Lou Barbaro
Encyclopedia
Louis Barbaro was a professional golf
er and club pro.
Lou's parents were immigrants from Barile, Italy, named Daniel "Donato" Barbaro and Carmella Teresa Paternoster Barbaro. Lou was one of seven sons. All of Lou's six brothers (Emelio "Zip", Henry, Joe, Tony, Mike, and Dan "Nick") loved golfing and caddying also.
Lou became the golf team captain for Harrison High School
since Lou's sophomore year, and for 3 years following with Lou as their Captain, Harrison High School's Golf Team remained undefeated. On July 25, 1933, Barbaro (age 17) became the Westchester County Caddie Golf Champion, turning in 150-total for 36 holes at the Green Meadows Golf Club located on North Street in Harrison, New York.
Barbaro, at the age of 23 years old, won the Providence Open (Providence, Rhode Island
) on September 28, 1941, with a record 273, which was 15 under par
and at least 6 shots or more ahead of Sammy Byrd
, Sammy Snead
, Gene Sarazen
, Toney Penna
, Herman Barron
, and Lawson Little
, etc. He gave the mere $1,200 Providence Open winnings to his younger brother, Tony to pay for medical school
.
In 1942, Lou won the Panama Open
.
Lou became a pro at the Green Meadows course in Harrison, New York at the age of 19.
At the age of 21, Louis Barbaro, was the youngest documented Golf Pro known. Lou had started golfing when he became a caddy 13 years prior at the age of 8 years old in Harrison, New York.
Only one year after becoming a member of the National Professional Golfers' Association, Lou beat the notoriously-tough Winged Foot Golf Club's (of Mamaroneck, New York) record scoring 69, 3 under PAR. He played the first eight holes in 35, four above the regulation. He had bogies on the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th holes, and was all for quitting. But, comes a 9th and a birdie, the 10th and a birdie, the 11th and a birdie, the 12th and another birdie, the 13th and a PAR, the 14th and an eagle, the 15th and a birdie, and the 16th still another birdie!
To recapitulate, Lou's score at Winged Foot was eight under PAR for eight consecutive holes, the 9th through the 16th, and that does not happen every day to any golfer on any eight holes. The 14th hole eagle was something in itself; it was a PAR four, 383-yarder. Louis smashed his tee shot straight down the middle and then holed a niblick from more than 100 yards out. In the newspaper article documenting this, they quoted "Gee whiz, he must have a magnet, or something." That day, Barbaro had four pars, seven birdies, one eagle, and six bogies; and the wind was blowing at a good clip (approximately 35 miles per hour) throughout the afternoon! Some of the golf fans present at the Winged Foot record-breaking tournament, had never seen a game of golf played like that before or since that day.
Lou married Gretchen Gabler at the First Baptist Church Of White Plains in White Plains, New York
on 2/9/1946. The couple was attended by Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Galgano of White Plains. Lou and Gretchen had three children, Stephen; Louis, Jr.; and Christine.
Although Lou was obviously talented at golfing, he put his family first and chose not to "hit-the-road" and tour too often, as he took his responsibilities as a husband and father more seriously than becoming "renown" for his golfing.
On May 20, 1949, Barbaro and teammate Bobby Jacobson were co-winners of the New Jersey State Pro-Am match-play championship held at Plainfield Country Club, after having twice been runners-up in the event. In the 1950 tournament, held at Barbaro's Hollywood Golf Club in Deal, New Jersey
, the pair were in a three-way tie for the championship. The duo won the tournament outright in 1951.
On October 10, 1952, Lou won the New Jersey State PGA Championship.
Lou was a two-time winner of the New Jersey State Open
, in 1953 and 1959. He won the Panama (Frigidaire) Open
in 1942. In 1968, he was the winner of the National Quarter Century Tournament at the PGA Golf Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
.
Lou was enshrined in the New Jersey PGA Hall of Fame in Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, New Jersey on March 31, after he died.
Lou still holds the course record at both Beacon Hill and Jumping Brook.
A plaque hangs in Lou's honor on the door of the Hollywood Golf Club Pro Shop in Deal, New Jersey
. The plaque has a picture of Lou and under it reads: "In Memory Of LOU BARBARO who, from 1947 until his untimely death in 1976 was our Devoted Friend and Golf Professional. His accomplishments on the golf course are noted in the Record Books. But Lou Barbaro was much more than a fine player and teaching professional. He was a walking advertisement for the game of golf and a credit to his profession. He taught us that "It's nice to be important; but it's more important to be nice." We will miss him always."
