The Way We Were

Policemen have been known to use their hats to cover up the personal parts of streakers at football or rugby matches.
But what on earth is President Eisenhower covering up with his hat in the cover picture from the “Golf Monthly” of April, 1954?

The American leader of the day is pictured with Ben Hogan (left) and Frank Leahy before a round of golf at the Tamirisk Golf Club, Palm Springs.

No wonder Hogan – normally the most sober of men – was smiling as he looked forward to the new season in 1954.

In 1953 he won the Open at Carnoustie at the first and only attempt … also the US Open and the US Masters.

Frank Leahy is not a name that springs to mind to be rubbing shoulders with the good and the great but I am sure somebody out there will tell us what his claim to fame was.

DEATH OF EDITOR

Inside this issue of “Golf Monthly,” there was obituary piece about Donald Mathieson, the founder and editor of the publication. It said that
“DMM” was the pioneer of golf reporting. He probably did more to popularise the game of golf than anyone else during the first half of the 20th Century by founding

The Golf Reporting Agency with offices in London and Edinburgh for the dissemination of golf reports and golf news to newspapers throughout Britain.
“This was long before the great national agencies such as the Press Association and The Exchange Telegraph Company considered the game of golf worthy of more than a passing mention of only major tournaments.”

Elswhere on the pages of “Golf Monthly” of April, 1954

JEAN DONALD ADVERTISEMENTS
*Advertisements for Jean Donald – “Curtis Cup player, thice winner of the Scottish Ladies championship and a finalist in the British Ladies championship” and Brucette Golf Wear and, on another page, Introducing the new Jean Donald Golf Club “with a special reinforced thumb.”

*An advertisement about “Four days of first-class golf at Southport in the Dunlop 2,000 Guineas Tournament. Entrance (for spectators): 2/6 per day (proceeds to PGA Funds).” Parking for the public at the Southport & Ainsdale course was also 2/6d per day.