Who's who: Chick Harbert

  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Prince's GC, England
  • Torrey Pines - South course, host of the Farmers Insurance Open
  • Terras da Comporta, Dunas
  • Monte Rei G&CC
  • Marco Simone GC (Italy); host of the Ryder Cup 2023
  • Pebble Beach host of the US Open; US Women's Open; Pebble Beach Pro-Am
  • Marco Simone GC

Who's who: Chick Harbert

  • Name:

    Melvin R. "Chick" Harbert
  • Country:

    USA
  • Lived:

    [1915-1992]. Born on Feb 20, 1915 in Dayton, Ohio. Died on Sept 1, 1992 in Ocala, Florida (aged 77).
  • Original/Home Club:

  • Occupation:

    Professional golfer
  • Turned Pro:

    1940

Roll of Honour

MAJORS (1): US PGA Championship (1954). PGA Tour wins (9). Ryder Cup player (1949, '55); Ryder Cup captain (1955).

Did you know?

Harbert established himself as one of the most formidable US PGA Championship players, when the competition was conducted on a match play basis. Between his first appearance in 1946, and the final year of the match play format in 1957, he compiled a 24–10 (.706) record. He won the event in 1954 and was losing finalist in 1947 and 1952.

Top tournaments won by Chick Harbert

1957
America
281 (-7)
$1,500
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Harbert, Chick

Venue

Berwind

Score

281 (-7)

Prize money

$1,500

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Puerto Rico Open (Jan 31-Feb 3; part of a three-event Caribbean tour). Second-placed Roberto De Vicenzo (Arg) finished 2 shots Chick Harbert (USA). [Berwind CC, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico].

1954
Majors
Keller GC
4 & 3
$5,000
PGA of America

Category

Majors

Winner (holder)

Harbert, Chick

Venue

Keller GC

Score

4 & 3

Prize money

$5,000

Title sponsor

PGA of America

The US PGA Championship (36th) (July 21-27). Melvin R. "Chick" Harbert (USA) beat defending champion Walter Burkemo (USA) 4 and 3 in the 36-hole final, to record his first and only major championship win. [Keller GC, St Paul, Minnesota].

1948
America
Brentwood GC, FL
284 (-4)
$2,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Harbert, Chick

Venue

Brentwood GC, FL

Score

284 (-4)

Prize money

$2,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Jacksonville Open (March 11-14). Second-placed Skip Alexander (USA) and Vic Ghezzi (USA) finished 1 shot behind Harbert (USA). [Brentwood GC, Jacksonville, FL].

1948
America
Myers Park CC
273 (-15)
$2,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Harbert, Chick

Venue

Myers Park CC

Score

273 (-15)

Prize money

$2,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the (last) Charlotte Open (March 25-28). Second-placed and defending champion Cary Middlecoff (USA) finished 1 shot behind Chick Harbert (USA). [Myers Park CC, Charlotte, NC].

1942
America
Willow Springs, TX
272 (-12)
$1,000
x

Category

America

Winner (holder)

Harbert, Chick

Venue

Willow Springs, TX

Score

272 (-12)

Prize money

$1,000

Title sponsor

x

Played as the Texas Open (Feb 13-16). 27-year-old Melvin "Chick" Harbert (USA) beat Ben Hogan (USA) by 4 shots in an 18-hole Monday playoff (Harbert 72, Hogan 76). Harbert shot 30 on the final nine holes to force the playoff. [Willow Springs GC, San Antonio, TX].

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Tournaments

Ryder Cup: Rome plays host to the first ever Ryder Cup to be staged in Italy, with the USA defending golf’s greatest team trophy at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club (Sept 29-Oct 1).

Solheim Cup: also in September, also in southern Europe, the 18th Solheim Cup will be contested at Finca Cortesin on the Costa del Sol, with Europe defending after their surprise win in Toledo, Inverness Club (Ohio) in 2021 (Sept 22-24). 

Who's Who

Céline Boutier: with many successes as both an amateur and professional golfer, Boutier added a major championship title to her impressive résumé at this year’s Evian Championship.

Alex Cejka: buffeted by rain and high winds, especially on the high-scoring final day, Čejka prevailed over Pádraig Harrington in a playoff at Royal Porthcawl, to scoop the Senior Open Championship title.

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club: With a clubhouse that might befit a Roman Emperor, and a golf course to match, you can be sure of a memorable outing at Rome's most talked about golf facility.

Jim Fazio's original layout was much changed to create a modern Ryder Cup course ... now one of the Eternal City's (and Italy's) most revered.

Prince's Golf Club, Kent (UK)

Here at Prince’s Golf Club you'll find 27 excellent holes of links golf. Just over the fence and sharing similar terrain is Royal St George’s; but Prince’s is far from overshadowed by its venerable neighbour. The three nine-hole loops at Prince's, laid out over gently undulating terrain, are sure to bring a smile of satisfaction to all lovers of links golf.

Stay&Play at Prince's: excellent onsite Lodge accommodation available

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