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Ky Laffoon was one of the most charismatic golfers of all time. Laffoon was born in Zinc, Arkansas on December 23, 1908. Ky spent a large portion of his life growing up in the neighboring state of Oklahoma. He turned professional in 1931 and amassed 10 tournament wins over his 21-year career. Despite his obvious talent for scoring it was his unbelievable personality that carries his name past his years.
One of the earliest stories of Ky was how he earned his nickname “Chief”. A reporter made an association with Ky’s dark complexion and Oklahoma address and concluded that Ky was native American. Ky thought it sounded like a good story so he created a Cherokee heritage for himself. Reporters started to call him chief and it stuck.
The most commonly told story of Ky was when after a poor round of three putting Ky tied his putter to the bumper of his car and dragged it all the way to the next tour stop. A police officer pulled Laffoon over for the sparks he noticed coming from behind Ky’s car. Ky reportedly told the officer that he was punishing the putter for it’s poor round. This story was more likely derived from a story once told by Ben Hogan that while he was napping in Laffoon’s car he awoke to a car with no driver. Laffoon had his head out the window while grinding down his sand wedge with one hand and steering with the other.
Another true putter story took place while playing a round during the off season in Orlando, Florida. According to Judge Jim Bryrd, Ky missed a put on the 18th hole. Ky raced to his trunk and pulled out a pistol. He then shot the putter three times while shouting, “Take that you SOB! That’s the last time you three-put on me!”
As far as Ky’s golf career goes it was always overshadowed by his wild antics. In 1933 he won the Nebraska Open. The same year he finished second in the “World’s Longest Driver Contest” at the Chicago World’s Fair. 1934 was Ky’s best year on the course. During that year he won the Atlanta Open, the Eastern, the Hershey and the Glen Falls tournaments. This phenomenal year placed Laffoon on the 1935 Ryder Cup team, along with earning him the Radix Cup. The Radix Cup was what is now known as the Vardon Trophy. The cup was given to the low average score for the year. The following year Ky kept on wining. He would win the Phoenix Open in 1935. In 1936 he and Walter Hagen won the Inverness Four-Ball Championship together. Back on top of his game in 1938 he and Dick Metz won the Miami Four-Ball, and later that year he would win the Cleveland Open.
Ky won the Cleveland Open thanks to a wild turn of events. While Ky and Sam Snead were battling it out for first place the unbelievable happened to Snead. On the 18th hole Snead hooked his second shot towards the locker room. As the ball approached someone opened the door and the ball flew into the locker room. The shot cost Snead two strokes and the championship.
While all of this took place on the PGA tour Ky’s best round of golf was at Shifferdecker Golf Course in Joplin with a round of 61. In 1937 Ky shot a course record of 65 at Oak Hill in Joplin beating the record 66 held by Horton Smith. Ky spent many years in the Joplin area regularly playing in pro-ams in Joplin and Carthage.
As common for professional golfers of the time Ky would have associations with more than one country club. Over the years he would be the head professional first at Rockdale Country Club in Miami, Oklahoma now known as Miami Golf and Country Club at the age of 15, then at Oak Hill in Joplin Missouri, now known as Twin Hills Country Club. He was also a pro at Northmoor Country Club and Ravinia in Chicago, Meadowbrook Country Club in St. Louis and Green Gables Country Club in Denver. During his time as a club professionl he was known to give over 600 lessons a year.
During the 1950’s to early 1980’s Ky would spend most of his time in Springfield. In 1982 Ky found out he had Cancer. On St. Patrick’s Day, March 16, 1984, Ky was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his home.
Career Victories
1933 Nebraska Open
1934 Atlantic Open
1934 Eastern Open
1934 Hershey Open
1934 Glen Falls Open
1934 Tied Western Open
1934 Tied St. Paul Open
1935 Phoenix Open
1936 Inverness Four-Ball with Walter Hagen
1938 International Four-Ball with Dick Metz
1938 Cleveland Open
1946 Montgomery Invitational
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