Timeline

The Metropolitan Golf Writers Association is founded. New York Times golf writer Lincoln Werden is elected the organization’s first president.

The first National Awards Dinner is held at Toots Shor’s in Manhattan. Eugene Grace receives the first Gold Tee Award, the MGWA’s highest honor.

Bobby Jones receives the Gold Tee Award as the National Awards Dinner moves to the Waldorf-Astoria. The first Ben Hogan Award is presented by proxy to Babe Didrickson Zaharias, recovering from cancer. The Golf Writers Association of America will take over the award exclusively in 1984.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower telegrams his congratulations to Gold Tee Award Winner Billy Joe Patton: “To those of us who count a topped shot, a slice or a hook as a catastrophic blow to good intentions and superior skill, he is an exemplary figure.”

Sam Snead receives the Gold Tee Award for 1957. Senator Barry Goldwater delivers the feature address to “Mr. Tradition.”

Walter Hagen receives the Gold Tee Award for 1961. He explains why he hung up his spikes: “I couldn’t stand the thought of shooting an 80 so I quit.”

Gene Sarazen receives the Gold Tee Award for 1962. Featured speaker Senator Hugh Scott turns to Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus to say, “I bring you the warmest greetings from the Commissioner of Internal Revenue.”

Ben Hogan receives the Gold Tee Award for 1963 and the Turnesas are Family of the Year. More than 950 attend the dinner at the New York Hilton. Hogan’s presenter, Sen. Abraham Ribicoff, makes news by calling the electric golf cart “the worst hazard to the enjoyment of golf since the invention of the sand trap.” Sam Snead, meanwhile, declares of Jack Nicklaus, “It’s just a question of how long this boy can hold on. I don’t think he’ll improve.”

Arnold Palmer receives the Gold Tee Award and sings “Happy Birthday” to his wife, Winnie.

Jack Nicklaus receives the Gold Tee Award, but Arnold Palmer steals the headlines with news that he plans to “ease out” of his playing schedule.

A record crowd of 1,200 fills the Rye Town Hilton ballroom to see Arnold Palmer present Bob Hope with the Gold Tee Award a year after Hope’s running mate Bing Crosby received it. “Bing couldn’t be here,” Hope quipped. “Monday night is bed check in Sun City.”

The MGWA awards Alan Shepard the Mulligan Trophy as the first person to hit a golf ball on the moon. NASA’s Dr. Thomas Paine accepts on behalf of the astronaut, still in quarantine. Gene Borek is honored as Man of the Year at the MGWA’s annual golf tournament at Grossinger’s Resort.

Byron Nelson receives the Gold Tee Award as Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus are recognized as the greatest golfers of all time. Glenn Campbell entertains the packed crowd in the Americana Hotel ballroom.

Gary Player is the first international player to be awarded the Gold Tee. He calls it one of the greatest honors of his life. From the podium, MGWA President Guido Cribari spontaneously introduces Masters chairman Clifford Roberts to Lee Elder, about to become the first black competitor in the Masters. Sam Snead receives the Golfing Immortal Award. Sammy Davis Jr. entertains.

Joe Garagiola, soon to be host of the PGA Tour’s Tucson Open, emcees the National Awards Dinner at the Rye Town Hilton.

Two Gold Tees are awarded (Howard Clark for ’77 and William R. Jennings for ‘76).

LPGA pioneer Patty Berg becomes the first female to be awarded the Gold Tee.

Baltusrol Golf Club is designated as the MGWA’s first Club of the Year. A total of 23 awards are handed out.

Gerald R. Ford becomes the first past or sitting US President to be awarded the Gold Tee.

The inaugural Lincoln Werden Golf Journalism Award is presented to New York Herald Tribune sportswriter Al Laney.

The MGWA introduces monthly outings for its members at high profile MGA clubs, beginning with the inaugural Wimpfheimer Cup at Sunningdale Country Club.

Seve Ballesteros is the first European to be awarded the Gold Tee. Greg Norman and Mary Bea Porter are given the award that will eventually bear her name, for saving the life of a drowning youngster at an LPGA event in Arizona.

The George Bush family accepts the Family of the Year Award.

Paul Dillon presents his first of many oil paintings of National Awards Dinner honorees to Lincoln Werden winner Dave Anderson. Ron Ramsey and Ed Murawinski will carry the tradition forward after Dillon’s death in 2021.

Gold Tee honoree Jim Albus and his family serenade the National Awards Dinner audience with a rendition of “The Golf Bum Blues.”

Barbara Nicklaus receives the first Winnie Palmer Award for raising more than $10 million for charity.

The “Big Three” of Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player receive the Golden Anniversary Award, presented to the players who had the greatest influence on golf during the previous half-century.

The MGWA establishes the Quill and Tee, a club without real estate.

Pat Norton is the first woman to serve as MGWA president.

Pat Collins and Craig Thomas receive the first Spotlight Award, which recognizes exemplary service by unique individuals in the golf community.

The Spotlight Award is renamed in honor of Dave Anderson.

The National Awards Dinner returns from the COVID pandemic at Winged Foot Golf Club, the first of club venues going forward.

The Distinguished Service Award is renamed in honor of Paul Dillon.

The MGWA introduces its Podcast series as part of a new social media initiative. The National Awards Dinner is held outdoors for the first time at Westchester Country Club as Billy Payne is awarded the Gold Tee.