SIGNFICANT DATES IN THE HISTORY OF GOLF AT CALLAWAY GARDENS
1920s
1920 On April 3, 1920, Cason Jewell Callaway of LaGrange, Ga., marries Virginia
Hand in her hometown of Pelham, Ga.
1922 Fuller Callaway, Cason’s father, was the first president of the Highland Country
Club in LaGrange, Ga., when the club opened its Donald Ross designed
nine-hole course. Cason and Virginia Callaway were on hand that opening
day as well as Bobby Jones.
1924 At the age of 30, Cason Callaway was selected to serve on the inaugural Board
of Directors for the Georgia State Golf Association.
1928 Cason and Virginia Callaway picnic with friends for the first time at Blue Springs
in Hamilton, Ga. This experience becomes the inspiration for Callaway
Gardens.
1929 Cason Callaway serves as president of the Highland Country Club in LaGrange,
Ga., until 1934.
1930s
1930 On August 12, 1930, Cason Callaway discovers a nearly extinct flower, the
Plumleaf Azalea, that grows in the wooded area around Blue Springs. The
emblem of the Plumleaf becomes the logo for Callaway Gardens. Later that
year he purchases 2,500 acres of land in Harris County. The Callaways
eventually own 40,000 acres in the area.
1935 Cason Callaway resigns as president of Callaway Mills but continues as
chairman of the board. He moves his family to Blue Springs.
1936 On January 27, 2936, the Ida Cason Callaway Foundation™ is chartered in
LaGrange, Ga.
1938 Cason Callaway resigns as chairman of the board for Callaway Mills. He now
focuses on the land in Harris County, Ga.
1940s
1944 Cason Callaway implements the One Hundred Georgia Better Farms Program.
This innovative subsidy program that existed until 1950 paired businesses
with struggling farmers to help implement wise farming practices and result in
profitable farms. It lasts until 1950.
1948 Cason Callaway suffers his first heart attack at the age of 54.
1948 On November 23, 1948, Cason Callaway contracts J. B. McGovern, a design
assistant for the revered golf course architect Donald Ross for more than 28
years, to build a golf course at Blue Springs (later to become the Lake View
golf course at Callaway Gardens).
1949 Spring flooding leaves Blue Springs Farm under several feet of mud, which leads
to Cason Callaway’s decision to close it. Cason and Virginia turn their energy
to creating Callaway Gardens.
1949 In the fall, construction begins on Mountain Creek Lake and boathouse, the first
nine holes of Lake View golf course and the clubhouse (which now serves as
the Gardens Restaurant), all to be completed in 1951.
1950s
1950 The Callaways deed the land, known today at Callaway Gardens, to the Ida
Cason Callaway Foundation™.
1951
1952
1952
1954
1955
1955
1956
1956
1959
Jack Key of Columbus, Ga., a 1987 Georgia Golf Hall of Fame inductee, wins the
first golf tournament at Ida Cason Gardens.
On May 21, 1952, Ida Cason Gardens opens to the public. Also opening to the
public that day is Lake View Golf Course.
Ida Cason Gardens Mixed Four-Ball Tournament. Jack Key and Bebe Smith,
both of Columbus, won and were awarded silver pitchers.
On July 1, 1954, Ida Cason Gardens hosted a Ladies Golf Tournament.
The Gardens name changes to Ida Cason Callaway Gardens.
Second Annual Ida Cason Gardens one-day golf Tourney (won by Billy Key)
Fourth Annual One-day Men’s Golf Tournament (Sept. 16) at Ida Cason
Callaway Gardens (won by Jack Key)
Cason Callaway was featured in the September 8, 1956, issue of The Saturday
Evening Post in an article titled “His Own Garden of Eden.” The article by
Harold H. Martin included a picture of the first nine holes of Lake View golf
course by photographer Bill Shrout.
Spring Invitational Golf Tournament at Ida Cason Callaway Gardens
1960s
1960 Hugh Royer Jr. serves as Golf Pro for Callaway Gardens through June 1966.
1961 The Gardens name is changed to Callaway Gardens.
1961 On April 12, 1961, Cason Callaway suffers a fatal heart attack at the age of 66.
(Cason Callaway was born Nov. 6, 1894).
1961 One-day Golf Tourney at Callaway Ida Cason Callaway Gardens
1961 First A-frame cottages are built, motel receives addition of 120 rooms and Lake
View Golf Course adds second nine holes.
1963 Lake View club house opens
1963 Hosted 34th Georgia Women’s Amateur Match Play Championship (won by Mrs.
Grady McDonald – this Tournament determined the Georgia Women’s State
Champion)
1964 (January) Callaway Gardens is the site of the Georgia Golf Course
Superintendents Association annual meeting
1964 Callaway Gardens contributes to funding Dr. Glen Burton’s turf research as part
of “Golf Course Superintendent’s Turf Research Fund” in Tifton at the
Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station
1965 Dick Wilson, revered golf course designer know for Doral’s Blue Monster and
LaCosta, designs Mountain View and Sky View golf courses.
1965 Site of GSGA-GPGA Challenge Cup (won by GPGA)
1966 Site of GSGA-GPGA Challenge Cup (won by GPGA)
1966 Tommy Aaron is named a Touring Pro for Callaway Gardens. Aaron goes on to
win a green jacket at the 1973 Masters.
1967 Callaway Gardens’ Golf Course Superintendent Bill Sumrell is selected vice
president of Georgia Golf Course Superintendent Association; and later
served as president.
1968 Callaway Gardens opens the nine-hole executive Sky View Golf Course.
1968 PGA TOUR’s Southern Open Golf Tournament begins in Columbus. The
Tournament will move to Callaway Gardens in the 1990s.
