Jackson Reid
Bobby Jones was a legendary golfer who won the hearts of many with his talent, humility, and integrity. Jones was born in 1902 in Atlanta, Georgia, and started playing golf at a young age. He won his first tournament at just six years old and went on to have an impressive golfing career, winning numerous championships, including the U.S. Open, the British Open, and the British Amateur. Jones was also a writer, co-authoring several books on golf, and an innovator, co-designing the Augusta National Golf Club and founding The Masters tournament. He is remembered as one of the greatest golfers of all time and his legacy continues to inspire golfers and fans worldwide.
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What You'll Learn
Bobby Jones' golfing career
Bobby Jones, born on March 17, 1902, in Atlanta, Georgia, was a legendary golfer. He first picked up a golf club in his front yard, just across the street from the East Lake Country Club. Jones won his first tournament at the age of six at his home course, East Lake Golf Club. He won his first major golf event at the age of 14, claiming the inaugural Georgia Amateur Championship. Jones was a child prodigy who developed a deep love for the game.
Jones went on to have a remarkable golfing career, winning numerous titles and championships. He won the British Open and the British Amateur at the St. Andrews golf course, capturing the hearts of the Scottish people. They honoured him with a key to the city, a rare honour for an American. Jones also won the U.S. Open at Inwood Country Club in New York in 1923, defeating Bobby Cruickshank in an 18-hole playoff by two strokes. In 1926, Jones became the only amateur to win both the U.S. and British Open championships in the same year.
Jones's achievements in golf are unparalleled. He is the only golfer to win the Grand Slam, four major tournaments in one calendar year (1930). He also won the Walker Cup five times (1922, 1924, 1926, 1928, and 1930) and founded The Masters, a golf tournament. Jones's four U.S. Open titles remain tied for the most in that championship's history. He also holds the record for the most U.S. Amateur titles with five.
Jones was known not only for his golfing prowess but also for his character and integrity. He was respected for his sportsmanship and humility, both on and off the golf course. Jones authored several books on golf, including "Down the Fairway" and "The Rights and Wrongs of Golf." He also produced instructional golf films, such as "How I Play Golf" and "How to Break 90." Jones collaborated on the design of Augusta National Golf Club and co-founded the Augusta National Invitation Tournament, now known as the Masters.
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Jones' legacy and impact on golf
Robert Tyre Jones Jr., commonly known as Bobby Jones, is considered one of the greatest golfers of all time. Jones won the Grand Slam and founded The Masters, a golf tournament. He also collaborated on the design of Augusta National Golf Club and was an inventor, entrepreneur, and student of the game.
Jones is remembered for his strength of character, respect for golf, and sportsmanship. He was also known for his integrity, intellect, and generosity of spirit. In 1955, the USGA established the Bob Jones Award to recognize distinguished sportsmanship in golf, which remains the association's highest honour. Jones was also the subject of several books, including The Bobby Jones Story and A Boy's Life of Bobby Jones, both by O.B. Keeler.
Jones has also left a legacy in the town of St Andrews, where he had a unique relationship. After initially withdrawing from The Open Championship in 1921 and expressing his dislike for the town, he later fell in love with the Old Course and the town, wowing the crowd by asking that the trophy remain with his friends at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club rather than return with him to Atlanta after his win in 1927.
Jones also authored several books on golf, including Down the Fairway with Oscar Bane "O.B." Keeler (1927), The Rights and Wrongs of Golf (1933), Golf Is My Game (1959), and Bobby Jones on the Basic Golf Swing (1968). The 300-copy limited edition of Down the Fairway is considered one of the rarest and most sought-after golf books by collectors. In addition to his writing, Jones appeared in instructional films produced by Warner Brothers in the early 1930s, such as How I Play Golf and How to Break 90.
Jones's impact on golf extended beyond his playing career. He founded the Peachtree Golf Club in Atlanta in 1947 and co-designed its course with Robert Trent Jones. He also designed a set of woods and the first-ever matched set of irons for the Spalding Golf Company in 1932. His signature clubs sold 2 million sets in 15 different models. Jones's family also partnered with the Chiari & Syringomyelia Foundation in 2019 to form the Bobby Jones Chiari & Syringomyelia Foundation (Bobby Jones CSF), a nonprofit that works to raise awareness and search for a cure for Chiari malformation and syringomyelia.
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Personal life and family
Bobby Jones was born on March 17, 1902, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Robert and Clara Jones. He was named after his grandfather, Robert Tyre Jones. Jones grew up across the street from the East Lake Country Club, where he won his first tournament at the age of six. His father, Robert Purmedus Jones, was a lawyer in Atlanta and a former baseball player who was offered a contract to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Jones married Mary Rice Malone in 1924, whom he met in 1919 while a freshman at Georgia Tech. They had three children: Clara Malone (1925–1994), Robert Tyre III (1926–1973), and Mary Ellen (1931–1977). Robert Tyre III, known as Bob or Bub to his family, was also an accomplished golfer, winning the Atlanta city junior and qualifying for three US Amateurs. Tragically, he died at the age of 47, just two years after his father's death in 1971.
