SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 37

(By Senators Cann, Kessler (Mr. President), Stollings, Unger, Williams, McCabe, D. Hall, Prezioso and Plymale)

Congratulating the West Virginia Golf Association on the occasion of its one hundredth anniversary.

    Whereas, The West Virginia Golf Association was founded on October 10, 1913, at the Fairmont Field Club through the leadership of the Honorable FH McGregor of Parkersburg; and

    Whereas, The founding clubs of the West Virginia Golf Association include Wheeling, Fairmont, Clarksburg, Charleston, Huntington and Parkersburg; and

    Whereas, The West Virginia Golf Association aspires to maintain the tradition and spirit of the game of golf, and to ensure that all of its tournaments and events are pleasurable and rewarding for all involved; and

    Whereas, The West Virginia Golf Association encourages participation in the game of golf by hosting regular events for men, women, seniors and youth; and

    Whereas, The West Virginia Amateur has been held almost every year since 1913, with the exception of the years coinciding with World Wars I and II, showcasing West Virginia’s best golfers who play for the love of the game, not financial gain; and

    Whereas, Huntington native William C. Campbell won fifteen West Virginia Amateur titles and later served as President of the United States Golf Association and as Captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, the only person to ever hold both positions. Campbell, a former House of Delegates member (1949-50) and one of the most distinguished amateurs in golf history, serves as the inspiration for the West Virginia Golf Association’s logo; and

    Whereas, The West Virginia Open is held annually and pits West Virginia Golf Association members against each other, amateur and professional alike, to vie for the title of best golfer in the state; and

    Whereas, Legendary golf great Sam Snead began his illustrious career on West Virginia’s links, securing his first of seventeen West Virginia Open victories in 1936 at the Guyan Country Club in Huntington; first prize was $150.00. Snead was later inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974, received the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998 and was in the first class of inductees into the West Virginia Golf Hall of Fame, along with William C. Campbell; and

    Whereas, The West Virginia Golf Association continues to foster the game of golf with our state’s youth, awarding nearly $90,000 in scholarships to more than eighty West Virginia students who attend college; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Senate:

    That the Senate hereby congratulates the West Virginia Golf Association on the occasion of its one hundredth anniversary; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Senate commends the West Virginia Golf Association for upholding the traditions of the game of golf and for providing opportunities for men and women of all ages to experience its pleasures, challenges and historical significance; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby requested to forward a copy of this resolution to the West Virginia Golf Association.