Richard Tufts - Pinehurst Golf Course - Pinehurst, NC
Posted by: 
hamquilter
N 35° 11.356 W 079° 28.030
17S E 639556 N 3895108
Richard Tufts (1896 - 1980), was often called The Man Who Was Pinehurst, or simply, "Mr. Golf."
Waymark Code: WMD738
Location: North Carolina, United States
Date Posted: 11/28/2011
Views: 4
Overlooking the 18th hole of Pinehurst No. 2 is a Walk of Fame, displaying four sculptures of men who played a part in the golf club's history. One of these men is Richard S. Tufts, grandson of James Walker Tufts, the founder and developer of the Pinehurst area and the golf club.
The sculpture, by famous sculptor Zenos Frudakis, is an over life size bronze statue showing Tufts standing in a relaxed stance, looking to his left, with a golf club held loosely in the crook of his right arm. He is dressed in shirt and tie, slacks and a V-neck sweater. He is standing to the right of golf course designer, Donald J. Ross.
After his tour of duty in World War I, Tufts came to Pinehurst, where his father, Leonard, was running the Pinehurst resort. When the time came, Richard took over the reins of the golf club and brought it to the forefront. He was influential in bringing the PGA Championship (1936) and Ryder Cup (1951) to Pinehurst, and he held his position over the resort until the family interest was sold to Diamondhead Corp. and the Tufts family lost controlling interest.
Tufts was a staunch believer in amateur golf, and a plaque near this sculpture reads:
CREED OF THE AMATEUR
The work that I have done has been done for amateur
sport, and I hope that you won't mind if I leave you with my
creed on amateurism.Amateurism, after all, must be the backbone of all sport, golf
or otherwise. In my mind an amateur is one who competes
in a sport for the joy of playing, for the companionship it
affords, for health-giving exercise, and for relaxation from
more serious matters. As a part of this light-hearted
approach to the game, he accepts cheerfully all adverse
breaks, is considerate of his opponent, plays the game fairly
and squarely in accordance with its rules, maintains self-
control, and strives to do his best, not in order to win, but
rather as a test of his own skill and ability. These are his
only interests, and, in them, material considerations have no
part. The returns which amateur sport will bring to those
who play it is this spirit are greater than those any money
can possibly buy.
Richard S. Tufts
Richard Tufts was President of the U.S. Golf Association in 1956, and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1992.
Richard Tufts