Dugan Aycock
Encyclopedia
Dugan "Doog" Aycock was an American
professional golf
er and golf course designer. Aycock was a member of the PGA of America
for 68 years and served as the Carolinas Section President for more than 15 years and as National Vice President (now known as District Director).
Aycock was born in Charlotte, North Carolina
. In 1938, Aycock designed the Lexington Country Club and was its head professional there for 38 of the next 40 years.
During World War II
, Aycock was the special services director of his Army
unit. He smuggled golf equipment into Italy
and North Africa
in a shipment of kitchen fixtures, helped rebuild golf courses there, and even organized an Army tournament. Among the players who participated were Tommy Bolt
and Bobby Locke
.
To raise money for the March of Dimes
campaign against polio in 1947, Aycock came up with the idea of playing golf cross-country from Lexington, North Carolina
to the ninth hole at Thomasville Golf Course; a distance of about 10 miles (16 km). Donors were asked to contribute and guess how many strokes it would take Aycock to complete the "hole". He teed off from a square in downtown Lexington and was allowed to tee the ball up on every shot except those that found water or ditches. He had to take penalty shots on those. It took Aycock a total of 114 strokes to go the entire 10 miles. Prior to starting, he wrote on a piece of paper sealed in an envelope that he thought it would take him 115 strokes. The event raised more than $5,000.
In 1957, Aycock was named national PGA Golf Professional of the Year. He was inducted into the Carolinas PGA Hall of Fame in 1981, the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame in 1982, and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1969. In addition to serving several terms as the PGA's vice president, he was a member of its executive committee, served on the PGA's Ryder Cup
committee, and officiated at the Matches on multiple occasions.
The Davidson County
Amateur Champion is named in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
er and golf course designer. Aycock was a member of the PGA of America
Professional Golfers' Association of America
Founded in 1916, the Professional Golfers' Association of America is headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and is made up of more than 28,000 men and women golf professional members...
for 68 years and served as the Carolinas Section President for more than 15 years and as National Vice President (now known as District Director).
Aycock was born in Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
. In 1938, Aycock designed the Lexington Country Club and was its head professional there for 38 of the next 40 years.
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...
, Aycock was the special services director of his Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
unit. He smuggled golf equipment into 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...
and North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
in a shipment of kitchen fixtures, helped rebuild golf courses there, and even organized an Army tournament. Among the players who participated were Tommy Bolt
Tommy Bolt
Thomas Henry Bolt was an American professional golfer.Bolt was born in Haworth, Oklahoma. He served in the United States Army during World War II and turned professional in 1946. He worked as a caddie and club professional in Shreveport, Louisiana...
and Bobby Locke
Bobby Locke
Arthur D'Arcy "Bobby" Locke was the first internationally successful South African professional golfer. He won four Open Championships.-Early years:...
.
To raise money for the March of Dimes
March of Dimes
The March of Dimes Foundation is a United States nonprofit organization that works to improve the health of mothers and babies.-Organization:...
campaign against polio in 1947, Aycock came up with the idea of playing golf cross-country from Lexington, North Carolina
Lexington, North Carolina
Lexington is the county seat of Davidson County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 19,953. It is located in central North Carolina, twenty miles south of Winston-Salem. Major highways include I-85, U.S. Route 29, U.S. Route 70, U.S. Route 52 ...
to the ninth hole at Thomasville Golf Course; a distance of about 10 miles (16 km). Donors were asked to contribute and guess how many strokes it would take Aycock to complete the "hole". He teed off from a square in downtown Lexington and was allowed to tee the ball up on every shot except those that found water or ditches. He had to take penalty shots on those. It took Aycock a total of 114 strokes to go the entire 10 miles. Prior to starting, he wrote on a piece of paper sealed in an envelope that he thought it would take him 115 strokes. The event raised more than $5,000.
In 1957, Aycock was named national PGA Golf Professional of the Year. He was inducted into the Carolinas PGA Hall of Fame in 1981, the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame in 1982, and the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1969. In addition to serving several terms as the PGA's vice president, he was a member of its executive committee, served on the PGA's Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
committee, and officiated at the Matches on multiple occasions.
The Davidson County
Davidson County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 149,331 people, 58,156 households, and 42,512 families residing in the county. The population density was 267 people per square mile . There were 62,432 housing units at an average density of 113 per square mile...
Amateur Champion is named in his honor.