Golf, the antiquated sport known worldwide for its distinctive blend of camaraderie, leisure, and competition, has a rich and vibrant history, woven with the thread of various eras. Among these, the 1920s stands as a golden age, a time when an unprecedented growth spurt revolutionized the game forever. Join me as we travel back in time to the Roaring Twenties to delve into the illustrious story of golf, with a special focus on the splendor of Myrtle Beach, known as the Golf Capital of the World.
The Emergence of Golf in the 1920s
The 1920s was a transformative decade for golf, especially in the United States. With the prosperous economy of the Jazz Age, Americans had more disposable income and leisure time. This led to a surge in popularity and accessibility of golf, with a myriad of manicured greens and luxurious clubhouses springing up across the country, catering to this new wave of golf enthusiasts. Catering to a staggering demand for public golf courses, by the end of the decade, a reported 6,000 golf courses had been crafted across the country!
Golfing Legends of the 1920s
The Roaring Twenties brought more than just unprecedented course growth; it also produced some of the greatest names in golf history. Among those, Walter Hagen and Bobby Jones stood out, their names echoing down the corridors of time. Hagen, known for his flamboyance and showmanship, won 11 majors overall, including four British Opens in the 1920s and brought golf into the mainstream sporting arena. On the other hand, Jones, an amateur, achieved the Grand Slam — winning all four major championships in the same calendar year, a feat yet to be replicated, epitomizing the pinnacle of golfing excellence.
Myrtle Beach and Golf: An Everlasting Bond
The Roaring Twenties also marked the beginning of the everlasting bond between the grand game of golf and the enchanting locale of Myrtle Beach. Located in South Carolina, Myrtle Beach, with its pristine sun-kissed shores and teeming green landscapes, was a perfect fit for development as a golf haven. In 1927, the Pine Hills Country Club (now known as Myrtlewood Palmetto) was the first golf course commissioned in Myrtle Beach, paving the path for the hundreds of courses we see today.
The Impact of the 1920s on Golf’s Future
The incredible growth and popularity of golf during the 1920s set the stage for the future of the sport, attracting interest from not only professional players but also recreational golfers. The decade also witnessed the creation of the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Championship and the first Ryder Cup, establishing a foundation for modern professional golf competitions.
With a growth in the number of golf courses and an increased interest in the sport, golf wasn’t a pastime for the rich and famous anymore. It became more accessible to the middle classes, laying the groundwork for its development into the widely-played sport we know today.
A Change Perpetually Echoed
Even after nearly 100 years, the effects of the 1920s are still profoundly felt in the golf world, significantly in Myrtle Beach. From having one course in 1927, Myrtle Beach has grown into a sprawling golf oasis, boasting about 100 golf courses spread over 60 miles of the Grand Strand.
The Roaring Twenties of Golf changed the face of the sport, shaping it into an organized, popular, and attractive spectacle, making golf a phenomenon that reached far beyond an elite, affluent demographic to people of diverse backgrounds. And perhaps the manifestation of this change was nowhere more pronounced than Myrtle Beach, which still stands as an enormous testament to golf’s soaring popularity and enduring charm.