert Crown."

When I got home to Pasadena, my Dad asked, "Well, how did you do?" I said, "We did pretty good." He said, "Well how good is that?" I said, "We won the whole Tournament and beat Johnny Dawson in the finals." He said, "Oh my God, I should have come down to the Desert and bought you in the Calcutta!" He knew Dawson, Phil Harris and Bing Crosby quite well.

There were several other golfing events at Annandale that were interesting to relate. In 1953 I was runner-up in the Club Championship. I played in the finals against Fred Clark Jr. who had been my Father's partner in winning the Craven's Cup Tournament at San Gabriel C.C. in 1945 and 1946. I was in the gallery watching for both of those matches as a teenager.

1856 was a banner year for me in golf. We had a Pro-Am at Annandale just before the L.A. Open at Riviera C.C. There was a blind draw the night before with three Annandale members joined with one Pro, and sold in a Calcutta Dinner Evening. The Pro would have three teams each with the three Amateurs in his group. A good friend of my parents, Bill White, bought our team. We were paired with Eric Monti, the Pro. He had won the Pro-Am before. After 9 holes, Eric and I were 9 under par, the leaders in our group. Bill White came out to the 10th tee and said "Bobbie- (he always called me Bobbie) How would you like to have your Calcutta share of your team?" I said, "Bill I can't afford to buy my share." And he said, "Don't worry about it, we'll settle up at the end." Well we finished the 18, Eric Monti shot 64 and I helped him 7 shots with my handicap. So we won the tournament with a 57! A short time later I got a note from Bill White and a check for $971.00- more money than I had ever seen in my life.

Also, in 1956, I won the Club Championship at Annandale. It was match play and for some reason my putter was really hot. One of the matches was against Bill 3

Taverner, a very fine player with a beautiful golf swing. He shot the best round he'd ever played at Annandale, and I beat him 3 and 2. He shot 69 and I had 67, my best round too. We made every putt we looked at. In the Finals I played Bob Vallencourt, another very good golfer. The Finals were 36 holes, and in the morning, I shot 69 and was 6 up.

It felt great to be Club Champ. I was just 25 years old. For all the rounds I was 1 under par. As a result of those good rounds, my Handicap went from 5 to a 2; but only for a short time. Golf was good to me and I won the Club Championship in 1978 again. In that tournament I played the Finals against a good friend, Jerry Gregory. I birdied the . 14th hole to win the match and immediptely got terrible leg cramps in both legs and fell to the ground. Pat Rielly, our head golf Pro, who was refereeing the match rubbed my legs and 1 got into a golf cart to go back to the club house. I couldn't even stand up for the presentation of the trophy.

In 1994, I was runner-up Club Champ to a scratch player, John Nouskajian. He just was too good for me and I was 64 years old then. But on Saturday, the day before the Finals, was probably one of the best days I've ever had on a golf course. In the morning, I played Reed Bender, a 2 Handicap, who hit the ball a mile, outdriving me by about 75 yards. I hung in there and finally beat him in sudden death on the 19th hole. It got no easier in the afternoon match against Doug Allen, a 3 Handicap. We had a very close match, but I finally won 1 up on 18. I guess I played all my good golf that day, because I didn't have too much left for Sunday against Nouskajian.

I was blessed to have many more successes at Annandale. In 1995, in the Bull­ Webster Tournament I played with Bill Bedford, Murray Marsh and Phil Cutting. This was two rounds; net Medal play and 4 scores counted. The first day we weren't so good, but the second day we were all 4 under our handicaps and made up 32 strokes on the field to win going away. That was so fun.

The other Annandale Tournaments I won were the President's Cup Matchplay, The Holiday Classic, and Thursday Team Championship Individual in 1970 and '78.

I was President of Annandale C.C. in 1993 and the tournament that gave me the most pleasure and satisfaction was winning the Pro-President Tournament at Yorba Linda C.C. i.111ith our Head Pro, Pat Rielly. There 'lv'CFC 70 clubs in Southern California 4

represented and we won in a card off. Pat made a wonderful par on the last hole to preserve our win.

