Al Balding
Encyclopedia
Allan George Balding was a Canadian
professional golfer
, who won four events on the PGA Tour
. In 1955 he became the first Canadian to win a PGA Tour event in the United States
; Canadians Ken Black (1936 Vancouver Jubilee Open) and Jules Huot (1937 General Brock Open) had won PGA Tour events in Canada in the 1930s.
Balding was born in Toronto, Ontario. He served for three years as a member of the Canadian Army during World War II
, and saw duty in France
and Germany
. After the war in the late 1940s, Balding worked at a Toronto tire manufacturing company. He had played golf only occasionally as a youth, but began playing more after the War ended, improving his game rapidly. Balding became a professional golfer in 1950, working as a club professional in Toronto.
Balding began on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour
, winning his first two tournaments in 1952. In 1955, Balding became the first Canadian to win a PGA Tour event in the United States, when he won the Mayfair Open. In 1957, he won three events on the Tour
and finished 6th on the money list, the highest of any Canadian at that point.
Balding would go on to win an impressive number of tournaments in many different venues over a long period of time during his career. He won ten events on the Canadian Tour from 1952 through 1973. He won four tournaments on the PGA Tour, the most of any Canadian to that point. In 1968, in Italy
, he won the World Cup
team title for Canada (with George Knudson
), as well as the individual title. Balding played on the Canadian National Team in the Canada Cup / World Cup from 1956 to 1970, except in the years 1962, 1965 and 1966. Perhaps the most remarkable win of his career came at the age of 76, when Balding captured the 2000 Canadian PGA Senior Championship, giving him professional victories in six different decades. In 2002 during a Senior event, Balding shot 66, twelve shots lower than his age, a feat unparalleled in the history of tournament golf, according to historians at the PGA Tour.
Balding was named Ontario Athlete of the Year in 1955 and 1957. He was elected to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
in 1968, and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame
in 1984. He was one of the 40 original seniors on the U.S. Senior PGA Tour in 1980. Balding Court, a street on the former St. Andrew's Golf Club in Toronto is named in his honour (it is north of York Mills Road, between Yonge Street and Bayview Avenue).
Balding died in Mississauga, Ontario
from cancer.
Note: Balding never played in the PGA Championship
.
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional golfer
Professional golfer
In golf the distinction between amateurs and professionals is rigorously maintained. An amateur who breaches the rules of amateur status may lose his or her amateur status. A golfer who has lost his or her amateur status may not play in amateur competitions until amateur status has been reinstated;...
, who won four events on the PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
. In 1955 he became the first Canadian to win a PGA Tour event in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
; Canadians Ken Black (1936 Vancouver Jubilee Open) and Jules Huot (1937 General Brock Open) had won PGA Tour events in Canada in the 1930s.
Balding was born in Toronto, Ontario. He served for three years as a member of the Canadian Army during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and saw duty in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. After the war in the late 1940s, Balding worked at a Toronto tire manufacturing company. He had played golf only occasionally as a youth, but began playing more after the War ended, improving his game rapidly. Balding became a professional golfer in 1950, working as a club professional in Toronto.
Balding began on the Canadian Professional Golf Tour
Canadian Professional Golf Tour
The Canadian Professional Golf Tour is a men's professional golf tour headquartered in Oakville, Ontario. It was formally started in 1970 and was initially known as the Peter Jackson Tour....
, winning his first two tournaments in 1952. In 1955, Balding became the first Canadian to win a PGA Tour event in the United States, when he won the Mayfair Open. In 1957, he won three events on the Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
and finished 6th on the money list, the highest of any Canadian at that point.
Balding would go on to win an impressive number of tournaments in many different venues over a long period of time during his career. He won ten events on the Canadian Tour from 1952 through 1973. He won four tournaments on the PGA Tour, the most of any Canadian to that point. In 1968, in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, he won the World Cup
WGC-World Cup
The World Cup is a men's golf tournament contested by teams of two representing their country. Only one team is allowed from each country. The players are selected on the basis of the Official World Golf Ranking, although not all of the first choice players choose to compete...
team title for Canada (with George Knudson
George Knudson
George Alfred Christian Knudson, CM was a Canadian professional golfer, who along with Mike Weir holds the record for the Canadian with the most wins on the PGA Tour, with eight career victories....
), as well as the individual title. Balding played on the Canadian National Team in the Canada Cup / World Cup from 1956 to 1970, except in the years 1962, 1965 and 1966. Perhaps the most remarkable win of his career came at the age of 76, when Balding captured the 2000 Canadian PGA Senior Championship, giving him professional victories in six different decades. In 2002 during a Senior event, Balding shot 66, twelve shots lower than his age, a feat unparalleled in the history of tournament golf, according to historians at the PGA Tour.
Balding was named Ontario Athlete of the Year in 1955 and 1957. He was elected to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
Canada's Sports Hall of Fame is a hall of fame established in 1955 to "preserve the record of Canadian sports achievements and to promote a greater awareness of Canada's heritage of sport." It is located at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary, Alberta...
in 1968, and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame
Canadian Golf Hall of Fame
The Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum and hall of fame covering the history of the game of golf in Canada, and celebrating the careers and accomplishments of the most significant contributors to the game in that country...
in 1984. He was one of the 40 original seniors on the U.S. Senior PGA Tour in 1980. Balding Court, a street on the former St. Andrew's Golf Club in Toronto is named in his honour (it is north of York Mills Road, between Yonge Street and Bayview Avenue).
