Page 41 - Western Amateur 120th Championship Program 2022, Exmoor Country Club

Charles “Chick” Evans Jr. and Exmoor

Wherever he played around the globe,
Evans was known for his Chicago roots.
He learned golf as a caddie at Chicago’s
Edgewater Club and was a member at
the Glen View Club. In his auto-
biography, the Chick Evans Golf Book
(1920), he recalls accepting membership
at Exmoor in 1909 and the thrill of
playing for the club’s victorious Marshall
Field Cup team of that same year.
Chick wrote: “Early that summer, I Exmoor’s victorious Marshall Field Cup team of 1909.
had been asked by several members of Top row (left to right): H. Chandler Egan, William Egan,
Walter Egan; bottom: Alden B. Swift and Chick Evans
Exmoor Country Club whether I would
like to join their club and those who resident and founder of Sears, Roebuck
know me may be certain that I did. I & Company) served as auctioneer.”
Charles “Chick” Evans Jr. (1890–1979) was soon admitted, and a little later I His most lasting achievement was
stands among the finest American was asked to play on the Exmoor team
establishing the Evans Scholars
amateur golfers. An Exmoor member for the Marshall Field Cup, permanent Foundation in 1930, which promotes
beginning in 1909, he was the first golfer possession of which was to be decided
the use of youth caddies and awards
to win the U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur just prior to the Western Amateur.”
full tuition and housing college
titles in one year (1916). Evans won the
In 1939, Chick donated to Exmoor a scholarships to high-achieving caddies
U.S. Amateur again in 1920, finished
plaque featuring the head of a putter with limited financial means. More
runner-up three times, and competed in
imbedded in the plaque’s base. This was than 11,550 young men and women
a record 50 consecutive U.S. Amateurs.
the putter he used to rally the Exmoor have graduated from college as Evans
He claimed an amazing eight Western golf team to victory in the 1909 Marshall Scholars, and 1,070 are presently
Amateur titles (1909, 1912, 1914, 1915, Field Cup, a prominent inter-club event. enrolled in 21 leading universities
1920, 1921, 1922, 1923). His victory in the He also used the putter to win the 1909 nationwide.
Western Open as an amateur was a feat Western Amateur at age 19 and to win A member of the World Golf Hall of
not accomplished for 75 years until several other tournaments.
Fame, Evans received the Bobby Jones
Scott Verplank’s win in 1985.
Evans had a lasting relationship with Award in 1960, the highest honor given
Exmoor, authoring several articles by the United States Golf Association,
about the club over the years. in recognition of his distinguished
sportsmanship in golf.
Evans did more to support the nation’s
effort in World War I than any other
golfer. According to The Story of
American Golf: “He gave up every
weekend during the golfing seasons
to play exhibitions for the Red Cross
and other charities. In 1918, he
traveled 26,000 miles in the course of
performing in 41 different cities and
assisted in raising $300,000. The 200
members of the South Shore Country
Club contributed $35,000 to the Red
Cross the day Evans played their course,
Chick Evans (left) with two friends on the west and Julius Rosenwald (Highland Park
lawn of Exmoor, 1909 Chick’s 1909 putter plaque Marshall Field Trophy

2022 Western Amateur Championship Chick, the Caddies and the Scholars 39