User:Michaeldoxsey/Leonard Schmutte

Leonard Schmutte in Holywood, Florida - 1924

Leonard B. Schmutte was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on April 24, 1906. During the very early years of Leonard's life, golf was in its infancy in the United States. At the age of nine, Leonard was introduced to the game by being a caddie in Indianapolis. He began playing the game in earnest shortly afterward, and became an exceptional player for his age. In 1922, he won the Indianapolis Caddie Championship over a large group of boys his age and older. Leonard turned professional at the age of eighteen, and moved to Hollywood, Florida, where he could work on his game in the winter months while working as the caddie master at a country club there. While in Florida, he competed against some of the most legendary names in golf history including [Jones], [Hagen], and Gene Saracen. He finished 6th in the 1925 Miami Open and 10th in both the Sebring and Tampa Opens in fields that included the leading professional golfers of the day.

In 1925, Leonard began a 46 year career as a golf professional when he became the assistant pro at Fort Wayne Country Club in Indiana. In those days, all the touring pros, including the great ones, supplemented their incomes by working as the golf professional at a country club.

Leonard's accomplishments as a tournament player were impressive. In 1926, at age twenty, he won the Indiana Open. He also qualified for the U.S. Open that year at Scioto, but failed to make the 36-hole cut. In 1927, he again qualified for the U.S. Open at Oakmont where he made the cut and finished in 37th place, 16 strokes behind winner Tommy Armour. His finish would have been much higher if it weren’t for a 10 on the 12th hole, where he fell victim to the infamous furrowed sand in the bunkers that guarded the green. Leonard would play in the next five U.S. Opens. In 1928 at Olympia Fields C.C. in Illinois, Leonard was the leader in the clubhouse late in the first round with a score of 71, until Henry Ciuci, playing in one of the last groups, posted a 70. Leonard finished in 25th place with a total of 305, 11 strokes in back of Johnny Farrell and Bobby Jones, who tied for first place. In two other Open appearances, he made the 36-hole cut finishing 27th at Winged Foot CC in New York in 1927 and 64th at Fresh Meadow C.C. in 1932, also in New York. He also won the sectional qualifier for the 1928 U.S. Open by five shots at Beechmont C.C. in Cleveland over a field of 100 professionals and top amateurs. An article in the Indianapolis newspaper about his qualifying round victory described him as "the best golfer Indianapolis ever has produced." Also in 1928 he led after the first round of the Western Open at Milwaukee with a 69 en route to an 8th place finish, and was runner-up in the Ohio Open the same year. In 1929, Leonard tied for first place in the Gem City Open in Dayton, Ohio, but lost in a playoff. against his fellow touring pros, with drives of 289, 275, and 272 yards.

Much of this fine play occurred while Leonard was the head pro at Shawnee C.C. in Lima, Ohio, a position he accepted at age twenty-two. In February 1933, during the depths of the Great Depression, Leonard became the head pro at The Findlay C.C. in Ohio, working there on Mondays, Fridays, and alternate Sundays while continuing to carry on his duties at Shawnee C.C. Although the announcement of his hiring in the Morning Republican suggested that he would continue to enter golf’s major championships, at age twenty-seven, Leonard Schmutte's days of touring and effectively competing with the giants of the game were pretty much over.

Despite the fact that he was a full time golf professional from 1933 on, he continued his fine play when he was able to compete. He won the 1935 Toledo Open at Heatherdowns C.C. over a field of primarily Ohio-based pros and amateurs. In 1933, he established the course record (68) at Inverness C.C. in Toledo, Ohio, a score that was better than any of the touring pros had made while preparing for or competing in the 1931 U.S. Open held there. Leonard qualified for that Open and the 1930 Open at Interlachen in Edina, Minnesota, but did not survive the 36-hole cut. Breaking course records was a specialty of Leonard's. In 1925, he established the course record (66) at Fort Wayne C.C., and over his career set course records at the following other courses: Springbrook C.C. (63 in 1927): Shawnee C.C. (65 in 1930): and at Findlay C.C. (73 in 1931 - tied the existing record; 70 in 1933: 69 in 1934: 67 in 1935: and 66 in 1954 at age 48).

On Easter Sunday 1943, the Findlay C.C. clubhouse caught fire and burned to the ground. Leonard was on duty in the pro-shop that morning, and ran over and entered the burning building. He and several members were able to remove all of the canned goods from an upstairs storage room. Only a few seconds after carrying the final load down the stairs to the outside, the roof collapsed behind him.

