Page 53 - 2021 Western Amateur Championship at Glen View Club Program Book

WGA_Program_2021_V5_SoriaAlt__ 6/30/2021 4:00 PM Page 51
History of Glen View Club

from Glen View with handicaps of 12 or

under — which was remarkably low for
the time. Most prominent was Bessie
Anthony, whose handicap reached as
low as plus-6. Bessie was an athletic
young woman who had taken up the
game at 18, quickly honing her skills
and winning the first Western Amateur
for Women when she was 21. She won
the same tournament two more years
in succession while also winning the
Women’s U.S. Amateur in 1903. Sadly,
she would die during childbirth at 32.
Louis James hoisted by members Considering the events that were hosted
During these early years, Glen View at Glen View and the competitive
Club was selected as a site for the accomplishments of its members and
nation’s biggest tournaments. The club renowned golf professional between
hosted the U.S. Amateur in 1902, the 1899 and 1905, it is doubtful any club in
U.S. Open in 1904 (won by Willie this country has ever reached a higher
Anderson), the Western Open in 1899, pinnacle of sustained achievement over
two Western Amateurs in 1899 and a seven-year period. Chick Evans c. 1916 with U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur Trophies
1905, and the Women’s Western
Amateur in 1904. Two in the Hall of Fame and J. Fowler “Jock” Hutchison, who
By the time Glen View was a dozen was hired as head professional in 1917.
Over the same period, club members years old, the membership had decided Both gentlemen were subsequently
were distinguishing themselves as elite to no longer host significant outside golf inducted into the World Golf Hall
competitors. The 1902 U.S. Amateur, tournaments. The course and spacious of Fame.
held at Glen View, was won by member grounds were to be enjoyed by members,
Louis James, who at 18-years-old their families, and their guests. But a few When Chick joined Glen View, he
became the youngest winner since the Glen View personalities would still draw already had held the course record of 70
tournament’s inception in 1895. He attention within the golf world. The two since 1910. On a much larger stage, he
bested a 64-player field that included most notable were Charles E. “Chick” had won prestigious events in the U.S.
six Glen View members — which still Evans, who became a member in 1916, and Europe, including four Western
stands as a record for the number of Amateurs (and he would go on to win
members from a single club qualifying four more.) During that first summer as a

for match play. Glen View often was member in 1916, he won the U.S. Open
cited by the media as having the and U.S. Amateur, becoming the first to
strongest nucleus hold both titles in the same year. There
of top-level golfers is no official count for the number of
tournaments Chick won, but he was
in the Midwest, victorious during every phase of his
and perhaps the career. He competed in a record 50
country. But this consecutive U.S. Amateurs; was selected
distinction was not
to four Walker Cup teams; and was the
limited to men.
The Western only golfer to win what were considered
Women’s Golf the four most prestigious U.S. events of
Association listed his era — the U.S. Open, the U.S.
Amateur, the Western Open, and the
Bessie Anthony twelve women Jock Hutchison c. 1921 on the tee at Western Amateur.
Pelham Country Club in New York

2021 Western Amateur Championship History of Glen View Club l 51