The Wanamaker Trophy, with roots tied to its namesake family in Philadelphia, is back in the region at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, writes Nikki DeMentri and Tom Gardiner for CBS News Philadelphia.
“It has a presence of its own just sitting on a podium,” said Jeff Kiddie, head golf professional at Aronimink Golf Club.
The 30-pound silver trophy, actually a replica of the 1916 original, has returned to the local golf club ìn preparation for the 108th PGA Championship in May.
It’s been at Aronimink before. The trophy was first engraved in 1962, when Gary Player held it up after winning at Aronimink, which hosted that year’s PGA Championship tournament.
The original trophy was created in January 1916, after Rodman Wanamaker, from the famous Philadelphia family behind Wanamaker department stores, met with a group of golf professionals.
“It was the start of the PGA of America, and he put up the prize money and the trophy for the first PGA Championship that was played in 1916,” said Kiddie.
Golfer Walter Hagan lost the original, but it was recovered in 1930 and is now at the PGA Historical Center in Port St. Lucie, Florida. Its duplicate has made the rounds for decades since.
“It’s well traveled,” said Kiddie. “It’s got some stories. I’m sure it would love to tell a few stories of its own, if it could.”
Read more about the Wanamaker trophy and the Aronimink Golf Club at CBS News Philadelphia.
