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Ed Dudley was born in Brunswick, Georgia, on February 10, 1902. Ed started golf at the early age of 14, playing with his uncle. Ed learned how to play golf from Stewart Maiden, who also taught one of Dudley’s childhood friends Bobby Jones. Dudley found that golf would become his life’s work.
Dudley’s first job in golf would be as an assistant pro at Rockdale Country Club in Miami, Oklahoma. He soon took the head pro job at the nine hole Oak Hill Country Club in Joplin during the spring of 1924. A year later Ed shot the course record of 29. After two years with Oak Hill, Dudley moved on to become the head professional at Oklahoma City Country Club.
While a club pro, Dudley also found time to compete on tour. His first of 13 tour wins would come at the California Open in 1929, and his final win came at the 1939 Walter Hagen Invitational with Billy Burkes. During his 23 year playing career, Dudley was a three-time member of the Ryder Cup in 1929, 1933, and 1937. The 1929 team included old playing partner Horton Smith, along with Walter Hagen and Gene Sarazen. In 1929 Bob Harlow, a World Golf Hall of Fame member, was the manager for Walter Hagen, Paul Runyan, Horton Smith, and Ed Dudley. Harlow would book marathon golf exhibitions where the four golfers would play against one another five to six times a week for over a month,. The tour traveled throughout the Midwest.
Dudley’s relationship with the great Bobby Jones would help land him the head pro job at what would become one of the top golf clubs in the world, Augusta National Golf Club. Bobby had started the club in Augusta Georgia and in 1932 wanted Dudley to be the club professional. He was the unofficial host pro for all of the Masters tournaments through 1957. Some of his best professional tournaments would take place at Augusta National. In 1937 he finished 3rd behind Byron Nelson and Ralph Guldahl. During the summer months starting in 1941 Dudley served as director of golf at The Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs.
Dudley was the President of the P.G.A. from 1941 to 1948. Dudley died on October 25, 1963 due to a leg infection he developed while attending the Ryder Cup matches just weeks before his death. While a teaching pro his students included Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and President Dwight Eisenhower. Dudley was named to the P.G.A. Hall of Fame in 1964, and has also been inducted into the Georgia and Colorado Golf Hall of Fames.
Career Victories
1929 California Open
1929 California P.G.A.
1930 Shawnee Open
1931 Los Angeles Open
1931 Western Open
1932 Pennsylvania Open
1932 Philadelphia Open
1932 International Open with Armour
1933 Hershey Open
1935 True Temper Open
1936 Shawnee Open
1937 Sacramento Open
1930 Walter Hagen with Billy Burke
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