"IF YOU LIKE GOLF"
weekly online golf column
by
Chris Dortch
September 12, 2000

Had Wes Brown Sr. been in town and attended the annual winter meeting of the Chattanooga District Golf Association last February, he would have cast a nay vote when the organization decided to name the Men’s Metro Senior Amateur Trophy.

The trophy was named in honor of Brown, who has made the CDGA a part of his life for years. Nevertheless, with typical Brown modesty, he thought the honor should have gone to someone else.

"They should have called it the Lew Oehmig trophy or the Ed Brantly trophy," Brown said. "Those were the two best senior golfers in Chattanooga. I didn’t do anything to have my name on the trophy.’’

But CDGA members thought differently. Their thoughts were summed up by Mike Jenkins, who like Brown has devoted considerable time and energy to the CDGA over the years.

"There were many years that Wes Brown was the CDGA," Jenkins said. "He refused to let it die. If it weren’t for Wes Brown, there would be no CDGA. Every time we make a donation to a local high school golf team, or make a donation to the UTC golf team, they can thank Wes Brown.

"I hope no one forgets that. That’s why the CDGA voted to name the Senior Amateur trophy in his honor."

Brown has held every office in the CDGA. His lasting legacy might be his continued support of golf at the grass roots level, particularly the high schools and UTC. Most golf programs around the city operate on shoestring budgets. The money that the CDGA donates every year often buys shirts or equipment.

"It’s all about giving back to the game," Brown said. "I just felt strongly that’s how we should have used our money. I suppose we could have given better prizes (to the Metro Amateur winners) over the years. Maybe we should have. But UTC has needed our support. The high school teams have been appreciative."

Lest anyone forget that Brown, who still plays as often as possible, was and is a great player, consider that he won the 1948 Tennessee Amateur when it was played at Chattanooga Golf and Country Club, the back yard of the great Oehmig himself.

Brown is amazed at how the level of competition in golf has improved from his heyday to now.

"Back then the fields weren't as strong as they are now," Brown said. "These fellows this day and time can flat play golf, from 15 to 16 year olds on up, players are far superior than they were 40 or 50 years ago.

"There’s a lot of reasons for that. Kids are stronger and bigger. Equipment is better. And the golf courses are in better shape. There wasn't a golf course around that had as pure bermuda fairways as they have now. We had soft crab grass. The consistency of courses is much better now than it was back then."

The 1st Annual Men's Senior Metro Amateur will held at Valleybrook Golf and Country Club Thursday and Friday, October 12 and 13.  Entry forms are available in local pro shops, or may be downloaded from this web site.

• Nashville’s Marty Graham paid tribute to a Chattanooga golfing legend when he won the Tennessee Senior Amateur last month. The legend, of course, was Lew Oehmig, a three-time winner of the U.S. Senior Amateur and a charter member of the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame.

"When you get past your mid 60s, it’s hard to win,’’ Graham, 64, told the Memphis Commerical Appeal. "But ol’ Lew Oehmig is my idol. He won his third U.S. Senior Amateur at 69. I’m not comparing myself with him because he’s such a super-great player, but knowing he did it is an inspiration to me.’’

Graham comes from golfing stock. He’s the brother of Lou Graham, the 1975 U.S. Open winner. Like Oehmig, Lou Graham, is a member of the Tennessee Golf Hall of Fame. Graham actually put his second senior amateur away with a 3-under-par 69 in his second round. He opened with a 73 and trailed first-round lead Butch Cashon of Jackson by four shots. But he assumed command with his 69 and won with a final-round 75 for a 54-hole total of 4-over-par 217.

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