Jones battled health issues throughout his life, including a rare neurological condition called syringomyelia, which eventually left him unable to walk. Despite these challenges, he achieved remarkable success in golf, winning the Grand Slam and co-founding the Masters Tournament, which has become one of golf's major championships. He also collaborated on the design of Augusta National Golf Club and founded The Masters tournament. In addition to his golfing achievements, Jones was an innovator and entrepreneur, designing a set of woods and matched irons for the Spalding Golf Company and starting Coca-Cola bottling companies in several countries.
Jones' legacy continues to endure through various honours and awards established in his name, including the Bobby Jones Expressway in Georgia, the Robert Tyre Jones, Jr. Memorial Lecture of Legal Ethics at Emory University, and the Bob Jones Award by the USGA to recognize distinguished sportsmanship in golf.
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Awards and recognition
Bobby Jones was a golfer and golf course designer. He was born on March 17, 1902, in Atlanta, Georgia, and began playing golf at a young age. Jones went on to have a successful career in golf, winning numerous tournaments and achieving many accolades.
Jones's awards and recognition include being the first recipient of the James E. Sullivan Award in 1930, which is awarded to the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States. He was also the subject of a quasi-biographical film in 2004, titled "Bobby Jones: A Stroke of Genius", and was ranked as the fourth greatest golfer of all time by Golf Digest magazine in 2000.
In addition to these honours, Jones was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974, and the USGA established the Bob Jones Award in his honour to recognise distinguished sportsmanship in golf. He was also inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1964 and was named one of the five giants of the 1920s American sports scene by ESPN, alongside notable athletes such as baseball's Babe Ruth and boxing's Jack Dempsey.
Jones also founded and designed the Augusta National Golf Club, and co-founded the Masters Tournament, which has become one of golf's major championships. His achievements were further recognised with a statue in Augusta, Georgia, at the Golf Gardens, and the Bobby Jones Expressway, also known as Interstate 520, was named after him.
The impact of Jones's character and sportsmanship extended beyond his golfing achievements. He was known for his strength of character, respect for the game, and integrity, with President Dwight Eisenhower praising his "nobility of character" and "unwavering loyalty to principle".
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Retirement and later life
After his Grand Slam victory in 1930, Bobby Jones retired from golf at the age of 28. He went on to focus on his law practice in Atlanta. However, he came out of retirement in 1934 to play in the Masters Tournament, which he had co-founded and which was staged annually by the club. Jones played in the Masters on an exhibition basis through 1948, and his final round of golf was played at East Lake Golf Club, his home course in Atlanta, on August 18, 1948.
Jones was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974, and a room dedicated to his life and accomplishments can be found at the United States Golf Association Museum and Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History in New Jersey. In addition, the governing board and membership of Augusta National named him President in Perpetuity in 1966, and he was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1964. Jones also received numerous honours during his lifetime and posthumously, including the establishment of the Bob Jones Award by the USGA in 1955, the association's highest honour for recognising distinguished sportsmanship in golf. The Bobby Jones Expressway, or Interstate 520, is also named after him, as is the Georgia Phi chapter house at Georgia Tech.
Jones suffered from a rare neurological condition called syringomyelia, which eventually caused him to lose his ability to walk. He died of cardiovascular disease in 1971. His legacy continues to endure, with the Bobby Jones Classic golf tournament held annually as a fundraiser for the nonprofit Bobby Jones Chiari & Syringomyelia Foundation (Bobby Jones CSF), which was established in partnership with his family in 2019. This nonprofit raises awareness and funds for research and education related to Chiari malformation and syringomyelia.
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Frequently asked questions
Bobby Jones was a legendary golfer who won the Grand Slam, collaborated on the design of Augusta National Golf Club, founded The Masters, and was an inventor, innovator, entrepreneur, and student.
Bobby Jones was born on March 17, 1902, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Jones had health issues as a young boy, and golf was prescribed to strengthen him. Encouraged by his father, "Colonel" Robert Purmedus Jones, an Atlanta lawyer, Jones quickly took to golf and won his first children's tournament at the age of six at the East Lake Golf Club.
Jones won the British Open and the British Amateur at St. Andrews golf course, becoming the only amateur to win both championships in the same year. He also won the U.S. Open four times, the U.S. Amateur five times, and was the only golfer to win the Grand Slam, comprising four major tournaments in one calendar year (1930).
Bobby Jones left a lasting impact on the sport of golf. He co-designed Augusta National Golf Club, founded The Masters tournament, and authored several books on golf. He was also the subject of the 2004 film "Bobby Jones: A Stroke of Genius." In addition, the USGA established the annual Bob Jones Award in 1955 to recognize distinguished sportsmanship in golf.