A signed photograph of Bob Hope
says, "To Louis, You did your best to make me a good golfer, but you're no "Miracle Man." Best Wishes, Bob Hope."
Lou was an Army Sergeant
in World War II
.
Lou was the past-president of the New Jersey Professional Golfers Association.
These are only a few of the quotes that Lou's sons heard from other professional golfers:
Ben Hogan
(who practiced golfing 10 to 12 hours per day) said that Lou Barbaro was the closest naturally-gifted golfer he had ever seen, as Lou never really had a lesson, yet had a perfect swing. Hogan who lived in Fort Worth, Texas
used to travel and pay to play golf/practice with Lou, only for Lou to beat him every time.
Sam Snead
said that he thought that Lou was the best iron player he had ever seen.
Barbaro died on October 11, 1976, and was a resident of Oakhurst, New Jersey
at the time of his death.
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 club pro.
Lou's parents were immigrants from Barile, Italy, named Daniel "Donato" Barbaro and Carmella Teresa Paternoster Barbaro. Lou was one of seven sons. All of Lou's six brothers (Emelio "Zip", Henry, Joe, Tony, Mike, and Dan "Nick") loved golfing and caddying also.
Lou became the golf team captain for Harrison High School
Harrison High School (New York)
For schools with a similar name, see Harrison High School.Harrison High School is a public high school located in Harrison, Westchester County, New York. The school is approximately northeast of New York City. It is the only high school operated by the Harrison Central School District...
since Lou's sophomore year, and for 3 years following with Lou as their Captain, Harrison High School's Golf Team remained undefeated. On July 25, 1933, Barbaro (age 17) became the Westchester County Caddie Golf Champion, turning in 150-total for 36 holes at the Green Meadows Golf Club located on North Street in Harrison, New York.
Barbaro, at the age of 23 years old, won the Providence Open (Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
) on September 28, 1941, with a record 273, which was 15 under par
Par (score)
The word "par" is a term in the game of golf used to denote the pre-determined number of strokes that a scratch golfer should require to complete a hole, a round , or a tournament...
and at least 6 shots or more ahead of Sammy Byrd
Sammy Byrd
Samuel Dewey Byrd was an American professional baseball player and professional golfer. He went by both "Sammy" and "Sam"....
, Sammy Snead
Sam Snead
Samuel Jackson Snead was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the world for most of four decades. Snead won a record 82 PGA Tour events including seven majors. He failed to win a U.S...
, Gene Sarazen
Gene Sarazen
Gene Sarazen was an American professional golfer, one of the world's top players in the 1920s and 1930s. He is one of five golfers to win all the current major championships in his career, the Career Grand Slam:U.S...
, Toney Penna
Toney Penna
Toney G. Penna was an Italian-American professional golfer and designer of golf clubs and gear. He won four events on the PGA Tour between 1937 and 1947. He introduced new lines of golf clubs and was the holder of four patents for golf clubs. Many of these clubs are considered collectors' items:...
, Herman Barron
Herman Barron
Herman Barron was an American professional golfer best known for being the first Jewish golfer to win a PGA Tour event.-Biography:...
, and Lawson Little
Lawson Little
William Lawson Little, Jr. was an American professional golfer who also had a distinguished amateur career....
, etc. He gave the mere $1,200 Providence Open winnings to his younger brother, Tony to pay for medical school
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
.
In 1942, Lou won the Panama Open
Panama Open
The Panama Open was a golf tournament played from 1938 to 1982. The name was revived in 1996, when it was an unofficial event on the Canadian Tour...
.
Lou became a pro at the Green Meadows course in Harrison, New York at the age of 19.
At the age of 21, Louis Barbaro, was the youngest documented Golf Pro known. Lou had started golfing when he became a caddy 13 years prior at the age of 8 years old in Harrison, New York.
Only one year after becoming a member of the National Professional Golfers' Association, Lou beat the notoriously-tough Winged Foot Golf Club's (of Mamaroneck, New York) record scoring 69, 3 under PAR. He played the first eight holes in 35, four above the regulation. He had bogies on the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th holes, and was all for quitting. But, comes a 9th and a birdie, the 10th and a birdie, the 11th and a birdie, the 12th and another birdie, the 13th and a PAR, the 14th and an eagle, the 15th and a birdie, and the 16th still another birdie!