Balding died in Mississauga, Ontario
Mississauga, Ontario
Mississauga is a city in Southern Ontario located in the Regional Municipality of Peel, and in the western part of the Greater Toronto Area. With an estimated population of 734,000, it is Canada's sixth-most populous municipality, and has almost doubled in population in each of the last two decades...
from cancer.
PGA Tour wins (4)
- 1955 (1) Mayfair Inn OpenMayfair Inn OpenThe Mayfair Inn Open was a PGA Tour event that was played for four years in the 1950s. The Mayfair Inn was a 155-room resort hotel on the shores of Lake Monroe in Sanford, Florida known for its opulence and isolation. The PGA Tour event was played from 1955–1958 at the Mayfair Country Club...
- 1957 (3) Miami Beach OpenMiami Beach OpenThe Miami Beach Open was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour in the late 1920s and again in the 1950s. It was held at several different courses in the Miami Beach, Florida area.-Winners:^ 36-hole event-External links:* - now called Miami Beach Golf Club...
, West Palm Beach Open, Havana Invitational
Canadian Tour wins (10)
- 1952 (2) Quebec Open, Canadian Match Play
- 1954 (1) Canadian Match Play
- 1955 (1) Canadian PGA ChampionshipCanadian PGA ChampionshipThe PGA Championship of Canada is a golf tournament organized by the PGA of Canada. It was first played in 1912 as the Canadian PGA Championship. It was a Nationwide Tour event from 2001 to 2005. It was also an event on the Canadian Tour. Stan Leonard holds the record with eight victories...
- 1956 (1) Canadian PGA ChampionshipCanadian PGA ChampionshipThe PGA Championship of Canada is a golf tournament organized by the PGA of Canada. It was first played in 1912 as the Canadian PGA Championship. It was a Nationwide Tour event from 2001 to 2005. It was also an event on the Canadian Tour. Stan Leonard holds the record with eight victories...
- 1958 (1) Canadian Match Play
- 1961 (1) Canadian Match Play
- 1963 (1) Canadian PGA ChampionshipCanadian PGA ChampionshipThe PGA Championship of Canada is a golf tournament organized by the PGA of Canada. It was first played in 1912 as the Canadian PGA Championship. It was a Nationwide Tour event from 2001 to 2005. It was also an event on the Canadian Tour. Stan Leonard holds the record with eight victories...
- 1970 (1) Canadian PGA ChampionshipCanadian PGA ChampionshipThe PGA Championship of Canada is a golf tournament organized by the PGA of Canada. It was first played in 1912 as the Canadian PGA Championship. It was a Nationwide Tour event from 2001 to 2005. It was also an event on the Canadian Tour. Stan Leonard holds the record with eight victories...
- 1973 (1) Alberta Open
Other wins (2)
- 1963 Mexican OpenMexican OpenThe Mexican Open or Abierto Mexicano de Golf is the national open golf tournament of Mexico. It was first played in 1944 at the Club de Golf Chapultepec. It was an event on the Tour de las Americas between 2003 and 2006, being co-sanctioned by the European Challenge Tour from 2004...
- 1968 World Cup (team event with George KnudsonGeorge KnudsonGeorge Alfred Christian Knudson, CM was a Canadian professional golfer, who along with Mike Weir holds the record for the Canadian with the most wins on the PGA Tour, with eight career victories....
and individual event)
Other senior wins (2)
- 1994 Liberty Mutual Legends of GolfLiberty Mutual Legends of GolfThe Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf is a golf tournament on the Champions Tour. It is played annually in April currently in Savannah, Georgia at The Westin Savannah Harbor Resort. Liberty Mutual is the main sponsor of the tournament...
- Demaret Division (with Jay Hebert) - 2000 Canadian PGA Seniors' Championship
Results in major championships
| Tournament | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Masters | T29 | T16 | T26 | T27 | DNP | T27 | 24 | CUT | CUT | DNP | DNP | DNP | CUT | DNP | DNP |
| U.S. Open U.S. Open (golf) The United States Open Championship, commonly known as the U.S. Open, is the annual open golf tournament of the United States. It is the second of the four major championships in golf, and is on the official schedule of both the PGA Tour and the European Tour... |
DNP | DNP | DNP | T32 | DNP | DNP | T43 | T32 | DNP | DNP | DNP | T12 | T43 | T42 | T18 |
| The Open Championship The Open Championship The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico... |
T17 | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | DNP | T8 | 9 | DNP | DNP |
Note: Balding never played in the PGA Championship
PGA Championship
The PGA Championship is an annual golf tournament conducted by the PGA of America as part of the PGA Tour. It is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, and is the golf season's final major, usually played in mid-August, customarily four weeks after The Open Championship...
.
DNP = Did not play
CUT = missed the half-way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
Green background for wins. Yellow background for top-10
Team appearances
- World Cup (representing Canada): 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1967, 1968 (winners), 1969, 1970
External links
- Profile at Canadian Golf Hall of Fame
- http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060731.wbalding0731/BNStory/Sports/homeObituary from The Globe and MailThe Globe and MailThe Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
]