I owe a particular debt of gratitude to Pat Rielly, as he did so many kind things for me and my family. Just to name a few, my Son, Greg, was interested in going to college to play golf at S.M.U. in Dallas. Hank Haney was the team coach there. We went down to McKinney, Texas, to interview with Hank. Pat made up a golf swing video of Greg for us to take with us to Texas. Hank Haney's Golf School was in a milking barn, with the cows being milked on the bottom and his video teaching school upstairs.

Mr. Haney spent about 2 hours with us, looked at and commented on the video of Greg and said, "I have all scholarship golfers coming in for the team. All are titleholders of some golf events and there is no room for walk-ons." He suggested Greg try some other Golf college programs. Greg ended up playing for U.C. Santa Barbara for a very good program and education.

Pat Rielly and three of us from Annandale made numerous golf trips to private clubs in SoCal. They were always so special, with 18 holes in the morning, lunch, 18 holes in the afternoon, and dinner on the way home to Pasadena. Several of our outings over the years were to Pauma Valley C.C. where I now call home.

About ten years ago, three of us went down to the Desert to play golf with Pat at the Palms, a fine course adjacent to P.G.A. West. Pat in all his generosity bought breakfast and lunch for us, the golf was gratis, and then took us to his house for dinner before coming back to Pasadena. While at dinner, he said, "Gus, I have a driver that will fit you well. If you like it, it's yours - if you don't, leave it in my locker." It was slightly hook-faced, 12 Degree loft, Taylor Made. It fit me perfectly and I still use it every time I play. It's the best club in my bag. What a gracious guy. Who ever said There's no free lunch!

In 1994, following my Presidency at Annandale, Pat Rielly arranged for my wife, Linda, son Greg, and I to go to the Master's Tournament in Augusta, Georgia. Pat was unable to go because of a health issue, and we stayed in his hotel room. Paul Runyan also went and we were his chauffer to the tournament. He had the credentials so we were able to drive right up Magnolia Lane and park on the Golf Course. 'l'v'e had rented 5

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a white Cadillac Sedan, by chance it was the same as the courtesy cars for the Pro golfers. As we drove up Magnolia Lane with Paul sitting in the back seat, the spectators would crowd the car to see who was in it.

On that Wednesday afternoon, we had the opportunity to walk around during the Par 3 Tournament and watch Paul Runyan play. At the time he was about 92 years old.

Then every night, Pat Rielly arranged for us to go to the PGA House for dinner.

The topography of Augusta National was amazing to see in person. On television it makes it look flatter than it is. There is really a lot of elevation change coming up #9 and going down #10. After walking the course, I couldn't see at a 5 handicap that I would even break 100 on that course. It was wonderful to be at Augusta for the Masters. I will forever be in debt to Pat for that occasion.

Paul Runyan came to Annandale as head Pro from 1950-1954. I took golf lessons from him. He was a wonderful man, always complimenting you when you did well. Once in a while I had a chance to play golf with him on Sunday morning along with other members of the club. He was a +3 handicap and I always thought I could beat him getting 8 shots. I wasn't very successful, but one Sunday we were even, standing on the 1?th tee, a really good 215-yard Par 3 hole. I put my shot on the green, and his went in a large greenside trap. I thought, now I have him. But not so fast! He holed the bunker shot, I two-putted for a par 3 and lost again. Paul left Annandale and became Head Pro at La Jolla C.C. Then in 1969 he became Head Pro for Sahalee C.C. in Seattle, Washington. They honored him later with a Runyan Trophy area in the Men's Locker room which is still there today.

Paul returned to Annandale around 1980, to be a member with his wife Bernice.

We played together on frequent Thursdays and Sunday mornings for about 15 years.

He was always a delight to play with and frequently commenting about one of your shots with "That's the finest golf shot I have ever seen." It was so fun to ask him about Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen or any of that era's golfers. Paul would greet us on the 1st tee, sitting in his golf cart, and say, "Boys have you got room for me today?" We of course, always did. When we'd get into the locker room to settle up after golf, someone would say, "Paul, you owe $2.00." He would say, "I low can that be? I 6

played pretty well today." Reviewing the scorecard, he indeed would owe $2.00. He would open his wallet and you could just see imaginary butterflies fly out. Not many people got into Paul Runyon's wallet. Annandale dedicated a plaque to Paul Runyon on the 1st tee for everyone to see. Years later Paul was asked, "What was your greatest achievement in life?". He said, "To be Head Pro at Annandale Golf Club." He had many PGA wins including the PGA Championship in 1935 and 1938. In 1938 he beat Sam Snead 8 and 7.

