The SOCIETY Newsletter #61

A Golfer’s House

Bobby Jones’ dream house, that he moved into after winning the Grand Slam in 1930, could be yours for just under $10 million.

It was within these very walls that the concept and the design of Augusta National took root. Imagine Jones laying out Dr. Alister Mackenzie’s hand drawn plans on these very wood floors!

This very house also has a semi-sorted history which could have questioned the amateurism of Bobby Jones prior to his Grand Slam year of 1930.

A crazy story about Amateurism

In 1929, admirers of Bobby Jones raised thousands of dollars to gift him a new house in recognition of his golfing triumphs and for making Atlanta proud. Remarkably, this gesture came while Jones was still an amateur, during an era when amateur status was strictly enforced. To illustrate just how rigid the rules were at the time, consider Francis Ouimet—just 15 years earlier, the USGA stripped him of his amateur status merely for owning a sporting goods store that happened to sell golf clubs, despite his historic U.S. Open victory in 1913.

For years, whispers—and at times, outright screams—have suggested that Bobby Jones received preferential treatment from the USGA. In 1929, the organization didn’t just turn a blind eye to the house being offered; they explicitly ruled that Jones could accept it without forfeiting his amateur standing.

This raises an intriguing question:

Should Bobby Jones have been considered an amateur during his historic Grand Slam year of 1930, after being accepting such a significant gift?

Ultimately, we’ll never know—because despite the USGA’s approval, Jones himself felt the gift was inappropriate and declined the house.

Ironically, after completing his Grand Slam by winning the 1930 British Amateur, The Open Championship, U.S. Open, and U.S. Amateur, Jones went on to purchase his dream home. In a way, one could argue that this house was his second-to-last trophy - with his final trophy being Augusta National itself.

For just under $10M you can own this unbelievable home, which if it had been accepted in 1929, might have been one of the biggest controversies in golf history.

Successful Auction!

A special thank you to all the members and clubs who donated rounds and to all of you who bid in the Society of Golf Historians Twitter Auction!

Thank you

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Yours in Golf History,

Connor T.