While diving into the history of Michigan’s early golf tournaments, I stumbled upon a rather amusing tidbit from the 1927 Michigan Amateur, held at the then-named Washtenaw Country Club, which we now know as the Washtenaw Golf Club.
The Lansing State Journal on July 27, 1927, reported an odd yet comical situation. A number of homeless caddies had taken refuge at the club. The new awnings around the course, it seems, became unlikely sanctuaries. The caddies would clamber up on either side and roll over the frame, essentially creating their own hammock-like sleeping arrangements.
This quirky scene, reminiscent of a classic Buster Keaton film comedy, paints a vivid picture of the struggles these caddies faced back in 1927. They truly had neither financial security nor social standing, and yet, their resourcefulness shines through the comedic imagery.
On a more competitive note, this particular tournament saw Johnny Malloy from Grand Rapids come out on top, defeating Kalamazoo’s Bud Hewitt with a score of 3-2. It’s interesting to reflect on how these historical events unfolded amidst such charming side stories.
For those interested, the full clip of tournament notes follows this paragraph.
Originally, the story of the homeless caddies sleeping in awnings first appeared on the GolfBlogger Golf Blog on May 18, 2021. It’s anecdotes like this that add colorful footnotes to the history of golf, reminding us of the human stories beneath the headlines.