To recapitulate, Lou's score at Winged Foot was eight under PAR for eight consecutive holes, the 9th through the 16th, and that does not happen every day to any golfer on any eight holes. The 14th hole eagle was something in itself; it was a PAR four, 383-yarder. Louis smashed his tee shot straight down the middle and then holed a niblick from more than 100 yards out. In the newspaper article documenting this, they quoted "Gee whiz, he must have a magnet, or something." That day, Barbaro had four pars, seven birdies, one eagle, and six bogies; and the wind was blowing at a good clip (approximately 35 miles per hour) throughout the afternoon! Some of the golf fans present at the Winged Foot record-breaking tournament, had never seen a game of golf played like that before or since that day.
Lou married Gretchen Gabler at the First Baptist Church Of White Plains in White Plains, New York
White Plains, New York
White Plains is a city and the county seat of Westchester County, New York, United States. It is located in south-central Westchester, about east of the Hudson River and northwest of Long Island Sound...
on 2/9/1946. The couple was attended by Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Galgano of White Plains. Lou and Gretchen had three children, Stephen; Louis, Jr.; and Christine.
Although Lou was obviously talented at golfing, he put his family first and chose not to "hit-the-road" and tour too often, as he took his responsibilities as a husband and father more seriously than becoming "renown" for his golfing.
On May 20, 1949, Barbaro and teammate Bobby Jacobson were co-winners of the New Jersey State Pro-Am match-play championship held at Plainfield Country Club, after having twice been runners-up in the event. In the 1950 tournament, held at Barbaro's Hollywood Golf Club in Deal, New Jersey
Deal, New Jersey
Deal is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the borough population was 750.Deal was incorporated as a borough on March 7, 1898, by an act of the New Jersey Legislature, from portions of Ocean Township....
, the pair were in a three-way tie for the championship. The duo won the tournament outright in 1951.
On October 10, 1952, Lou won the New Jersey State PGA Championship.
Lou was a two-time winner of the New Jersey State Open
New Jersey State Open
The New Jersey State Open Championship is the New Jersey state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the New Jersey State Golf Association. It has been played annually since 1921 at a variety of courses around the state...
, in 1953 and 1959. He won the Panama (Frigidaire) Open
Panama Open
The Panama Open was a golf tournament played from 1938 to 1982. The name was revived in 1996, when it was an unofficial event on the Canadian Tour...
in 1942. In 1968, he was the winner of the National Quarter Century Tournament at the PGA Golf Course in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Palm Beach Gardens is a city in Palm Beach County in the U.S. state of Florida. The city is in the center of a rapidly-developing area north of West Palm Beach in the northern part of the county and the South Florida metropolitan area. , the population was 48,452...
.
Lou was enshrined in the New Jersey PGA Hall of Fame in Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, New Jersey on March 31, after he died.
Lou still holds the course record at both Beacon Hill and Jumping Brook.
A plaque hangs in Lou's honor on the door of the Hollywood Golf Club Pro Shop in Deal, New Jersey
Deal, New Jersey
Deal is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the borough population was 750.Deal was incorporated as a borough on March 7, 1898, by an act of the New Jersey Legislature, from portions of Ocean Township....
. The plaque has a picture of Lou and under it reads: "In Memory Of LOU BARBARO who, from 1947 until his untimely death in 1976 was our Devoted Friend and Golf Professional. His accomplishments on the golf course are noted in the Record Books. But Lou Barbaro was much more than a fine player and teaching professional. He was a walking advertisement for the game of golf and a credit to his profession. He taught us that "It's nice to be important; but it's more important to be nice." We will miss him always."
A signed photograph of Bob Hope
Bob Hope
Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS was a British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO shows entertaining American military personnel...
says, "To Louis, You did your best to make me a good golfer, but you're no "Miracle Man." Best Wishes, Bob Hope."
Lou was an Army Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
in 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...
.
Lou was the past-president of the New Jersey Professional Golfers Association.
These are only a few of the quotes that Lou's sons heard from other professional golfers:
Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan
William Ben Hogan was an American golfer, generally considered one of the greatest players in the history of the game...
(who practiced golfing 10 to 12 hours per day) said that Lou Barbaro was the closest naturally-gifted golfer he had ever seen, as Lou never really had a lesson, yet had a perfect swing. Hogan who lived in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
used to travel and pay to play golf/practice with Lou, only for Lou to beat him every time.
Sam Snead
Sam Snead
Samuel Jackson Snead was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the world for most of four decades. Snead won a record 82 PGA Tour events including seven majors. He failed to win a U.S...
said that he thought that Lou was the best iron player he had ever seen.
Barbaro died on October 11, 1976, and was a resident of Oakhurst, New Jersey
Oakhurst, New Jersey
Oakhurst is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Ocean Township, in Monmouth County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the CDP population was 3,995.-Geography:Oakhurst is located at ....
at the time of his death.