2020 August Golf Memorabilia Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/9/2020
1934 Agua Caliente Contestant Ticket Plus Three Scorecards - 1934 & 1935(x2) - Rod Munday Collection
What started as "The Richest Golf Tournament in the History of the Ancient Sport," the innagural Agua Caliente Open Golf Tournament in 1930 got players attention and awarded their travels to Tijuana to compete on the new Mexico border town course. Gene Sarazen would go on to defeat the field in the inaugural tournament after being heavily persuaded to compete. The Mexico tournament's final playings in 1934 and 1935 saw Wiffy Cox and Henry Picard win respectively prior to their two year tour stop in the 1956 and 1957 seasons. Contained in this lot are a 1934 ticket and scorecard from the Agua Caliente tournament, with two scorecards from the 1935 playing. One of each of the years' scorecards are scored with contestant Rod Munday's scores, as well as two fellow contestants.
Rod Munday Collection
A contemporary of Ben Hogan, Jimmy Demaret, Sam Snead, and Paul Runyan, Rod Munday traveled the same proving ground as many of the touring and club professionals in a career that spanned over 50 years. His friendship with those individuals and fellow teaching professionals lasted throughout his life as a pro golfer that started in Northern California and ended in Pennsylvania. Rod competed in many pro tournaments including both the 1940 and 1946 Masters Tournaments. He frequently qualified for and played in the PGA Championship from the 1930’s through the early 1960’s, and competed in the 1934, 1935, 1946, and 1947 US Open. If a putt would have fallen one way or another, Munday could have been a golfer that was mentioned in the same sentence as the legendary golfers of his day.
Munday, a World War II army vet who received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, was the preferred teaching professional for many celebrities and dignitaries, none larger than President and General Dwight D Eisenhower. Eisenhower became Rod’s #1 pupil at the Gettysburg Country Club in Pennsylvania. Munday was just as much a personal friend to these larger than life figures as a golf instructor. Many of the leading tour players such as 1941 Masters champion Craig Wood, considered Rod Munday one of the top putting minds of the 1950’s. Horton Smith, Byron Nelson, Henry Cotton, Jack Grout, and Gene Sarazen all kept in contact with Munday over the years. The allure to play exhibitions at Munday’s clubs at Highland Meadows in Toledo, Ohio and the Country Club of York in Pennsylvania was there for many, including visits and fundraisers attended by one of his closest friends, Ben Hogan.
The Golf Auction is proud to offer the Rod Munday Collection, helping to tell the story of the man himself.
Click above for larger image.