Evening star., 1960-05-24
TEE TO GREEN
For Harry Pitt-A Standing Ovation
By MERRELL WHlTTLESEY

1T WAS 27 YEARS ago. but it registers as clear as
yesterday. remember picking up the telephone book
for what must have been the Tooth time and finally
monng the courage to call Harry Pitt and ask if could
caddie for him in the 1888 Maryland Amateur champion
ship at old Indian Spring.
Harry such wonderful guy that he wouldn't turn
anybody down. although he undoubtedly knew he should
have had experienced caddie But he said "Okay
you the first Of the week and we'll play couple of
practice rounds"
there, hours ahead of time and I was the envy
of the caddie yard
Harry breezed through the qualifying just shot
two back of the medas and knocked off four straight
opponents, setting up 36hole final against Roger Pea
cock The latter challenging Pitt the best amateur
golfer in the District and was playing over his home course
THAT FINAL WAS ONE of the great golf matches of
this section. We using the ageold right of cadde to
make himself part of the match two up after the
morning 18, and won the goth hole to go three up.
But Peacock hoed chip shot for birdie the 21st
to win the hole and he bdied o. pared the next and
brdied the next two All of sudden "we down.
Harry birded the next hole to square the match but
Peacock tiger at this point Harry needed steady
ing hand but he lacked it. because my club judgment went
awry and couldn't steady my
Peacock won this stirring subpar duel and tried to
apologize for ncompetency, but Harry rubbed cotton
head and said it his fault and to forget it. But
never did
Harry every amateur title worth winning in this
section Many them several times but he didn't
win the State amateur because he wouldn't no to
caddie who wasn't in his league.
PITT PLAYED GOLF FOR fun He liked the game, he
liked people He had bit of Hagen in him. because when
he winning everything in town he didn't observe an
athletes hours And he went for the spectacular
They called Harry the Manor Moose" undoubtedly
because he'd disappear into the woods at Manor chasing
of his wild hooks and like moose he would out
of trees, limbs branches and stones and all of sudden
the ball would be on the stick.
Mel shpley, contemporary of Harry, saying that
Pitt the greatest neron player he had ever Seen
with the exception of Sam Snead.
Mel telling about the day at Indian Spring when
big blustery guy from Congressional with wad of dough
Dragging about his exploits with one iron. Harry
nveigled into exhibition with that seldom used
club Considerable money bet, and the entire club
house turned out on the first tee.
They hit so balls and every of Harrys shots was
farther and straighter 1t contest So Harry COL
lected all the money-and quietly gave it back
Harry heavy 6-foot-2 with barrel chest and
spindly legs with pigeon-toed walk.
WHEN HARRY WAS WINNING tournaments the
Chevy Chase and the Baltimore Country Club Invitations
the major tests in the bigger than the CITY,
State and sectional tournaments and he both three
years in a
The Baltimore Country Club trophy worth about
$1,500, when that lot of money After Harry
two straight the home club imported Max Marston for
mer National Amateur champion and J. Wood Patt and
Chris Brnke because the cup supposed to to the
first player to win three straight They didn't that
to happen
For one of the few times in his life Harry was mad He
ended all matches before the 18th hole and won the CUP
Manor has had its "Wednesday Afternoon gang since
Harry organized it, unof1ciay the past few weeks
when Harry realized time running out he told his wife
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