The experience with Paul at the Masters in 1994 was special. I was with him at Desert Center Hospital in Palm Springs shortly before he died. He and Pat Rielly were very close. What a special person he was. We were with Paul at Sahalee C.C. for the 1998 PGA Championship won by V.J. Singh. Paul received a special PGA Achievement Award.

Both Paul and Bernice Runyan were very active in the Orthopedic Hospital International Children's Program, and sponsored an Annual Golf Tournament as a fundraiser for that charity.

I can't end my talk of Golf at Annandale without talking about a special friend, Eric Jallo. There are three occasions that stand out in my mind. #1 : We played as partners on the Thursday team frequently. On one occasion we had a match at Lakeside C.C. and at the conclusion of the match, I saw Bob Hope standing on the putting green talking to two men in suits and ties. My Dad and Bob Hope had played a lot of golf together earlier in life and Bob Hope was an Honorary Pall Bearer at my Fathers funeral in 1952. We waited until the two men in suits had left and I approached Bob Hope with Eric. "Hi, Mr. Hope," I said, "You used to play golf with my Dad, Dr. Bob Gustafson at Annandale." Without missing a beat, he called back the two men in suits. "Come back-who was I just talking about." They said, "You were talking about some doctor you used to play golf with at Annandale." Bob Hope said, "Well this is his son!" We had a nice visit and went into the clubhouse for dinner. I think Eric was quite impressed.

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#2: Eric Jallo and I were playing a match as partners in the Craven's Cup matches at San Gabriel C.C. in about 1993. The match was all even after 18 holes, and we went to the 19th hole for sudden death. It's a short par 4 next to the parking lot, about 310 yards. It was alternate shot, and I teed off, hit a terrible drive about 160. As we stepped off the tee I turned to Eric and said, "My Mother died last night, but I feel something really good is going to happen to us today." He almost fell down and was shocked at my news. He had a difficult 6 iron to a well-trapped green, but hit a good shot onto the green. The ball was on the far-left side of the green and the pin was way over on the right side. We had about 80 feet to the hole. The caddy, Eric and I looked over the putt, decided on the line, and I hit the putt. It went over Hill and Dale and went right into the cup. I said, "See Eric, I knew something good was going to happen today."

We won the hole and the match with Birdie 3. #3: Eric and I played for a number of years in the Gin Rummy tournament at Annandale. The annual tournament went on for several weeks and at the end of each evening, particularly when we won, we'd go down to the Salt Shaker restaurant about 11PM and get breakfast. Fortunately, one year we won the whole tournament. How special that was. Because of the change in the younger membership at Annandale they don't have the tournament any longer.

One of the special pleasures at Annandale was the Tuesday, Thursday Toss-up started years ago by Charlie Perry. We would have 20-25 players show up for lunch at 11AM, and play 18 holes, return to the Men's Locker room for drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and some gin rummy. What a wonderful afternoon. Unfortunately, Charlie Perry passed away and so did more of our group of golfers. We held a once-a-year Charlie Perry Memorial Tournament for many years.

There was another group organized at Annandale called the D.T.'s. This stands for "Dirty Thirties", for all the golfers born in the 1930's. The group would play once a month at Annandale, and have 2-day outings two or three other times a year at away sites. For the past seven years they have been coming to Pauma Valley the first week of May. It's a wonderful treat to see old friends again.

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In 1994, after retiring from orthopedic practice in Pasadena, Linda and I moved to Olympia, WA. We lived there for just over twenty years. At first, I played at Olympia Country Club. Byron Nelson once shot 59 there. In about 2000, we joined Tacoma Country Club that was about a 25-minute drive from our house. It is a wonderful club founded in 1894 and is the oldest country club west of the Mississippi. It's located on American Lake and the clubhouse looks out on seaplanes landing, jet skis and sailboats. Some of the houses there have the lake in their front yard and the golf courses as their back yard. My son, Greg and I played together at the Member Guest Invitational. The first year we won our flight (Flights A & B depending on your skill level). The second year we won low gross (lowest overall score without using your handicap). The third year we were the overall grand champions and won by 10 strokes over the field. They had a Calcutta buy in that year and we won that as well. It was so satisfying to win it with my son at age 80. I was the oldest in the field by 10-15 years and this was my last major golf tournament success. My friends said I should go back to the senior member guest so they could win this tournament.

