Forever Linked

Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson (regarded as two of the very best in the history of the game) were linked together like the flavors of a complex wine.

Ben and Byron met when they caddied at Glen Garden Country Club in Fort Worth Texas (nine-hole tract). At the age of fourteen, the two played against each other in the club sponsored caddy tournament where Byron beat Ben by a single stroke in a nine-hole playoff.

Upon turning professional, the Hogan’s and the Nelson’s traveled together on the Tour, frequently sharing accommodations. Hogan and Nelson were practice partners as well. Hogan’s dedication and commitment to his craft was legendary, hitting balls until his hands would bleed. As the years passed, professional golf was simply a means to an end for Nelson, who aspired to leave competitive play as soon as possible, purchase a cattle ranch in Texas and settle down. Two incredibly talented players, heading in dramatically different directions. Byron was affable and popular where Ben (as described by Mark Frost in “The Match”) was “wary, shy and nothing about the man invited anyone a step closer than arm’s length”. Hogan had few friends on tour, Nelson was certainly his best and oldest friend.

Nelson’s first win came in 1936, followed by a banner three win year in 1939, including a US Open Championship. Hogan’s first win came in 1940.

Their friendship waned in 1940 when, during an interview after the final round of the Texas Open and prior to their eighteen-hole playoff the following day, Hogan commented, “Byron’s got a good game, but it’d be a lot better if he practiced. He’s too lazy to practice.”* Similar to the club sponsored caddy tournament at Glen Garden in Fort Worth, Nelson once again beat Hogan by a single stroke.

	Hogan	Nelson
Born	August 1912	February 1912
Location	Springville, TX	Waxahachie, TX
Moved	Fort Worth, TX	Fort Worth, TX
Education	Tenth Grade	Tenth Grade
Caddied	Glen Garden CC	Glen Garden CC
First Name	William	John
Nickname	The Hawk	Lord Byron
Golf Hall of Fame	1974	1974

Facts:

	Hogan	Nelson
Turned Professional	1930	1932
Married	1935	1934
Professional Wins	69	65
Major Championships	9	5
Retired	1971 (age 57)	1946 (age 34)

In addition, Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson had local connections to Southcentral Pennsylvania. Hogan served as Hershey Country Club’s Head Professional from 1940-1951 (a Maurice McCarthy design in Hershey, PA). Nelson won the 1940 PGA Championship at Hershey Country Club after Hogan was eliminated in the quarterfinals, Hogan’s first year as Head Professional at Hershey. Nelson served as Reading Country Club’s Head Professional from 1937-1940 (an Alexander Findlay design in Reading, PA). Hogan won the 1948 Reading Open at neighboring Berkshire Country Club in Reading, overcoming a five stroke deficit. Hershey, Pennsylvania and Reading, Pennsylvania are fifty miles apart.

*Quote is from Mark Frost’s New York Times Bestseller “The Match, The Day the Game of Golf Changed Forever.” An absolute must read for anyone interested in the history of golf and those that influenced the game.

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