Leonard also qualified for the P.G.A. Championship five times, making it to the match play rounds in 1946, 1950 and 1952. In 1950 at Scioto, he won his first match, and then lost in the second round to Ray Galois after leading early on. Jim Dysinger, a protégé of Leonard’s and a recent Findlay High graduate, was in Leonard's gallery for his second round match with Gafford. Jim and the friend that made the trip with him to Columbus let Leonard know early on that they were nearby to root him on to victory. According to Jim, Leonard was playing well, getting the upper hand in the opening holes against Gafford. But at age 44 and away from the tour for nearly two decades, Leonard was obviously nervous.

He had his hands full with Gafford, and did not need the distraction of the two young golfers from Findlay. On two occasions, Leonard good-naturedly suggested to Jim, himself near where Leonard's shots would come to rest, that he and his friend should go watch some of the biggest names in the field. Jim and his friend didn't understand they were making him so nervous, and continued to follow Leonard's play closely. Finally, as the tide began to turn against Leonard, he then suggested to the boys that they really should "get out of here" in a manner that they fully understood!

The term "professional" as it applies to a golfer can have different meanings. A professional golfer is one who derives a substantial part of his livelihood competing in tournaments for money. A golf professional is one who is generally a club professional; has demonstrated superior playing ability; and has developed expertise in instruction, equipment fitting, marketing, and other areas. Leonard Schmutte met all of these criteria. He was an accomplished player known throughout Ohio and the Great Lakes region when he came to Findlay Country Club in 1933, and had become a respected member of his profession and its governing body, the P.G.A. of America, when he retired 38 years later. He selflessly gave his time to many of the committees of the P.G.A. during the nearly four decades he served Findlay Country Club, and was rewarded in the 1960’s by being elected Vice-President of the P.G.A. and President of the P.G.A. Seniors Division. He also held every office available in the Toledo Chapter of the P.G.A. In 1959, he was honored by the P.G.A. with his selection as the referee of the Ryder Cup matches at EI Dorado C.C. in Indian Wells, California.

In addition to being a first rate golf professional, Leonard has the distinction of designing two golf courses. Delphos Country Club in Ohio was designed by him in 1957, as was the front nine of Briar Hill Golf Course (now Pike Run) in North Baltimore, Ohio in 1965.

Although a superb golfer and a dedicated member of the P.G.A., Leonard Schmutte's greatest mark on Findlay Country Club was through the lives of the members he served, several of whom are still with the Club. Seventy-five years after he came to Findlay Country Club, Peg Kirk Bell, Jerry Quintan, Jim Dysinger, and Denny Fitzgerald fondly remember Leonard as not just the head pro, but as a mentor and a friend. In Leonard's later years, Bay Gee, John Tomlinson, and others of his era would affectionately call him "The Ol' Perfessor."

When Peg Kirk Bell played golf for the first time the day after graduating from high school in 1939, she proceeded to lose her three golf balls before reaching the first green. She walked back to the pro-shop and asked Leonard how to grip the club correctly. He asked her, "how serious are you? If you really want to learn, come back at 9 o'clock tomorrow." That first lesson the next day began a lifelong relationship of mutual trust and respect between the two which resulted in Peg becoming a 3-time winner of the Ohio Women's Amateur and the top female golf instructor in the United States. Peg has always given credit to Leonard for a large part of her development as a player.

Jim Dysinger often gets misty eyed when he recalls how much Leonard meant to him. He considers Leonard "a second father". Jim showed great promise as a junior golfer, and aspired to be a professional. Jim says that Leonard allowed him to caddie "just enough so that I could play the course." While Jim was in high school and college, Leonard would sell his wares to Jim during the golf season at a discount from the usual rate, and then allow Jim to pay him back as he was able to over the winter months.

Like Jim, Jerry Quinlan began his long affiliation with Findlay Country Club as a caddie, and also served as a pro shop assistant for Leonard. Other current members have ties to Leonard that date back forty years or more. Denny Fitzgerald began taking lessons from Leonard in the early 1960's. Reg Routson was hired by Leonard to be a caddie in the late 1960's. Tom Drake, (the original author of this article) met Leonard at the age of eleven in 1964, took lessons from him, and pestered him to tell stories about his early days on tour. To each of us, and to countless others, he was always a gentleman, a man who commanded respect.

Leonard married his first wife, Margaret Nelson, in 1934. Together, they had four daughters - Mary (Margie), Susan, Ann, and Lynne. Margie told the author that her Dad was a loving and doting father, and that he adored her Mother. Neither Margaret Schmutte nor any of their children shared Leonard's passion for the game. As a child, Ann was paid $.25 by Leonard to hit practice balls, but did not play much until after she had moved away from Findlay. Leonard's daughter, Sue, also played sparingly as a child. Leonard's grandson, Bob Doxsey recalls that Leonard wanted a good golfer in the family so badly that he would pay Bob to come out to the driving range at the Club and hit balls under Leonard's guidance. Bob's younger brother Michael was also a favorite student of Leonards for several years, however, neither of the brothers developed a strong passion for the game, although they both play when they get the chance. In April 1954, Margaret Schmutte died after suffering a ruptured aneurysm while crossing the bridge that used to span the gulley between the clubhouse and the old pro shop, leaving Leonard a widower, at age 47 with three minor daughters to raise.