Holes in One- I have been very fortunate with holes in ones. I've had 8. Three of them were especially memorable. One of the first was in a college match at Red Hill against Pepperdine. The 10th hole at Red Hill is about 130 yards from an elevated tee looking down on the green. I was playing a much better player from Pepperdine, but when my shot went in the hole for a hole-in-one the wind went out of his sails and I beat him in the match.

During my time at Red Hill I had the chance to play with Dr. Bud Taylor, a dentist, and Walker Cup player and member at Red Hill. He was a wonderful golfer and a very special person.

My 2nd memorable hole-in-one was at Annandale playing on Sunday morning with Paul Runyan. We got to the 15th hole, par 3 of about 135 yards. I was first up and hit a shot to a blind pin placement on the green. Paul said, "Doctor. That looks pretty good to me." We got up to the green and it was in the hole for my 7th career hole-in­ ane. It was very special with Paul in my foursome.

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My 8th hole-in-one occurred at Bellingham C.C. in Washington. It was the Washington State Seniors Annual outing in July. The 18th hole is a Par 3, 180 yards to a blind green. I hit a 7 wood, looked pretty good. We got to the green and it was in the hole. The Head Golf Pro, Mike Montgomery, made up a special plaque for me, and we took a picture together. He has become a special friend and he is now Head Golf Pro at Sahalee C.C. in Seattle where Paul Runyan was Head Pro 50 years ago. I hoped to go back up to Washington sometime soon to see Mike again. I have one of Paul's "Little Poison" putters, that he may want to put in the Paul Runyan Trophy room.

We now live at Pauma Valley C.C. full time. It's a wonderful Robert Trent Jones Championship Golf Course. Developed by UTAH mining in 1961. About 1961, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Mike Souchak came and played Pauma Valley for the T.V. Series Celebrity Golf. They played the Championship Black Tees, 7100 yards, and not one of them broke 80. A really good test of golf. It is a really great pleasure to go out and play this wonderful course with friends.

I can't end the story of my golf without mentioning my best friend, Jay Greene.

We met the Greene's in Olympia, Washington. They were neighbors of ours on Klein Street. Jay was a delightful person, always with a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. You always knew there was something funny coming soon. I always thought, what is the definition of a best friend? I came to the conclusion that it was someone you could tell anything to, no matter how personal, and it would never go any further. That was certainly the definition of Jay Greene. Linda and I had some wonderful experiences with the Greene's including trips to Hawaii. He loved to play practical jokes on his friends, he was always in good spirits.

When going to the golf course he always started with, "We are playing specials today, which means Sandy's, Greenies and Poleys." This was putts, made longer than the length of the pin height. He loved to compete at golf and particularly enjoyed winning.

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I have a few highlights of his humor on the courseOne day piaylng in a foursome, one player hit his tee shot, another player said, "Nice shot!" And Jay said, "I haven't hit yet!"

Another time at Olympia C.C. we were playing with Charlie Frank and on the 13th hole, a Par 3, with a large gully on the right, Charlie got a cell phone call before hitting his shot. He answered, "Yes dear, I'll take care of it. I love you." And hung up. Then he shanked his iron shot down into the ditch and Jay without hesitation, said, "That call must have been from Susie asking you to pick up some lamb shanks from the market."

We could not stop laughing.

In 2006, Jay went to Seattle for heart surgery and never made it out of the I.C.U. and passed away too soon. On the way up the night before we said good-bye and he wore his yellow Annandale sweater. It was a very sad day. A few days later, there was a memorial service at Olympia C.C. and all of his golfing friends enjoyed reminiscing with a lot of great stories about Jay. My 75 years playing the game of golf have been a great deal of fun, and I have been so fortunate to have met so many special people.

The End

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