Grandson's bid to get Aberdonian

Tom Bendelow into Golf Hall of Fame

By COLIN FARQUHARSON
Stuart Bendelow, grandson of Aberdeen-born Tom Bendelow who became arguably North America's most prolific golf course designer in the golf boom years of the early 20th Century, is embarking on an effort to get Tom's name into the World Golf Hall of Fame at St Augustine, Florida.
"I expect his nomination will be put forth under the Lifetime Achievement category to which he clearly qualifies," said Stuart, who lives at Bluffton, South Carolina.
"Ballot papers will soon be sent out to the supporting organisations of the WGHOF for their nominations. The deadline for their nominations is March 1, 2010. Once his name is placed in nomination, we will have the happy task of encouraging the WGHOF Director's Selection Committee to select Tom Bendelow for induction into the Hall of Fame.
"I trust you will support and encourage this effort to give Tom Bendelow the recognition he deserves. In the past you have provided me with considerable encouragement and practical support. I look forward to hopefully celebrating Tom's induction with you in the near future.
"I will keep you informed of our progress.
Best regards
Stuart Bendelow

A RECAP ON LIFE OF TOM BENDELOW (1868-1936)
Frequently referred to as "The Johnny Appleseed of American Golf," Tom Bendelow (pictured above) is acknowledged to have designed more than 600 golf courses across the United States and Canada.
Born in Aberdeen in 1868, Bendelow, who worked as a printer with the forerunner of the "Press and Journal" newspaper, emigrated in 1892 to work for the "New York Herald" newspaper. An accomplished golfer himself, he began by teaching golf to New York club members in the mid-1890s. He opened one, if not the first indoor golf instructional school in New York City in 1895. In 1898 he was hired by the New York City Park Authority to take charge of Van Cortlandt Park golf course, the first municipal golf course in the United States.
During his tenure there, Tom redesigned and supervised the expansion of the course to 18 holes.
The success he achieved at Van Cortlandt Park drew the attention of numerous cities across the States and catapulted him into golfing prominence.
A preponderant number of Tom Bendelow's courses were laid out between 1900 and 1916 during his association with A G Spalding (Spalding golf balls) and his mission to "spread the gospel" of golf across America. No community was deemed too small nor too poor to have its own golf course.
Of all the courses Tom Bendelow designed his three lay-outs at Medinah are recognised as representative of some of his best work.
In 2005 Tom Bendelow was inducted into the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame.
Tom died in 1936, never having returned to Aberdeen. The Bendelow family pie shop at Causewayend prospered for many, many years. Ironically, "Bendelow Pies" were more famous in the Granite City than Tom ever was, before or after his death.
The name Tom Bendelow is still far better known in America than in Scotland or even Aberdeen.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME
Visit www.worldgolfhalloffame.org
The World Golf Hall of Fame, located at World Golf Village in St Augustine, Florida honours and celebrates golf's greatest players and contributors. A World Golf Foundation initiative, the Hall of Fame represents collaboration among 26 national and international golf organisations, including the European Tour, LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, the US PGA Tour, The R&A and United States Golf Association.
The museum houses interactive exhibits and historic and personal artifacts that tell the stories of its members and the game of golf.





+Any comments? You can E-mail them on any golfing topic to Colin@scottishgolfview.com