In October 1957, the Club honored Leonard with an observance of his 25th year as its golf professional. A commemorative program, with sketches depicting Leonard in various stages of the golf swing were printed for the occasion. A review of Leonard's life in golf was presented by Tom Orndorff and Bob Hazlett. Tributes from the members in the audience were made. At the end, Leonard's thirteen year old Ann Schmutte stood up and told those present that the things the adults said about her Dad as their golf professional were nice, but she wanted them to know that he was the best Dad in the whole world. This was followed by a presentation of gifts and a warm response from Leonard. Among the gifts that were presented to him was his portrait in oil by Dr. Maurice Kirsten. The esteem with which Leonard was held by the members of the Club was expressed by this excerpt from the program:

"In recognition of your superb skill as a golfer... your limitless patience, courtesy and optimism as a teacher...your devotion as a family man... your sincerity, wit and easy affability as a friend...we salute you, Leonard, as a top-flight Professional in all these roles, from whom we have gained inspiration in the arts of golf and living."

In 1960, Leonard married Dorothy Miller. Dorothy enjoyed the game and was a fair player. She also assisted Leonard in the pro-shop during the last decade of his tenure at the Findlay CC.

In 1961, Sam Snead played an exhibition at the Club the day after the U. S. Open at Oakland Hills had concluded. In the four- some with Snead were Peg Kirk Bell, Findlay Country Club member Perry Lanning and Leonard. Snead hit a 69, while 55 year old Leonard matched his 34 on the back nine en route to a 71. This was just one example of how Leonard's reputation enabled the Club to draw big name talent for exhibitions or casual play during Leonard's tenure. Byron Nelson, Jimmy Decares Tony Penna, and others played our course due in part to his influence or friendships.

Leonard Schmutte, Findlay, Ohio CC - late 60's - early 70's

Leonard Schmutte closed out his unprecedented thirty-eight year career at Findlay Country Club in the Fall of 1971 at the age of 65. September 18th of that year was designated as Leonard B. Schmutte Day. The afternoon featured a golf match between The Ol' Perfessor and his "perfect pupil," Peg Kirk Bell, who came from Pine Needles in North Carolina to honor her friend and mentor. A dinner in the Clubhouse was held that evening. The agenda was similar to the 1957 tribute. Leonard was given a new car, a check for $1,000 and an honorary lifetime membership to the Findlay Country Club. In addition, a plaque designating Hole No. 7 as the "Leonard B. Schmutte Hole" was placed on a large stone at that tee.

It has been 40 + years since Leonard Schmutte retired as the golf professional at Findlay Country Club. During that time, several men - many of them outstanding golf professionals and very accomplished players - have succeeded him in that position. For various reasons, none of them has approached his record for longevity. Leonard's proficiency as a player and his service to our Club were recognized by the Hancock Sports Hall of Fame with his induction in 1992.

After his retirement Leonard golfed at the Club often and enjoyed friendly games with several of the members. Bay Gee, John Hollington, Tom Orndoff, and Cliffe McCullough were among his frequent golfing companions. While in college and law school, the author and Denny Fitzgerald had an annual game with Leonard and Mr. Gee. After Mr. Gee's death in 1974, John Hollington took his place in the foursome. The author particularly remembers one of those matches. On the third hole, Leonard hit a drive that appeared to be a good one, drawing compliments from the other players. Ever the perfectionist, Leonard grumbled that "it didn't go very far". Mr. Gee responded, "Quit complaining. You've had your share of long ones."

On that same tee a few years later, on November 26, 1976, Leonard Schmutte's distinguished life came to a sudden but peaceful end at the age of 70. It was a glorious Indian Summer day. Leonard and three other members teed off shortly before noon, hoping to take advantage of what was surely one of the last opportunities to play that year. Leonard was in top form - on the green in 3 shots and a regulation par on the first hole, and a good tee shot and another regulation par on No. 2. Leonard Schmutte had the honor as he walked to the third tee. He hit a good drive down the middle of the fairway, and one of his playing companions told him, "You don't want that one over, Leonard." There was no response. Leonard Schmutte's round of golf - and of life - was over. He had gone the way that every serious golfer dreams of going - on a golf course, at even par, his final shot a good one - just a few yards from the plaque that commends him for his long period of service to our Club.

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