Complete Tam O'Shanter Country Club | 1942 National Open & All-American Amateur Programs

Any old Chicago golfer should remember George S. May.  If not, spend the $400 to find out because the now deceased Tam O'Shanter Country Club was special in the eyes of all members and the many famous organized crime figures that called the club home.  

The National Open ran from July 20 to the 26th in 1942 at the country club. Eventually the National Open was replaced with the name Western Open and Tam O'Shanter hosted that event on many occasions.

The $15,000 prize money tournament benefited the Army's Emergency Relief Fund. The fifty-page tournament program features the country club with facility pictures, and the advertising speaks of great old Chicago businesses and restaurants from the past.

The winner of the tournament received $2,500 and a trophy, the tenth-place winner earned $425, and 23rd to 30th place earned $50 each. The players included Byron Nelson, Tommy Armour, Ben Hogan, Jimmy Thomsen, Paul Runyon, and Chick Evans. 

In addition to the professional players program, there is a separate nine page booklet that was handed out to each amateur player. The amateurs were offered hotel rates of $3.85 to $5.50 per day at the infamous Edgewater Beach Hotel.

The prize list for amateurs was $100 for first place, $75 for second, $50 for third, and $25 for fourth and fifth. At that time, golf was not a get-rich-quick scheme.