Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2011 - 35

(punch shots
)
( The President's Desk
Championship Roots Run Deep in
Minnesota Golf
By Jim Lehman
T
ournament golf is my passion and something
shared by many golfers. I've had the pleasure of
attending nearly 400 PGA Tour events over the
last 20 years and have seen the best players in the world up
close and personal. It's been fun to see them practice in
preparation for their competitions and to see them perform
in the heat of the battle. I've had the opportunity on
occasion to witness their satisfaction over a good round
and their disappointment following a poor round. There
is an obsession, in a way, about competitive golfers that
drives them to succeed; even when times are tough they
seem to put the negatives behind them and move forward
in a positive way.
We have been fortunate to have a long list of impressive
competitive golfers who have performed well and
represented Minnesota golf in a positive way on a state
and national level. The names are impressive: Harry Legg,
Jimmy Johnston, Patty Berg, Neil Croonquist, John Harris,
Hilary (Homeyer) Lunke, Cam Beckman, Tim Herron,
Tom Lehman and others. We have had
our fair share of golf superstars at both
the professional and amateur levels who
have set the bar very high as it relates to
a standard of excellent golf.
In this issue, D.N. Tallman is highlighted
as an almost forgotten Minnesota
amateur player and champion from
the early 20th century. His story is remarkable in that he
did not take up the game until later in life, and he went on
to amass an impressive list of golf achievements especially
as a senior golfer. He also became an MGA President, and
is known to have been friends with Babe Ruth. He was a
born leader who was very successful in business as well-a
businessman golfer, which I can appreciate very much. He
was one of our first great players in Minnesota, and I think
you'll find his story fun to read.
Another great name in Minnesota golf is Harrison R.
" Jimmy " Johnston. Consider his amateur record: He won
the Minnesota State Amateur each year from 1921 to
1928. One year later, he went on to win the U.S. Amateur
at Pebble Beach, which featured a field including Bobby
Jones, Francis Quimet, Johnny Goodman, Lawson Little
and others. Johnston represented the United States in four
Walker Cup matches, and it is said that he was close budThere
is an obsession about
competitive golfers that drives
them to succeed.
dies with Bobby Jones, who in 1930 won the Grand Slam.
Johnston traveled the world playing competitive golf and
was a golf superstar in the early days of the game in America
and Minnesota. In 1929, the City of St. Paul staged a
ticker tape parade in honor of Johnston, not unlike New
York's celebration honoring Bobby Jones in 1930. It must
have been a very exciting time for golf on a state and national
level, as it seems the best golfers were recognized in
a very unique way.
We could go on talking about golf greats with Minnesota
roots. Johnston and Tallman are just two men amongst
many Minnesota golfers who have great stories. As you
read this issue, we are in the heart of the Minnesota golf
tournament season. Maybe one of our champions this
summer will become a great Minnesota golf superstar. It
will be fun to see!
www.mngolf.org
Summer 2011 MINNESOTAGOLFER
33
PHOTO BY PAUL MARKERT
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2011

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