Happy Birthday Bobby Jones

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In 1923, Bobby Jones received a hero’s welcome after winning his first major championship at the U.S. Open.
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In 1915, Atlanta Athletic Club members presented “Our Little Bob” with this pocket watch after he won the club championships at both the Athletic Club and the Druid Hills Golf Club.

A new exhibit about the career of Bobby Jones opens just in time for the golf great’s birthday.

“Fair Play: The Bobby Jones Story” begins today at the Atlanta History Center. Jones was born on St. Patrick’s Day in 1902 and died in 1971.

Jones is considered the greatest amateur to play the game. Between 1923 and 1930 he won 13 majors, culminating with the Grand Slam season of 1930 when he won the British Amateur, British Open, U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur.

After retiring at age 28, Jones co-founded Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament was soon born.

The Fair Play exhibit features several new artifacts, including a rare program from the inaugural Augusta National Invitation Tournament in 1934; a personal letter from Jones to two-time Masters winner Ben Hogan; and four first edition books authored by Jones.

Other highlights include rare replicas of the Grand Slam trophies and a Masters green jacket.

The exhibit focuses on the character and achievement of Jones.

“The exhibition amply illustrates how Jones transcended his sport and became an American hero at a time when the nation most needed one,” exhibit curator Dr. Catherine Lewis, a noted Jones scholar, said in a news release.

“His strength of character, athletic skill, and personal accomplishments inspire us today. One of the most compelling features of the new exhibition is a section that ponders why Bobby Jones matters.”

For more information on the Atlanta History Center, call 404.814.4000 or visit http://www.atlantahistorycenter.com.

Slideshow: The Lessons of Bobby Jones