A Retrospective: Important Dates in New Jersey Golf - September Edition

Photo: George Crump on the grounds of Pine Valley Golf Club

Each month, the NJSGA features historical moments in New Jersey golf history by Kevin Casey, author of Remarkable Stories of New Jersey Golf. Here is a look at notable September dates:

September 7, 1918 – Carolyne Cudone was born. Each year from 1968 through  1972, the Montclair GC member won the U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur titles, becoming the only golfer to win five annual consecutive USGA titles. Accustomed to accumulating trophies, Cudone also won six NJSGA Women’s Championships (1955, ’56, ’59, ’60, ’63 and ’65) and five WMGA Amateur Championships (1955, ’61, ’63, ’64 and ’65).

September 24, 1871 – George Crump, the visionary behind Pine Valley Golf Club in southern New Jersey, was born. When opened in 1922, PVGC immediately assumed a spot as among the very best courses in America. More recently, since 1985, Pine Valley has been named Golf Digest’s #1 course in America for all but three years. This week at PVGC marks the start of the 99th Crump Cup,  named in honor of the club’s founder and arguably the premier mid-amateur event in the United States.

September 27, 1930 – The U.S. Amateur Golf Championship concluded at Merion Cricket Club's East Course in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. Bobby Jones beat New Jersey’s Gene Homans 8&7 in the finals, not only winning the U.S. Amateur but also capturing golf’s Grand Slam by winning the game’s four most important championships in one season. Homans was a fixture in Garden State golf in the 1920s and ‘30s, winning several state championships, including five consecutive NJSGA Junior Championships – a record unlikely ever to be matched.