Tommy Bolt
Name:
Thomas Henry "Tommy" BoltCountry:
USALived:
[1916-2008]. Born on March 31, 1916 in Haworth, Oklahoma. Died on Aug 30, 2008 in Cherokee Village, Arkansas aged 92.Original/Home Club:
OklahomaOccupation:
Professional golferTurned Pro:
1946MAJORS (1): US Open (1958). Ryder Cup player (1955, '57). Total professional wins (18), including PGA Tour wins (15). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 2002).
Nicknamed 'Thunder' and 'Terrible Tommy', Bolt was well known for his fiery temper, and was not unknown to break and/or throw clubs in fits of 'golf rage'. He is credited with having said, 'there's no better game in the world when you are in good company, and no worse game when you are in bad company'.
America
Liberty Mutual
Played as the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (unofficial two-man better-ball team event). Second-placed Sam Snead (USA) & Don January (USA) finished 2 shots behind Tommy Bolt (USA) and Art Wall (USA). [Onion Creek Club, Austin, Texas].
America
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Played as the World Professional Senior's Golf Championship (Sept 7; 36-hole match between the US and British PGA Senior Champions). Bolt (USA) beat John Panton (Scot) at the 39th hole. [Bide-a-Wee GC, Portsmouth, Virginia].
America
PGA of America
Played as the PGA Seniors' Championship. Second-placed Pete Fleming (USA) finished 1 shot behind Bolt (USA). [East Course, BallenIsles CC, Palm Beach Gdns, FL. at the time known as Champions course, PGA National GC].
America
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Played as the Pensacola Open (March 9-12). Second-placed Gary Player (RSA) finished 2 shots behind Bolt (USA), who recorded the last of his 15 PGA Tour wins. [Pensacola CC, Pensacola, FL].
America
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Played as the Memphis Open Invitational (June 2-5). Bolt (USA) beat Ben Hogan (USA) and Gene Littler (USA) in an 18-hole playoff (Bolt 68, Hogan 69, Littler 71). [Colonial CC, White Station, Memphis, TN. Club relocated to Cordova, nr Memphis in 1972].
Majors
USGA
The US Open (58th) (Jun 12-14). Second-placed Gary Player (RSA) finished 4 shots behind 42-year-old native Oklahoman Tommy Bolt (USA), who recorded his first and only major championship win. 22-year-old Player was making his debut in the U.S. Open, a tournament he would win seven years later in 1965. [Southern Hills CC, Tulsa, Oklahoma].
America
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Played as the Colonial National Invitation (May 1-4). Second-placed Ken Venturi (USA) finished 1 shot behind Tommy Bolt (USA). [Colonial CC, Ft Worth, TX].
America
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Played as the Eastern Open (July 25-28). Second-placed Billy Casper (USA) and Fred Hawkins (USA) finished 4 shots behind 38-year-old Tommy Bolt (USA). [Mt Pleasant Municipal GC, Baltimore, MD].
America
Convair
Played as the Convair San Diego Open (Jan 20-23). Second-placed Johnny Palmer (USA) finished 2 shots behind Bolt (USA), who won this event for the second time in three years. [Riverwalk GC, San Diego, CA; at the time known as Mission Valley CC].
America
x
Played as the Tucson Open (Feb 10-13). Second-placed Bud Holscher (USA) and Art Wall Jr (USA) finished 3 shots behind defending champion Tommy Bolt (USA), who holed a 30-foot eagle putt on the final hole to seal the win. [El Rio G&CC, Tucson, AZ. Now known as El Rio GC].
America
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Played as the inaugural Rubber City Open (Sept 2-5). Second-placed Fred Hawkins (USA) finished 5 shots behind Tommy Bolt (USA). [South course, Firestone CC, Akron, Ohio].
America
x
Played as the Insurance City Open (June 24-28). Tommy Bolt (USA) beat Earl Stewart (USA) in an 18-hole Monday playoff. Bolt, on 63 after 17 holes, came to the par-4 18th with a one shot lead, and watched Stewart drive his tee shot out of bounds. Bolt was on the 18th green in two, within easy range of a par four, while Stewart was putting for six. Stewart picked-up and conceded the playoff in the middle of a heavy rain shower. [Wethersfield CC, nr Hartford, CT].
America
x
Played as the Tucson Open (Jan 29-Feb 1). Second-placed Chandler Harper (USA) finished 1 shot behind Tommy Bolt (USA). [El Rio G&CC, Tucson, AZ. Now known as El Rio GC].
America
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Played as the San Diego Open (15-18). Second-placed Doug Ford (USA) finished 3 shots behind Bolt (USA). [San Diego CC, Chula Vista, CA].
America
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Played as the Los Angeles Open (Jan 4-8). Tommy Bolt (USA) beat Jack Burke Jr (USA) and E.J. "Dutch" Harrison (USA) in an 18-hole playoff (Bolt 69, Burke 71, Harrison 74). This was Bolt's second PGA Tour win. [Riviera CC, Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, CA].
America
x
Played as the (50th and last) North & South Open (Nov 7-11). Second-placed John Barnum (USA) finished 3 shots behind 33-year-old Tommy Bolt (USA), who recorded the first of his 15 PGA Tour wins. [No.2 Course, Pinehurst Resort, North Carolina].
Sony Open in Hawaii: played at Waialae Country Club near Honolulu, the Sony Open takes over the spotlight from The Sentry as the PGA Tour’s calendar-year opening event (Jan 15-18). The Sentry (not being played in 2026) was formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, with a field typically restricted to golfers who won a PGA Tour event in the previous calendar year.
Dubai Desert Classic: the DP World Tour’s first Rolex Series event of 2026, is contested for the 37th time (Jan 22-25). First won by Englishman Mark James in 1989, it now boasts a four-time winner, Rory McIlroy. Played on the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis course, this once desert-surrounded course is the long-time flagship for Golf in Dubai.
Our visit last month included two rounds at Golf de Chantilly, one of France’s most prestigious clubs.
It offers two superb layouts: Le Vineuil, a five-star championship course with a rich history, and Longères, an excellent four-star course that provides a strong and enjoyable test.
The wider Paris region offers plenty more. Courses such as Fontainebleau, Golf de Saint-Germain, and several other top-rated layouts make this area one of Europe’s most rewarding golf destinations, offering a mix of woodland, heathland, and parkland designs.
The Dutch: "It's no' just a game", as they say in Scotland, and that's certainly true at The Dutch. With 5-star services throughout, a lavishly comfortable Loch Lomond-inspired clubhouse, and a superbly designed and presented golf course, one could not ask for more from this top-end private club.
Join us at The Dutch from August 21–24 for the Festival of Golf, featuring the HotelPlanner Tour. Experience four days of top-tier sport, live music, incredible food, and unexpected surprises. Explore the grounds, connect with others, embrace new challenges, and dive into an unforgettable celebration. Click here to buy tickets.
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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