Richard Tufts
Encyclopedia
Richard Tufts was a notable figure in American
golf
in the mid-20th century.
Born in Medford, Massachusetts
, he was a grandson of James Walker Tufts
, the founder of Pinehurst Resort
in North Carolina
, which was long America's preeminent golf resort. Richard Tufts grew up in Massachusetts
and attended Harvard. He served in World War I
before starting work at Pinehurst with his father Leonard, and later taking over himself. He added 40 holes to the resort and hosted the 1936 PGA Championship
and the 1951 Ryder Cup
. He ran Pinehurst until relatives sold their stock to Diamondhead Corp., ending family control.
Tufts was a heavyweight of the golfing establishment, eventually rising to be President of the United States Golf Association
in 1956-57. Like Bobby Jones
, Tufts was a great believer in amateur golf, and had a rather patrician disapproval of any commercialization of the sport. He was non-playing captain of the U.S. team in the Walker Cup
amateur team competition in 1963. He wrote several books about golf and, in 1992, he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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....
in the mid-20th century.
Born in Medford, Massachusetts
Medford, Massachusetts
Medford is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, in the United States, on the Mystic River, five miles northwest of downtown Boston. In the 2010 U.S. Census, Medford's population was 56,173...
, he was a grandson of James Walker Tufts
James Walker Tufts
James Walker Tufts , is probably best known for his founding of The Village of Pinehurst, North Carolina . He also founded the Arctic Soda Fountain Co. and eventually merged with A.D...
, the founder of Pinehurst Resort
Pinehurst Resort
Pinehurst Resort is a historic upmarket golf resort at Pinehurst, North Carolina, USA. It has hosted a number of prestigious golf tournaments.-History:...
in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, which was long America's preeminent golf resort. Richard Tufts grew up in Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and attended Harvard. He served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
before starting work at Pinehurst with his father Leonard, and later taking over himself. He added 40 holes to the resort and hosted the 1936 PGA Championship
1936 PGA Championship
The 1936 PGA Championship was a golf competition held at Pinehurst Resort. Denny Shute won the competition....
and the 1951 Ryder Cup
1951 Ryder Cup
The 9th Ryder Cup Matches were held at the Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina.The United States team won the competition by a score of 9½ to 2½ points.-Format:The Ryder Cup is a match play event, with each match worth one point...
. He ran Pinehurst until relatives sold their stock to Diamondhead Corp., ending family control.
Tufts was a heavyweight of the golfing establishment, eventually rising to be President of the United States Golf Association
United States Golf Association
The United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system...
in 1956-57. Like Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones (golfer)
Robert Tyre "Bobby" Jones Jr. was an American amateur golfer, and a lawyer by profession. Jones was the most successful amateur golfer ever to compete on a national and international level...
, Tufts was a great believer in amateur golf, and had a rather patrician disapproval of any commercialization of the sport. He was non-playing captain of the U.S. team in the Walker Cup
Walker Cup
The Walker Cup is a golf trophy contested biennially in odd numbered years between teams comprising the leading amateur golfers of the United States and Great Britain and Ireland...
amateur team competition in 1963. He wrote several books about golf and, in 1992, he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame
World Golf Hall of Fame
The World Golf Hall of Fame is located at World Golf Village near St. Augustine, Florida, in the United States, and it is unusual among sports halls of fame in that a single site serves both men and women. It is supported by a consortium of 26 golf organizations from all over the world.The Hall of...
.