FRED HASKINS

 

About Mr. Haskins

Fred Haskins was born in Hoylake, England, on May 1, 1898. In 1921, he came to Atlanta’s East Lake Country Club, where he became a close friend of Bobby Jones. A year later, it was Jones who recommended Haskins for the head golf professional position at the Country Club of Columbus. Haskins’ greatest impact was in teaching and inspiring junior golfers. As a tribute to his teaching abilities, his young pupils went on to win more than 150 championships. In 1922, Haskins also started the Country Club of Columbus Invitational, now held annually as the Southeastern Amateur. Haskins retired in 1952 after 34 years of service as the golf professional, but remained at the Country Club of Columbus as golf course superintendent until 1971. Also in 1971, the Fred Haskins Award was established to honor his lifelong dedication to golf and his teaching accomplishments. The Haskins Trophy, which is nationally regarded as the Heisman of college golf, is presented annually to honor the most outstanding collegiate golfer in the United States. Haskins died on April 5, 1981.

 

Fred Haskins father’s golf shop on Market Street in Hoylake. Arthur Haskins produced custom made clubs and balls. 

Fred was a dapper dresser who enjoyed his hats. His family said they would often put a new hat under the Christmas tree for him.

 

Early Life

  • 1880 - Father, Arthur Haskins, opens Haskins Golf Shop in Hoylake, England. They made custom golf clubs and were well known for their golf balls. Would become family affair with brothers, uncles and father.

  • 1898 - Frederic Haskins born May 1st.

  • 1909 - Country Club of Columbus founded.

  • 1915 - Haskins was too young to enlist in war. Became youngest golf pro in England.

  • 1916 - Haskins called to active duty in WWI on December 29th, 1916. Meets Lena Strecker during an air raid in France by protecting her in a ditch. Served 3 years as a machine gunner and rose to the rank of Lance Corporal.

  • 1919 - Discharged from British Army on September 11th, 1919.

  • 1920 - Moves to New York City to live with sister. Had several jobs including working for his uncle in import/exports, cutting hair and as a roofer. Eventually gets job as golf assistant at St. Georges Golf Club in Long Island, and later at Grosse Isle Golf Club in Detroit.

This Columbus

  • 1921 - Moves to Atlanta and East Lake Golf Club to be assistant to Stewart Maiden.

    Haskins would make a set of golf clubs for Bobby Jones.

  • 1922 - Bobby Jones lets Haskins know about job opening for club pro at CCC.

    Stewart Maiden writes letter of recommendation.

    Haskins buys train ticket to Detroit thinking job was in Columbus, Ohio. While train was running 20min late, Haskins calls Stewart Maiden to say farewell - “Cancel that ticket! It’s Columbus, Georgia.” Maiden said.

    Haskins starts at CCC as Head Professional on April 1st.

  • 1923 - Marries Lena on November 6. They have two daughters, Joyce & Fay (Paddy).

 

Fred Haskins helped bring Bobby Jones to the Columbus Rotary Club. Here he gives Walker Cup player, George Hamer, tips on how to play St. Andrews tricky winds. 

Haskins Saturday morning clinics for kids was hugely successful. Each player got individual attention during their allotted 21 balls they would hit.

 

The Country Club Years

  • 1923 - Starts famed Saturday morning junior clinics and ladies clinics.

  • 1925 - Donald Ross redesigns CCC. Haskins leads the team to rebuild the course. The Ross team would give Haskins much praise and credit for his work.

    Haskins sets CCC course record.

    Haskins fulfills promise to get Georgia State Championship to CCC.

  • 1927 - Haskins organizes exhibition match for Franklin D. Roosevelt on his course in Warm Springs. Haskins and his partner would go on to win.

  • 1932 - Haskins and Howard Pitts stop making wooden shafted clubs and start to use modern steel shafts instead.

  • 1952 - Retires from CCC.

  • 1953 - Starts a custom golf club making business with Howard Pitts.

  • 1957 - Returns to CCC as Golf Course Superintendent.

  • 1971 - Retires permanently from CCC due to respiratory problems.

IMG_9670.jpg
MVI_9691.00_00_08_12.Still001.jpg
Haskins-1354.jpg

Praiseworthy

  • 1962 - Special dinner planned at CCC to honor Fred Haskins. Many friends and past students attended and shared stories.

    Congratulatory letters from Bobby Jones, U.S.G.A. and even former President Dwight D. Eisenhower were read.

    Mayor Steve Knight proclaimed that day, August 23rd 1962, as Fred Haskins Day.

  • 1970 - Haskins Award conceived and Haskins Commission formed.

  • 1971 - In honor of the inaugural Fred Haskins Award, Mayor J.R. Allen also proclaimed September 29th 1971 as Fred Haskins Day.

  • 1981 - Haskins dies at age of 83.

  • 1992 - Haskins inducted into Georgia Golf Hall of Fame.

 

A congratulatory letter that Bobby Jones sent to Fred Haskins.

Fred Haskins with Ben Crenshaw, The Haskins Award’s first recipient in 1971.

 

Lasting Legacy

  • 1971 - Ben Crenshaw wins the inaugural Fred Haskins Award.

  • 1996 - Tiger Woods wins 25th Fred Haskins Award and comes to Callaway Gardens for special evening with the Haskins Commission and Mr. Howard Pitts.

  • 2011 - Fred Haskins Award rejuvenated with presenting sponsor, Stifel.

  • 2012 - Fred Haskins Award secures media partnerships with Golf Channel and Golfweek.

  • 2013 - Haskins Commission develops ANNIKA Award, honoring Annika Sorenstam, for most outstanding female collegiate golfer.

  • 2020 - Fred Haskins Award celebrates its 50th Anniversary.