1968 (April 1-5) Site of the 39th Georgia Women’s Amateur Match Play Championship
where Mrs. Tom Molloy won the title of Georgia Women’s State Champion/
1969 Callaway Gardens opens Gardens View Golf Course expanding the number of
holes to 63 and establishing Callaway Gardens as one of the first destination
golf resorts. The golf clubhouse is expanded at that time. The ribbon was
cut by Furman Bisher, sports writer for the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
1970s
1970 Callaway Gardens hosts the SEC Men’s Golf All-Time Champions.
1971 Site of SEC Men’s Golf All-Time Champions
1972 Site of SEC Men’s Golf All-Time Champions
1973 Site of SEC Men’s Golf All-Time Champions
1975 (Nov. 13-16)
Site of PGA Club Professional Championship (won by Roger
Watson)
1976 (Nov. 2-5)
Site of PGA Club Professional Championship (It was so cold; like
25 degrees with wind chill of 10 or 11; would use dry cleaners bag over tee
shirts put sweater over to keep shirt on) – five years (won by Bob Galloway)
1977 (Nov. 10-13)
Site of PGA Club Professional Championship (won by Laurie
Hammer)
1978 (Nov. 9-12)
Site of PGA Club Professional Championship (won by John
Gentile)
1979 (Nov. 8-11)
Site of PGA Club Professional Championship (won by Buddy
Whitten)
1980s
1983
1984
1986
1988
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
Site of GSGA GA-FL Women’s Team Matches
(April 15-17) Site of 5th Annual Chet Atkins Celebrity Golf Tournament
Site of 7th Annual Chet Atkins Celebrity Golf Tournament
Site of NFL Alumni 1987 Super Bowl of Golf Tournament (won by Pete
Mikolajewski)
Site of SEC Women’s Golf All-Time Champions
Site of SEC Women’s Golf All-Time Champions
Site of SEC Women’s Golf All-Time Champions
Site of SEC Women’s Golf All-Time Champions
Site of SEC Women’s Golf All-Time Champions
Site of SEC Women’s Golf All-Time Champions
1990s
1991 (Sept. 22-29) Mountain View Golf Course becomes home of the PGA TOUR’s
Buick Southern Open (won by David Peoples)
1992 (Sept. 28-Oct. 4)
Site of PGA TOUR’s Buick Southern Open (won by Gary
Hallberg)
1993 Site of PGA TOUR’s Buick Southern Open (won by John Inman)
1994 Site of PGA TOUR’s Buick Southern Open (won by Steve Elkington)
1995 Site of Tournament name changes to PGA TOUR’s Buick Challenge (won by
Fred Funk)
1996 (Sept. 25-29) PGA TOUR’s Buick Challenge (Won by Michael Bradley). Having
recently turned pro, Tiger Woods arrives on Tuesday for the practice round
and plays nine holes before participating in a media briefing. Sometime that
night he becomes disoriented due to his exhausting schedule and, with his
agent’s approval, leaves the tournament. He was scheduled to receive the
Haskins Award on Thursday night.
1996 (Nov. 11)
Tiger Woods returns to Callaway Gardens to receive the Haskins
Award, presented annually by the Haskins Commission to recognize the
outstanding college golfer. The award is named for the late Fred Haskins,
who was a teaching professional at the Country Club of Columbus (Ga.).
Selection is based on a national poll of golf writers, golf coaches and golfers.
1997 (Sept. 29-Oct. 5)
Site of PGA TOUR’s Buick Challenge (won by Davis Love
III)
1998 Site of PGA TOUR’s Buick Challenge (won by Steve Elkington)
1999 Site of PGA TOUR’s Buick Challenge (won by David Toms)
1999 Ely R. Callaway Jr., founder of Callaway Golf, donates $3.5 million to build the
Callaway Brothers Azalea Bowl at Callaway Gardens. Its name is in memory
of his father, Ely R. Callaway, and his uncle and father’s half-brother, Fuller
Callaway. Fuller Callaway was the father of Cason Callaway, founder of
Callaway Gardens.
1998 (Sept. 2-3)
Site of G. Gunby Jordan Intercollegiate Golf Tournament (won by
Scott Shelton of UNC Charlotte)
2000s
2000 Lake View Pro Shop closes, and all golf functions are consolidated into the
Mountain View Pro Shop.
2000 (Sept. 28-Oct. 1) Site of PGA TOUR’s Buick Challenge (won by David Duval)
2001 Lake View and Mountain View golf courses undergo an extensive $3.1 million
improvements.
2001 (Oct. 25-28)
Site of PGA TOUR’s Buick Challenge (won by Chris DiMarco)
2002 (Oct. 24-27)
Site of PGA TOUR’s Buick Challenge (won by Jonathan Byrd).
This is the final year of the Buick Challenge when Buick pulls its sponsorship
of the charity PGA TOUR event.
2002 (October)
Gardens View Golf Course is closed for potential new
development.
2004 Site of Georgia Section PGA Junior Tour: Callaway Gardens Junior Classic
2005 U.S. Kids Golf names Callaway Gardens a “Family Course” by after establishing
two sets of forward tees for 6-12 year olds
2005 Site of U.S. Kids Golf National Camps
2005 Site of Georgia Section PGA Junior Tour: Callaway Gardens Junior Classic
2005 Site of Family Challenge U.S. Kids Golf Two-Day Tournament
2006 Site of Southeastern Junior Golf Tour Tournament: Callaway Gardens Junior
Classic
2006 Site of U.S. Kids Golf National Camps
2006 Site of PGA Georgia Section Match Play Championship
2006 Site of GSGA Senior Women’s Championship
2006 Site of Georgia Section PGA Junior Tour: Callaway Gardens Junior Classic